Gear I Actually Travel With

Xtra Muse Vlogging Camera (1" CMOS, 4K/120fps, 3-Axis Gimbal)

My main camera. A one-inch sensor and a built-in gimbal in something that fits in a jacket pocket — small enough that I'll actually carry it everywhere, which is the only reason footage exists.

Battery Handle / Grip (Digital Screen, 5000mAh)

A grip and a huge spare battery in one. Roughly doubles shooting time and makes handheld walking shots far steadier.

Lekufee Waterproof Hard Case

The waterproof hard case the whole rig lives in — camera, mics, batteries, filters. What keeps a few hundred dollars of gear alive in the bottom of a pack.

Lens & Gimbal Protector Cap

Cheap insurance for the most fragile part of the camera. The accessory you regret skipping the first time the lens takes a knock.

K&F Concept Magnetic Filter Set (Wide-Angle, ND & CPL)

Magnetic ND and polarizing filters for shooting in harsh midday sun without blowing out the sky, plus a wide-angle adapter for tight interiors and ruins.

ULANZI TT24 Selfie Stick Tripod

Extends to a selfie stick, folds to a tabletop tripod. My one-handed grip for talking-to-camera and self-timer shots.

Phone Mount for the Camera

Clamps a phone to the camera as a bigger external screen, so I can actually see the frame while filming.

DJI Mic Mini (2 Transmitters + Receiver + Charging Case)

Wireless clip-on mics — the single biggest upgrade to how the videos sound. Good audio matters more than good video, and these are tiny enough to forget you're wearing one.

NEEWER 67mm Clip-On Variable ND Filter (Phone)

A variable ND filter for phone video — keeps footage shot on the phone from looking like phone footage in bright light.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — Spigen Liquid Air Case

Slim, grippy protection for the phone that doubles as my B-camera. Matte finish, no slippery glass back.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm)

Tracks the hikes, the sleep, and the genuinely absurd step counts a full day at a site like Pompeii racks up.

Hard Case / Screen Protector for Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm)

Bezel and screen protection. A watch takes a beating against rock and doorways on a trail.

Elastic Braided Bands for Galaxy Watch 7

Stretchy nylon bands that handle sweat and water far better than the stock strap, and slip on and off without a buckle.

Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 22"/45L Wheeled Duffel

Carry-on-sized wheeled duffel with stowable backpack straps. Rolls through the airport, then goes on your back the moment the ground turns to cobbles or stairs.

Osprey Daylite Plus Daypack

My everyday daypack — camera, water, layers. Small enough for a plane, big enough for a full day out at a site.

Teton 65L Explorer Internal-Frame Backpack

The big pack for trips where everything rides on my back. Rain cover included, which you will need eventually.

WHITIN Wide-Toe-Box Trail Running Shoes (Zero-Drop)

Lightweight, zero-drop trail shoes with a wide toe box. What I'm in when I'm walking ruins and trails all day.

Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pants

Zip-off hiking pants — long in the cool morning, shorts by midday, and quick to dry when you sweat through them.

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

Filters water straight from the source. The difference between carrying three days of water and carrying almost none.

FLEXTAIL Tiny Pump X (Air Pump + Camp Light)

A rechargeable pump the size of a golf ball that inflates the sleeping pad in about a minute — and doubles as a camp light. No more lung-powered inflation at the end of a long day.

iClimb Ultralight Compact Folding Chair

A real chair that packs down to almost nothing. Worth the small weight penalty more often than you'd expect.

TREKOLOGY ALUFT 2.0 Inflatable Travel Pillow

Packs to the size of a fist and makes overnight transit and camp genuinely survivable.

KLYMIT Insulated Static V Lite Sleeping Pad

Insulated, lightweight sleeping pad. Most of being cold at night is the ground — this fixes that.

Artemis's Adventure Harness

The orange harness Artemis wears — the one in the logo. She kept it on the entire week she went missing in the woods and never once tried to slip it; she only came out of it when she was finally caught. It's been everything I'd want in a cat harness.

One honest caveat: a replacement I ordered later didn't fit the same, so the pattern may have changed. I can't promise current stock matches the one we have — but ours has been perfect.

Fida Retractable Leash

Retractable leash that gives Artemis room to explore a trail without me losing track of her.

AMAGOOD 6 ft Cat Leash

A simple fixed-length leash for closer-control situations — towns, transit, anywhere a retractable is too much line.

Collapsible Travel Food Container (Scoop & Bowl)

Airtight, collapsible food storage that packs flat for travel and comes with a scoop and bowl.

Wellness Kittles Trail Treats

Her trail treats — the bribe that gets her moving again when she's decided the hike is over.

Collapsible Travel Litter Box / Playpen

A packable, collapsible litter box for hotels and long travel days. Folds flat to almost nothing.

Pet First Aid Kit

A dedicated first aid kit for her. Worth having long before you need it, especially anywhere off-grid.

Tractive GPS Tracker

Real-time GPS on her harness. After a week of searching the woods for her, this stopped being optional.