Travel blogging essentials you should not leave home without
Writing about family travel, holidays and days out means I’m always blogging, wherever we go. It wouldn’t be possible for me to keep on top everything that goes hand-in-hand with being a digital nomad (I use the term loosely) without a few travel blogging essentials.
*This post contains affiliate links*
Here’s some of the important accessories and pieces of blogging tech I cannot leave home without. Even if it means sacrificing space for clothes…Mr Tin Box’s, not my own, obviously!
My travel blogging essentials
Contents - jump to what you'd like to know
iPhone 
This lovely bit of Apple goodness is an obvious piece of on-the-go blogging kit, so I’ll get it out of the way first.
I’d be lost without my iPhone X*. I’m always jotting down post ideas and text in Notes, and popping into my social media management apps to schedule, respond and reshare.
Social media apps for blogging
My two top social media management tools are Recurpost for Twitter and Tailwind* for Pinterest and Instagram.
I love Tailwind’s Smart.bio tool. It allows you to link images to a corresponding blog post and it’s free! Find out more about Smart.bio*
I pay a subscription for Recurpost and Tailwind each month as they make my ‘digital social life’ so much easier.
Take a look at more of the apps I use for blogging.
Macbook Pro
I take my MacBook Pro* away on longer trips, but it’s really handy to have when I want to start editing images and videos before we get home.
On the odd occasion that I do post blogs to WordPress on the go, I prefer to see these on my Macbook Pro screen rather than on my iPhone. I guess I’m old fashioned like that!
Videoing equipment
I use my iPhone X for the majority of my vlogs. The lens is excellent. Before my iPhone X I added a HD camera attachment*, which really helped. You can see the results on my YouTube channel.
If you did want to spend a bit more money I’ve had Ollo Clips* recommended to me by a video pro.
Something that has really helped up the quality of the video I record is a gimbal. Our gimbal* syncs with an app on my iPhone, steadies the shots and can track faces.
Portable power pack
Do you run down your smartphone battery before lunchtime? Yep, on intensive days out and excursions this happens to me too.
The Anker PowerCore+ mini* is one of the best presents I’ve had from Mr Tin Box. Power it up using a mini USB and it holds enough charge to bring your phone back to life one and a half times – more than enough to keep me going until I can reach a plug socket. And it’s really tiny too.
Camera
I’m no expert when it comes to cameras but we recently bought a FujiFilm X-T 30* to replace our old Canon which I had grown very attached to. The FujiFilm is lighter and I’m loving the quality of the images.
What are your travel blogging essentials? I need ideas for my Christmas list!
More blogging tips
If you’re just starting out in the travel blogger world then you might also like to check out:
- How I became a travel blogger
- How travel bloggers make money
- A day in the life of a travel blogger
- Why press trips are not free holidays
- Travel blogging essentials – tech and kit
*Disclosure: this post contains Amazon affiliate links which means I may earn some advertising fees if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase. You will not be charged extra for this. I have been gifted some of the items for the purposes of a mention on my blog. All opinions are my own and those of my family.
Looking to add to your blogging kit? Why not save this post about travel blogging essentials on Pinterest.
My computer and iPhone are a must for me. And of course, my camera. And extra batteries. I’ve had too many unfortunate situations where I’ve wanted to take pictures with my camera and the batteries run out. I never go on a trip without extra batteries.
Allison recently posted…A Morning of Learning at Kohl Children’s Museum
I’ve had a camera battery situation recently too. You’ve reminded me that I really must get a spare!
I love my iPhone and Macbook Pro too. I take the laptop everywhere because I like to see stuff on the big screen (getting old and the eyes are going). I love my camera too. Those are my 3 essentials.
Those are the first three things I think about packing too. The Macbook doesn’t always come but I do feel a little lost without it 🙂
I have one of the Anker chargers too in my assortment – so useful. I’m not a big Apple fan but I do wish Android had the same array of gadgets!
Cathy (Mummytravels) recently posted…The September round-up: My travel essentials
You gotta love Anker – so handy. We’re off on a trip tomorrow and I’m just about to charge up all my gizmos 🙂
This is a great list – some of which I already have and some of which I think I’m now going to be adding to a wish list. I’ve only ever used my mobile phone to create a hotspot when I need to use my ipad on the train etc. Who knew that you could gadgets especially for doing that!
Colette recently posted…Polarn O. Pyret Yellow Shell Jacket
It’s not long until Christmas…here’s hoping Santa knows about wifi hotspots 🙂
I’m the eejit with three cameras – my “nice” one, my bridge camera which does video, and my iPhone so I can instagram and as a back-up. I have been known to have all three going at once, but you can never be too careful when you neeeeeed those images later. 🙂
Joanne Brady recently posted…The Augustin, Brussels, Belgium
I’ve always got two cameras on the go. I do wonder what ‘normal people’ must think when they see my taking all these pictures and videos when we are out and about 🙂
These are great tips Claire! I have a Three MiFi that was rubbish in Italy, so am looking for an alternative – will definitely take a look at what you use – thanks 🙂
Sometimes its the network signal that’s the issue but we certainly had no problems with the TP-LINK wifi device and EE here in the UK.
top tips. The things I might add are I use an Airbook rather than Pro for travelling (on account of the law that says everything you own doubles in weight the minute you cross the threshold of an airport) and I always have a stack of back-up chargers and countless spare memory cards (it’s horrible when one gets corrupted and you’re lost without it)
Good call on the spare batteries and memory cards. I had an issue with my camera battery life while we were holidaying in a field this summer. Seriously frustrating!
I’d love a mac book we have a desktop one. We are quite to blogging but enjoying purchasing some shiny new essentials!
Confession: we have a Mac too. Big Apple fans in this house 🙂
I love the sound of the wifi mobile hotspot! That sounds fab. I swear by my portable power pack – which doubles as a phone case. I love it!
Mr Tin Box has a charger pack that’s a phone case. It’s amazing that they come in all shapes and sizes. I love my ‘lipstick’ one as the one before it was a brick!
My iphone is my top essential travel item. I need to get a portable power back though. The wifi mobile hotspot sounds fab. Looks like you have it all covered. Great tips xx
Thanks Susan. I would be lost without my phone too 🙂
I like the lens attachments. I don’t take tech to the beach and so this summer I discovered a need for a notebook, I love to lie on the sand and write. A problem as didn’t even own one!
I’m a bit of a stationary fan myself. I’ve always got a note book on m. I do still prefer to use my phone to make note though as I can go back an edit them 🙂
Great products, I have just bought the canon G7X for vlogging and using for blogging and I am loving it!
A new camera is definitely on my Christmas list. I’ve just got a new lens for my Nikon and love it 🙂
Power pack, definitely! I tend to just take my phone and upload over 4g or when I get home, but for longer trips that can be a problem. Good tips 🙂 #zbuz
Karen Hannah recently posted…The Good Life Experience: Highlights
My phone and power pack are the two things I never leave home without, even for a day trip 🙂
It’s a really handy piece of kit. The problem I have is that my husband agrees and keeps pinching it for his trips away! 🙂
You failed to mention the very first absolute must, which is prominently displayed in your photo: Tall cup of coffee! 🙂 It’s amazing how good of a video clip you can do on a smartphone these days! But…that won’t stop a new camera from making it’s way onto our list for Santa this year! Fun post – thanks for sharing.
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) recently posted…Win a Trip to Denver Sweepstakes
I need to get myself an iMac when I start to travel, it would definitely be hard to blog while travelling without a laptop! Great list, definitely need to add a couple of these to my list!
Krista recently posted…Letter to Future Self
I love my Macbook Pro and wouldn’t leave home without it now 🙂
Great list! Still need to get the MB Pro, but everything else is in place 🙂
Hi Claire,
Awesome list, thank you! Do you have any recommendations for a quality backpack that can fit all that equipment?
Thank you and stay safe!
Hi Dave, take a look at our review of this Osprey bag: https://tinboxtraveller.co.uk/best-rucksack-for-travelling-osprey-farpoint-40-backpack-review/ It comes with us on most trips now
Hi Claire,
Thank you, will check it now!
All the best,
Dave