It’s been about two and a half years since I started living as a digital nomad.
During that time, I’ve lived while moving between multiple countries—and there are a few items I can honestly say I’m really glad I bought.
When you live as a nomad or travel long-term, you inevitably face stresses you rarely notice in Japan, such as:
- Background noise ruining online meetings
- Living with just one pair of shoes—and serious odor problems
- Constant anxiety about skimming, theft, and money
- Different voltages and plugs preventing your laptop from charging
- Accommodations that are far more minimal than expected
The conclusion first:
The items I’m introducing here are carefully selected based on real experience and are especially suited for:
- People who want to start a nomad lifestyle
- Those who want to work while traveling abroad long-term
Why Nomads Are Prone to Inconvenience
Nomad life essentially means:
“Reducing luggage” = “Eliminating alternatives.”
As a result, situations like these happen frequently:
- No easy replacement
- If it breaks, you’re immediately stuck
- Hard to buy locally—or very expensive
If you ignore these issues,
your work quality drops and traveling itself becomes stressful.
That’s why choosing “gear that’s hard to fail with” from the start makes a huge difference in how comfortable your nomad life will be.
Product & Service Reviews (Based on Real Experience)
🎧 Plantronics Poly Voyager
The Ultimate Headset for Nomads
If you work online, Zoom and other meetings are unavoidable.
But in cafés or accommodations, background noise is often picked up heavily, sometimes bothering the person on the other end.
This headset offers NASA-level noise-canceling performance, cutting out almost all external noise.
Real experience:
I’ve used it since my corporate employee days, and there have been many times when someone vacuumed nearby and the other person couldn’t hear a thing.
- Single-ear, ultra-lightweight
- Fits easily in your pocket
- Can be charged directly without a case
👉 If you have even one online meeting, this should be your top priority
👟 WILL CLENS Shoe Powder
A Lifesaver for One-Pair-of-Shoes Living
As a nomad or long-term traveler, you usually live with just one pair of shoes.
Especially if you walk a lot or stay in hot countries,
shoe odor can become a serious issue.
With this powder, just sprinkle it inside your shoes once or twice at the end of the day—and they’re almost odorless the next morning.
Notes:
- Lasts 5–6 months even with daily use
- The hotter the country, the more effective it feels
- Takes up virtually no space
👉 A must-have if you’re heading to hot regions
💳 Sonic Ace Anti-Skimming Card
Simple Insurance Against Credit Card Fraud
One common overseas trouble is credit card skimming.
Since I started using this card,
I haven’t experienced a single incident.
- Thin and lightweight
- Doesn’t get in the way in your wallet
- Inexpensive
Money trouble alone can ruin a trip instantly,
so prevention matters.
👉 An insurance item you hope you’ll never need
🎒 Karrimor Daypack
The Ultimate Carry-On Backpack
This is the backpack I use for my nomad life.
- Carry-on size
- Opens fully for easy packing
- Zipper compatible with padlocks
- No signs of breaking even after over a year of use
It’s comfortable to wear, and honestly, I can’t imagine using anything else.
Its clean design works for everyday and business use too—
so it won’t go to waste after your travels end.
👉 For those who want one backpack for nomad life, long trips, and daily use
🔒 ZHEGE TSA Cable Lock
Lightweight and Practical Security Gear
A cable-type lock that works both for backpacks and hostel lockers.
- Lighter than metal locks
- Easy to handle
- TSA-approved
Losing valuables alone can drastically reduce travel satisfaction.
👉 When it comes to security, “a bit too much” is just right
🩴 Flip-Flop Sandals
An Essential Secondary Shoe for Travel
In many countries, indoor spaces still require shoes.
In dorms, it’s common to walk to the shower wearing footwear.
That often leads to soaked shoes—and instant regret.
Flip-flops are:
- Thin and compact
- Perfect for shower trips
- Convenient for quick outings
👉 Far more recommended than Crocs
💨 Dual-Voltage Hair Dryer
A Small but Important Daily Essential
Some accommodations simply don’t provide hair dryers.
If your hair air-dries:
- Pillows start to smell
- You’re more likely to get sick
Key points to look for:
- International voltage support
- Foldable
- Lightweight
🔌 Universal Travel Adapter
The Lifeline of Nomad Life
Without this:
No laptop charging = no work = game over 😄
Recommended features:
- Supports multiple countries
- Lightweight
- Two or more ports
👉 Highest priority item to prepare
👁 ICL (Implantable Contact Lenses)
The Best Vision Correction for Long-Term Nomads
This isn’t travel-specific—
it’s something I’m glad I did at a life level.
- No contact lens maintenance
- Safe even in areas with poor water quality
- Less luggage
Unlike LASIK, it doesn’t shave the cornea,
so you keep more future options.
※ Some post-surgery restrictions apply (e.g., wearing goggles)
👉 Recommended only after securing time off for recovery
Who Doesn’t Need Everything
You don’t need all of these if you’re:
- Traveling short-term (under one week)
- Staying only domestically
- Traveling purely for rest
However,
the longer and more nomadic your travel is, the more valuable these become.
Conclusion: Comfort in Nomad Life Comes Down to Gear
Nomad life is free and exciting—but
small inconveniences pile up and quickly become stress.
Everything introduced here was chosen based on:
- 2.5 years of real experience
- Durability
- Not increasing luggage
- Clearly reducing stress
You don’t need everything.
But even preparing just one item in advance will make your journey noticeably easier.
If you’re about to start a nomad lifestyle
or plan to work while traveling abroad long-term,
I hope this helps.
