5 Writing Essentials Every Travel Writer Must Pack

If you’re a writer considering a digital nomad lifestyle, here’s a quick checklist of five essential items for your travel adventures.

1. A Rollerball Pen

A reliable pen that captures ideas just as fast as they appear is an absolute must for any writer. A rollerball pen fits the bill – and makes a perfect travel companion.

Rollerball pens are designed like oil-inked ballpoint pens, but with water-based or gel ink. Rollerball inks flow faster, allowing the pen to glide smoothly on paper.

Be aware though, some pens are leaking nightmares. On our quest for the best rollerball pens, we found Arteza Rollerball Pens and uni-ball Vision Rollerball Pens worked best.

They also have a variety of colors – pick the exact color to fit your mood!

2. A Notebook

Now that you’ve packed your rollerball pen, have you found a notebook to match? You may consider typing into your phone or laptop, but notebooks and planners are a far more effective way of capturing ideas.

Firstly, they are less distractive. You can’t refresh your social notifications for the umpteenth time with a notebook. Secondly, you can go haywire with your ideas, and connect the dots later. Notebooks don’t judge.

They’re also ideal for light-packing, especially if your travel destination calls for only essentials. We’ve put together an entire post on the best planners to help you get started.

3. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

As a travel writer, you’ll soon discover that peace and quiet are life’s greatest luxuries. Everything from the low hum of an airplane to a sleeping passenger next to you can leave you feeling edgy and starved of great ideas. That’s when a pair of noise-cancelling headphone comes to the rescue.

Noise cancelling headphones put an end to distractions. They can filter out both low-frequency ambient sound and screaming kids to help stay razor focused on your work.

Sony WH-1000XM4 is by far the best option we came across on the market. For the price-conscious writer, we’d recommend the Anker Life Q30. It does a superb job at a low price point.

4. Mobile WiFi Hotspot

The unpredictability of public WiFi networks in your travels can be a real challenge. The frustration only amplifies if you’re leaving American soil.

Travel expert recommendation is to take the NETGEAR Mobile WiFi Hotspot with you wherever you go. Perfect to stay connected even from rural areas with no other options. Although a little pricier, it is reliable and stays true to the functions it boasts.

Plus, you don’t have to worry about costly hotel or airport WiFi charges either. Just throw it in your bag and have uninterrupted access to everything online.

5. A Portable Safe

Travel writing is not all sunshine and rainbows. The risk of getting robbed when venturing into remote places is very real.

The old-school solution is to carry your most important belongings like a second skin. There are other options, such as a safety lock, but if you are going to be staying in places without other security choices, consider investing in a portable safe.

A portable safe provides on-the-go security to everything you choose to stuff inside its ultralight bag. Once attached to an anchor point, such as a pipe or pillar in a hotel room, stealing your stuff would be quite difficult.

Comes in different sizes, colors, and prices. Also useful at the beach or swimming hole for your cellphone, purse or wallet.