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HB Mertz - Essential Travel Gear

by HB Mertz February 22, 2016

Continuing in our series on new team member and adventure photographer HB Mertz, we're talking about some of the gear he takes on his travels.

"Other than all my camera gear, I have a pretty set list of non-negotiable items that are always in my bags. After traveling so much, you realize what items really come in handy, especially in cold conditions. So, here's a list of a few things I never forget:"

My computer. Mainly used for editing and doing research on the area I'm in.
Nail clippers. I carry these for hangnails. I seem to get them a lot when my hands dry out, and they can be really annoying. I'm not joking when I can't say enough how valuable these are.
Vaseline. This is an essential for your hands and lips in cold and very windy weather.
A beanie. Even though I've traveled to warm places, you never know how cold its going to get at night, especially when sleeping in the front seat of a car. This helps keep in a lot of body heat, support for when you don't have a pillow, and covers your eyes for sleep.
Ipod. I'm always listening to music or podcasts on long drives. I'll turn around if I ever forget this.
Double walled water bottles. My friends over at Mizu Life make these awesome double walled bottles that keep liquids hot and cold for a crazy long amount of time. After Mizu sent me a few, they've never left my side on a trip.
Camp mugs. There's too many uses for these to list!
Headlamp and flashlight. Being prepared in the dark is always a good idea.
Sunglasses. (self explanatory, we think)
A few books and my Bible.
A bluetooth speaker.
A power inverter and extra charging cables. These have come in handy more times than I can count.
Bottle cap opener.
Print copies of passport and driver's license. Better safe than sorry if you lose your wallet.

"Continue to refine your gear list over time so that you can maximize your space and make it easier on yourself to travel. Figure out what works for you and stick with it. Nobody wants to be carrying around tons of gear, only to find they never even use half of it. If its a large item, and you don't think you're going to use it, don't bring it. It's that simple."

Come back for more this week as we ask HB some more questions you won't want to miss.

If you would like to contact HB Mertz, you can reach him at (hb@wildernessculture.com). Follow his journeys on..

@HBMertz