My Favorite Gear
I love the process of planning the gear that I’m going to take with me nearly as much as I love planning trips. I’ve traveled the world, narrowing down my absolute favorite photo gear, travel gear, clothing, and camping equipment along the way. If you’ve seen my travel posts, you may have noticed that I’m not entirely about having the latest and greatest when it comes to ALL of my gear——like despite having owned better cameras, I still love to shoot film (*However I DO like to have the latest drones— they not only capture better images, but they fly more safely and easily). Aesthetics also play a large part in the gear that I choose, because although form should follow function… everything is better when artfully designed (bonus if its in a cool color).
A lot of the gear you’ll see on this list is expensive, and that’s because I only buy high quality products that can use and abuse for years. I buy my clothing and gear used and/or discounted if and whenever possible (if something I wear is not on this list, that’s probably because it was thrifted).
If you are interested in these items and plan to buy new, doing so through these links really helps me out. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If directed through some of these links, a tiny portion of your purchase will go to me for the referral, at no additional cost to you.
DJI Mavic Pro 2
This is the primary drone that I currently own and use, and it captures incredible quality. I recommend buying the “Fly More Combo” so that you get the additional batteries and accessories.
DJI Mavic Air 2S
The Mavic Air is the Pro’s smaller sibling. Its smaller size makes it a great drone for travel and hiking, and the lower price makes it a more affordable option for first-time drone owners. The quality is nearly as good as the Pro, for half the price.
Fuji Natura S
This obscure film camera was released in Japan only in 2001, and its become my go-to point and shoot camera for landscape photography. Why? Because it has a wide 24mm lens— wider than you can find on any other compact film camera. See my photos from the backpacking with NOLS to see how it shoots.
Leica M6
I hesitate to even include the M6 on this list, because the price of this camera has doubled since I started shooting with it. It’s a wonderful 35mm manual rangefinder camera, but I’m not sure I’d pay today’s prices to buy one (and lenses are sold separately).
Kodak Gold 200
This is my favorite film for capturing the outdoors. I’ve used more expensive professional film, but I really prefer the lively colors of Kodak Gold (see my Wind River or Fjallraven Classic photos to see what it looks like).
Domke Camera Bag
This bag is the perfect size for carrying a smaller mirrorless or Leica M camera and a lens or two. I really like that you can remove the strap and put this bag inside a larger backpack to keep your camera extra safe.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pack
The HMG Windrider 3400 is the pack that I take backpacking. This pack is great, but it’s intended for ultralight backpacking… so make sure that you’re not carrying more than 25 lbs of gear, any more and it’s gonna be an uncomfortable trip.
Hydrapak - Collapsible Bottle
This water bottle is super light and collapses down to the size of an english muffin, which is awesome for travel. When empty and you’re low on space, collapse and stash it! I’ve also used it as a hot water bottle on cold backpacking trips, it’s very sturdy!
Female Pee Thingy
If you’re as obsessed with staying hydrated as I am… you’re going to find yourself needing to pee a lot. Finding somewhere convenient and private to stop and drop trou can be a real challenge— thankfully with this FUD, peeing can be as easy for a lady as it is for men! I recommend practice using one of these before attempting to in the wild. I like that this brand comes with a semi-discreet carrying case (and also in black!)
Sun Gloves
Your hands are always exposed to the sun when you’re hiking, especially if you use trekking poles. Keep your hands cool & out of the sun with these great sun gloves by Outdoor Research. Sometimes they come in fun colors too!
Big Agnes Tent
My tent is the Big Agnes Copper Spur Platinum Ultralight 2 person tent, but that model is not currently available. The Copper Spurs are super light, freestanding, fast to set up tents that work well for car camping, backpacking, and international camping (I brought my Copper Spur to camp in Oman!)
Helinox Chair Zero
I like to bring a few comfort items with me when I hike and backpack, and the 16oz (1 lb.) Helinox Chair Zero is one of those items that are well worth the extra weight to bring. This chair is incredibly light and comfortable, and great for bringing anywhere, not just backpacking.
Katadyn Water Filter Bottle
This water filter & bottle is a huge weight (and life) saver on hikes where there are water sources that you can filter. I am obsessive about hydration, and equally obsessed with keeping my pack weight down. A Katadyn filter bottle is the best way to manage both! You’d be surprised how many hikes have water available to filter, just keep an eye out for streams, springs, lakes, and even ponds.
Petzl Actik Headlamp
I’ve had other headlamps in the past and love this one. It’s has 3 brightness settings and red light mode for not blinding your hiking and camping mates. The battery lasts a long time (it didn’t run out in 14 days backpacking), and is easily rechargeable.
Arc’teryx Zeta AR Jacket
Arc’teryx makes the most bomb-proof rain shell jackets. I get cold really easily, so I need to stay dry when I’m hiking. The Zeta AR is the best rain jacket for hiking in wet weather, with details like armpit zippers to help you cool and vent sweat while moving. I wore this jacket on my 5-day hike to Machu Picchu in the rainy season and stayed warm and dry!
Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody
This hoody is my most versatile layer. It’s great for cool summer nights, or active cold weather days. It’s cozy and light and breathable and looks great no matter what you’re doing. My yellow one is from a past season, so current colors may vary.
Arc’teryx Remige Sun Hoody
I love this sun hoody! I wear it nearly every time I’m hiking in summer. It’s light and breathable and keeps the sun off, no sunscreen necessary. There’s a lot of cheaper sun hoodies out there, this one just gets you a more stylish/feminine cut for the higher price.
OV Rectrek Zip-Off Pant
I searched for cute zip-off pants for years, but they did not exist. Then one day Outdoor Voices answered my prayers with these bad boys. I first had to take them to a tailor to shorten them a few inches, but now they’re my absolute favorite trail pants. Use the code DOER-WRENEES for 20% off for new customers on Outdoorvoices.com!
OV Exercise Dress
This dress is the best. You can hike in it or wear it around town… I like that it has built in shorts and a pocket for your camera or phone. Use the code DOER-WRENEES for 20% off for new customers on Outdoorvoices.com!
Kari Traa Merino Tee
Kari Traa is a stylish and functional Norwegian women’s outdoor clothing brand. I love this merino wool t-shirt for hiking. Merino wicks moisture, keeping you cool while hiking, but unlike cotton, it stays warm when moist. Merino is also naturally anti-microbial, so your shirt stays smelling fresh for days longer than cotton or synthetic fibers.
Injinji Trail Toe Socks
Perhaps it’s my partially Asian heritage, but I love wearing toe socks. But even non-toe sock fans will appreciate these Injinji trail socks, because they’re comfy and the individual toes prevent blisters & hotspots while hiking! They also make sock liners which I’ll wear inside regular hiking socks.
Danner Mountain 600 boots
I’ve owned a lot of hiking boots… everything from serious hiking boots, to vintage-inspired fashionista boots (you know the ones by Danner), to lightweight trail runners. The Danner Mountain 600s are the best combo of comfort, function, and style. I’ve probably worn my current pair over a thousand miles.
Chaco Z/1 Sandals
I have these sandals in bright red, and I get people asking me about them all the time. Chacos are popular among hikers as trail sandals, and they’re good all-day anywhere sandals because they cradle and stay put on your feet on any terrain.
Birkenstock EVA Sandals
These are the lightest, most comfy sandals ever, and they weigh next to nothing. I sometimes take these backpacking when I want to go even smaller and lighter than my crocs, and they’re the best sandals for beach trips.
All-Terrain Crocs
I doubt that these Crocs are any better “off-road” than regular Crocs, but I like the vintage 80s/90s color combination of these Tan ones. Whatever Crocs you get, they’re the best comfy, lightweight shoes for slipping on after hiking, whether you’re backpacking or car camping.
