Best Gear for Traveling Creators

Best Gear for Traveling Creators

This holiday season, if you’re shopping for a remote content creator, look for travel-friendly gear that allow creators to express their creativity without weighing them down. If you’re not sure what gear fits that bill, fear not. We’ve put together a list of  some of the best equipment for mobile content creators.

DJI is known for a wide range of devices—from drones to mics and more. Their reputation for creating amazing devices for users on the go is unprecedented. Those who love to record and film on their smartphone will find the Osmo Mobile 7P gimbal a fantastic piece of hardware. There are a ton of features packed into this tool including an extendable arm, integrated motors, built-in tripod, and USB-C charging. B&H also offers multiple kits that include additional tools made for the creator on the go.

DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Smartphone Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Smartphone Gimbal

Instead of using a smartphone to create content, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a unique device that features a high-resolution camera complete with an enhanced CMOS sensor, full pixel fast focusing, and a neat 2” rotatable screen. This enables creators to film their content while out and about, whether they are in the woods, walking along the shore, every moment can be captured with up to 4K120 resolution for that clean, action-packed journey. It also has built-in microphones designed to capture any moment, making vlogging possible in so many environments.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI Osmo Pocket 3

Another amazing device from DJI is the Mic Mini wireless microphone system. You can clip the microphone to your shirt or use the magnets to place it where you need it. Meanwhile, the receiver can be plugged into a USB-C port or use the 3.5mm audio jack to transmit the sound directly to your device, whether that’s a smartphone, tablet, or even a laptop. There are several unique accessories that are included with the Mic Mini, including your choice of 1 or 2 transmitters. If you purchase the dual transmitter configuration, it comes in a neat box that charges each of the components.

DJI Mic Mini 2-Person Compact Wireless Microphone System for Camera & Smartphone
DJI Mic Mini 2-Person Compact Wireless Microphone System for Camera & Smartphone

When you are traveling, it’s best to travel as light as possible. That means picking devices that are lightweight and compact that won’t weigh you down. This is why I suggest the small yet powerful Lume Cube Panel Mini portable light. It features an aluminum housing with a frosted lens layer and a maximum 5600K color temperature, all working together to spread light evenly across your subject matter. It also features a 1/4"-20 thread on the bottom and side for mounting.

Lume Cube Panel Mini
Lume Cube Panel Mini

Speaking of traveling, the Oben CQL-13 is a fantastic tripod that is absolutely needed for solo-creators looking to record out and about. It has a 13-pound maximum load capacity, 2-way ball head with Arca-Type QR, and an adjustable working height range up to 51.1” tall. Most importantly though, it weighs only a pound and a half thanks to its carbon fiber construction.

Oben CQL-13 Compact Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with Ball Head
Oben CQL-13 Compact Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with Ball Head

Ulanzi is another company out there who has a huge selection of devices and equipment made for creators at home and on the go. But for content creators who are shooting on site and with their smartphone would find a ton of utility with their ST-27 Metal Smartphone Tripod Mount. With a full body metal construction, the ST-27 can withstand the outdoor elements with great ease. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the ST-27 is how it offers plenty of space for additional devices thanks to the three cold shoe mounts and three 1/4”-20 threaded receivers. The spring-loaded clamp is able to support smartphones measuring from 2.4 to 3.5” wide.

Ulanzi ST-27 Metal Smartphone Tripod Mount
Ulanzi ST-27 Metal Smartphone Tripod Mount

For folks who record and work on their tablet, the Ulanzi U-Pad III Metal Tripod Mount is a great adapter that is both sturdy and lightweight. It supports tablets from 4.7 to 12.9” wide, features a strong aluminum alloy construction, and also includes a built-in cold shoe mount to support additional devices like mics, lights, and even other adapters.

Ulanzi U-Pad III Metal Tripod Mount for Tablets & Phones
Ulanzi U-Pad III Metal Tripod Mount for Tablets & Phones

Another great gift to keep devices powered up would be a solid portable power bank. The Belkin BoostCharge Pro is a great portable battery pack with 20,000mAh capacity and 65W total shared output. It also has a nifty display that tells the user how much power is left. With a max capacity of 24,000mAh, the Anker 737 is a great alternative that also features an LCD display, multiple ports, and offers up to 140W of charging—great for travelers!

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-Port Laptop Power Bank
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-Port Laptop Power Bank

With all of these accessories, it could be difficult to properly accommodate each one of them, which is why devices like shoe brackets exist. The Vello V-Rig series brackets are such items that expand one single cold shoe bracket into three. There are various sizes that are designed to support various pieces of equipment too. If you want something more linear, Vello’s Cold Shoe Extension is also available and comes in multiple lengths up to 12” long.

Vello V-Rig 5" Triple Shoe Bracket
Vello V-Rig 5" Triple Shoe Bracket

When it comes to carrying all of your equipment, a solid backpack goes a long way. You’ll want something lightweight but with ample pockets to carry everything. That’s why I suggest a backpack like the Nomatic Backpack, which has ample room on the inside for your gear and 24 pockets to keep everything organized. The Nomatic Navigator Travel is also a great choice. It is more freeform on the inside, giving you tons of room for stuff like equipment, clothes, and more. The Pelican AEGIS Series Travel Backpack is also great and even has multiple lashing points outside of the shell so you can tether various gear on the outside like a tripod or water bottle for easier access.

Nomatic Navigator Travel 32L Backpack
Nomatic Navigator Travel 32L Backpack

There you have it, a ton of gifts for the remote content creator in your life. Make sure you hit all the links for more information about each of these wonderful products.