Bring a notebook to jot down... well notes as you go. And a pen -- preferably the non-exploding on airplanes kind. We love these notebooks by Muji. The spiral binding with the cardboard covers make it easy to fold over in the field and write when you don't have a table. And these pens from Muji will not leave your hands covered in ink after coming down from 30,000 ft.
Bring an extra duffle that folds up small like this one by Longchamp. They come in handy for short domestic flights, short trips in the middle of your longer trip, or in case you want to bring some extra souvenirs home.
Us photographers. We walk through shit. Literally. We’re the idiots who walk backwards into a puddle of mud, horse shit, or a sea of red ants... just to get that perfect picture. That being said—we need some shoes as durable as we are! Sperry’s washable sneakers have passed our test. Most shoes don’t last us longer than 6 months (if that). But this pair of Sperry’s washable sneakers are going on two years and don’t think they haven’t been through the red mud of Kenya or the slums of Liberia.
Bring a thermos and hot water heater to enjoy a good cup of joe in the field after those early sunrise shots. Or, we love this tea thermos from Teavana.
Noise canceling headphones. Because you never know where you're going to get stuck with a crying child. Bose are the best! This pair has been with me on every plane, train, and automobile I've been in for the last 5 years and they're still going strong.
Bring an international/multi-plug surge protector. This will first of all protect your electronics from any electrical surges. Two, you don't have to worry about searching your hotel room anymore for all the plugs. Just find one and you can recharge all your batteries in one convenient location. We recommend this one.
Bring a collapsable lightweight tripod. We love the Benro Aero 4 for it's quick release legs, compact design, light weight and removable monopod. If you mount a slider on it, it can even work as a stabilizer for moving shots.
