Filming, Editing and Tech Gear
After three years of full-time travel, this is all the gear that’s earned its place in our backpacks. Every item here was been chosen with portability, durability, and value in mind. We travel light (only with seven kg carry-on backpacks) and work with a budget, so the tools we carry have to punch above their weight and hold up across countries, climates, and chaotic vlogging days.
Whether it’s filming on the crowded streets of South East Asia, hitchhiking across Africa or backing up footage in a hostel dorm at midnight in Europe, this setup has delivered – without breaking or breaking the bank… (well, so far 🤞🏼)
📷 Cameras
Vlogging Camera – Sony ZV1
A compact powerhouse purpose-built for vlogging. The ZV1 is lightweight, intuitive, and delivers fantastic image quality straight out of camera. It’s especially strong in autofocus and skin tone rendering — making it an excellent choice for solo creators.
While it doesn’t have interchangeable lenses, its built-in lens and onboard stabilization make it incredibly convenient for everyday vlogging. You’ll be surprised how much camera you get in such a tiny package.
Secondary vlogging Camera – DJI Pocket 3
A pocket-sized powerhouse with a built-in gimbal for silky-smooth footage and better low-light than most action cams. Great for vlogging and pairs seamlessly with DJI’s wireless mics, but cannot zoom and is not weather-resistant.
Action Camera – DJI Osmo Action 3
A rugged, reliable action cam with excellent stabilization and weather resistance. Perfect for biking, underwater shots, or any adventure — though low-light remains its weak spot (like most action cams).
Mobile Phone – Apple iPhone 16 pro and 12 Mini
The best camera is the one you have on you — and this one’s excellent. Compact yet powerful, the iPhone 16 Pro shoots high-quality photos and video with a solid 1x–2x fusion camera, an ultra-wide 0.5x which is great for vlogging, and a super handy 5x zoom that has made a big difference. Cinematic mode and ProRes make it great for storytelling too.
We also have an iPhone 12 mini which we used in seasons 1, 2 and 3 extensively – and it did a very good job!
Photography Camera – Sony A7III (Not traveling with this)
An outstanding full-frame camera that helped redefine value in the mirrorless market when it launched.
While not currently in our travel kit at the moment, it’s still a fantastic camera for anyone looking to get into professional photography. Superb battery life, dual card slots, and fantastic dynamic range.
This one made a big difference when we were building our travel blogs and guides on our blog backpacksters.com.
🚁 Drone Cameras
Vlogging Drone – DJI Neo
A tiny 135g drone that makes aerial filming simple and fun. Lightweight, easy to fly, and surprisingly capable, it delivers smooth stabilized 4k footage without the bulk of bigger drones. Has its own built-in storage. You can fly it with a remote, your phone, or even on its own. It’s not made for strong winds or cinematic productions, but for everyday creators it’s a super convenient way to capture dynamic aerial perspectives.
We bought it only recently while in China and its the first drone we have travelled with internationally.
Photography Drone – DJI Mavic Mini (Not travelling with this)
At just 249g, the Mavic Mini was DJI’s first truly ultra-light drone — small enough to fit in your palm yet capable of smooth, stabilized 2.7K footage. It folds down tiny, flies up to 30 minutes, and is perfect for travel creators who want quality aerial shots without extra weight. Not great in strong winds and limited in advanced features compared to newer models, but still a solid little workhorse for everyday flying.
We used it a lot on our roadtrips through Karnataka but never took it out internationally.
🎤 Audio Equipment
Shotgun Mic – Boya BY-MM1
A solid entry-level shotgun mic that drastically improves audio over any built-in camera mic. It’s compact, lightweight, and doesn’t require its own battery — making it hassle-free to use on the go. Just plug in and go. A great choice for budget-conscious creators. It even comes with a windscreen to keep that “whoosh” out.
Wireless Mic – DJI Mic Mini
For interviews, voice-overs, or filming in noisy environments, a lavalier mic can make all the difference. The DJI Mic Mini offers reliable wireless performance, clear sound, and excellent portability. It may not reach the ultra-premium tier, but it delivers crisp audio, strong connectivity, and freedom from messy wires — perfect when mobility and distance matter.
Cheaper alternatives are also available in the market (which we have used in the past) and they typically are good if you’re just starting out.
💻 Laptops
Apple MacBook Pro M1 and MacBook Air M1
Both these machines punch far above their weight class thanks to the M1 chip, despite being four years old now. The newer M4 chip makes it even better.
The MacBook Pro is ideal for heavier editing and multitasking with better sustained performance and thermal management. This is our main device for editing vlogs.
The MacBook Air is lighter, thinner (no fan!), and more than capable for organizing files, writing, and light editing. For a short while, we used an iPad with a keyboard case before getting the MacBook Air – which is also great if you’re looking for something less serious!
Photo and video editing software
There are a number of free video editing softwares you can easily get started with. We are currently using Adobe Creative Cloud which includes Lightroom (for photos), Rush and Premiere Pro (for video) and Photoshop (for Thumbnails).
🦿 Tripod & Lighting 💡
Vlogging Tripod – Ulanzi MT-34 Extendable Pole Tripod
Flexibility is the name of the game here. This tripod is extendable, sturdy, and lightweight — ideal for vloggers who need quick setup and mobility. Its compact form fits easily in a bag or even a large pocket, but still offers enough height and adjustability for most shooting situations.
Soft Light – Ulanzi VL49
A surprisingly powerful little light. Ideal for indoor shooting or evening vlogs where lighting can make or break a scene. The magnetic back and built-in diffuser make this a very handy tool in low-light conditions. Packs small, punches bright.
🔋 Power & Wearables ⌚️
Smartwatches – Amazfit T-Rex & Mi Band 6
Both of these offer solid battery life and essential fitness/sleep tracking. The Amazfit T-Rex is rugged and designed for outdoor adventures, while the Mi Band 6 is minimal, lightweight, and great for more casual users. Neither needs daily charging, which is a huge plus on the road.
Power Bank – Urbn 20000 mAh Compact Power Bank
Reliable juice on the go. With 20,000 mAh, this power bank can recharge your phone, camera, lights — you name it — multiple times over. Despite the large capacity, it’s compact and flight-safe. An absolute essential.
💾 Storage & Organization 🗂️
External HDD – Seagate 2TB
Reliable and fast enough for backups and editing on the move. 2TB is the sweet spot for most travel creators. Make sure to back up often — losing footage is more common than you’d think.
SD Cards – Sony 64GB / SanDisk Extreme 64GB
Trustworthy brands with good read/write speeds. It’s better to carry a few smaller cards than one giant one — reduces risk in case of card failure. Also, helps organize footage by project or location.
HDD Case – Tizun HDD Case
A simple but crucial accessory. Protects your hard drive from knocks, spills, and dust while traveling. Lightweight but tough enough to take a beating in your bag.
Organizer – Gadget / Electronic Accessories Organizer
If you’ve ever spent 15 minutes untangling cables at the bottom of your bag, this will feel like a revelation. Keeps cords, cards, dongles, batteries, and chargers neatly in place.
That’s the full list of what we carry with us. It’s a mix of essentials we’ve come to trust and a few tools that make creating on the go a little easier. If you’re curious to see the gear all in one place, we’ve linked it over below.
See our full gear list here
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