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I receive regular emails asking about my camera setup, my travel gear, and blogging resources. Here are some of my current favorite travel must-haves, and you can also check extensive posts about my toiletries, dive gear, and South America packing list.

Photography

Canon Rebel T2i: At the time of purchase, this was the cheapest Canon body that featured HD video recording. I would love 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 32 GB Memory Card: This card is a must if you want to capture HD Video with your dSLR camera. 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!

Mini Memory Card Reader: Gets photos from camera to computer!

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.

Eagle Creek Afar Backpack: My carry-on bag, also known as my mobile office. Hold all gear and electronics.

Eagle Creek Packable: In the past, when I wanted to go on a daytrip or hike or whatever that required a backpack, I’d have to completely empty my carry-on which is stuffed with all my electronics and other valuables and repack those items elsewhere. Now, I just pull out my palm-sized Packable and fill ‘er up. It’s also great to take along if I think I might be hitting a market or a grocery store throughout the day.

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

Kensington Laptop Lock: Light and portable peace-of-mind. I use this to secure my laptop to furniture when I’m out and about, leaving me feeling much more secure about leaving my baby behind.

Blogging

WordPress: This blog is proudly powered by WordPress. Amazingly, it is free. I don’t know why anyone uses anything else!

Bluehost: When I first started out, Bluehost took care of my domain names and hosting. As I expanded they no longer fit my needs but they are a great option if you’re just starting out.

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.

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.

Chris Richardson at RTW Labs: Chris is my go-to web developer and I now also host my blog through him. He has dug me out of many holes and saved me from countless blogging meltdowns. If you contact him I promise you’ll be in good hands!

All of the above are affiliate links and I will earn a percentage of the sale if you purchase through them at absolutely no extra cost to you! This helps keep my site running at no extra cost to you — so thanks!