Gear and Books for Nomad Life

The right gear for nomad life must be portable, durable, and flexible. From carry-on bags to shoes, pants, socks, books, and a complete packing list, we have nomad life gear recommendations for full-time travelers.

The clothes and gear you’ve used in the past won’t work for nomad life. Each piece of nomad clothing must to do two jobs. It’s the best way to lighten your luggage and save your sanity on your laundry chores.

We only recommend gear that we use and wear, and we only recommend books we’ve read. Let’s start with shoes.

Shoes for Nomad Life

We carry two pair of shoes each in our full-time traveling life. We each wear a waterproof sandal and a waterproof pair of trail runners. Sometimes we swap the trail runners for boots if lots of hiking is ahead.

Our current shoe set up: We wear Keen and Hoka shoes including their sandals, trail runners, and hiking boots.

We haven’t found the perfect pair of shoes, but all of these have achieved our criteria above. When possible, we only get our shoes from REI due to their outstanding return policy. If we can’t get to an REI, we often buy directly from Keen. Click on each shoe for a direct link to its specs.

Socks for Nomad Life

Socks need to work overtime. You’ll probably wash them out in the sink many times. Shoes for nomad life must be versatile, comfortable, durable, and lightweight.

The Best Socks for Nomad Life: Bombas Socks (my honest review)
Bombas vs Darn Tough Socks (Who wins?)

Korkers Ice Cleat Review for Hikers

Pants for Nomad Life

Pants for nomad life must be lightweight, travel well, look nice, possible go on the trail, and maybe even be worn to dinner. Find the perfect pair of pants for nomad life is tough.

Chris wears Kuhl pants and Patagonia.
Steve wears Kuhl pants and North Face.

kuhl pants pockets
Lots of great pockets in Steve’s Kuhl pants

Nomad Life Carry-On Bags

Both Steve and Chris use the same carry-on bag, which we review in the video below. We use the Osprey Transporter 40 Wheeled. Click on the image for a direct link to the bag’s specs.

Is Osprey worth it? Here is my review after two years of using the Osprey.

The Osprey Transporter 40 Wheeled is our recommended bag.

Nomad Life Complete Packing List

Our entire packing list for nomad life and everything we use is available in our Amazon store.

packing list for nomad life

Packing Light for Nomad Life

Need tips on how to pack light? We use a technique called bundling, and it’s the best way to pack your carry on bag for nomad life. Watch this video of our bundling technique.

We review our luggage and share our secrets for how we pack light.

Nomad Life Books Written by Experts

Chris has written three number one best sellers including the bible for nomad life, Two Carry-Ons and a Plan. Get your copy on Amazon.

list of books by chris englert
Here are all of Chris’ books for sale
list of books by chris englert
Books written and for sale by Chris Englert