As an IT consultant, who is regularly ‘on the road’ for both business and pleasure, I’ve travelled with a lot of tech over the years! I’ve paired things back as bringing only the essentials and leaving everything behind.

Top Tips for Ultralight Travel Tech

  • Use your smartphone – My Google Pixel smart phone takes great pictures. I don’t bring separate cameras and video equipment. My phone case has an inbuilt stand so I don’t need a separate tripod.
  • If it’s not USBc, it’s not coming with me! Multiple connection types require more leads, adaptors and chargers. I do have a Withings Smart Watch which I sometimes bring. This lasts 25-30 days between charges and looks more like a dress watch. A lot less needy for charging than most smart watches!
  • Use a laptop with USBc charging and bring a 65W or 100W GAN Wall charger with you instead of the proprietary laptop charger (check requirements for your individual laptop).
  • Forget large international travel adaptors if you are only travelling in Europe, UK, US and AUS/NZ. Instead bring a 100W minix GAN Wall charger or UGREEN 65W Plug and the appropriate plug ends
  • Check the weight of travel tech organisers – some of them are very heavy or more heavy than others! I’ve slimmed my tech down to the point where I’m very happy with two cheap lightweight pouches for my laptop and accessories, shaving significant weight off my tech setup, without compromising on the tech itself!
Ultralight Tech setup included in my one small bag

Tech Gear List

Item/LinkWeight (g)More Info
Muji Double Two Zip Case (L) – used as a case for laptop, adaptor and folding mouse40This zip case fits the laptop perfectly plus Surface USBc Power Adapter and folding mouse in the second separate section.
Sostrene Grene Pouch for Tech accessories23No need for a bulky tech organiser with minimal tech. I bring a small cheap ultralight pouch instead
Microsoft Surface Go 3 10,5″ windows 2 in 1 +separate keyboard 789This works as a touchscreen tablet and as a fully functioning windows 11 laptop with the keyboard added (keyboard purchased separately – weight includes both)
Microsoft Surface USBc Power Adapter10The surface laptop will only fast charge via the dedicated surface connection. This is a tiny lead which will fit on the end of a USBc cable and allow you to plug into the surface power inlet for charging from the mains or my Iniu 10,000mAH tiny 45w powerbank
Microsoft Surface Arc Folding Mouse70Touchpad works well on the laptop, but I love this bluetooth foldable mouse – it is much admired!
UGREEN USB C Fast Charger 65W Ultra-Slim US/UK/EU Plug159A flat folding charger for US with plug ends for Europe and UK/ It charges all my devices successfully including my laptop with a fast charge USBc cable
Iniu 10,000mAH tiny 45w powerbank163Small but mighty! Includes a % charge display and included USBc to USbc cable. Charges all my devices, including my laptop. Acts as a ‘pass through’ to charge a second device when it is plugged in and comes with USBc and USBA. Love my yellow one!
Anker Fast Charge 1.8M PD cable18A longer cable. This, plus the one included with my powerbank is typically all I need. I keep a USBc to USBA adaptor in my wallet for charging in hotels and public spaces with USBa sockets.
Beats Fit Pro Noise Cancelling Earbuds62Haven’t felt the need for anything more fancy or expensive.
TOTAL including Pouches1,334

Travelling with a Laptop

I almost always travel with a laptop, but it adds significantly to the weight of my bag. Currently I have a tiny Microsoft Surface Go 3 10,5″ windows 2 in 1 +separate keyboard This is a fully functioning touchscreen windows 11 2in1 laptop and is the lightest I’ve found at 789g, It’s lighter than many tablets. It’s not the fastest or highest spec though! If I’m purely on a business trip, my regular day to day laptop 16″ LG Gram comes instead. That’s still pretty light at just over a kilo. The smallest in the LG gram range comes in at 999g. If you are in the market for a quality Windows lightweight laptop, I can recommend this range.

Travelling with an E-Reader

While I can read books on my phone, it does eat it into the phone battery and the bright blue screen alongside phone notifications is not ideal. It’s a bit of an indulgence from a weight point of view, although considerably lighter than bringing books!

I often bring a Kobo Clara Colour EReader with me. I’ve recently switched from Kindle and I’m not going back. I can download books for free from the library on it!

I’ve not included this in my pack weight as, like my phone, I tend to keep it about my person or in a small crossbody sling.

For trip inspiration start here

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