Episode 32: Travel Has Changed
Anyone who has travelled by air lately has probably noticed that things have changed. Flights are chronically overbooked and flight crews are running out of patience with passengers dragging massive bags they insist are carry-ons. For those of us traveling with camera gear, it’s a great time to plan ahead for less room in overhead bins. In this episode Mason and Jeff discuss several things they’ve started doing differently when they fly.
In an age of diminishing space, there are several strategies you can employ to make travel easier. Jeff and Mason talk about luggage considerations, packing hacks, and how to pare down one’s camera kit for a more enjoyable adventure.
Mason & Jeff’s Travel Gear
When they head to the airport or out on the road, Jeff and Mason rarely leave the following items at home. Some of the items have affiliate links where you can purchase them and support our podcast. Mason and Jeff do not promote items they have not purchased themselves.
Memobottle Slim Stainless Steel
Mason scored one of these tough water bottles during a Kickstarter and he really likes how it slides into the side pockets of his various bags. Staying hydrated is a big challenge when traveling and Mason and Jeff both carry water bottles that can pass through security empty, then fill them before hopping onto the plane. Having a liter of cold water to drink on a long flight is a great way to stay happy and healthy and the Memobottle’s flat shape will keep it from rolling all the way back of the plane when you drop it.
Granite Gear Zippered Pouches
These small lightweight pouches work great for keeping small items like charging cords, pens and parts from getting lost in your bag. Jeff loves them because he can quickly move his gear from one bag to another. They are durable and brightly-colored so you’ll spot them quickly in a crowded bag’s dark interior.
Evergoods Civic Access Pouch 1L
Mason doesn’t go anywhere without one of these pouches in his bag. For his trip to Costa Rica he used one to carry his family’s passports, tickets, travel documents, cash, notebook and maps. The CAP1 expands to hold quite a bit of gear, but can flatten out nicely to slide into flat spaces in your pack.
Evergoods Civic Access Pouch 2L
Mason and Jeff both use these pouches, (Mason owns more of them than he’d like to admit publicly). They are structured, padded organizational marvels with a place for everything. They aren’t nearly as compact as the 1 liter pouch from Evergoods, but these pouches open up to act as a portable caddy keeping all of your little items organized and safe.
Peak Design Packing Cubes
When traveling light, packing cubes can help keep clothing and other soft goods compressed and organized. Mason and Jeff both use a variety of packing cubes, among them are the excellent Peak Design packing cubes. The small size is especially useful for carrying underwear, t-shirts and socks. The large fits pants, shirts and some outerwear.
Evergoods Transit Duffel
Mason has one of these carry-on sized duffel and he loves how it handles a week’s worth of clothing, along with toiletries and other travel accessories like charging cables and iPads. The Transit Duffel is easy to carry by hand, and can adapt to carry via an included shoulder strap.
Some Things Are Better Left Unseen
… but if you would like to see a video version of this podcast episode, we upload a lightly-edited version to our YouTube channel. Watch the video by clicking the thumbnail below.
