Lightweight Tech for Travel: What to Pack and What to Skip

When you’re trying to capture every moment, stay connected, and maybe even work remotely, it’s incredibly easy for travel tech to spiral out of control. One extra device usually means another cable, another charger, another adapter, sometimes even an extension lead. Tech might be small, but it isn’t always light, and adding “just one more thing” can quietly add a kilo or more to your bag.

Everyone has their own non-negotiables, of course. Mine may not be the same as yours, but by sharing my travel tech setup I hope to spark ideas for streamlining your own.

My kit comes to 1.6kg, excluding my phone (which I keep on me). It’s a compact setup that lets me work efficiently on the road, keeping my total bag weight under 6kg. If you’d like to see how the rest of my minimalist packing system fits together, you’ll find all of that in my other posts too.

Wanting to Lighten Your Load? Here’s Where You’ll Find Things

This guide may include a few affiliate links. If you choose to buy something through one of them, I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting One Small Bag and helping keep this resource ad-free and independent.

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Minimalist Tech For Travel – This Works For Me

✅Keep it Simple • ➖Less is More • 🎒Baggage Freedom

Mobile Phone

I’m not a vlogger or a professional photographer, so my first decision is simple: I use my phone for photos and video. My Pixel 7 Pro has a great camera and eSIM support – my two non-negotiables – and it’s always with me. It’s an older model now, but it’s still more than good enough for what I need, so I’ve no desire to upgrade just for the sake of it.

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Tech Pouch and Contents

Pictured: INIU 10,000mAh 45W with USB-C Cable , Beats Flex Wireless Earphones, Anker USBc to USBc 100W cable (1.8m), 65W PD Gan Wall Charger – UK/US/Europe, Basesailor USB-C to USB-A Adapter all packed in a £3 zip pouch from Sostrene Grene,

Ultralight Powerbank – Iniun10,000 45W with USB-C Cable

UGreen 65W PD Gan International Wall Charger

Beats Flex Earbuds

Beats Flex Wireless Earphones – I don’t get on with truly wireless earbuds. They never feel secure, and the idea of one dropping out mid-journey makes me nervous. So instead of AirPods (or the Android equivalents), I use the Beats Flex: Bluetooth earbuds with a lightweight neckband-style wire.

They snap together magnetically when not in use, pausing the audio and keeping them safely around my neck. No rummaging for the phone, no tiny case to lose, no fiddly controls. Just simple, reliable, and ideal for travel.

They’re not noise-cancelling, which I actually prefer when I’m out and about. I like to stay aware of what’s going on around me. For planes and trains, I can use a hat or buff over my ears, or my Loop earplugs, if necessary. And frankly, I’m not afraid to tell someone to be quiet if I have to.

Little silicone “leashes” for AirPods are becoming popular now, which makes me smile. It’s basically what the Beats Flex already are. Wireless earphones… with wires. We’ve come full circle.

Long USB-C to USB-C Cable

Anker USBc to USBc 100W cable (1.8m) A longer cable, which supports 100W fast charging. I’ve photographed a shorter one here, as the original one was recently misplaced. Something longer than a metre is ideal. I have a shorter cable included with the battery pack, so I have a second cable, so I’m not relying on one.

USB-C to USB-A adapter

Basesailor USB-C to USB-A Adapter: A tiny USB-C to USB-A adapter is always useful. There’s plenty of USB-A charging ports about, especially in public spaces, train or bus seats and hotel rooms. This little adapter lets me take advantage of these ports with a USB-C to USB-C fast charge cable. I have a couple of these, including one I keep in my wallet, so it’s always with me.

Zip Pouch

Sostrene Grene Zip pouch: I’ve bought more specialist tech pouches over the years than I care to admit. They often turn out to be too bulky, or they’re designed around specific gear layouts that no longer make sense once you change your tech. I’m after simple solutions now. That’s options which keep things contained, and accessible without adding too much bulk or weight. The fewer the items, the simpler the storage can be. I have a simple pouch, with a gusset in the base, which can stand up on its own for all the little tech items. Bonus: It costs £3.28 and it weighs only a few grammes. It probably won’t last for ever, but it’s still holding up after 18 months of daily use, so that’s all good with me,

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Kobo – My Upgrade from Kindle

Kobo Clara Colour E-reader: Lighter, calmer, USB-C charged, no ads and I don’t pay for most of my books. My Kobo Clara Colour E-reader is lightweight, compact and a joy to use.

• Muted colour screen — great for maps, guides, and non-fiction
• USB-C charging with long battery life
• No distractions or lockscreen ads
• Free books! Comes with Overdrive integration. This means I can download E-books from the library or other services like Borrowbox
• Cheaper than colour Kindles

I have a cover, which is heavier than I’d like, but at least it protects it.

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Ultralight Laptop

I’m an IT consultant, blogger and general tech geek, so a laptop is essential. I’m not in Team Apple, which means my choices are more complicated than “buy the newest shiny MacBook.” After a lot of research, and after finally hammering my last laptop into the ground, I went for the HP Aero 7 Omnibook (13.3”).

It meets my one non-negotiable: sub-1kg. It’s actually 990g, which is close enough for ultralight travel, and it’s easily the most competent Windows laptop I’ve used in that weight class. If, like me, you have memories of those old, heavy, sluggish HP Pavilion bricks, you can forget all that. HP has genuinely moved the dial, and in the right direction.

I’ve been really pleased with it: bright display, excellent keyboard, fast performance, and it disappears into my backpack. Exactly what I need when travelling light.

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Chipolo Tracker

Apple Airtags are everywhere, and with good reason, but those of us outside the Apple ecosystem, have been left out. There haven’t been a lot of alternatives, which track beyond the immediate environment, like Apple Airtags do. After plenty of testing, I’ve found Chipolo. It’s well on the way to competing with Airtags, and, in some respects, it’s ahead. I keep one in my passport wallet and one in my travel bag.

Chipolo Pop trackers work with Apple Find My or Google Find My Device, Here’s a quick run down of some of the features and differences with Airtags

• Chipolo come in different colours for easy identification, they’re brighter and a little lighter than airtags
• They have a built in keyring holder – no extra holder to buy
• Easy to change the battery, without tools – it’s a standard CR2032 battery. Both last about a year
• Extras such as ringing my phone and out of range alerts are available on the app
• Other form factors are available in the chipolo range such as credit card shaped trackers for wallets
• Airtags still win when it comes to ultra-precise ‘point me there’ tracking – especially in iPhone-dense areas
• Airtags have better water resistance

Weight: Chipolo Pop 8g, Chipolo Card 16g

What I Don’t Pack (and Why)

I log the weight of everything in my bag on a spreadsheet, so I can scrutinise the real value of everything and these are the decisions I’ve made:

• No camera or video equipment– My phone takes great picture, and more importantly, I always have it with me. Of course if I was a vlogger or professional photographer, I’d want a drone and more, but I’m not so I don’t.
• No separate tablet – With a laptop, e-reader and phone, I don’t need anything else.
• No international cube plug adapters – Too bulky. I use a single GaN charger with modular plug ends (UK/US/EU). That covers a huge number of countries. I’ll pick up a cheap local adapter if I need more.
• No smartwatch – It’s another thing to charge daily, and honestly, it doesn’t add enough value to my life over and above my phone and trusty analogue watch.
• No multiple charging bricks – Everything I bring charges via USB-C. The plug charger I use can charge both laptop and phone and quickly. There’s pass through capabilities on the battery pack. One plug with 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port is enough provided I don’t bring more gadgets.
• No Lightning or micro-USB cables – If it’s not USB-C, it’s not coming with me. That’s my rule, It’s that simple.
• No purpose-built tech pouches and laptop sleeves – Most are over-engineered, bulky and weighty. Simple, ultralight zip pouches suit my setup.

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Weight Table for this Ultralight Tech Setup

So here’s a summary of everything. I’ve added weights too.

Item	Weight of Items in Travel Bag
HP Aero 7 Omnibook 13.3″ Laptop	990g
Kobo Clara Colour E-reader Moko Case for Kobo Clara Colour E-Reader	284g
UGreen 65W PD Gan Wall Charger with UK/US/Europe	159g
INIU 10,000mAh 45W with USB-C Cable	163g
Anker USBc to USBc 100W cable (1.8m)	19g
Basesailor USB-C to USB-A Adapter	3g
Beats Flex Wireless Earphones	19g
Sostrene Grene Small Pouch	18g
Chipolo Pop (in backpack)	8g
Total (Bag Only)*	1,655g

*Smartphone and Chipolo Card in wallet not included as those are kept on me, not in the bag.

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Travelling with less, gives you more freedom to enjoy the trip.

For more inspiration, here’s my travel capsule wardrobe for all seasons (fits in a small bag),  minimalist toiletry kit, a minimalist tech list including some small mini but mighty, travel accessories and a pouch of ‘just in case’ items which may interest you.

Do you have any favourite ultralight gadgets? Drop them in the comments — or let me know what you’ve managed to ditch and never missed. I love hearing how other travellers streamline their tech. I’m always learning and improving!

I hope you found this, useful. Thanks for Reading!

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