Packing Tech Checklist for an International Trip
I have been packing for international trips for over 25 years. I have photographed in more than 75 countries, taken hundreds of flights, and lost count of how many times I have stood in a hotel room at midnight, wondering where I packed the adapter. That experience taught me one thing above all else: what you pack directly determines how much energy you spend on logistics versus photography.
This list is not theoretical. Every item on it is something I travel with right now, in 2026. I have tested all of it across multiple continents, in extreme dust, humidity, cold, and heat. Some items I have used for years. Others are recent additions that replaced something older and worse. Nothing is here because it looked good in a review. Everything is here because it solved a real problem in the field.
I have organized the list by category so you can scan quickly and find what you need. At the bottom, you will find the complete checklist formatted for printing.
One note before you dive in: some of these items carry a higher price tag. The Rimowa luggage, the Gitzo tripod, and the Anker Prime power bank. I understand the sticker shock. These are tools I use professionally and expect to last for years. If something on the list is outside your budget right now, I have noted alternatives where they exist. Buy the best you can afford and upgrade over time. Cheap gear that fails in the Serengeti or the Scottish Highlands costs you far more than the money you saved.
Connectivity
Getting and staying connected internationally used to mean hunting for a SIM card kiosk at the airport, handing over your passport, waiting twenty minutes, and hoping the plan worked where you needed it. That process is largely obsolete now.
Best International Cell Service: T-Mobile
T-Mobile remains my primary phone plan for international travel. It works in 140 plus countries and covers voice, text, and basic data without any changes to your account. I keep it active as my primary number and main voice line. That said, T-Mobile has real gaps in remote destinations. It does not work in Namibia, and coverage in rural East Africa, rural South America, and parts of Southeast Asia can be unreliable or nonexistent. Do not treat it as a universal solution. Treat it as your baseline, and layer an eSIM on top of it for destinations where coverage is uncertain.
Best eSIM Service: Airalo
If you are still swapping physical SIM cards at the airport, stop. In 2026, an eSIM is the professional standard for international connectivity. You purchase a local data plan before you board, activate it the moment you land, and your home number stays intact on your primary line. Airalo works in 200 plus destinations and activates in under two minutes. I set mine up the night before departure and never think about it again. For destinations where Airalo's coverage is thin, Saily is a strong backup option. Both apps are free and straightforward. This is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your travel setup right now, and it costs almost nothing.
Best Travel Tech Organizer: Tenba Tools Cable Pouch
Every cable, adapter, and small electronic accessory I own lives in a Tenba Tools Cable Pouch. It keeps everything organized, protects connectors from dust and pressure, and takes up minimal space in my camera bag or carry-on. When you have six different cables and three adapters in a bag, this is the difference between finding what you need in ten seconds and digging for five minutes.
Power
Running out of power when you are far from an outlet is one of the most avoidable problems in travel photography. The right power setup costs you almost no extra weight and eliminates that anxiety entirely.
Best GaN Wall Charger: Anker 140W GaN USB-C Charger
The single-charger solution for a professional travel kit. One unit, three ports, enough wattage to charge your MacBook Pro at full speed while simultaneously charging your phone and a camera battery. GaN technology keeps it compact enough that it takes up no more space than a standard laptop charger. I replaced every other charger I was traveling with the moment I got this. If you are still carrying a separate laptop brick, a phone charger, and a USB hub, consolidate. This charger handles all of it.
Best High-Capacity Power Bank: Anker Prime (99.75Wh, 300W)
The Anker Prime sits just under the TSA's 100Wh carry-on limit. That is by design. It delivers 140W from a single USB-C port, charges a MacBook Pro to 50 percent in about 30 minutes, and has an OLED display showing real-time wattage per port and remaining capacity. On a travel day with six hours between outlets, or a full-day shoot in a location without power, this is the piece of gear you will be most grateful you packed. It handles two laptops and a phone simultaneously if you need it to.
Best Travel Wireless Charger: Anker MagGo Qi2 Pad
Flat, light, and works with any Qi2-compatible iPhone (15 and later). Set it on the nightstand, drop your phone on it, and you are done. No fumbling with a cable in the dark at midnight after a long travel day. Qi2 now charges at up to 25W, which makes wireless charging fast enough to use as your primary method rather than a backup. If you are on an older iPhone, the pad still charges via standard Qi at 15W.
Best USB-C and USB-A Cables: Anker Braided Cables
Buy good cables and label them. Cheap cables fail in the field at the worst possible moment. I travel with two USB-C to USB-C cables, one USB-C to USB-A cable, and one Thunderbolt 3 cable for fast SSD transfers. Anker's braided versions hold up to daily use without fraying.
Photography Tech
Best Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II (x2)
I travel with two Canon EOS R5 Mark IIs as my primary bodies. The R5 Mark II shoots at 30 FPS in electronic shutter mode, has Canon's best-in-class Animal Eye Detection autofocus, and handles high ISO performance exceptionally well for low-light shooting at dawn and dusk. I run two bodies so I can keep two lenses mounted at all times, which matters in dusty environments where lens swaps risk sensor contamination, and so I have a backup if one body has a problem. Replacing one body on a remote assignment is not possible. Two bodies is not a luxury. It is the minimum professional standard.
Best Tripod: Gitzo Traveler Series with Head
The Gitzo Traveler is the tripod I reach for when I need stability and cannot afford weight. Carbon fiber construction keeps it light enough to carry on a full day of shooting without it becoming a burden. The ball head gives you fast repositioning without losing your composition. For long exposures, blue hour cityscapes, astrophotography at camp, and any situation where you need the camera completely still, this is the tool. If you are considering skipping the tripod to save weight, do not. You will regret it the first time you stand in front of a scene that needs a two-second exposure.
Best SSD Drive: Samsung T7 Shield (1TB or 2TB)
The T7 Shield replaced the standard T7 as my travel SSD of choice. The Shield version adds IP65 dust and water resistance, which matters in the field. I carry two, use Carbon Copy Cloner to mirror one onto the other every evening, and do not erase my memory cards until I am home. Losing a shoot because of a single point of failure is not acceptable. Two drives is the minimum. One drive is an accident waiting to happen.
Best Camera Filters: Kase Wolverine Magnetic ND Filters
The Kase Wolverine system uses a magnetic mount that attaches in under two seconds. No threading, no cross-threading in the dark, no accidentally dropping a filter off the front of a 400mm lens. I travel with 3-stop, 6-stop, and 10-stop versions. The optical quality is excellent, with no significant color cast at any stop. For waterfall long exposures, silky water shots, and any situation where you need to slow your shutter in bright conditions, this system does the job cleanly.
Best Field Culling App: Photo Mechanic
This is not optional for anyone shooting seriously. After a full day of wildlife photography, you may have 1,500 to 3,000 images on your cards. Photo Mechanic ingests and displays RAW files faster than any other application, including Lightroom, which means you can cull your keepers in the field each evening rather than arriving home with an unmanageable archive. I run a nightly edit in Photo Mechanic before I back up to the SSDs. It takes about 30 minutes and saves me hours of work at the desk when I return.
Best Field Editing: Adobe Lightroom Mobile
Lightroom Mobile on an iPad or iPhone lets you apply your desktop presets to field selects for quick social media posts or client previews without opening your laptop. Connect your camera to your iPad with a USB-C cable, import your selects directly, and edit on the go. The quality difference between a processed RAW file and a straight-out-of-camera JPEG is significant enough that this workflow is worth building into your routine.
Safety and Security
Best Luggage Tracker: Apple AirTag
One AirTag in every checked bag. Period. Airlines lose bags more often than they will ever admit, and having GPS-level tracking on your checked luggage means you know exactly where it is and can provide that information to the airline directly. I also put one in my camera bag when traveling through busy airports. Set them up in the Find My app before you leave home and confirm they are broadcasting.
Best Satellite Communicator: Garmin inReach Mini 2
When you are three charter flights into the Namibian bush, your phone has no signal and T-Mobile is irrelevant. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 gives you two-way text messaging and GPS tracking via satellite, from anywhere on earth. It also has a one-button SOS that connects to a 24-hour emergency response coordination center. I do not carry this because I plan to use it. I carry it because the cost of not having it, in a situation where something goes wrong in a remote location, is too high. If you own an iPhone 14 or later, you also have Emergency SOS via Satellite built in for basic emergency messaging. The inReach is the more capable tool for extended remote travel.
Best Laptop Security: Kensington Travel Cable Lock
When you leave a MacBook Pro in a lodge room for a six-hour game drive, a cable lock is your simplest protection. It takes 30 seconds to set up, weighs almost nothing, and removes a real risk. Most hotel desks and nightstands have something you can loop a cable through. This is not a paranoid addition. It is a five-dollar solution to a problem that does not need to happen.
Best VPN: ExpressVPN or NordVPN
Public WiFi in hotels, airports, cafes, and lodges is not secure. A VPN takes ten seconds to activate and protects your data on every connection you make. It also lets you access your home streaming services and accounts when geo-restrictions block them abroad. I run one every time I connect to a network I do not control. If you are not using a VPN when traveling internationally, you are taking an unnecessary risk with your accounts, your client files, and your personal data.
Audio
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones: AirPods Pro (4th Generation)
The 4th generation AirPods Pro are the current standard. Active noise cancellation on long-haul flights is not a comfort feature. It is a practical tool for protecting your hearing and arriving at your destination less fatigued. I use them for in-flight audio, editing music while working in the field, and calls when I need to hear clearly in a noisy environment. If you are an Android user, Sony's WF-1000XM5 earbuds deliver comparable noise cancellation at a similar price point.
Luggage and Bags
Best International-Sized Carry-On: Rimowa Essential Sleeve
The Rimowa Essential Sleeve meets international carry-on dimensions for most major airlines and fits in overhead bins without issues. It is extremely difficult to break into, which matters when you are traveling with camera gear and hard drives. The polycarbonate shell absorbs impacts well. My camera bag always goes in the overhead bin. The Rimowa goes under the seat or in the overhead depending on the flight. I have traveled with this case for years and it has not failed me once.
Best Lightweight Backpack: Osprey Daylight Daypack
The Osprey Daylight is my go-to when I do not need a full camera bag. It holds a laptop, a water bottle, a change of clothes, and travel documents comfortably without adding unnecessary bulk. For city shooting days, day hikes, and situations where the full camera kit would be overkill, this is the bag I reach for. It also compresses flat inside my checked duffel when I do not need it, which means it costs me nothing in luggage space.
Best Duffel Bag: Osprey Transporter Wheeled 90L Duffel
A wheeled soft duffel is the right choice for trips involving charter flights or destinations with strict luggage limits. Hard-sided suitcases do not fit in small bush plane cargo areas. The Osprey Transporter compresses well, has wheels for airports, and is durable enough for rough handling. At the end of the trip, all the dirty clothes go in the duffel, and the clean items stay in the Rimowa. Simple system, works every time.
Accessories
Best Water Bottle: LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
The LARQ uses UV-C LED technology to purify water and eliminate bacteria and viruses in 60 seconds. For travel in destinations where water quality is uncertain, this is not a gimmick. It is a practical tool that removes the need to buy single-use plastic bottles every day. It also keeps water cold for up to 24 hours, which matters on long game drives in 90-degree heat.
Best Packing Cubes: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes
Compression packing cubes reduce the volume of clothing in your bag significantly. The compression zipper compresses the contents down by about 60 percent once packed. I use one cube per clothing category: shirts, pants, underwear, and socks. Everything is visible and accessible without unpacking the entire bag. If you have never used packing cubes, this is the upgrade that will make you wonder why you waited.
Best Sleeping Mask: Mavogel Cotton Sleep Eye Mask
Long-haul flights, early morning light in lodge rooms, hotel curtains that do not close all the way. A good sleeping mask eliminates all of these problems. The Mavogel is cotton, breathable, shaped to avoid pressure on your eyes, and actually blocks light completely. I carry one on every international trip without exception.
Personal Care
These items are available internationally in most destinations, but I prefer to carry my own rather than spend time hunting for them on arrival.
Best Sunscreen: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Invisible on application, it does not leave a white cast, and it works under a hat or cap during long outdoor shoots. I apply it every morning before going out regardless of the weather.
Best Face Moisturizer: Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream for Men
Long-haul flights, dry air, and changing climates are hard on your skin. A good moisturizer applied morning and evening makes a real difference in how you feel on day four of an eight-day trip. This one is rich without being greasy and has held up in every climate I have shot in.
Best Face Wash: Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser
Travel-friendly, gentle, and effective. I pack a small quantity in a reusable silicone travel bottle.
Best Shaving Cream: Geo F. Trumper Lime Shaving Cream
A small tub lasts weeks, produces an exceptional lather, and smells far better than anything you will find at an airport pharmacy. This is the one personal care indulgence that earns its weight every single time.
Best Face Mask: AirQueen Nano Fiber Mask
I still carry masks for long flights, crowded transit situations, and destinations where air quality varies. The AirQueen uses nano-fiber filtration and breathes better than most masks I have tried. Pack a few; they take up no space.
Best Sleeping Aid for Flights: Mavogel Sleep Mask + Melatonin
The sleep mask is covered above. Pair it with a low-dose melatonin (0.5mg to 1mg) for eastbound long-haul flights and you will land in significantly better shape than if you try to muscle through the time change on willpower alone. I take it about 30 minutes before I want to sleep on the plane.
The Complete 2026 Checklist
Use this before every international trip. Print it out, keep it in your camera bag, and update it as your gear changes.
Connectivity
T-Mobile active, international plan confirmed for the destination
eSIM purchased and activated before departure (Airalo or Saily)
Tenba Tools Cable Pouch packed with all cables and adapters
Travel plug adapters for destination (check Type before packing)
Power
Anker 140W GaN USB-C wall charger
Anker Prime power bank (charged before departure)
Anker MagGo Qi2 wireless charging pad
USB-C to USB-C cables (x2)
USB-C to USB-A cable (x1)
Thunderbolt 3 cable for SSD transfers
All device-specific chargers accounted for
Photography Tech
Canon EOS R5 Mark II (primary body, settings dialed in before departure)
Canon EOS R5 Mark II (second body)
All lenses clean and packed
Gitzo Traveler tripod with head
Kase Wolverine ND filters (3, 6, 10 stop)
Samsung T7 Shield SSD x2 (both freshly formatted)
Memory cards (CFexpress x4 minimum, SD cards x4 minimum)
Extra batteries (3 to 4 per body minimum)
Dual battery charger
Photo Mechanic installed and licensed on laptop
Lightroom Mobile updated on iPad or iPhone
Safety and Security
Apple AirTag in every checked bag (and camera bag)
Garmin inReach Mini 2 (charged, subscription active)
Kensington travel cable lock
ExpressVPN or NordVPN active on all devices
Emergency SOS via Satellite confirmed active on iPhone
Audio
AirPods Pro 4th generation (charged, case charged)
Luggage and Bags
Rimowa Essential Sleeve carry-on
Osprey Daylight Daypack
Osprey Transporter Wheeled 90L Duffel (for checked luggage)
Combination locks on all zipper pulls
Accessories
LARQ self-cleaning water bottle
Gonex compression packing cubes
Mavogel sleep mask
Personal Care
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream for Men
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser
Geo F. Trumper Lime Shaving Cream
AirQueen nano fiber masks (x3 minimum)
Melatonin (0.5mg to 1mg tabs)
Personal medications in carry-on
All liquids in a TSA-compliant 3-1-1 bag
Final Thoughts
Good gear does not make you a better photographer. But bad gear, missing gear, and disorganized gear will absolutely make you a worse one. Every item on this list exists because it solved a specific, real problem that came up in the field. Some of them I learned the hard way, which is the most expensive way to learn.
The goal is not to have more stuff. The goal is to have the right stuff, packed well, so that when the moment arrives, your only thought is the image. Not whether your battery is dead, not where you packed the adapter, not what you left at home.
Start with the connectivity section if you do nothing else. Setting up an eSIM and upgrading your power setup will immediately change how you travel. The rest you can build out over time.
If you would like to join a future photography workshop, visit my Workshops page for current offerings and upcoming dates. You can also connect with me on Instagram (@chasinghippoz) and Facebook, or subscribe to the newsletter for travel photography tips, destination guides, and behind-the-scenes stories from more than 75 countries. I look forward to sharing the journey with you.
