The gear I’m travelling the world with - Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L

Pat Kay on
Long-term travel means thinking about the essentials. Here's what I'm bringing in my Peak Design Travel Duffelpack
The gear I’m travelling the world with - Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L

It’s a daunting thing; trying to pack up your life in a single bag. But I’ve decided to do it with the Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L.

Over the last few months, I’ve been slowly but steadily throwing things away, giving my things to friends, or selling my stuff.

Now, everything I own fits into two bags: All my camera and tech-related gear goes into my Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L, and everything else goes into the Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L.

This article isn’t sponsored by Peak Design, by the way. But I have been a fan since the really early days, from their very first Kickstarter and I really, really enjoy their products.

For any type of traveller, but even more so for nomadic travellers, the main way you decide to carry most of your things is a big consideration to make. You’re going to be living with this solution day in, day out, after all.

I chose the Peak Design Travel Duffelpack because it fit most of my requirements, specifically:

  • Mostly, I’ll be in urban environments, with the occasional hike and/or daytrip.
  • I care about what it looks like, and this bag looks slick. Especially compared to the typical large travel backpacks.
  • The bag in its natural state is actually 45L. This means I can force myself to bring only what’s necessary and have the extra 20L of expandability as a bit of insurance.
  • It’s both a duffle and a backpack, meaning I can open the contents and see everything all at once (unlike a traditional hiking backpack), and carry it on my back so that I can maintain a high degree of mobility.
  • It comes in black.

(That last one is funny. If you know me, you’ll know that I mostly wear black and have black everything. But all of my branding, business and online presence is mostly white. I’m a walking contradiction dressed in contrasts)

Another consideration I made was that I didn’t want to be the “one bag” type of traveller.

I can’t be, really. Although I actually do consider myself a minimalist, I subscribe to the idea of essentialism more than the idea of stripping everything down bare, being miserable and naked.

...I also can’t be bothered to wash my clothes that often.

Also, the whole “photography” thing means that in order to do my job, I need to have a whole other 1.25 bags to fit the tools I need to do that job well. So, yeah. One bag doesn’t work for me.

That being said, what I’m bringing with me is pretty stripped back, and I’ve made sure that everything I own as multiple functions and purposes. Here we go:

What’s in my Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L

Main clothing

I use the medium size Peak Design Packing Cube to hold all this stuff. I love it because it has compression, plus it’s really nice and easy to open.

  • 6 x CUTS clothing t-shirts (2 white, 2 black, 1 navy, 1 grey)
  • 2 x Singlets (for training in)
  • 1 x Gym shorts
  • 1 x Shorts
  • 1 x Jeans
  • 1 x Trackpants (for being a lazy bum in)

Underwear

I use the small size Peak Design Packing Cube for this stuff.

  • 7 x Underwear (nothing special here, sorry travel gear nerds)
  • 12 x Pairs of no-show socks (12, because I always lose my socks for some reason)
  • 1 x SKINS compression tights (for training, but doubles as thermals, kinda.)

Shoes

I use the Peak Design Shoe Pouch - Yeah, I know this is sounding like an ad. It’s not. It was just easier/nicer for me to keep everything the same brand.

  • Adidas Ultraboost 19’ Triple black
  • Flip flops
  • Adidas x Pharrell Williams Hu NMD (on foot, not in bag)

Misc Tech

I use the Peak Design Tech Pouch to keep all my random bits and bobs in one place. They’re non-negotiables that ensure the success of my work, but they don’t always make sense to bring with me every day/belong in my everyday carry.

Other electronics

I usually keep these loose in the two outside pockets of the bag, secured by locks.

Tolietries

I use a dopp kit from Muji that has a hook built in to the opening flap so that I can hang it from anywhere and get access to everything all at once.

  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Face wash
  • Men’s moisturiser
  • Electric shaver
  • Razor
  • Roll-on deodorant
  • Soap & Shampoo bar wrapped in individual Matador FlatPaks
  • Nail clippers & file
  • Cotton buds
  • Medical gauze
  • Medical tape
  • Iodine liquid
  • Bandaids
  • Random pills for headaches, hay fever & colds

MISC

Other random shit that doesn’t fit into those groups above but floats around in the Travel Duffelpack

Camera gear

Camera gear will live either in my Peak Design Everyday Backpack, or Everyday Sling 5L when I want to go light. I’ve outlined all my camera gear over at patkay.com/gear, but for the most part, I’ll actually be travelling a little lighter this time:

This list will change

Although I’ve spent months thinking about the most optimal setup for my uses and long-term travel, scouring the interwebs for the best of the best products for me, I’m sure this list will change in even just a few months when I’ve had sufficient time to test everything.

But for now, this setup allows me to have 3 “modes”:

  • Haul all my shit from place to place (Duffelpack + Everyday backpack)
  • Go explore a location and bring all my camera gear with me (Everyday backpack)
  • Run errands or go super lightweight (Sling 5L)

And if I’m ever missing anything, I can just buy it on the road - no biggie.

Alright, that’s it.

Let’s get to travellin’.

Tags: Gear Travel Tips
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