The Best Gear for Travel
Pack Hacker is a resource for the lightest, best looking, and most functional travel gear.
Packing Guides
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Vegan World Travel Gear Guide
Our vegan travel gear guide is the ultimate way to maintain your diet & lifestyle on the road. From fueling your travels with plant-based meals, to choosing vegan-friendly gear, we cover it all.
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The Best Camera Kit for Your Travels
This guide covers how to choose the best travel camera kit for you. We cover it all, from a simple smartphone to a compact point and shoot, all the way up to mirrorless and DSLR. Plus, our recommendations for camera backpacks, slings, and travel tripods for YouTube or vlogging.
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How to Make the Most of Merino Wool Travel Clothing
From t-shirts & sweaters to underwear & socks—Merino wool is soft, naturally breathable, & stink resistant, making it a magical fabric for travel.
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How to Choose the Best Carry-on Travel Backpack for You
The best travel backpack is unique for each person. We break down how to choose your perfect one bag carry-on into 5 easy sections, plus, we include packs like the Osprey Farpoint, GORUCK GR2, Peak Design Travel Backpack, and more! (Updated for Fall 2018)
Tested Travel Gear
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Radian by Mission Workshop
The Mission Workshop Radian is a bag enthusiasts dream. A highly customizable, unique travel pack with a proprietary accessory system, smart design, and unbelievable carry. The bad part? It’s heavy, bulky, and not ideal for air travel.
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GorillaPod by Joby
The versatile JOBY GorillaPod doesn’t extend like a “traditional” tripod, but we like how it can be used as a stabilizer, stand, and wrapping mount. It’s lightweight and compact too, which is great for travel.
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Eclipse Water Bottle by Vapur
The Vapur Eclipse is an ultra compressible water bottle that is optimized for travel. If you can get past some awkward drinking maneuvers and a lack of insulation, this just might be one of the best travel water bottles on the market.
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Splitpack by Fjallraven
We’ve been impressed with the durability and craftsmanship of the Fjallraven Splitpack, but it lacks in some key areas. There’s no laptop compartment, water bottle pocket, and most importantly, it’s not comfortable to carry.
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Women’s Barely Baggies™ Shorts by Patagonia
The Patagonia Women’s Barely Baggies™ Shorts are a versatile, lightweight pair of shorts designed to be worn in and out of the water—and they’ve proven to be great for just that. Although, if you plan on doing any excessive bending and grooving in these shorts, the lack of lining might be an issue.
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GR1 by GORUCK
The GORUCK GR1 is a medium-sized travel pack that can handle just about anything you might want to throw at it. With its simple design, precise craftsmanship, and durable materials—it is built to last. And while we do love it, the heavy weight and high price can be hard to swallow.
Pack Hacker Blog
Taking a Belated Gap Year – With Mel McFarland and Sam Sparks
After building satisfying careers, Mel McFarland and Sam Sparks decided it was time to take their belated gap year. They strategically packed their bags, left their jobs, and traveled across the world while documenting their adventures.
How To Earn an Income Remotely – With Kate Smith
Kate Smith booked a one-way ticket to Prague and never looked back. She’s been country-hopping and helping others find their passion and purpose ever since.
Falling In Love With New Countries – With Brittney Martinson
Brittney Martinson has traveled to 40+ countries and continues to see both old and new destinations in different perspectives. Here she gives tips on traveling with eco-friendly women hygiene products and more.
Wandering Around the World – With Shalee Wanders
Shalee Blackmer has traveled to 30+ countries, lived out of a van, and has even wrote a guide on how to camp with cats. She’s from the Great Lakes state but you can find her just about anywhere nowadays.