Nomad Survival Kit: 15 Digital Nomad Essentials in 2024

Ever wondered what a digital nomad can’t leave home without?

I’ve been living the digital nomad lifestyle for 6 years now and my packing essentials list has definitely evolved, changed, and adapted as I became more seasoned with life on the road.

This is my ultimate list of essential travel items and apps for digital nomads based on years of experience. This list is kind of specific to the ladies, but most gear can be useful to anyone.

Here’s 15 things every digital nomad needs in thrive in 2024!

15 Digital Nomad Essentials

1. Travel Insurance

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you simply cannot travel without travel insurance.

My travel insurance of choice is Safety Wing who’ve just announced their new $0 deductible policy. This is an absolute game changer and total no-brainer in my opinion, making it easier than ever to travel safely and with peace of mind.

And with plans starting from $56, you can give yourself that needed safety net for the equivalent of less than two bucks a day.

Ready to Travel? Book Safety Wing Travel Insurance Here!

2. A Sleeping Mask

Digital nomads are subject to working at funny hours that don’t always line up with regular sleep time where we are in the world.

Using a sleep mask imitates the conditions of total darkness and help your brain produce melatonin to fall asleep when you need to. Beyond that, I use them to sleep on planes, airport lounges, trains, long car rides, you name it.

3. Packing Cubes

I don’t understand anyone who is still not using packing cubes.

They are virtually weightless, and help tremendously with organization, on top of providing a compression effect on your clothing to make more room in your suitcase.

I organize my cubes by item, so I’ll have one for undergarments, socks, tops, bottoms, activewear, and laundry. That way, when I need something, I can take out one cube at a time and access that item easily without making a mess.

They are a simple but effective product. Any brand of packing cubes will do, but the slightly more expensive ones tend to last longer.

4. Portable Second Screen

I held off on getting a second screen because of the weight it would add to my pack.

But then I found the U-Perfect portable monitor which is not just the perfect size and dimensions for travel, it’s also as light as a literal feather. This thing weights about half a pound, and adds virtually no bulk to my carry on bag. I just slip it in between my packing cubes to keep it safe and that’s that.

Having a second screen makes the workflow just so much better, plus, it’s a much better screen for watching the random Netflix series here and there than my 13 inch Macbook.

5. A Wallet with a Keychain

I have been robbed an embarrassing amount of times, and you may assume it was always my fault.

But it’s even happened that someone unzipped my bag in a Paris metro station in broad daylight, reached into the bottom of my bag, grabbed everything including my passport and wallet, then ran away in a matter of a second before anyone noticed a damn thing.

Nowadays I try to keep everything valuable in a small bag in front of my body at all times. To take it a step further, I have a wallet with a keychain that is chained to the strap at all times and zipped shut in an internal pocket.

Nothing is fool proof, but this greatly reduces the chances of pick-pocketing.

6. A Skincare Ritual

Living on the road means giving up the stability that having a home-base provides.

By incorporating our own little routines, we can create that sense of stability we will inevitably crave while traveling. For me, I live for my skincare routine.

For digital nomads, I’d recommend the Ordinary products because they are affordable, travel-sized, and effective. Recently, I’ve also gotten into K-beauty brands like Joseon which make the BEST facial sunscreen sticks for easy on-the-go application.

7. A Multi-National Adaptor

As we hop around the globe, we need a way to connect our gear to the various local outlets.

And trust me, nothing feels worse than landing in the UAE and realizing you forgot your 3 prong adaptor and have no way to plug in your laptop for your afternoon meeting.

Recently, I’ve downsized my collection of adaptors for one multi-national adaptor and will never look back. My personal tip is to travel with two in case one stops working while you’re in, I don’t know, the jungles of Lombok and can’t buy another one.

8. Background Noise Cancelling Headphones

Having good headphones is especially important if your gig involves taking calls or talking.

I like to choose headphones that tick two major boxes:

1. it cancels external noises while I listen
2. it muffles background noise for the the recipient

I have had emergencies where my Airbnb’s wifi stopped working and I had to take a call in a cafe or hotel lobby. With good headphones, the listener will (hopefully) not detect any background noise, or at the very least, they’ll be less distracting.

I’ve had great headphones from JBL where there was music playing in the background and the person on the other end said they didn’t hear a thing.

9. A Big Scarf

I love packing a couple big, silk scarves on every trip because they take very little space, yet are very versatile.

They can be used to cover up if you are entering a mosque or place of worship, but they can also be used to change up your outfit. I currently travel with half a dozen scarves of different colors that I’ll use as a hair accessory, a beach cover up, or a top.

You can watch Youtube videos on different ways to style a medium to large square scarf, and you’ll find that the possibilities are endless. It’s like having a bunch of extra outfits in one small item.

10. Medication

I once went to the hospital in Japan for shooting, debilitating neck pain only to be given a paper bag of Chinese herbs. I have learned the hard way that medication is not the same in every country.

Bring your own medication to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

If you are unsure whether your medication is legal in some countries, like anxiety medication, check the rules before you go. Usually, it is ok to bring a personal amount with the proper prescription documentation.

Must Have Apps for Digital Nomad

My phone consists of a hodgepodge of travel apps that I tend to download sporadically, but here are a few I never delete.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is the single best app for meeting people while you travel and is especially a must-have for solo travelers.

I’ve never used the Couchsurfing app to find hosts, but I do use it to connect with locals and other travelers in my area.

You can “turn on” the app to indicate you are free and you’ll be able to view and talk to others in your area looking to hang. There are even Couchsurfing events and planned meet-ups where you can hang out with other people doing an activity you love, from hiking, cooking parties, or just grabbing a coffee together.

Booking.com

This is my favorite hotel booking app for the biggest accommodation selection, best prices, and no surprise add-on fees when you check out (unlike Agoda).

The cool thing about the Booking app is that you sometimes have an even better discounts than on the web browser, so I usually like to check the price on both before finalizing my booking.

Maps.me

I downloaded this app when I went to Albania since I was told that Google Maps is all wrong here. And that was correct.

Maps.me is also great because it can be a 100% offline map that you can access with or without internet. I usually just download the local map before I go, and then I have all directions accessible no matter the wifi situation.

It also has pretty good maps for hiking trails and walking paths, something that Google often lacks in greater detail.

Nord VPN

As you travel, you’re going to come into contact with all kinds of shady wifi. I myself have been hacked once while in Poland and learned that lesson the hard way.

Get a VPN. Just like how travel insurance is essential for you to travel, a VPN is essential for you to safely work and travel. I personally use Nord VPN, a choice I made simply because it was famous and vetted by countless others. It’s also affordable.

It’s not the best one on the market, as sometimes I do have issues connecting, but for the price and overall value, I’d say it gets the job done.

Psiphon

If you want a free VPN just for your mobile device, this one works like a charm.

It worked great for me in Turkey when Booking.com was banned and I had a slew of hotels already booked on their website and needed access to that info.

And that’s a wrap. What about you, what are your digital nomad or travel must-haves?

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