ROAD TRIP STORE
“I may not have ended up where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.”
– Douglas Adams
Whether you’re planning your first road trip, just stepping into the exciting world of travel, or looking for ways to improve your experience on your next trip, we’ve got you covered!
In this guide, we’ve compiled a complete list of all our must-have travel gear and accessories, including comfortable road trip clothing, the latest travel gadgets, and more. Each item has been carefully selected, and we’ve included only our tried-and-true favourites.
Are you considering starting your own travel blog or social media account? Do you simply enjoy documenting your travels? Scroll to the bottom for a list of the camera gear and blogging/content creation tools we trust and love.
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Best Travel Clothing & Accessories
Road Trip Inspired T-Shirts
Celebrate your love of road-tripping or show your hometown pride with our collection of road-trip-themed T-shirts. These unisex design shirts are soft and lightweight, making them the perfect choice for long hours in the car or exploring a new destination. Choose from your favourite area code, city name, or a fun road-trip quote/graphic. Designed by Christopher’s brother Mark from Inspired X, there’s something for every traveller.
- EnergeticSky Walk Traction Crampons: If you’re travelling during the winter season, a set of crampons is a great investment. These easily slide onto any boot or shoe to give you added traction. They’ve protected us from slipping and falling on several occasions!
AQUANATOR Rain Jacket
Designed in-house by MEC, the AQUANATOR® is a durable and stylish rain jacket that’s built to last. The 2.5-layer construction provides reliable protection against rain and moisture, while the breathable design ensures you stay comfortable even during moderate activity.
Check it out: Men’s & Women’s
ZIONOR Lagopus Ski/Snowboard Goggles
Before hitting the slopes, you should check our favourite ski goggles. Not only are these incredibly comfortable, but they offer anti-fog and UV protection. That means they protect your eyes and ensure a clear view of the slop ahead. The goggles come in a variety of different colours from neutral black and grey to bright, bold blues and pinks.
Check them out HERE.
NORTIV Men’s Ankle High Waterproof Hiking Boots: The best hiking boots vary from person to person due to several factors, like arch support, ankle support, and more. But we can honestly say that these NORTIV boots are comfortable and stand up well to regular wear and tear.
Must-Have Road Trip Gear
Igloo South Coast Black Snapdown Backpack
This convenient backpack cooler allows you to pack your favourite snacks and beverages for your next road trip. The EPPE liner wipes clean easily with a wet cloth and is leak-resistant, protecting your car from unnecessary spills. In addition to the usual cooler grab handles, it has padded backpack straps, allowing you to stay fueled wherever your travels take you. Check it out HERE.
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240
Are you planning on spending a little time off the grid? Whether you’re camping for the weekend or simply stopping for a quick rest, this power station will keep you going. There are larger options available, but the 240 Wh has been enough for our needs. When it’s running low, just plug it into your vehicle or an outlet at your destination.
Check it out HERE.
Garmin Drive 52 GPS Navigator
Ensure you always know where you’re going with this easy-to-use GPS navigator. Detailed maps for Canada and the US ensure we always reach our destination with as little stress as possible. The best part about this GPS is that it’s ready to go right out of the box, meaning no complicated set-up is needed. Check it out HERE.
- Totally Bamboo 12-Piece Reusable Bamboo Flatware Set: Be prepared for your next meal on the road with this lightweight and durable flatware. It’s made from bamboo, making it an eco-friendly option. They clean easily by hand washing or toss them in the dishwasher when you get home because they are dishwasher safe, too.
- Trip Chaser First Edition – A Strategic Card Game: If you’re looking for a fun game for your next vacation, check out this one. Suitable for kids aged 10 and up, it’s a fun choice for family-friendly trips and adult couples alike.
- Nufiwra Set of 3 Car Privacy Curtains: This is a great solution for those planning to get shuteye during an extended road trip. The set includes a curtain to divide the driver’s seat from the passenger seat and two smaller curtains for the side windows. We use two sets (to block the back window, too) to turn our SUV into a tent alternative.
- Kirkland Signature Expect More Paper Towels/Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue/Kirkland Signature Kitchen Bags: They may not be the most exciting items on your road trip packing list, but let’s be practical for a moment. From cleaning up spills and messes to being prepared for whatever conditions you may encounter during your travels, these are staples we won’t leave home without.
Best Travel Gear
Moleskine Cahier Journal
This journal is the perfect solution for planning your upcoming travels, tracking important information, and recording the details of your favourite travel memories. We use it to write down details (smells, sights, sounds) and names of people, places, foods, objects, events, etc., that we would later refer to when creating travel content.
Its flexible yet durable cover helps it withstand the wear and tear of travel, including being tucked into your backpack or tossed in your glove box. We always have one close at hand.
Check it out HERE.
MEC Outpost Roller 40L
Our favourite Carry-on bag! Both of us have one, and we use it for road trips and overseas travel. They also have a lifetime warranty.
Glide effortlessly and quietly, exuding a touch of understated sophistication. The sturdy build is water-resistant and resilient enough to handle being thrown into boats or jostled on baggage carousels. Expansion straps provide extra space for souvenirs or when you wish to pack just one more sweater.
Check it out HERE
Thule Chasm 110L Wheeled Duffle
It’s the best investment we’ve ever made—and we say investment because it’s more expensive. We’ve travelled enough to know we need something that can take a beating, plus it has a lifetime warranty.
The Chasm glides effortlessly through airports and transit hubs. The water-resistant material repels rain while waiting for public transport. Internal mesh pockets help maintain organization and tidiness. Hydro Flask 40 Oz Wide Flex Cap Black/Hyd.
Check it out HERE
- Hydro Flask 40 Oz Wide Flex Cap Black/Hydro Flask 32 Oz Wide Flex Straw Cap Black: Stay hydrated with our favourite insulated bottles from Hydro Flask. They will keep your drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours (40 Oz bottle only), letting you bring your favourite beverage along. The leakproof cap has a Flex Strap to easily grab and go.
- TiCK MiTT Tick Removal Glove: If your travels take you outdoors, you must protect yourself from ticks. The growing number of these pests across Canada and the US is a very real concern. This effective tick-removal tool is chemical-free and safe for all ages (even pets).
- Thule Suitcase
Camera Gear & Accessories
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo
This handheld vlogging camera has everything you need to take high-quality video on the go, making it perfect for travel vloggers. It offers high-quality 4K resolution, mechanical stabilization for smooth videos (even when you’re on the move), and crystal-clear audio. The camera is small enough to easily tuck into your pocket before heading out on your next adventure. Check it out HERE.
DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo
This waterproof action camera is another go-to camera for our content creation. It performs surprisingly well in cold environments, recording without a problem in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. It also records surprisingly clear footage, even in low-light settings. If you push the limits with your adventures, this camera is the best option to keep up with you. Check it out HERE.
- Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone: This USB-C microphone is an excellent option for boosting the audio quality of voiceovers, podcasting, and other content creation. It can be used as a handheld microphone or with the included stand. The built-in headphone jack lets you monitor directly from the microphone to ensure you get precisely the recording you need.
- RØDE Wireless Go II Single Ultra-Compact Dual-Channel Wireless Microphone System: This is our go-to solution for recording clear audio on the go. Its internal memory can record over 40 hours for those longer days of travel and content creation.
- Samsung T7 1TB Portable SSD: This external hard disk drive backs up your photos and videos quickly and easily. It’s also available in 2TB and 4TB sizes. This external drive gives us peace of mind, knowing that if something happens to our computer, we’re not going to lose all our hard work.
- LaCie Rugged Mini 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD: This is another external hard disk drive that we use on our travels; it is the best option when on the move. While other disk drives can be damaged easily, this one is drop, shock, dust, and rain-resistant.
Other camera accessories we use and rely on routinely in our content creation include:
- Benro MeFOTO Roadtrip Travel Tripod: Convenient tripod that folds up to a quarter of its size for travel and extends to full size when needed
- EUCOS 62” Phone Tripod: Portable phone tripod and selfie stick with a remote
- SmallRig Clamp with Articulating Magic Arm: Mount your camera on umbrellas, crossbars, and other surfaces
- Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3: Reliable clip to attach your camera to any strap or belt for safe filming on the go
- DJI Osmo Action Quick-Release Adapter Mount: Easily transform your tripod and other camera gear into a magnetic quick-release solution that best suits the fast pace of travel creation
- Sametop Tripod Mount Adapter Screw Mount: Sturdier and more rustproof tripod mount suitable for use with most action cameras
- Ulanzi Select Phone Tripod Mount Holder for iPhone: Allows you to use your favourite tripod with your phone
- Osmo Pocket 3 Expansion Adapter: Enables you to use a cold shoe and action camera port with your Osmo Pocket 3
- Osmo Pocket 3 Black Mist Filter: Address flares, image sharpness, and blemishes on your Osmo Pocket 3
- RØDE Microphones DCS-1 Dual Cold Shoe Mount: Mounts two microphones or cold shoe accessories to your device, including cable management slots
- Glide Gear 3 in 1 Laptop Mount Cell Phone Prompter: Turn your cellphone into a teleprompter to help guide your content creation
- SanDisk256GB Extreme microSDXC Memory Card with Adaptor: Always carry backup memory cards so you don’t run out of space for your photos and videos
- Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L: Comfortable sling back with plenty of space to carry all your camera gear
Blogging & Content Creation Tools
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop
A reliable laptop is one of the most essential pieces of gear you need for blogging and content creation. It is your home base for work—your “virtual office.” We are #TeamApple, preferring to do our work on our MacBook Pro. It easily handles all the tasks necessary to maintain our content creation journey, including photo and video editing. Of course, it also connects seamlessly with our iPhones, making it easy to move between devices. Check it out HERE.
Western Digital 4 TB My Cloud Home
Many content creators pay monthly to rent cloud storage space for their photos and images. However, we quickly realized that we could save money long-term by investing in our own. This eliminates the subscription fees, meaning it quickly pays for itself! It is also available in 2TB and 8TB sizes. The cloud can be set up to auto-backup any photos and videos on your phone, so you never have to worry about losing your content again. Check it out HERE.
- VIVO Electric Height Adjustable Stand-Up Desk: As a content creator, you will spend a lot of time in front of a computer. This desk allows us to easily adjust from sitting to standing, which has been proven to help reduce the health complications associated with sitting for long hours daily. Plus, it’s large enough to hold all our gear.
- Lacdo 14” Laptop Sleeve Case: Travelling with your MacBook or laptop always comes with risk. This laptop sleeve offers shockproof lining, a corner armour design, and a spill-resistant canvas exterior. Plus, the handle makes it easy for us to carry.
- Psitek Aluminum Vertical Laptop Stand Dock Holder: Safely store your MacBook (or laptop, if you’re a Windows user) vertically to save space in your office. There is also a two-slot option for those with multiple devices.
- PC Gaming Headset Hanger Mount: Store your headset under your desk and out of sight. This is another way we save valuable desk space in our office while keeping all the gear we require close at hand.
- SortRax Small Receipt Coupon Organizer: Bookkeeping is a necessary part of being a content creator, which includes keeping all your receipts organized and available. This keeps our documents sorted by month, making it easy to find what we need quickly.
- YouTube Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Following and Making Money as a Video Influencer: Sean Cannell and Benji Travis share the lessons they have learned from two decades of experience as online video experts on the YouTube platform. This has helped us establish a working plan for successfully building our channel.