• Longer battery life than the older A7R II due to new larger batteries
• Incredible camera for photography
• Eye AF is great
• Better AF than most cameras
• Dual memory card slots with one being UHS-II
• Shoots 4k at 24, 25 and 30fps (100mbps)
• 1080p up to 120fps (100mbps)
• Is a smaller body than a lot of DSLRs and cameras like the Panasonic GH5 making it lighter and easy to travel with
• Very high resolution allows lenience in cropping images in post
• Image stabilisation of a full frame sensor is good
• 10fps burst shooting
• 14-15 stops of dynamic range
• Can still shoot 18MP photos using APS-C crop mode
• Very high quality EVF

• Uncompressed raw photos are 81MB a piece
• The above makes timelapses very hard to capture due to memory required
• Has a 30 minute video recording limit
• Doesn’t shoot 4k at 60fps
• People complain about the menu set up of Sony cameras
• Has less autofucus points than the cheaper Sony A7 III
• LCD screen does not flip 180° for filming yourself, it only tilts outwards
• Only records videos in 8-bit

My thoughts: The 30 minute video limit to me is basically nothing, unless you’re filming weddings there’s very few other occasions you’d need to record that long non-stop anyway.

I don’t really see the issue with the Sony menu because I’m used to it, I love the customisability the camera offers.

When I first started planning my trip I originally thought it would be photography which would be my primary hobby and my way of getting out and exploring. This is one of the major reasons I wanted the A7R III.

I wanted something with 4k capabilities that was a small body size, and would allow me the lenience to crop in post until my composition skills were better. The added bonus to this was also being able to perhaps have a shorter focal length and therefore smaller lens, while still capturing detail in the distance.

I also had very little interest in DSLR camera as I saw the future to be in mirrorless cameras moving forward.

With the Sony A7R IV now on the shelves it’s a good time to buy the A7R III, you should find a good price. To me it’s better value than the bigger and beefier A7R IV, which is also much more expensive.

It’s capable of shooting amazing photos but also great video. It will shoot 4k at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second as well as 1080p at an awesome 120fps for slow motion. It’s generally considered to shoot better 4k video in crop mode for those that want to know, but the differences aren’t too large that it’s super important.

Advantages over the A7R II include a better ergonomic design, touch screen for focus, larger NP-FZ100 batteries, more contrast auto focus points, higher resolution viewfinder and monitor, two memory card slots, faster processing for burst shots and plenty more!

When comparing it to the A7 III you really need to ask yourself whether you want the extra megapixels for photography purposes or if you only want to shoot video and/or don’t require 42MP.

I won’t talk anyone away from the A7 III as it’s a good camera. The main advantages of the A7R III are obviously the photographic capabilities as well as the better viewfinder and monitor, besides that they’re very similar cameras.

As for the A7R IV. If you need that camera you’d know. Most people don’t need anything that extravagant, nor are they going to enjoy the larger file sizes that come with it. If you need it you already know, if you’re unsure then it’s probably overkill for you.

If I’m being honest, the number of people I’d recommend it to would be very few. Now don’t get me wrong, I would still recommend it to a few because it’s an incredible camera in nearly every way.

If you love photography but also want to shoot 4k or 1080 120fps then this camera is perfect!

It is however a photography based camera that can shoot 4k video, but for me if the photography side of things is of little interest to you I’d recommend the following;

Sony A7 III

The reasons for this is because it’s cheaper, has marginally better autofocus, is the same small bodies design and will perform marginally better in low light video situations.

It is still limited to 8-bit video and the pictures won’t have the same detail but for its price the A7 III is one of the best bang-for-your-buck cameras on the market!

Panasonic GH5 or the Panasonic GH5S

These two cameras offer true 4k (also called cinema 4k which is 4096×2160 pixels) as well as 10-bit internal colour recording and 4k at 60fps.

Basically they’re the best consumer level cameras for video recording that I am willing to recommend. Just note that 4k60 is at 8-bit colour, only 4k24 is filmed in 10-bit.

It’s also worth considerinng both your laptop’s power, as well as the digital storage space required to film with these cameras. They shoot at 400mbps as opposed to the Sony cameras shooting at 100mbps.

What this means in laymans terms is that the GH5 / GH5S will record 180GB for one hours footage, whereas the Sony will record 45GB for one hour of footage shot. This adds up if you’re travelling and can’t offload to an array of SSDs or HDs at home.

The “S” version is basically a more video oriented version of the GH5, they have reduced the sensor size, removed the IBIS (for professionals who use gimbals and sliders) and added some more true 4k frame rates at 25 and 30fps.

See this review if you’re not sure which is better for you.

If you are just rolling in money and what the newest camera for photography that shoots 4k

Sony A7R IV

This is a beast of a thing that you should only buy if money is no issue. The tradeoff here is the much larger photo sizes using up memory, but if you’re shooting video mostly you’ll save a ton of digital memory compared to the Panasonic cameras mentioned above.

In exchange you get a top of the range camera and well rounded camera with all of the latest Sony has to offer. I’d buy one if I didn’t have a camera already and they weren’t as expensive as they are.

See here for a more detailed analysis.

OTHER BRANDS

I’m afraid I don’t know enough about cameras such as the Canaon EOS range or the Nikon Z series of cameras to either recommend them or say anything about them at all.

In the same vein, I know nothing of DSLR cameras so I won’t add any affiliate links for any of these products as I haven’t used them or done any research into them, so my information wouldn’t be honest or helpful.

Fuji, Nikon and Canon are all very capable brands and I’m sure there’s the right camera out there for you, I don’t buy into the brand bashing or anything, go find what works best for you.

• Tough
• Waterproof
• Mounts galore
• Hypersmooth
• Slow motion
• 4k footage

• Really annoying to set manualy, it’s not worth it
• Auto white balance needs to be very carefully monitored for those that don’t want to set their own
• Randomly freezes under normal conditions
• Drains the battery even with all wifi, voice activation and bluetooth turned off
• No screen on the front to see what you’re shooting

This is the one I use anywhere where there’s water involved for obvious reasons. It’s waterproof to 10 metres before you even get around to putting on the dive suit, and with the new Hero 8 out you should get one cheaper than ever before!

Don’t let them up-sell you on every accessory under the sun, I’ll link the ones I take with me that I’ve found to be worth the space in carrying around in my bags.

It shoots great 4k footage that I can easily match to my other cameras in post using a simple Alex4D plugin for Final Cut Pro X. If you don’t want to go down that path you can also use 2.7k linear mode at the expense of some field of view.

This is the go to camera for mountain biking, scuba diving, kayaking, rock climbing and anything where that slow motion is needed or weight is a premium.

The hypersmooth will sort out the rushed footage for you. Just remember to buy extra batteries and I always take them out overnight because I’ve had this thing chewing through for no apparent reason even with all wifi, quick capture, voice control and bluetooth switched off.

Highly recommended!!

I would 100% recommend the GoPro Hero 7 Black as a second hand option, otherwise the Hero 9 is by far the best choice.

For those who don’t have any action cameras or are on model 5 or lower I’d go for;

GoPro Hero 9 Black

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is the newest addition to the GoPro family and it comes with a screen on the front to help frame yourself, it shoots 6k footage, it has a bigger battery life and improved hypersmooth!

There isn’t much reason to look past this one if you don’t already own one and cost isn’t an issue. I personally haven’t upgraded from the Hero 7 Black, because I am happy with 4k, already own multiple accessories and batteries, and if it isn’t broke, then why bother?

Don’t upgrade for the sake of it, unless coming from a very old model. But if you’re in the market, then this is the one to go for.

GoPro Hero 8 Black

Wait for a special and get the newest model, just be warned that the old batteries won’t fit the new model so you’ll need a new charger as well as new batteries. If you take your GoPro diving you will need the new protective suit for the Hero 8.

If you want a screen to film yourself like the DJI Osmo Action offers, it will set you back at least $100.

DJI Osmo Action

I think it’s great that GoPro has good honest competition to keep their prices down.

The main advantage here for DJI is the fact it has a small forward facing screen to help with shot composure, the stabilisation is probably better than GoPro’s Hero 7 stabilisation and it’s quite a bit cheaper as well!

• You can shoot yourself with the selfie stick which is otherwise very hard to do
• Capture 360° footage and reframe in post to 1080p
• If you want you can upload the 360° and let people use your footage as VR of sorts
• Very lightweight
• Unrivalled stabilisation due to the way 360° footage can stabilise on nearly every axis

• Fragile exposed lenses
• Tiny battery
• Red flare appears in footage
• Stitch line is sometimes noticable depending on how the sun hits the lenses
• Not waterproof or even resistant
• Not an action camera as advertised
• Footage is pretty average due to the reframe only being 1080p but also due to the tiny sensor
• Personally find the tiny planet options as a gimmick unless done very well, which is rare

The power of using a camera like this is not the 360° footage, which to me is still a massive gimmick.

The reason I bought this is because it gives you the ability to re-frame your footage in post by taking a 1080p section of the 5.7k full FOV.

Be aware that it’s not the highest quality 1080 out there, it’s 8-bit off a small sensor so don’t expect miracles here.

The lens is very exposed and needs constant looking after, this isn’t really an action cam by any means despite being advertised as one.

Battery life is poor and you can get a red flare in footage, so be warned it’s far from perfect but it has stabilisation powers and unique creativity options you can’t find anywhere else.

I wouldn’t recommend the GoPro Max so I won’t link it here. I think it’s way overpriced compared to what I picked up the Insta for.

However it wouldn’t be fair to not mention that it is waterproof to 5m without a case and has the touch screen to help film and setup the camera.

I can’t recommend it to most people though for the price. I think if you want to wait 6 months you will have the next Insta 360 which will hopefully be either a full 8k read out or maybe have a bigger, cleaner, sharper sensor.

• Optical stabilisation
• Lightwight enough for small gimbals
• Strong build
• Small size for travel
• Great range for a variety of shooting with 16-35mm

• f/4 is considered a bit slow to many people
• Pixel peepers will prefer the f/2.8

Why not the G-Master f/2.8?

Cost, size and weight.

I’m not made of money and the GM version of the 16-35mm range is also too heavy for my small gimbal to balance properly. Combine that with the extra weight you will be lugging around if you did a multi day hike and the stress of having it stolen and it seems like a bridge too far for me for around the world travel.

This lens is great, it covers me for the wide angle range but also for shooting video off a gimbal due to it being just light enough. Build quality is top notch. it’s less difficult to find adequate insurance for it as well because travel insurers have ridiculous sub-limits that group lenses and cameras together as single items.

Another advantage is that the f/4 lens has OSS which isn’t in the GM lens, although this is only relevant if shooting handheld.

I think this is a great lens, but there are a few alternnatives out there within the Sony FE mount universe that I will briefly touch on, I won’t comment on other brands because I have only ever used Sony.

I’ll try break these down into possible frames of mind, or types of mindsets of different travellers. Although I sort of dread having a lens worth $3,000, not everyone stays in hostels and is travelling for years at a time, so I’ll try include some other points of view.

For those who want an even cheaper and lighter lens;

Sony FE 24-70mm f/4

I own this lens myself but decided against travelling with it in the end after much consideration. It is super small and light for a handy focal length range, it weighs roughly 425 grams.

However I prefer the angle of the 16-35mm personally, although it’s a bit bigger and more expensive. This lens will make a good first lens without being exceptional.

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8

This lens is for those that want to spend less to get an f/2.8 lens. It weighs in at 550g (so actually 30g heavier), which is good for a lens that fast, but do note that to keep the size and cost down they have not gone down to 24mm.

There is a difference which some will notice, others might not. If you do decide to buy it you will save yourself a lot of money. If you don’t want the f/2.8 I’d definitely recommend the 16-35mm f/4 over this lens though.

The zoom and focus rings are back to front which can make changing between lenses annoying as your muscle memory will get confuded. This lens is all about saving dollars.

For those who want even wider angles!

Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

This lens is wide!

If you like to have a wider than 16mm focal length, while still letting in good light at f/2.8 then this is a great choice. Just beware though that it does weigh 790 grams.

Another potential downside to this lens is the fact that the front element is a bulbous shape and therefore any circular filters you have will not be able to be mounted to the lens. So shooting in lots of light will require stepping down your aperture a lot to compensate for not having an ND filter. This also means it’s not so good for shooting video with the 180° shutter rule.

Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G

This is a fair bit more expensive so be warned!

If you want to be super creative, or really want to get some nice architecture shots and 16mm isnn’t wide enough thenn this lens might be of interest.

Remember though that the front element is bulbous and you won’t be able to use regular filters, you’ll need specialist equipmennt for this lens specifically.

For those who want to travel with a one lens solution!

Sony 24-105mm f/4 G

You might think it’s crazy but I was a hair away from travelling with just one lens myself. The advantages of knowing a lens back to front, never changing lens to get a dirty sensor and the size and weight savings are all good reasons.

This is the lens I wanted before I finally gave up and bought some others. It has really good image quality and allows enough zoom to be the perfect travel lens, giving good compression at 100mm.

I plan on buying this one day still along with the 12-24mm.

For those who need faster than f/2.8 and don’t care about zoom!

Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM

This is another one that will greatly appeal to a few but in a way has less functionality. It is a prime lens, and a bloody good one. I am only including this as it falls in the wide angle category, which is what we’re meant to be comparing here.

For the absolute sharpest images at this focal length, with the shallowest depth of field, or for astrophotography or night time videos etc … you get the idea, this is onne bad motherf**ker!

For those with the money who say size and weight be dammed!

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 For Sony E-mount

I’d personally recommend spending a bit more and getting the lens below if you’re happy to carry around this size lens and have the money for either.

My reason for that is that the 16mm focal range opens up a whole new world, quite literally.

But I’d recommend this over the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 (which I won’t link to as I don’t recommennd it) because it is essentially as good a lens for about half the price. That’s value for money!

Don’t get me wrong, the Sony 24-70mm GM is an incredible lens, but I’d recommend people get this instead, it just makes sense.

See this awesome video from Gerald Undone, which compares the Sony 24-70, the Sigma 24-70 and the Tamron 28-75.

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM

In a perfect world where money wasn’t an issue and I wasn’t living in hostels, this is the lens I would have.

It only comes so late as a recommendation due to its price which is too much for the general person, but if you love your wide angles and shoot Sony, this is the best lens they have made I think.

If you want to see a size comparison between this and the f/4 version, check out the first picture of this post.

• Good focal range
• Reasonable price point for versatility
• Good build quality
• Packs away very small for the focal range

• Does not come with a tripod collar
• Not a constant aperture
• No internal zoom

Now here we have a heavy lens (for travel purposes).

So this is my only other lens and it weighs 850g. But when compared to the possible competition it comes out alright;
70-200 f/4 = 840
70-200 GM = 1,480
100-400 GM – 1,395

Now for me the GM lenses are automatically out of the equation for size, cost, weight and difficulty to have adequate insurance. If you need those lenses you don’t need to be reading this as you probably have a specific need for them that outweighs the cons and that’s perfectly fine.

For me though it was out of the 70-200 f/4 and then the one I ended up with, the 70-300mm.

I don’t think one is better than the other, each has pros and cons. My reasons for buying the 300 was because it gives me the extra reach, it packs away smaller for transport and it does look slightly less professional without the white exterior.

The advantages of the 70-200 f/4 if you decided to go down that path are the constant f/4 aperture, the internal zoom and the fact it has an included tripod collar.

Keep in mind this is unnecessary weight if you only do video, I want it though for not only the reach but also the compression available from telephoto lenses.

Build quality is fantastic from what I’ve experienced so far.

I’m only going to cover one other alternative here, I won’t include the GM range of lenses for there price and weight is too much. If weight is no issue then Sony also has a 200-600mm lens, but that’s not very practical for travelling with.

The weight and size of those lenses rule them out of the equation for long term travel, whereas the GM wide angles can still be reasonable in size and weight, these lenses are monsters.

So as far as I’m concerned, the main competition is;

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4

I would have got this lens had the right one popped up. The internal zoom and the fact it comes with a tripod collar are two advantages, the other main factor is the constant f/4 aperture.

It is a touch bigger than the 70-300 for storage purposes and loses that last 100mm of focal length but these two lenses are very close to equal quality depending on the weighting you assign to different aspects.

You can’t go wrong with either.

• 1″ sensor
• Changeable aperture
• Sensors all around
• Good flight time
• Propellors sound better and less annoying
• 10-bit colour
• Hyperlapses
• Stability
• Remote controller has a switch to tripod mode
• Remote controller has a bigger battery
• Remote controller has removable joysticks

• Maybe the cost, but I honestly think this is the best drone there is and is worth the cost.
• There is some barrel distortion that will need correcting in post
• If you shoot 10-bit D-log M you will need a computer or laptop that will handle the HEVC codec

Let me firstly say that I used to own the original Mavic Pro, so believe me when I say that THIS is the one you want if you’re travelling.

The main reasons for me are;
Adjustable aperture allows you to carry a smaller number of filters to try get the perfect shutter speed as you can stop down and maintain beautiful 4k quality to around f/8

The improved sensor being 1 inch allows for quality footage even when boosting iso to around about 800. Combine this with the play in the aperture above and your looking at a drone that’s adaptable to the changing light that we often need to deal with meaning less time having to land it for filter changes and more time flying.

Controller with a larger battery that will easily outlast the three batteries you get in the flymore combo.

Controller joysticks are removable which means it packs away easier, the cord for you phone can basically live in the new controller until it needs charging so you never lose it.

There is a switch on the new controller to change between Tripod, Sport and Positioning modes without needing to look through any menus.

The drone’s gimbal protection seems so much better as opposed to the original which felt cheap like an afterthought.

Longer flight time, better sensor set up with front, rear, side and below facing sensors and a MUCH better sounding less annoying noise when close to the ground.

Just be warned that if you plan on shooting video in D-Log M that you’ll need a computer or laptop capable of working with HEVC codec footage.

A better charging solution with the fly-more combo that has a smaller footprint and built in leads.

One of my favourite purchases ever but be sure to research drone laws of each country before you go. Laws are strict and countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and Morocco will even confiscate your drones at customs.

This is my recommendation, I’d strongly urge you to consider this drone if you want to travel with one. However there is one major competitor that I will list below, as well as a few cheaper older DJI drones that you can pick up cheaply.

DJI Mavic Air 2

This drone is even smaller than the Mavic 2 Pro!

It also flies for longer, shoots 4k at 60fps and now comes with occusync technology for a much better connection when flying!

The only reason I prefer the Mavic 2 Pro is due to its sensor being twice the size, and the variable aperture. Basically it means better photos, better low light videos, and the ability to compensate for changing lighting conditions on the fly, without needing to change iso.

The Mavic Air 2 would be my recommendation for the majority of people, but if you truly want the best video and photos, then the Mavic 2 Pro is still the king.

So that’s the main competitor, if that doesn’t float your boat then I’d still stay in the DJI family and recommend;

DJI Mavic Pro Platinum Fly More Combo or DJI Macic Pro Fly More Combo

These are essentially the same thing, but the platinum version will get you slighlty longer flight time thanks to a redesigned propellor and a tweak to the motors.

I owned this drone and it is a super handy thing with a price that’s getting slowly more affordable as time goes on. Defintiely get the ‘fly more combo’ as the extra batteries will be a necessary.

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Fly More Combo

This would be my recommendation above the two drones mentioned above, assuming the mavic 2 pro is out of your price range.

It will stay in the air longer, comes with the better controller, has more crash protection and has the ability to zoom mid flight. You can get more compression in your images and reframe your composition a lot easier.

• 1.5kg
• Extends to 180cm
• 41cm when folded up
• Detachable monopod

• Would prefer lever locks
• Will blow in the wind a bit as it is a lighter wight tripod

I wanted good quality with a good working height but didn’t want to pay massive amounts of money either and I landed on this tripod.

It weighs in at 1.45kg which is decent given the extendable size is more than most people will ever use. This isn’t a necessity, some people could do without the weight and size constraints.

Only consider packing a tripod for the chance to to long exposure or bracketed exposure shooting, or maybe for a stand for filming yourself, ask yourself if it’s worth the weight and size.

Don’t buy something cheap but also don’t get the bees knees of tripods for taking around the world in case something happens to it!

I can recommend the 3LT Brian without a second thought. It feels beautifully made and hasn’t let me down yet. It has a great height and strength for its weight and is priced correctly.

I really like what I got for my money from 3 legged thing. Unfortunately this isn’t a subject I know a whole lot about so I can’t link you to anything helpful myself. 

If you have more money then gizmodo are a very good brand.

I’d avoid the Peak Design Tripod, way overpriced in my opinion.

Here’s a good post from people with more knowledge than me.

• Small form factor
• Lockable axis for travel and balancing
• Quick release plate
• Lockable arms to allow easy balance again if you use the same set up often
• Quick release (sold separately) to quickly change to underslung mode
• Vortex mode
• Follow trigger
• Triple click for selfie mode
• Can charge your camera
• Is now very cheap to purchase
• Change settings in the gimbal menu without needing the app

• Can wobble if you’re not used to how to use it
• ZY Play app is not as good as those provided with DJI gimbals
• Does not come with image transmission. That is a separate purchase, or purchased as part of a package.

I originally had the Weebill Lab gimbal, which was the original of the small form factor travel gimbals that had enough strenghts for Sony mirrorless full frame cameras.

The Weebill-S improves in a number of ways, like more clearance to the rear motor, stronger motors, the ability to change settings without the app, and better locking levers.

The only downside is that it doesn’t come with image transmission which costs extra.

DO NOT BUY THE WEEBILL LAB

That’s my recommendation. I had one. I have now purchased the Zhiyun Weebill S.

HOWEVER if you already own the weebill lab, don’t upgrade for the sake of it. If you’ve gone this long with it you know what it can and can’t do, unless you really want to balance a heavier lens, I wouldn’t upgrade just to have the latest and greatest.

So with all that being said, for first time buyers I’d check out either;

Zhiyun Weebill S

This would be my next pick unless things change when I need to buy one. It is an improvement on all the things I dislike about my current gimbal whilst retainning all the best bits.

Improved motor strength, motors set further back, better functionality all aroud really.

or

DJI Ronin SC

The main competitor. It weighs about 100g more than the Weebill S, so is very comparable. It does have a chunkier look to it but it can be disassembled. See the video below for a comparison.

Edit: The DJI Ronin SC 2 is now available and is a major improvement.

See this video for old mate’s comparison video of these two recommended gimbals.

• Extremely good quality build
• Great screen with my preferred 16:9 ratio
• Can be charged from a powerbank using usb-c
• The best trackpad on any laptop I’ve used
• Quite powerful processors
• MacOS is my preferred OS
• Sleek design is perfect for travel and minimising weight
• Can edit 4k on the go using FCPX

• This chassis is too thin to use the power of the processors
• The graphics card is rubbish (mine is Radeon 560x)
• Overpriced SSD and RAM, Apple gouge you
• Keyboard is trash, I’ve had to use my camera blower to get grit out otherwise I can’t use certain keys

My reason for using Apple is the 16:9 aspect ratio, build quality, MacOs, slim design compared to performance and the fact I want to edit on FCPX which does not have a subscription based purchase model among other things.

The keyboards are not the best but I’ve never had a problem that hasn’t been fixed by simply blowing the dust out.

However that in no way excuses the poor design of the keyboard for a machine this expensive.

It comes down to personal preference with operatinng systems. I’m not anti windows, I don’t have the time to argue over why one company is better than another, I just try get what I think works for me.

Don’t buy a 15 inch old macbook pro!

The exception to this is if you get a very good deal on a laptop with Vega 20 graphics, and only the 2019 model for less chance of keyboard issues.

My recommendation to all is to get the new 16 inch Macbook Pro.

The reasons are;

• Bigger display is nice if size isn’t an issue
• Apple have lowered the price of SSD storage
• The base model has a graphics card comparable to the old top of the line model
• Improved airflow gets more performance out of the same CPU
• The keyboard won’t break from a tiny spec of dirt anymore

The GPU is where the majority of your power will come from if you edit videos so I’d recommend anyone editing videos to just upgrade to the best graphics card, as well as the 32gb RAM.

32gb of RAM is for those who plan on using multiple apps at once or if you work with Lightroom which will max out a laptop with 16gb of RAM and create a bottle neck.

When it comes to the SSD, I wish I could have the 8TB model while I travelled but the smartest route is different for everyone, dependign onn budget. It is cheaper to get external SSDs than it is to upgrade the internal storage.

I am stuck using a 2018 MBP, 2.6ghz 6-core i7, Radeon Pro 560X, 32gb RAM, 1tb SSD. It isn’t worth upgrading for me at the moment as I don’t like to be wasteful, but I can’t wait to get the better graphics cards!!

• Great noise cancelling
• Swipe gestures to change song, pause, change volume or mute ANC to talk
• Extremely good battery life
• Comes with the adapter for aeroplanes
• Customisability for music as well as ANC levels

• The only thing I can think of is that the Bose QC 35 IIs are more comfortable but that’s if I’m being picky

Almost universally regarded as the best noise cancelling over ear headphones on the market and that’s my experience as well.

I came from Bose headphones which were the most comfortable but the Sony has more customisability, longer battery life and is plenty comfortable for long haul flights. It comes with the splitter required for use on airplanes, has the cord if you want to save the bluetooth and is a nice compact design when packed away.

If you’re ever editing video and want to be sure the sound mix is right but are in a hostel or on a plane then headphones are essential and these are the best I’ve tried but you also can’t go wrong with Bose who I’ve also used frequently.

I would say, even if you are a Bose fan, that these are the headphones to get.

However if comfort is your ultimate goal for longhaul flights or journeys on public transport you could also consider the Bose QC 35 II headphones.

*Bose have since released the Bose 700 headphones but I have never tried them, I am sure they’re good but the WH1000XM3 is still my pick.

• Almost waterproof.
• 1.9kg when empty.
• Routing for water bladder.
• Best harness of any camera bag. Period!
• Beautiful zippers, big, beefy, smooth and weather sealed.
• Rolltop allows for quick access and extra storage.
• Side pocket mesh for tripods or large waterbottles that is easy to clean and stow away.
• Tough as nails.
• Straps on the outside for camping gear.
• Plenty of options for those in the mountain to store ice picks, snowboards, skis etc.
• Adjustable torso height fit.
• Fully lockable zips.

• Side access for me is not the best and adds an entry point for theives
• May be a tight fit for those who use the new 16″ Macbook Pro.
• Not designed for humid environments and can get a little bit sweaty compared to true hiking backpacks with netting across the back.

I love the company and what they’re trying to make. I have supported them on kickstarter for their new Action X range to get early access to this beautiful bag.

This bag is as weatherproof as they come, it can take a beating, it’s super lightweight and ultra comfortable.

I use it with the Medium Core Unit at the moment and can then fit in the DJI Mavic 2 Pro fly more kit just above that medium core unit with ease, all safely padlocked away from thieves.

I also have the Peak Design Travel bag which is brilliant in its own way but I left it behind in favour of the Shimoda bags because the Peak Design bag is for urban environments and would not be suitable for long multi day hikes for comfort reasons despite its great build quality.

I do use the Peak Design dividers in my core units as I love the folding shelves on offer.

The benefits of this bag are too many to list so I will redirect you to this youtube video made by Ian Millar, the creator. 

My only other recommendations outside of the Shimoda Action x50 are the following two bags which I also own.

Shimoda Explore 40L

This was the original kickstarter campaign that put Shimoda on the map. The bag is lighter than the Action x50 range, coming in at a nice 1.3kg when empty!

The bag has amazing weatherproofing, equal to that in the Action X range of bags. The harness system is equally as good, but it doesn’t come with the rolltop, instead having a top compartment that is lockable, and has a floating lid with zippered storage for storing things you want to grab quickly.

The biggest disadvantage of this bag is the lack of water bottle and tripod options, but it is not a deal breaker by any means. The bag is the lightest and most comfortable option on the market because of its design.

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

This thing is like a swiss army knife. The features and usability just amaze me, the thought that has gone into it by the designers is evident everywhere you look.

In my opinion that Peter Mckinnon bag that was released is basically just this bag with them making some tweaks. Anything with his name on it will be a touch overpriced.

The reason I didn’t tale the Peak design bag with me was purely because it’s an urban bag. The comfort of carry is good for say 3-4 kilometres while you walk to a hotel or hostel, but I would never have been able to hike with it.

The build quality is more than enough for hiking, it’s only the straps that aren’t, and that’s perfectly ok because it was never intended to be used that way.

Seriously good bag for more urban people and it holds A LOT!!

• Solves all your problems
• Holds a bunch of cables without them ever getting tangled
• Holds a whole lot of spare batteries
• Holds a massive 27,000 mAh powerbank
• Holds SD and MicroSD cards if you don’t have a separate case
• Would keep your gear dry for a long time before water got in if something leaked in your bag
• Stands upright when open, showing you all the contents

• It is a little bulky, but it is so tough and protects your stuff so well that it is worth it

Incredible. Incredible. Incredible.

I don’t like Peak Designs day bags much, or their tripod, but this is honestly the best organisational tech pouch I’ve ever come across!!

Not only that but it’s arguably the best gift I’ve ever received from all the kickstarter campaigns from any company. If something happened to mine I’d buy one again in a heartbeat.

I don’t think it’s revolutionary but it is evolutionary. The elasticated pockets make sorting out my cables and spare batteries a joy. It improves my workflow because everything has a place and therefore can be found or noticed immediately. You’re also likely to notice something missing.

It’s tough, stands upright, holds a ton of tech gear and keeps you organised.

It will last you for life if you manage not to lose it. The zippers will outlast you.

I don’t have any other recommendations really because this is one of those products I think is just brilliant in any way.

I’d recommend you head down to a shop and see one in person to get a feel for it, even take shit to the shop to hide it in there, it will hold a lot for you.

Stuff doesn’t move or come loose, it’s always right where you left it.

• See through window to see what’s inside
• Almost a waterproof design, close to it
• Has internal organisational zippers and compartments
• Has a large area for bulky accessories