Gear & Products

I receive occasional emails asking about my camera, my gear, and my blogging setup. I do extensive research before I make big purchases, and I’m a serial returner if something doesn’t live up to the hype. So when I’m happy with a purchase I want to shout it from my virtual rooftop! Here are some of my current favorite travel products.

Photography

Canon Rebel T2i: I upgraded to this camera body before my trip to Scotland because it was the cheapest Canon body that featured HD Video recording. I would loved to have invested in the wonderful 7D body, but it was just way out of my price range. This body is definitely heavier than my Canon Rebel Xsi starter camera body, but the extra weight and cost was worth the upgrade.

Canon 15-85mm Wide Angle Zoom Lens: My go to lens! This rarely leaves my camera. At its widest it’s perfect for cityscapes and interior shots while being long enough to capture detail when I want to get in a bit closer. I would loved to have sprung for an L-series lens but again, out of this travel blogger’s budget!

Canon 70-300mm Telephoto Zoom Lens: I purchased this lens last-minute before I left for Scotland with some gift money that I was instructed to “spend frivolously.” I admit that I don’t take it out that often, but when I do use it it’s killer. Perfect for wildlife photography and for capturing people’s natural behavior on the sly.

SanDisk Extreme Flash memory card – 32 GB – Class 10: You might cry when you see the price of this memory card, but it’s necessary if you want to capture HD Video with your dSLR camera. And it is SO WORTH going for the maximum GB you can afford if it means never again sitting there clearing out old photos and missing a great shot in the meantime.

Canon PowerShot S100 and The Canon Underwater Housing : All underwater shots on my site (from June 2012 forward, earlier photos are with an earlier model) are taken with this setup. I don’t just use them for diving, either. They’ve come along for whitewater rafting, boat trips, and beach days. These were hands down the best purchases I ever made. Find a full review here!

Gear

Osprey Aether 85 Backpack: My mobile home, also known as my backpack. I searched long and hard for a small frame backpack that had front access and not just top access. This makes it possible to search for a clean pair of underwear without unpacking the entire bag! Osprey is a great company and has a lifetime guarantee on all products, meaning they will repair for any reason, free of charge, any damage or defect. If they are unable to perform a functional repair on your pack, they will happily replace it.

High Sierra Access Backpack: I picked this pack up on a whim at a random sports shop in the mall. This gets tons of use as both my front pack on long trips (holding camera gear and valuables) and my main pack on shorter jaunts. Everyone who puts it on comments that it is the most comfortable backpack in the world, and I agree! It also has a laptop sleeve, which was really important to me.

Pacsafe Luggage Travelsafe 12L Climbing Pack, Black, One Size: An expensive but worth-it accessory. I can lock my computer, camera, and passport in this portable safe and secure it to anything in a hotel room, leaving me to enjoy the day with peace of mind.

Blogging

Elegant Themes: I have purchased themes from many different sites before, and Elegant Themes is my favorite. The price for access to all themes is extremely reasonable, and any theme tweak question I have is quickly answered by someone in the forums.
Blue Host: Blue Host takes care of my domain names and hosting. They have great prices and excellent customer service (an actual human takes my phone calls!) Highly recommended.
WordPress: This blog is proudly powered by WordPress. Amazingly, it is free. I don’t know why anyone uses anything else!
Travel Blog Success: This program changed the way I looked at travel blogging and helped me move it from a hobby to a business. The member’s group gives me daily inspiration, feedback, and assistance. I couldn’t ask for a better program or community!
ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income: This book taught me a lot of the basics of professional blogging at an extremely affordable price. An easy and beneficial read.

All of the above are affiliate links and I will earn a percentage of the sale if you purchase through them. This helps keep my site running and myself traveling so please support in any way you can!