My Ultralight Travel Tech Kit: What I Pack, What I Skipped, and Why

I’ve been travelling with tech for work and for pleasure for over 30 years – as an IT consultant, I’ve been road-testing gear long before “digital nomad” was a thing. In that time, I’ve carried a lot of kit I didn’t need, and gradually worked out what I actually do. My current ultralight travel tech weighs 1.6kg, including a laptop and excluding my phone. My “tech pouch” is a £3.28 zip pouch from a Danish homeware shop. It weighs just 19g. Not because I couldn’t find anything better – but because once you pare things back far enough, you don’t need anything more. My tech, along with everything else, fits in my travel bag, which generally weighs under 6kg total.

This isn’t an Apple ecosystem guide. I’m a Windows and Android user, which means my choices are more considered and less obvious – but they work just as well, often for less money. Here’s what I pack, why I pack it, and just as importantly, what I’ve decided isn’t worth the weight.

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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Ultralight Travel Tech – My Packing List

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

These are the items I pack in my One Small Bag.

*Plus smartphone (carried in my pocket) and Chipolo Card (in wallet). I’ve not included those as they are kept on me, not in the bag.

HP OmniBook 7 Aero 13 Ultralight Laptop

I’m an IT consultant, blogger and general tech geek, so a laptop is essential and comes with me on every trip. I’m not in Team Apple, which means my choices are more complicated than “buy the newest shiny MacBook.”

After much research and finally hammering my last laptop into the ground, I went for the HP Aero 7 Omnibook (13.3″). 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.

It’s super light (990g), and it’s easily the most competent Windows laptop I’ve used in that weight class. The lightest MacBook is the 13-inch MacBook Air, which weighs around 1.24kg. That difference is not insignificant. I’ve been pleased with it: bright display, excellent keyboard, fast performance, and it disappears into my backpack. Exactly what I need when travelling light.

➡️ HP Aero 7 Omnibook (13.3″).

Google Pixel 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. If I do, I may well opt for another Google Pixel phone. An excellent phone and camera, plus it comes with less bloatware than some of the other Android brands.

➡️Google Pixel 10a

Tech Pouch and Contents

Pictured: 10,000mAh tiny 45W powerbank (Iniu), Flex Wireless Magnetic Earphones (Beats), 100W Fast Charge PD USB-C to USB-C Cable (Anker), Fast Charge 65W Flat plug with EU/UK/US plug ends (Ugreen), USB-C to USB-A adapter (BaseSailor), 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

Flex Wireless Magnetic Earphones (Beats) – 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. I think that’s what I already have with the Beats Flex Earbuds. Now if only that port on mobile phones for wired headphones came back, to save us charging yet another device? Then we really will have come full circle. I digress!

Long USB-C to USB-C Cable

100W Fast Charge PD USB-C to USB-C Cable (Anker) A longer cable supporting 100W fast charging. I’ve photographed a shorter version here because the original was recently misplaced. Something longer than a metre is ideal. I have a shorter cable included with the battery pack, so I’m not relying on just one.

USB-C to USB-A adapter

USB-C to USB-A adapter (BaseSailor): A tiny adapter is always useful. There are plenty of USB-A charging ports around, especially in public spaces and hotel rooms. This little adapter lets me use 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 ptions which keep things contained and accessible without adding too much bulk or weight. The fewer the items, the simpler the storage can be.

Now I have a simple pouch with a gusset in the base so it 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 forever, but it’s still holding up after 2 years of daily use, so that’s good enough for me.

Kobo Clara Colour E-Reader – My Kindle Upgrade

Colour E-reader (Kobo): 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. I’d also rather not hand more data to Amazon.

• 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 case which is heavier than I’d like, but at least it protects it.

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Chipolo Tracker For Both Android and Apple

Apple AirTags are everywhere, and with good reason, but those of us outside the Apple ecosystem have been left out. There haven’t been many alternatives that track beyond the immediate environment, as Apple AirTags do. After plenty of testing, I’ve found Chipolo. It competes with Airtags. 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 rundown 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. Then 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 pictures, and more importantly, I always have it with me. Of course, if I were 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 Fast Charge 65W Flat plug with EU/UK/US plug ends (Ugreen). 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 the laptop and the phone quickly. 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 or laptop sleeves – Most are over-engineered, bulky and weighty. Simple, ultralight zip pouches suit my setup.

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, and some small, mini but mighty, travel accessories. All these fit in my one small bag.

Do you have any favourite ultralight gadgets? Drop them in the comments — or let me know what you’ve managed to ditch. I love hearing how other travellers streamline their tech. I’m always learning and improving!

How do you minimise your tech? Do share your ideas in the comments. If you’re interested in more tips on packing light or trips in Europe, many off the beaten track, then I have a monthly newsletter, and I’d love it if you joined.

I hope you found this useful. Thanks for Reading!

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