Lightweight Travel Tech for One-Bag Travel: My Complete Kit

As an IT consultant and regular traveller for over 30 years, I’ve been refining my travel tech long before “digital nomad” was a thing. After plenty of trial and error, I’ve settled on a lightweight tech setup that weighs just 1.8kg, including my laptop, and it all fits in my one small bag, which is all I travel with. Every item has earned its place by being genuinely useful, good value, and light enough to justify carrying.

And why focus on tech? It’s often small and heavy, so it’s easy to squeeze another thing in the bag. Tech has a habit of breeding more tech. One extra gadget rarely travels alone. It brings mates -another charger, another cable, another accessory, and then an extension lead. Before long, you’ve added a kilogram or more without really noticing.

I’m a Windows and Android user rather than part of the Apple ecosystem, so some of my choices may be different from the usual recommendations. My tech kit is quite a mixture of the latest tech and ultralight options, with some unashamedly retro picks thrown in.

So, here’s the lightweight travel tech I pack, why I pack it, and what 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.

Lightweight Travel Tech – My Packing List

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

Here are all the items I pack in my one small bag, in order of importance. Three of these items -phone, watch, camera – travel on me rather than in the bag itself. I’ve kept them in the list since they’re still part of my kit, but they’re not included in the bag-weight total below.

Before and After: From 4.1kg to 1.8kg: How I Cut 2.3kg From My Travel Tech

To demonstrate the reductions you can make, here’s how I’ve reduced my travel tech from around 4.1kg to 1.8 kg. That’s the weight more than halved, without sacrificing the things I value most. In fact, my current setup is better: I’ve swapped average earbuds for quality headphones and added both a Pebblebee Halo and Chipolo tracker.

The biggest improvement isn’t just the weight. With fewer chargers, cables and duplicate devices, everything has a place, and it’s much easier to stay organised. When you’re travelling, especially for work, there’s already enough to think about. Knowing exactly where everything is makes life that little bit simpler with fewer decisions and fewer opportunities to lose things.

And now onto my list of travel tech essentials.

1. Google Pixel 7 Pro Mobile Phone

My current phone, the Pixel 7 Pro, was awarded the best smartphone for travel photography when I bought it, and it does take terrific photos. It also has eSIM support – my two non-negotiables for travel.

It’s not the latest. I’m waiting for a new phone to inspire me. I used to get excited by the latest new phones, because each leap seemed massive. Not so much now. The leap we all really want, a longer battery life, never comes.

I rate the Pixel phones – the latest one is the Pixel 10 Pro. Designed by Google to work with their Android system. And they get extra points because there’s absolutely no bloatware to remove compared to some other makes.

As for my next move, I’m looking at phones which will make laptops redundant, either through the use of AI glasses or folding screens. While current budget phones often lack the hardware to output video, the next generation of AI-driven and multi-folding smartphones are being built from the ground up to power external screens and glasses seamlessly. That technology is actually here already with DeX on Samsung flagship S-Series or Z Fold phones and USB-C smart glasses. It won’t work for me quite yet with my eyesight, but it may do for you!

2. HP OmniBook 7 Aero 13 Ultralight Laptop

For me, a laptop is non-negotiable, so I’m always after the lightest, most compact one which does the job seamlessly. I wouldn’t go below 13 inches for a working laptop. Smaller machines save surprisingly little weight but make long writing sessions and other tasks noticeably less comfortable. For me, 13 inches is the sweet spot. And while an iPad is technically lighter, it doesn’t do “all the things”, and, by the time a case and a keyboard are added, it’s not necessarily that much lighter either.

So if you’re tossing up whether to travel with a laptop, an iPad, or just your phone, trust your instincts. Only you know what you will use each for. If you have no work commitments, a laptop may be overkill. But if you do opt to bring one, choose wisely, because the weight differences between models can be massive.

HP Aero 7 Omnibook 13.3″

One of the smallest and lightest fully functioning laptops on the market. 

• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Processor AMD Ryzen™ AI 350
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• Display: 33.8 cm (13.3″), WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
• Battery Life: Around 10-12 hours
• Weight 990g

The HP Aero 7 Omnibook (13.3″) is super light (990g), in fact standout light, as anything vaguely competent under 1Kg is a rarity. By comparison, the lightest 13″ MacBook Air is 1.24Kg. But I’ll say it now so you don’t have to: no, this won’t out-perform a MacBook M-series chip. If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem, a MacBook Air remains an excellent lightweight choice, but if you live in the Windows world or use other operating systems, then read on.

I compared several ultralight laptops before settling on the HP. Lenovo’s ThinkPad X13 came close, but HP Aero 7 Omnibook (13.3″) offered the best balance of weight, performance, and price for the way I work. I’ll be honest, HP was the last place I looked, as past experiences with anything HP have been universally terrible. But I’ve been using the HP Aero 7 Omnibook (13.3″) almost every day for the last 8 months; I can genuinely say it’s turned out to be an inspired choice. One caveat: I’m not a gamer, and I don’t do much video editing or design work, so I can’t speak to that.

After I bought it, PCWorld gave the HP OmniBook 7 Aero 13 their Editors’ Choice Award. They did have a grumble (and there’s always one). They wished it had a bigger, heavier battery because the results from their lab test weren’t great. But for me, around 12 hours is enough and better than many. I’ll take the weight advantage.

So what do I like about it? Its bright display, ample storage, excellent keyboard, range of ports, and fast performance are a neat little package. It feels premium and fits easily into my small travel bag. The actual price you can buy it for (not the MSRP) is on point too. It’s just what you need when travelling light.

3. PD GAN Wall Charger with International Ends

One of the easiest ways to reduce your tech weight is to leave all your power cables at home and use one plug that works with everything. If you plan to do this, use a PD GAN fast-charge wall charger. Mine is 65W and will charge 3 things simultaneously and quickly. If you have more tech than me or larger tech, a 100W plug may be more suitable, but it will be chunkier.

• 65W High-Speed Charging: Power up your laptop, smartphone, tablet, and other gadgets at top speed.
• Two USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port give up to 65W of charge to up to 3 devices at the same time
• Interchangeable UK, EU & US Plugs: One charger for over 150 countries. Snap on the correct plug (UK, EU, or US) for your destination, eliminating the need for multiple adapters and separate chargers.
• Smart Power Management: The Nexode 65W Charger uses Intelligent Power Distribution technology to adjust its output to the connected device’s needs automatically.

This Fast Charge 65W Plug with EU/UK/US Plug ends (Ugreen) has 3 ports (2 USB-C and 1 USB-A), and interchangeable plug ends for the US (type A), the UK (type G), and type C (Europlug). These can be switched and click on securely. An important point, as I’ve tried a few different makes, and some have ends that would rather stay left in the socket when you remove the plug. Not ideal. This one doesn’t fall apart, overheat, or go up in smoke or just quietly die after a short but busy life. Beware of imitations.

And if you’re wondering, why only 3 plug ends when there are so many different sockets around the world. Well, that’s true, but quite a few are variations on a theme, with or without a third pin, recessed or not, etc. These 3, between them, actually cover much of the world with a few notable exceptions, including Australia, New Zealand, and India. I’ll take that and buy another adapter locally when needed, rather than carrying a bulky cube adapter around with me. Using both a plug and an adapter in some sockets can cause the plug to drag and come loose, and the whole thing can fall out. Keep it simple with one less point of failure, if you can.

4. Cables and Adapters

If it’s not USB-C, it’s not coming with me. Try to stick to this, and it will help you reduce the number of cables you use. USB-C has been around for a long time, so support suppliers who choose to use it. USB-C cables are readily available worldwide, so carrying spares really shouldn’t be necessary unless you’re heading to a truly remote location.

I travel with one long, high-quality 100W PD cable that fast-charges and transfers data too. Then I have a shorter cable attached to my power bank to charge a second device simultaneously. That’s generally all the cables I need for the kit I bring.

• 100W Fast-Charge PD USB-C to USB-C Cable (Anker): A longer cable for 100W fast charging. 1.8 Metres is a good length, and you may prefer one even longer.
• USB-C to USB-A adapters: To convert your USB-C to USB-C cable into a USB-A to USB-C cable, without needing another cable. The red one has its data-transfer capabilities removed, so if you are worried about using USB-C sockets in public places or corporate environments with strict IT security protocols, that’s the one to go for.

Useful to have tiny USB-A adapters or two to go with your USB-C cable. I keep a couple in my wallet. Handy if you want to use USB-A charging ports in public spaces and in hotel rooms. It saves the need to bring another cable for this purpose. There’s a tiny risk of hacking or of viruses being transferred if you use public USB-C ports with a data cable, but the red PortaPow solves this problem by blocking data transfer and syncing. It only allows charging. And that’s also useful in offices, with protocols around plugging USB devices into corporate systems. I also have one without data blocking, so I have both bases covered, or if I lose one.

5. Ultralight Powerbank – INIU 10,000 45W & USB-C Cable

This tiny INIU 10,000mAh 45W power bank comes in a variety of colours, so you can pick your favourite and make it easy to spot if you don’t want the standard issue black. Great for families and groups, so you know whose power bank is whose. At just 163g, it’s one of the lightest on the market with equivalent specs.

It charges everything quickly, including my laptop, via its 2 USB-C and one USB-A ports. I appreciate the digital readout so you can see exactly how much charge is left. Pass-through charging means I can charge one device attached to the power bank, while the power bank itself is charging.

The neat little USB-C-to-USB-C cable that connects the power bank to the device is a great way to keep the two together, and it saves me from bringing a second power cord. While MagSafe chargers are popular, I’m impatient and like the quick charging via a cable and the lighter form factor.

I’ve shown you the back as well as the front. Airport security can be picky about power banks, and it’s good to be able to confirm the power and certifications of any you take through security. Hopefully, everything is on the back of this one to satisfy the most stringent checks, and there’s no chance it will get thrown in the bin before you’ve caught the plane.

6. Koss Porta-Pro – the iconic Retro folding Headphones

I’ve tried to love and understand earbuds, and I’ve owned a few sets, including expensive ones, but I don’t like them. Maybe it’s just me, not liking the feeling of something right in my ears, alongside a tendency to be clumsy so I drop and lose things? Or maybe I’m not alone, given how many people think it’s okay to do without on public transport? What do you think? Answers in the comments.

The Koss Porta Pros are legendary folding, ultra-lightweight headphones first released in 1984 from Koss, who only make headphones, so they know their brief. Today, Porta Pros are worn by audio fans, retro-tech enthusiasts, and, apparently, celebrities like Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, and Megan Fox. My adult son owns a pair and recommended them to me, not realising I already had some. Mine are 10 years old, so genuinely vintage. I’ve replaced the earpads, which can be customised from a wide selection of colours and sizes. I picked the oversized pads to make them even more comfortable and for a small sound upgrade.

I love their punchy sound, portability, and how comfortable they are to wear. Thanks to the springy headband, they feel firm on your head. There’s a sliding mechanism on the headband. Increase the band size to fit your head, then decrease it to the minimum to form a small circle. Fold the earphones inwards and clip them to keep them tidy and in position. There’s a neat little case if you want to keep them protected. Mine usually lives loose in my bag, but the case adds another 49g if you’re interested.

Porta Pros are incredible value for the sound quality you get. And at around 70g, they weigh little more than some earbuds with the charging case. So go on, try a pair and rock the retro look.

There are several similar models. Some have a regular headphone jack, some Bluetooth/wireless, and a ‘utility’ version that lets you switch the cable between headphone jack and Bluetooth. So that saves you buying another chunky dongle, if you want them to be wireless and work in the headphone socket on the plane.

Alternatively, you can convert to USB-C and plug into your phone’s USB-C connection, if your phone’s headphone socket has gone AWOL, as it has for most of us.

7. Withings Scan Watch 2 – The Smart Watch with a 30-day+ Battery Life

If you want a smartwatch that looks more like a traditional watch but still delivers what we expect from one, take a look at the ScanWatch 2. If you’re not familiar with Withings, they are a long-standing medical equipment specialist from France. I have their best-selling ScanWatch 2 and Body Smart scales, all part of a suite of health and medical-grade equipment suitable for home use.

• Steps and Elevation: Counts daily steps and floors climbed
• Workouts and Fitness Level: Tracks over 30 sports and estimates your fitness score using VO2 max estimations.
• Cycle Tracking: Logs menstrual cycle phases and symptoms
• Body Temperature: Measures 24/7 baseline variations and workout zones
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Analyzes overnight HRV metrics to assess recovery.
• Sleep Quality: Evaluates sleep duration, sleep cycle depth, and overall sleep score.
• Breathing Disturbances: Monitors overnight breathing patterns and sleep disturbances.
• Notifications: Vibrates and scrolls text previews for incoming calls, text messages, calendar events, and chosen smartphone apps.
• Alarms: Sets silent, vibrating alarms directly on the watch or through the app.
• Quick Look: Automatically activates the small digital screen when you raise your wrist. The analogue watch time is always on.

The ScanWatch 2 does many of the usual things you might expect from a smartwatch. With an analogue screen, there are a few things it can’t do, like NFC payments, taking calls, and replying to messages, but there’s much it can, including notifications. There’s a Withings app which syncs with the usual fitness apps, and the watch works with both the Android and Apple Ecosystems.

It’s the little things too. This watch tells me the time when I look at it, without an extra step or a battery-draining always-on feature. I own just the one watch, with no separate dress watch. It’s a good-looking watch with a choice of sizes, designs, colour options, and features. Straps are easy to switch, and you can do it yourself without any tools. And the ScanWatch 2 isn’t the only model; there’s a range from the ScanWatch Light to the more premium best-selling ScanWatch Nova. My ScanWatch 2 sits firmly in the middle.

And the really good news? Not another ‘needy’ thing to be charged every night. With a battery life of around 35 days, it’s ideal for travel. I only need to bring the tiny charging cord for trips longer than a month.

8. 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 compact and a joy to use. And 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
• Long battery life. It can last weeks without charging.
• Substantially cheaper than colour Kindles and lighter too
• Free books! Comes with Overdrive integration. This means I can download E-books from the library or other services like Borrowbox*
• Unlike Kindle’s closed, proprietary ecosystem, Kobo e-readers support open-standard formats (including EPUB and PDF) and use Adobe Digital Editions DRM, making your e-books far more portable

I have a case which is heavier than I’d like, but at least it protects it. It switches the Kobo on and off when I open and close it, which stops it from accidentally switching on.

We are now in the realm of tech which isn’t strictly necessary but nice to have. In truth, I don’t always bring the Kobo. But if you’re on a long journey, it’s good to be able to put your phone away and read distraction-free on a larger screen that’s easier on the eyes than a phone.

9. 3-in-1 Mini Torch, Personal Alarm with strobe and siren plus tracker

The PebbleBee Halo solves not one, but three problems, and that’s what attracted me. A flashlight is a very handy backup to your phone, especially if it’s tiny, effective, and easily accessible when you add it to your keyring.

It’s also a personal alarm: pull it apart, and you activate a powerful strobe and a high-pitched squeal. Good to have in an emergency. It reminds me of the rape alarm my mum gave me when I left home for uni in London at age 18 in the 1980s. But that was the size of a small wine bottle, and probably less effective and less useful.

Jokes aside, I frequently travel alone; my job has meant I’ve arrived late in strange places countless times, and I’ve also done so because of my own poor planning. If you want one bit of kit as a solo female traveller, I would recommend it if you are worried about the safety or whereabouts of your child, teenager, or young (or old) adult. I would also recommend it.

Which brings me on to the third thing it does. It behaves like a tracker, much like an AirTag, and works with both Android and Apple phones. The main practical use I’ve had for it so far has been to find my keys, as I can get the PebbleBee Halo on my keyring to beep at me from the Find Me app on my phone.

There are more advanced features too, so you can share your location with a list of family and friends and send silent alerts to your connected people (instead of setting off the strobes and siren). The last friend-sharing bit is a subscription service (free for the first year); the rest of the features are free always when you purchase the PebbleBee Halo

• PebbleBee Halo syncs with Android (Find My Device app) and Apple (Find My app).
• Locate your PebbleBee Halo from the app – and get it to make a sound to help you find it
• Torch plus Personal Alarm (Bright flashing strobe and 130dB Siren to raise alarm and scare off potential attackers)
• Option to allow people you set up in your personal circle to track you. A rapid button press sends a silent alert if in danger
• QR code on back to help a finder return it to you if lost – especially useful if on your keyring
• Chargeable with USB-C

It’s also part of the Pebble Bee family – a company emerging as a leading supplier of trackers similar to AirTags. Pebble Bee products are designed to work with both Android and Apple devices.

Click any of my Pebble Bee links to get a special ONESMALLBAG discount. And while we are on the subject of trackers, I have more for you too.

10. Chipolo and PebbleBee Trackers For Both Android and Apple

Apple AirTags are everywhere, and with good reason, but those of us outside the Apple ecosystem have, in the past, been left out. But the good news is that’s changing fast. Do take a look at Chipolo and PebbleBee. Both companies offer a range of trackers in various form factors, compatible with both the Apple and Android ecosystems. Having used trackers from both companies, it seems the advantages one has over the other are pretty marginal. Which one you pick may come down to where in the world you live. I found Chipolo easier to get hold of than PebbleBee from the UK. But you can neutralise the shipping fee if you buy several things, or use my discount.

• Chipolo comes 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
• AirTags still win when it comes to ultra-precise ‘point me there’ tracking – especially in iPhone-dense areas
• AirTags have better water resistance

I have used the Chipolo Pop tracker for over a year and can confirm it tracks reliably. It’s the closest equivalent to an AirTag; it also uses a CR2032 battery, which is widely available. It works with either Apple Find My or Google Find My Device (but not both at the same time.

PebbleBee also has a wafer-thin, credit card-shaped tracker that is useful to put in a wallet – a bit of a catch there, for some, including me. You’ll need a magnetic charging pad to charge it, as the shape doesn’t lend itself to USB-C charging or replaceable batteries.

If you’re after a USB-C rechargeable tracker, you’re out of luck on the AirTag front, and I don’t believe there are current plans to change this. But both PebbleBee and Chipolo have them. I’ll leave you to decide whether you think CR2032 batteries are convenient and easy to replace, or a danger to you, your children, your dog, or the environment. Suffice to say, if you do use these batteries, keep them well out of the way of small people or animals, because you do not want them to be swallowed.

11. Ricoh GRIV Compact Camera

Up till recently, I’ve taken the view that I don’t travel with a separate camera. My Pixel 7 Pro Camera is a highly competent point and shoot, with many of the latest features, but there’s a certain look to camera shots, slightly less harsh, which is hard to fake with any phone camera, regardless of how good it is. As my travel blog goes from strength to strength, I want to level up my photography with a more editorial look. I also know I have neither the patience nor the willingness to make the necessary space in my bag for a proper DSLR.

So hello to the Ricoh GRIV, a premium, pocket-sized street-photography camera with a cult following. I did extensive research before I bought it. Its tiny size and point-and-shoot capabilities. These are the features I love most about it so far:

• 28mm wide-angle street photography: With the Ricoh GRIV, the wide-angle 28mm equivalent lens lets me capture the full street scene, giving me plenty of detail (saved in RAW format) to crop into later
• Snap Focus: “Full Press Snap” mode – pre-set focus at fixed distances (e.g., 1.5m, 2m, 2.5m) to completely bypass autofocus lag
• Glare-free: Ricoh GR IV screen makes it much easier to compose shots in bright sunlight compared to a smartphone display
• Storage & Memory: The massive 53GB internal storage means I can shoot RAW files freely and handle travel photography without needing an external hard drive or a laptop on short trips
• Sensitivity: ISO range from 100 up to 204,800 for extreme low-light performance.

I also love being free from my phone; it can stay in my pocket or bag for longer, with fewer distractions, and the battery is saved for the other things it can do for me, like calls, messaging, maps, and browsing on the go.

Here are some more features:

• Sensor & Engine: Upgraded 25.74-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor paired with a next-generation GR ENGINE 7 processor.
• Lens: 18.3mm f/2.8 lens (providing a classic 28mm full-frame equivalent field of view) designed for edge-to-edge sharpness.
• Image Stabilisation: Advanced Shake Reduction (SR) system
• Autofocus & Speed: Hybrid AF system with a lightning-fast 0.6-second startup time.
• Connectivity: Dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and mobile app

There’s plenty I already love about the camera, but there’s a learning curve, which I’m still on. So I’m reserving judgement on whether this camera will stay for good, or whether I will go back to the comfort zone of my phone! I’m genuinely excited to see what it can do it for me.

One Bag Travel Tech: 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 to help me come up with this minimalist travel tech gear list.

Where to Next

Travelling with less gives you more freedom to enjoy the trip. So now I’ve covered my carry-on tech kit, here’s some more inspiration for the rest of minimalist packing all fitting in my one small b... I have an article on travel capsule wardrobes for one bag packing, a minimalist toiletry kit, and some mini travel accessories that come in handy.

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!

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!