Travel Photography Gear

I’ve been working as a travel photographer & blogger for 10-years, so I get a lot of questions about what kind of photography gear I use. Take a peek inside my camera bag!

Now, when you’re reading this list, please understand that I’m a working professional freelance photographer. I own a lot of gear. Much more than I first started with.

Most travelers don’t need backup cameras, drones, and multiple lenses.

If you’re simply interested in a good portable camera for traveling, make sure to check out my complete guide to the best travel cameras for every budget.

I also share some photography gear recommendations for beginners at the end of this post, and you can check out my personal Amazon Shop to see all my photography & travel gear.

Keep in mind that I don’t pack absolutely everything on this list in my camera bag all the time, instead I pack according to each trip and shooting scenario.

My Travel Photography Gear In 2022

Sony A7R III – Main Camera Body

I was a Canon fanboy for years and started my backpacking adventures back in 2010 with the Canon 7D. However, when Sony came out with their smaller (and superior) mirrorless A7 line, I made the switch.

Since then I’ve been using Sony cameras & lenses for the past 6-years.

Sony’s camera & sensor technology is often far ahead of competitors these days — in fact, even Nikon uses Sony sensors in their cameras!

The Sony A7R III is built for high-end landscape photography with a massive 42.4-megapixel full-frame sensor. This sensor is HUGE! But the camera body isn’t, which is pretty incredible.

Frankly, this is far too much camera for most travelers though.

If you are trying to save some money, another great option is picking up a used Sony A7 III or Sony A6600. Both are amazing cameras for travel photos.

Camera Lenses

Sony 16-35mm F2.8 – Wide Angle Lens

The 16-35mm F2.8 is the lens that’s on my camera 75% of the time. As a landscape photographer, I love shooting wide to capture as much of a big landscape as possible.

But you can also get decent portraits out of it zoomed in to 35mm and stopped down to F2.8. This lens works well for night and star photography too.

There is a less expensive version of this, the Sony 16-35mm F4 which is another decent option too.

Sony 24-70mm F2.8 – Medium Zoom Lens

Occasionally I need a little more reach. Or, I only have space for one lens (like on bigger hiking trips), and want the best of both worlds.

The 24-70mm F2.8 isn’t quite as wide, but often wide enough for most landscapes. With the added ability to zoom in to small subjects far away, or to compress the background making mountains “look” bigger.

This is also my go-to portrait lens for taking photos of people!

Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM – Telephoto Zoom

The 100-400mm F4.5 is my wildlife photography lens, outdoor portraits, or to compress big mountain ranges. I don’t use it that often, and don’t bring it along on every trip. If weight is an issue, it’s usually the first to be left behind.

But if I have a particular shot in mind that requires a telephoto, I’ll bring it.

By adding a Sony 1.4X teleconverter, I can increase the range to 560mm (which is nice for safari photography).

Additional Photography Equipment

Sony RX100 VII – Backup Camera

For a long time, I only traveled with one camera. But as I began getting hired for professional photography gigs, I realized that a backup camera was a wise investment.

The Sony RX100 is a tiny point & shoot pocket camera with professional features. It offers full manual control, and the ability to shoot in RAW format.

I also use it for shooting time-lapses, vlogging, and for certain situations where I don’t want to bring my large camera with me. Like sketchy parts of town, into bars/nightclubs, etc.

For most travelers, this would be a perfectly fine primary travel camera too! It’s super small, but super powerful. It even has a 200mm zoom for wildlife!

GoPro Hero 9 – Action Camera

I’ve been using a GoPro since I started traveling ten years ago. I’ve owned almost all the models! Currently, I travel with the GoPro Hero 9.

GoPro cameras are great at capturing hands-free action or “b-roll” and you can attach them to almost anything. Plus, they are waterproof and shockproof!

I use my GoPro for surfing, mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, cliff jumping, interior and exterior moving-vehicle footage, and more.

Just owning a GoPro is not enough to get great images and video. The magic of these cameras is in the multitude of accessories that are available for them!

DJI Mavic Air 2 – Flying Drone

The perfect tool for capturing aerial photography and video, while costing much less than renting a helicopter! Drones have really come a long way.

I couldn’t be happier with the DJI Mavic Air 2.

It flies super fast, is extremely reliable, and shoots high-quality RAW photos and 4K video. Not to mention it folds up crazy small!

The 360-degree sensors help stop you from running into things while flying, so you can concentrate on the shot. Active track and intelligent flight modes can do a lot of the work for you.

Top Online Photography Courses

Want to improve your photography? Fancy gear is nice, but learning from other photographers is a better investment.

Click Here For Free Guide

Camera Bags For Travel Photography

Peak Design Travel Backpack – Camera Daypack

It took me a while to find a great camera backpack that I really loved, and I went through many different ones.

I finally found a winner in the Peak Design Travel Backpack. It holds everything I need it to, sits comfortably on my back, and has the perfect amount of weatherproofing and gear protection.

You can strap on a tripod, hiking poles, and other day-hiking gear. There’s a dedicated laptop pocket, room for a jacket and snacks, plus it opens from the back for easy access on the ground. It’s perfect to carry-on airplanes or walk around a city with my photo gear.

Now, it’s not really set up for long-distance trekking or overnight camping though. For that, I use a different setup.

Peak Design Range Pouch – Camera Lens Bag

This is a special lens pouch, and the large size is big enough to keep a 100-400mm zoom lens safe & secure.

Or you can fit two smaller lenses in it (with a divider) or even a drone.

I use this specifically for long-distance trekking adventures, when I want to bring along an extra lens or my drone, but I also need to carry a regular hiking backpack filled with food, clothing, and camping gear.

It’s also handy for safely packing a camera lens in my suitcase, if my camera bag is going to be too heavy for some smaller airplane flights (specifically tropical islands!).

My Lightweight Camera Tripod

Peak Design Travel Tripod – Lightweight Tripod

As a landscape photographer, a solid yet lightweight travel tripod is a key piece of my photography equipment.

I use my Peak Design Travel Tripod (full review here) to stabilize the camera in low light situations and with high f-stop settings (for maximum focus range). It allows me to get shots I just can’t achieve hand-held.

Sunsets, sunrises, the northern lights, star photography, and motion blurred waterfalls are just some of the situations where having a tripod is important.

I also use it to film myself for vlogs, as well as to shoot travel selfies when I’m hiking on my own. There are cheaper tripod options available, which I share in my guide to the best travel tripods.

Favorite Camera Accessories

Peak Design Capture Clip

I love this thing so much! Basically, the Peak Design Capture Clip allows you to “clip” your camera onto your belt, or on the shoulder straps of a backpack, for easy access (and to keep your hands free).

I use it constantly for day hikes, long-distance trekking, walking around cities, and basically, anywhere I know I’ll want quick access to my camera. While I still use a camera strap sometimes, this is the primary way I carry my camera. You can even run with it!

It’s also a great photography gift idea, if you’re unsure what a photographer would want.

HINT: If you have a larger camera, the Peak Design Pro Pad makes carrying it on your belt MUCH more comfortable.

Peak Design Camera Strap

When I’m not using my Peak Design camera clip mentioned above, I snap on this Peak Design Leash Camera Strap and sling it around my shoulders it like you’d wear a rifle.

The Peak Design quick release system allows me to easily remove the strap if it’s getting in the way, or snap it right back on. Adjusting the strap length is also super fast. It’s pretty minimal and doesn’t take up much room in a camera bag. 

Camera Rain & Snow Protection

So, if I’m carrying my camera on my backpack straps, what happens if it starts raining? While my Sony A7R III has decent weather sealing, in bad weather I throw on my Peak Design Shell Rain Cover. This helps protect my camera from the elements, while also keeping it ready to access.

Now if the rain or snow is REALLY coming down, or I’m shooting near the ocean (like in Antarctica), or maybe under a waterfall, I also pack a simple plastic rain sleeve like this.

External Microphones

For video, the internal microphones on cameras just aren’t very good. In fact, they’re pretty terrible. Because audio is SO important for creating a good video, I pack two different external microphones.

One is the Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun, which goes on the top of my camera. Great quality, and very small.

The other is the Tascam DR-TL Lavalier. This goes on my body, so I can get great audio even if the camera is far away, the room has a lot of echoes, or if it’s super windy out. You can than easily sync the audio to the video later while editing.

LED Video Light

This tiny but powerful Aputure ALM9 LED Light mounts to the camera’s hot-shoe and allows me to shoot video at night. It takes up almost no space and can be recharged via USB cable.

Camera Lens Filters

Lens filters help you achieve certain photography effects that just aren’t possible with software yet. Think of them as sunglasses for your camera.

I carry a Hoya Fusion One Polarizing Filter to help reduce glare & reflections on water, glass (like through helicopter windows), and to darken up the blues and clouds in a sky.

I also carry a Tiffen Variable ND Filter (neutral density) which cuts down the amount of light going into the camera to different degrees, depending on how much you spin it. Why? To create special effects like motion blur in a waterfall, even when it’s sunny outside.

Wireless Remote

One of my favorite pieces of gear is the Sony Bluetooth Remote. This allows me to shoot photos or video remotely, when I’m away from my camera.

I used to own a wireless radio intervalometer remote, but newer Sony cameras have the time-lapse function built into their camera software (FINALLY!), so it is no longer needed.

However I do still like to shoot photos of myself, or group photos, with the ability to auto-focus, and this Bluetooth remote does that perfectly without any special camera attachments!

Memory Cards

Because I shoot in RAW, with very large camera files, I use very fast memory cards. I own a mixture of Sony High-Performance 64GB and SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB class 10 cards which read/write at around 300 mb/s. 

Spare Batteries

There is nothing worse than running out of battery power during an epic photography moment! That’s why I always carry spare batteries for my cameras.

I own 4 batteries for my Sony A7R III, 2 batteries for my Sony RX100, 3 batteries for my drone, and 3 batteries for my GoPro.

Portable Hard Drives

I travel with an Apple Macbook Air 13″ with a 2TB SDD, which is usually plenty of room for the images & video I shoot on any given trip.

To back that up, I also pack a super small 2TB Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD. Once I get back “home”, I move everything over to a larger desktop RAID system.

Cold Weather Protection

I bought a cold-weather jacket for my camera a while back, for a few winter projects I was working on. Like camping on a frozen lake in Manitoba, and snowmobiling through the Russian wilderness.

It keeps your camera, batteries, lens, and your hands nice and toasty while shooting outdoors in below-zero temperatures. It’s a bit of a specialty product, and only makes it into my bag when I know I’ll be shooting in very extreme weather conditions.

Clear Accessory Pouches

I own a few Think Tank Camera Accessory Pouches to keep all my cables, battery chargers, and GoPro Accessories organized. The clear sides allow me to quickly figure out what’s inside.

Camera Cleaning & Maintenance

Microfiber Lens Cloths

There’s nothing worse than a foggy or smudged camera lens! I pack no less than 3 of these K&F Concept Microfiber Lens Cloths on every trip. Two go in my camera bag, one goes in my pocket for easy access. 

I always end up losing them too, so it never hurts to have more than you need laying around.

Air Blower

The problem with changing your lenses on mirrorless cameras is that the mirror is exposed to the elements, and they’re a magnet for dust. Dust on your sensor leaves you with “dust spots” on your photos (or worse, video).

A few quick bursts of air with this Camera Air Blower on your sensor can help clear that dust away.

Sticky Sensor Stick

When the air blower doesn’t work, and the dust on my sensor is too stubborn to blow away, I break out the big guns, my Eyelead Sensor Stick. It’s kind of like a gummy bear on a stick that pulls the dust away.

Budget-Friendly Camera Kit Examples

Yes, I own a lot of camera gear now. But that wasn’t always the case.

When I first started traveling, all I used was a Canon 7D, a wide angle zoom lens, a tripod, and a GoPro.

If you are still new to travel and adventure photography, don’t get discouraged by this giant list of gear-porn that I’ve accumulated over the years!

I do this professionally, so I can afford to go a little crazy.

For those of you traveling on a tighter budget, I’ve put together my ideal “starter travel photography kits” below — which won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

The Minimalist Backpacker Kit

• Sony RX100 VII – Compact Point & Shoot
• Joby Gorillapod 3K – Compact Tripod

Travel Photography Enthusiast Kit

• Sony A6600 – Compact Mirrorless
• Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 – Travel Zoom Lens
• MeFoto Backpacker S – Travel Tripod
• Peak Design Everyday Sling – Mirrorless Camera Bag

Improving Your Travel Photography

Ok! That was a big post. But people kept asking about my gear, so there you go.

However please remember that gear isn’t everything.

The best way to improve your travel photography is to practice as much as possible and learn new skills.

Even after ten years doing this, I’m still learning new techniques to get better.

Joining some online photography classes can really help you improve your images, as well as learn about the business side of photography.

Finally, check out my top travel photography tips for beginners too! ★

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Travel Photography Gear

Tripods are a fixture of a good travel photographer’s toolkit. These are the best lightweight travel tripods for capturing stunning landscape photos or video with your camera.

Working as a professional adventure travel blogger, I rely on a lightweight and sturdy travel tripod to keep my camera steady for producing epic landscape and adventure images from my trips around the world.

Whether it’s hiking in the mountains of Afghanistan, or wandering the streets of Italy. My travel tripod joins me almost everywhere I’m shooting photos.

I seriously can’t imagine traveling without a good tripod!

Today I wanted to share some of the best lightweight travel tripods available, and review my favorites along with which tripod I personally pack with my camera gear.

Why listen to me? Experience! I’ve been traveling around the world for ten years as a professional travel photographer, selling my images to brands & magazines.

Matthew KarstenThe Expert Vagabond

Here’s everything we’re going to cover (feel free to click to a specific section if you want to skip around).

Ultimate Travel Tripod Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: Best Travel Tripods Of 2022

tripod

Description

Price

Best overall Travel tripod

Peak Design Travel Tripod

• FEATURES: Innovative design, packs down small, very lightweight. Lifetime guarantee.
• WEIGHT: 3.4 lbs
• MAX HEIGHT: 60″

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Professional travel tripod

Gitzo Series 1 Traveler

• FEATURES: Super stable, extremely lightweight, favorite of professionals.
• WEIGHT: 3.1 lbs
• MAX HEIGHT: 58.5″

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Best value Travel tripod

Sirui T-OS

• FEATURES: Lightweight carbon fiber, affordable and sturdy.
• WEIGHT: 2.2 lbs
• MAX HEIGHT: 53.8″

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Best backpacking tripod

Manfrotto BeFree

• FEATURES: Lightweight carbon fiber, affordable and sturdy.
• WEIGHT: 3.4 lbs
• MAX HEIGHT: 63.7″

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Best budget travel tripod

MeFoto Roadtrip S

• FEATURES: Budget friendly, portable, lightweight. Good for beginners.
• WEIGHT: 4.1 lbs
• MAX HEIGHT: 54.7″

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Why Are Travel Tripods Important?

Do you really need a tripod for traveling? Well, not everyone one does. Tools like sensor-based image stabilization and optical lens stabilization actually make them less mandatory than ever.

But if you want to capture professionally sharp landscapes, stunning sunsets, time-lapse video, flowing waterfalls, low light situations, or star photography during your travel adventures — a good lightweight travel tripod is key.

I also use my tripod for shooting selfies if I’m traveling solo. For video and vlogging too. Because not everyone wants to wake up at 5am during their vacation to help you hold a camera!

If you enjoy creating smooth curtain effects with waterfalls, sunset time-lapse footage, or climbing mountains to shoot the Milky Way, you’ll need a lightweight travel tripod that can take a beating in the field and keep going.

Key Travel Tripod Features

BUILD MATERIALS – Aluminum and carbon fiber are the most common materials for travel tripods. Carbon fiber is stronger, lighter, and resists rust in wet conditions, but it’s more expensive too.

HEIGHT – Not only how high does the tripod extend, but the minimum height as well. Some can get as low as 3” from the ground while others can extend up to six feet high. Smaller tripods weigh less, but they can also limit your framing options.

FOLDING SIZE – How small can your tripod fold up? Will it fit in a travel backpack? A tripod that folds down small makes it easier to travel with. But small folding tripods often have to sacrifice maximum height and sturdiness.

WEIGHT – If a tripod is too heavy, you won’t want to lug it around all day through a city, or hiking in the backcountry. Lightweight tripods are usually more expensive. The key is to find a balance.

STURDINESS – A sturdy tripod is important when shooting long-exposure images, when any small vibration can blur the photo. You can generally get an idea of a tripod’s sturdiness by looking at its weight capacity.

SECTIONS – The fewer leg sections a tripod has, generally the sturdier it is, and the quicker it will be to set up.

LEG LOCKS – Some photographers prefer twist locks because they’re low-profile. Others prefer lever locks, because you can visually see that they’re secure. Both are quick to use with practice.

Best Budget Travel Tripods

1. Peak Design Travel Tripod – Best Overall Tripod

Tripod Weight: 3.44 lbs (1.5 kg)
Build: Aluminum
Maximum Load: 20 lbs (9.1 kg)
Extended Height: 60″ (152.4 cm)
Folded Length: 15.4″ (39.1 cm)
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

Move over guys, there’s a new king in town! The long awaited Peak Design Travel Tripod has finally been released to the public. This crowd-funded concept has totally redefined the lightweight tripod genre.

Innovative leg and ball head design dramatically reduce the packed size of this tripod. It folds down smaller than the others in this list. Easily the most expensive of the budget tripods — but worth the price with a lifetime guarantee.

You can read my full review of this tripod here.

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:

2. Sirui T-0S – Best Value Tripod

Tripod Weight: 2.2 lb (1 kg)
Build: Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load: 13.2 lb (5.99 kg)
Extended Height: 53.8″ (136.7 cm)
Folded Length: 12.2″ (30.99 cm)
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

The Sirui T-0S mixes carbon fiber and aluminum to create a lightweight marvel. It’s aluminum components are anodized to increases the corrosion resistance and hardness of the metal.

The center column is reversible to suit your composition needs, plus it comes with a shorter center column for shooting as low as 5.1” from the ground. It’s one of the lowest priced carbon fiber tripods on the market, and insanely lightweight.

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3. Manfrotto Befree Advanced – Lightweight Tripod

Tripod Weight: 3.4 lbs (1.5 kg)
Build: Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load: 22 lbs (9.9 kg)
Extended Height: 63.7 in (161.7 cm)
Folded Length: 16.9 in (42.9 cm)
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

Aluminum Version (Cheaper/Heavier): Befree Aluminum

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced is a favorite for many travel photographers. It’s very lightweight, even with the included ball-head. However, it’s not the most stable tripod in this group.

Twist locks are easy to engage, and the whole system packs down very small. Stable enough for most situations, however it might not be great in strong winds or when placed in a river or the ocean (which I sometimes do).

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4. MeFOTO Roadtrip S – Most Budget Friendly

Tripod Weight: 4.1 lbs (1.8 kg)
Build: Aluminum
Maximum Load: 13 lbs (5.8 kg)
Extended Height: 59.4 in (150 cm)
Folded Length: 13.9 in (35 cm)
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

The MeFOTO Roadtrip S is the most budget friendly (AKA cheap) travel tripod that I’d recommend for anyone trying to save money.

It’s not the most sturdy tripod, but it will work fine in most situations. This is a good beginner tripod for those who are just starting to use them for travel photography.

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5. 3 Legged Thing Leo – Most Sturdy Travel Tripod

Tripod Weight: 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)
Build: Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load: 66 lbs
Extended Height: 57.7 in (146.6 cm)
Folded Length: 13.75 in
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

The 3 Legged Thing Leo is an extremely high maximum load capacity tripod, with a 23-degree leg angle. It makes it the sturdy tripod of choice for videographers and other gear-heavy photographers. The legs and center column all come with twist-lock sections for extra security.

For photographers who need stability on the move the center column can also be attached to a single leg to create an instant monopod. It’s not the lightest of the bunch, but it’s rock-solid.

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6. Joby GorillaPod 5K – Top Travel Vlogging Tripod

Tripod Weight: 1.55 lbs
Build: Stainless steel, aluminum, plastic
Maximum Load: 11 lbs
Extended Height: 15.2 in
Folded Length: NA
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

If portability is your #1 consideration, the Joby GorillaPod is the smallest tripod here. At only 1.55 lbs. with included ball head, it fits into anyone’s photography kit. This model is built for large cameras & large lenses, but there’s a 3K version for smaller mirrorless systems.

Mixed construction materials of the GorillaPod help keep this top travel tripod inexpensive yet sturdy enough for most shooting conditions. It’s a wonderful option if you’re visiting tourist attractions that prohibit the use of full-size tripods.

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Best Professional Travel Tripods

1. RRS Ascend – Professional Travel Tripod

Tripod Weight: 3 lbs
Build: Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load: 30 lbs
Extended Height: 58.2” (148 cm)
Folded Length: 17.1 in
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

The Really Right Stuff Ascend is a wonderful high-end professional travel tripod. Ratcheting angle stops control the angle of the legs. The legs are extended using twist locks, and designed to secure and undo instantly.

A ballast hook on the center column allows you to add weight in unstable or windy conditions. This actually isn’t the lightest tripod of the group, however, I’ve found it’s the easiest to use and is tall enough (with the quick-column version) that I don’t need to bend over to look through my viewfinder.

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:

2. Gitzo Series 1 Traveler – Best Designed Tripod

Tripod Weight: 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg)
Build: Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load: 22 lbs
Extended Height: 58.5” (148.5 cm)
Folded Length: 17.7 in
Ballhead: Included
Price: Click Here For Latest Price

The Gitzo Series 1 Traveler is a rugged carbon fiber tripod weighing in at 3.1 lbs. This tripod also includes a ball head with Swiss Arca-style quick release plate. It uses a reverse folding leg design when stowed to ensure it fits even into overhead flight storage.

The twist-lock design of the legs is quick, smooth, and secure. Gitzo makes a few different versions of the Traveler, for example the Series 2 is taller and slightly heavier.

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:

Which Travel Tripod Is Best For You?

Each travel tripod listed here offers a unique set of creative features. While I can share my personal favorites based on MY needs, every photographer is different.

• If you’re looking for the ultimate lightweight, full-size hiking tripod I’d probably go with the Peak Design Travel Tripod.
• If you want the best all-around tripod that’s a combination of lightweight, sturdy, and affordable, I’d pick the Sirui T-0S.
• If you don’t think you’ll need a tripod that often, or do a lot of vlogging, the Joby GorillaPod is your best bet.
• If you have money to burn and want nothing but the highest quality gear, Gitzo Series 1 Traveler will make you very happy.

FAQ: Your Top Tripod Questions Answered!

What Is The Best Tripod For Photography?

It really depends on what kind of photography you’re doing, and what your budget is for photography gear. For normal travel photography, you want something lightweight that packs down small. But if you’re doing super-long exposure astro photography, you may want to bring a bigger, heavy tripod.

Do I Really Need A Travel Tripod?

If you are not shooting low-light situations that often (sunsets, sunrises, night) and are not trying to capture photos (or video) of yourself, then you probably don’t need a tripod. Just try to shoot with fast shutter speeds. However, I believe using a tripod DOES improve your images, as you slow down and pay more attention to details and get more creative with your images.

Do Tripods Work For All Cameras?

Yes travel tripods will work for most cameras, as long as they can be screwed into a tripod head mounting plate. There are different types of plates available, like my favorite, the Arca-Swiss plate. Most cameras have the screw hole at the bottom for a tripod plate, but some, like the GoPro camera, need a special accessory.

What Is A Monopod?

A monopod is just a single leg for you to steady your camera on. It’s not completely free-standing, you need to keep at least one hand on the camera. If you’re moving frequently, like for sports or action photography, it doesn’t always make sense to lug a full tripod around, which is why those photographers use monopods. It’s often better than no support at all.

What’s The Best Travel Tripod Head?

Each tripod brand will have its own ball heads. Generally, I recommend just using the ball head that was designed for your tripod. Ballheads can come in different sizes though, depending on how heavy your camera setup is. You want a light one, as long as it can handle your gear. For example, if you use a large 70-200mm lens, you may need a bigger tripod head.

Whatever lightweight travel tripod you decide to use on your next adventure, it will certainly help you improve your travel photography in all sorts of different landscape and low-light situations.

Good luck, safe travels, and happy shooting! ★

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Ultimate GoPro Accessories Guide 2020

Travel Photography Gear

I’ve been traveling with a GoPro camera for 9 years. Here are the best GoPro accessories & mounts to help you share unique travel adventures from around the world.

When I left for Latin America to begin a new lifestyle of long-term travel, the original GoPro Hero camera was packed in my backpack.

Since then I’ve owned all versions, including my current GoPro Hero 8.

As a professional travel blogger and travel photographer I’ve been using a GoPro to record travel experiences in all sorts of crazy situations where a regular travel camera just won’t cut it.

My adventure travel images have been featured by GoPro on their social media accounts a number of times, and I seriously can’t imagine traveling without it!

Today I wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at some of the best GoPro accessories and custom mounts I use to make the most out of traveling with this amazing little camera.

Best GoPro Accessories (2019)

RAM Socket Arm & Clamp

Off-Roading Fiji

RAM Mounts

GoPro has its own selection of mounting accessories. However, I’ve found that some are not ideal for many reasons. The little plastic arms are a pain to adjust on the fly, and limited in their movements.

There are better options out there. Like a RAM mounting system.

RAM mounts use a 1″ rubber ball & socket system for super quick, easy, and secure adjustments on the fly. You can interchange the pieces to mount your GoPro in any way you could imagine! I’m a minimalist, and only pack accessories with multiple uses.

My RAM System:

• RAM Short Socket Arm
• RAM Suction Cup
• RAM Tough Claw
• RAM 1″ Ball with 1/4 Thread (Male)
• GoPro Tripod Mount

This amazing clamp & suction cup setup allows you to attach your GoPro to pretty much anything. Tree branches, chairs, fences, doors, windows, cars, water guns, motorcycles, bikes, luggage racks, etc.

GoPro has their own clamp & suction cup mounts, but I prefer this RAM system. It’s cheaper, lighter, and more secure!

Scuba Diving with GoPro

Red Underwater Filter

If you plan to do any SCUBA diving or snorkeling with your GoPro, I highly recommend picking up a red filter from Polar Pro. With the new GoPro Hero 8, they only have one for use with the Underwater Housing.

• PolarPro Underwater Filter

Why a red filter? The color red gets absorbed underwater, so these filters help bring back some of the red, orange, and yellow hues. It makes your footage less “blue”, and more natural looking.

Would You Jump?

Whitewater Kayaking in New England

Sticky Mounts

I always keep an assortment of flat and curved adhesive mounts in my kit too. They work great as disposable mounting options for kayaks, helmets, and more.

After attaching one, technically you should let the adhesive set for 8 hours. But they’ll also stay put after only 1 hour — depending on how rough the activity is.

[su_note note_color=”#DCEFF5″ text_color=”#333333″ radius=”3″ class=””]
USEFUL TIP: Sticky mounts are easily removed with a hair dryer & credit/id card.[/su_note]

Safety Leash

A small GoPro camera can cost $300-$400. It’s not something you want to lose. Which is why I always attach a safety leash of some sort. A standard point & shoot camera wrist leash with the ability to cinch shut works great.

I recently used this type of leash to capture some great shots while rock climbing in Thailand. But when extra length is needed, you can also attach thin (but strong) 3mm accessory cord.

GoPole Evo for Shark Selfies

GoPole Arm Extension on Helmet

Camera Extender (Selfie Stick)

Another useful GoPro travel accessory worth carrying is a hand-held camera extender (aka the selfie stick) which allows you to capture video or photos of yourself from hard-to-reach angles.

There are a few different GoPro selfie-stick brands out there.

Personally, my favorite is the SANDMARC 17-40″ Extension Pole. It’s very sturdy, lightweight, and can extend really long if you want it to (think, getting your whole body in the frame if needed, like for snowboarding).

Another one I own is the GoPole Evo. This smaller telescoping selfie stick is super lightweight, portable, plus it floats in the water!

GoPole makes a pretty cool 2 piece extension arm that can produce some very unique angles if attached to a helmet or kayak.

Now, GoPro has their own 3-Way Extender too, and while it folds up super small, it’s not as sturdy as the others (the arms often bend when you don’t want them too) and the elbow screws seem to go missing, I’m not sure why.

Surf Mount & Anti-Fog Inserts

GoPro FCS Surf Mount

GoPro Surf Mount Accessory

If you plan to do any surfing or paddle boarding, GoPro Surf Mounts are a good investment. However you can also find them for sale in most surf towns, along with the Floaty Back Door.

On a recent surfing trip to South Africa, I installed the more permanent FCS surf mount on my board for about $15. This is great if you own the surfboard yourself, and keeps it nice and low-profile.

Anti-Fog Inserts

The last GoPro travel accessory I want to mention is the anti-fog inserts. These are a must if you’re planning to use your GoPro in or around water.

The special GoPro ones seem to work best, but it’s also possible to fashion some DIY versions with slivers of toilet paper or grains of rice…

GoPro Chest Strap Mount?

While the GoPro Chest Harness is great for all kinds of adventure sports applications, I don’t usually carry one with me on the road. It’s kinda big, and I wouldn’t use it enough.

However there is something smaller and more useful for me, the POV Action Mount which attaches right to a backpack strap.

Extreme Hiking in Spain

GoPro Tips & Tricks

After 8 years of experience filming with a GoPro, I’ve learned a few things that will improve the quality of your videos & photos.

TIP #1: Keep it steady! Because these cameras are so small, it’s easy to move it around wildly. But slow and steady shots make the best videos. Try to hold on with 2 hands if possible. Always remind yourself to move slow & smooth.

TIP #2: Practice shooting “from the hip”. For example, if I want to shoot a selfie of myself, I know that aiming the camera at my chest rather than my face will result in the best composition due to the wide angle.

TIP #3: Use the Time-Lapse mode to capture great selfie photos. This mode automatically takes a photo every .5 seconds after you press the shutter. You can now move the camera around or change your expression, continuously shooting photos. You’ll end up with way too many — just pick the best and delete the rest.

TIP #4: Just because you own a GoPro does not mean your photos & videos will look exactly like professional ones produced by the company. However, you can now learn their specialized techniques with the release of an amazing new book called GoPro: Professional Guide to Filmmaking.

Have fun with your GoPro, it’s one of the coolest travel cameras available!

GoPro Travel Videos

Want to watch some of my GoPro travel videos from around the world?
Visit My YouTube Channel Here »

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Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
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Have any questions about the GoPro accessories I use? What about other suggestions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.