As a digital nomad, costly mistakes are hard to deal with. You’re far from home, in a foreign place, and you can’t afford to be without the essentials necessary to keep working. Here are some products that can help you avoid certain worst-case scenarios

1. Travel Scale

You packed your luggage, trudged bleary-eyed into the airport, only to be stopped for overweight baggage.

At best, you pay an extra fee. At worst, you have to decide which valuables get left behind. A luggage scale comes in quite handy. You can know exactly how heavy your bags are before getting to the airport. Crisis averted.

Reccomended Travel Scale: Travel inspira EL01 Digital Luggage Scale

Travel Inspira’s 110-pound luggage scale comes recommended for its durability, portability, and lightweight design (weighing only 3.5 ounces). This hand-sized scale easily fits in your purse, backpack, or travel bag. Additionally, it’s incredibly accurate, with a precise .1 LB graduation.

2. Compact Coffee Maker

Unfortunately, you can’t count on having good coffee being available anywhere you go. So, if you are a coffee lover, you might want to have this packed so that you can get your intake of caffeine in without having to venture too far.

Reccomended Portable Coffee Maker: AeroPress

The AeroPress is highly recommended as the be-all-end-all coffee maker, capable of brewing French press, pour-over, espresso, lattes, and cold brew. A highly compact all-rounder.

3. Waterproof Backpack

Long-term travel requires some forethought. It’s only inevitable that you’ll have to trudge through drizzles and downpours with sensitive, irreplaceable possessions.

What do you do? Invest in a sturdy waterproof backpack.

Reccomended Waterproof Backpack: Osprey Transporter 30L Roll Top Waterproof Laptop Backpack

Osprey's durable, weatherproof carrier covers keep you dry during drizzles or downpours (a plus for your Apple Care warranty). Osprey is a beloved brand among hikers, appreciated for its rugged construction and functional design. The transporter offers the convenience and comfort of a backpack, combined with the durability of a waterproof hiking bag. It’s perfect for everyday use or for protection during bad weather.

4. Backup Laptop

How do you protect your most irreplaceable device?

Bringing a replacement.

Accidents do occur, and even careful long-term travelers misplace vital belongings. Nevertheless, losing your laptop means losing months of work, and your entire income stream (if only temporarily).

That’s why so many digital nomads recommend getting an affordable backup laptop.

Reccomended Backup Laptop: Lenovo T480S (14 Inch)

Lenovo's 14-inch T480S laptop has a legendary status among budget-conscious tech enthusiasts for its combination of affordability, solid performance, and long battery life. Although it may not be a media production powerhouse, it reliably handles business and web applications without slowing down.

5. Laptop Stand

You can’t shop for tech products without being bombarded by messaging stressing the importance of ergonomics. While they are trying to sell you something, it’s not bad advice.

Spare your neck from pain and strain with a laptop stand. Simply elevating your laptop a few dozen degrees will noticeably improve your comfort.

Reccomended Laptop Stand: MOFT Adhesive Laptop Stand

You already have enough stuff to keep track of. MOFT’s adhesive laptop stand is a slim, lightweight, magnetized stand (only 3mm thick). It simply attaches to the bottom of your laptop, providing a boost, and folds flat when not in use. 

Crucially, it’s surprisingly rugged. It's made from tough vegan leather and includes ventilation holes to prevent overheating.

6. Best Power Strip/Surge Protector

You can’t rely on finding a room with sensibly placed power outlets. Unfortunately, it’s just the world we live in.

Keeping a good strip and surge protector around means you can power all your devices simultaneously. With enough cable length, you won’t have to trouble yourself with outlet placement.

Reccomended Power Strip/Surge Protector: Anker’s Paper-Thin 8-in-1 USB-C Power Strip

Anker’s new slim-profile surge protector line is ideal for travelers with limited storage space, measuring just 0.7 inches thick. This model has four full-sized outlets and four fast-charging 20-watt USB ports (two USB-C and two USB-A ports). Best yet, it’s also very affordable.

7. Portable Monitor

The real benefit of portable monitors becomes clear only when you experience it firsthand.

Simply put, more screen real estate means less time juggling tabs, losing focus, squinting each time you need to compare two windows. The productivity boost is real, and the technology is surprisingly affordable.

Reccomended Portable Monitor: espresso 15 Pro

Recommended by The Verge and reviewed by Engadget, the espresso 15 Pro is the most popular portable monitor. Noted as a favourite by AFR, It sets the benchmark for performance. Thin, lightweight, 4k, and sturdy enough to travel anywhere with you.

Stay Prepared By Stocking Up On Gear This Black Friday

None of us have the foresight necessary to anticipate every spill, scrape, or stumble. Even with the best tools, you still may find yourself, from time to time, in unlucky situations. Still, it’s best to be prepared. Invest in solid, durable, and versatile tools, and you can at least be sure that a handful of the most common roadblocks are out of your path.

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