73 Quirky Things In Digital Nomad Packing Lists

This isn’t your standard blog about items that you should take with you on your travels – it’s the quirky digital nomad packing list! From portable bidets to inflatable dinosaur costumes, here’s what other nomads can’t live without.

I’m a naturally curious person, and often wonder what travellers are carrying in their backpacks.

So one of my favourite questions to ask other digital nomads is:

What’s one weird or quirky thing that you include in your packing list?

It’s a great conversation starter. But also, sometimes you wish you never asked… 😬

I’m currently travelling with an inflatable pool donut, having downsized from a giant inflatable unicorn which was heavy and impossible to pump up by hand.

I left the unicorn in Poland. It was last seen on stage with a jazz band in Ireland.

You’d never guess I was at a goth festival

Sometimes it can get hard when you have no home base and you’re travelling constantly – so it’s nice to carry some comfort or luxury items that help you get through the day.

Coffee and tea equipment, massage rollers, and resistance bands are some of the most popular items that people can’t live without.

Ideas for things to include in your digital nomad packing list

I’ve broken these personal must-haves down into categories. You might find some things in here that you never thought of packing, but might come in handy if you’ve got your sights set on long-term remote work.

I’ve tried to include the exact brands of items people have recommended, where possible.

Health

Portable bidet
Detachable shower head
Lacrosse ball (for massage)
Massage gun
Wooden foot roller
Muscle roller stick
Blackroll foam roller
Latex foam pillow
Tens unit
Enema kit (I did not further this conversation!)

Fitness

Resistance bands
Inflatable pilates ball
Hula hoop
Monkii bars

Food

USB fruit juicer
Pepper grinder
Cooking spices
Garlic press
Measuring cups
Celery salt and hot sauce for bloody Mary’s.
Instant coffee
Electric tea thermos
Alpha pan
Chopsticks
Yerba mate tea
6-cup silicone muffin pan
Moka stovetop coffee maker
Hario coffee kettle
10kg of Turkish delight (which took 6 months to finish)
Portable water boiler
Carrot peeler
Wine bottle opener
Vitamix
Stick cake mixer

Leisure

Inflatable pool unicorn
Hammock
Video projector
8cm D carabiners
3 golf balls, a ball marker, and a golf glove
Tarot cards
Incense
Electric drawing pad
Amazon Fire TV stick
Hookah
Rubix cube
Paraglider

Music

Electric guitar
Harmonica
Roland A 300 Pro midi controller keyboard
Novation LaunchKey 37 midi controller keyboard
DJ (Pioneer DDJ-400) controller
Air drum sticks

Clothing

Barefoot shoes (these seem to be a popular item for nomads) – Merrell, Xero, Vivobarefoot
Barefoot aqua socks
Portable clothesline.
Clothes pins / pegs

Random stuff

Foam roller water bottle (this is very cool!)
Life size IronMan suit
Inflatable dinosaur costume
Broom
Mop
Folding desk
Fly swatter
E6000 glue
A heavy stone statue
Slow cooker
Travel vacuum sealer and bags
Printer
Bath mat
A chicken
A cat
Soothing audio speaker for the cat
USB laptop fan
Duck tape
Hippie protection crystals
A bell

Hope you got some amusement from these quirky things you can add to your digital nomad packing list. I’d never heard of Monkii bars, but I’m going to buy these and a wine bottle opener because both of them will come in handy. And maybe a USB juicer.

Pro tip: never ask a stranger to give you a demonstration of how a portable bidet works.

rachael freelance copywriter digital nomad taco and bean

Author bio
Rachael is a full-time digital nomad and freelance copywriter for B2B and SaaS companies. She’s worked with brands like Unbounce, Biteable, Datacom, Viddyoze, and Owler.