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Best tablet for traveling and best tablet for a graphic designer sound like two rather incompatible things. Unless you're fine with an app alternative, you would definitely have to get a Windows 8 tablet with a processor strong enough to handle those Adobe programs--and with a screen sensitive enough to suit your needs. The latter will cost you a fair bit of $$ (moreso than a standard laptop), if that's ok with you. Otherwise, there are plenty of great apps in the Android app store, and many Android tablets are a great bang for your buck; the Samsung Galaxy Notes, I believe, have built-in styluses and decently sensitive screens.



Be aware that there's a difference between full Windows 8, and Windows 8 RT--usually the difference isn't mentioned in the product description, so you don't know what it's actually running. The former can run actual programs, the latter is kind of crap unless you're fine with the Windows app market.




Honestly, if you absolutely need the best tablet for a graphic designer, get the Surface Pro 3--it supports Wacom drivers, so it's probably the best if you need a sensitive screen. The ASUS Vivotab Note 8 has a Wacom stylus built-in--but since it's not full Windows OS, and the screen resolution is shit, it's pretty much pointless for you.


Regarding keyboards--my absolute favorite little device of mine is my folding keyboard. To have a fully-functional computer experience, I just carry my slim little 10" Windows 8 tablet (or 7" Android, if I feel like it), and my slim little folding keyboard and I'm set. I believe this is a newer model of the one I currently have. If you want to save space, get a folding keyboard--because it folds in on itself you don't need to protect the keys, and when it unfolds it's practically a full-sized keyboard.




Honestly, you might better off just getting an actual drawing-only tablet, and connecting that to some sort of Windows 8 device--if graphic design is your sole profession and you depend on the full graphic design experience.

In regard to the item of clothing, that would depend entirely on where you want to go.










eg if you're going somewhere with high pollution, it's probably wise to bring a smog mask (or other such things where quality would be important, and you may not be able to find quality items once there).







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I regard to electronics--I love love love my portable folding keyboard. This is from the same company I bought mine from years ago, but I would actually recommend against it--I'm sure there's much better newer stuff out now, and I bought one recently from them and the quality control was absolute shit. But it's tiny enough bring in a small lightweight bag (I can fit it in my purse), and very useful for heavy-duty typing purposes.







You can use it with a phone, but I bring my 10" tablet (which has full Windows OS). With my 10" full Windows tablet and my little folding keyboard, it's exactly like having a full featured laptop except without the bulk or need for extra chargers (tablet just uses same micro USB as my phone). I actually took a month-long intensive summer course using only my full OS tab and my folding keyboard--was able to take notes just fine, research just fine, make various documents and powerpoints, etc., without having to lug a heavy laptop and charger around all the time.







Again--not a necessity by any means, but for my specific purposes I love it because I think it's useful for me to have a full typing experience when needed (but I type like 105 WPM so that's why I prefer a keyboard to swype).

I'm glad you enjoyed my comment. I definitely agree with you about this sub. There seems to be something inherently inspirational about traveling and I think that it has to do with the fact that, often, the decision to drop everything and travel is such a personal one and often comes from some type of larger perspective about what life means.

Have fun on your travels!

If you're looking for a great traveling book - Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel was the best that I found.

https://www.amazon.com/Vagabonding-Uncommon-Guide-Long-Term-Travel/dp/0812992180

Really shows you that it's all about a person's the perspective and life priorities. If you want to make a life of traveling, it really isn't that difficult - no matter how much money you make.

-notebook

-sleep mask

-ear plugs

-travel power strip: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H4YTHWG?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

-tsa luggage locks

-retractable cable lock (for hostel locker and securing your bag on train racks, etc) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BD69G0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_meWOBbKBCGDYM
-microfiber towel

-cheap flip flops for hostel showers

-sleeping bag liner

-hanging toiletry bag (hard to find counter real estate)

-travel utensil (handy for picnics, i know it’ll be december so maybe indoor picnics..)

-collapsible water bottle

-student id if you have one (museum discounts, etc.)

-keychain flashlight (so you don’t wake up your roomies)

-ziplock bags

-upload important docs to google drive.. passport, reservations, tickets, front and back of credit cards

-travel insurance? world nomads is great

-downy wrinkle spray is king

-hand sanitizer

-condoms

-sunglasses

-i constantly forget regular headphones for flights cause i use my bluetooth ones normally

-definitely compression packing cubes

-a credit card with no travel fees :)

Portable USB battery. Comes in really handy. I love the small Anker I have.

Ziploc Space Bags. I'm definitely a minority on this one, but I don't backpack without these. They don't really wrinkle my clothes since I fold them well. They making packing really easy since they compress down to save space.

And not a physical thing, but downloading Wikitravel onto your Android or iOS device is a must.

How long are you going for? I'd ditch the macbook if you can.

As for hostels, pick up a spare battery like this Anker 6000mAh one.

Basically, you can charge the battery during the day (if it's stolen, it's only worth $20-$30), and then when you need to charge your smartphone or camera you can just toss it in the locker to charge.

For SEA, be the most careful in Vietnam, particularly HCMC. I met at least 5 people that had their phone stolen there. Vietnam was still my favorite country of my trip, but you just have to be careful. I'd highly suggest leaving your phone back in the hostel locker when you go out at night drinking.

Don't bother with those pacsafe nets. I personally used an Osprey Porter 46L bag, and had a small 13L daypack for day hikes/etc. The daypack turned out to be a bit small for some used - I'd probably want to bump that to about 18-20L for next time. The 46L bag worked as carry-on luggage just fine for my flight from the USA->BKK, but all the local flights actually were TINY little planes. They don't give a shit though - when it doesn't fit they just tell you to toss it on an empty seat next to you.

Also, if your phone is unlocked, buy local SIM cards for data there. In vietnam I paid $6 for 30 days of unlimited 3g data + some credit for texts/calls for my phone. Unbelievably cheap and really fast too.

If you are hopping around Phuket / Koh Phi-Phi, etc, try to make it to Railay beach near Krabi. It's gorgeous.

Get some external batteries for your phone! I carried three of these around with me in my day pack. Of all the things I brought with me on my last trip, they were the items most constantly used. I got two of them for free which is why I had three, but I would recommend having at least two so you can alternate charging them.

They're great for when you're out exploring, since you don't have to worry about your phone dying from taking too many photos, looking up local restaurants, using the GPS, etc.

if a laptop is completely necessary, bring it, but bringing more SD cards instead will save a lot of stress and worry and potential sadness if something does happen. there's always travel insurance which is a good idea to have anyways but it still sucks to have things stolen and a theft would put a damper on things for sure. plus the insurance route includes the joy of filing a police report in a foreign country and dealing with the claims process afterwards, an avoidable waste of time but an adventure nonetheless. internet-wise a smart phone is usually sufficient and if you need to use a computer most large cities and/or tourist areas have internet cafes and hostels may offer computers as well.

may i suggest reading vagabonding by rolf potts. it's a great primer for travel, inspiring and feel-good while covering all the bases. I always give it a listen before trips, gets me in the zone.

-Small notepad - helps for planning and communicating and writing down thoughts

-A small daypack - I've used this nearly daily for 5 months and love it:

http://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Packable-Lightweight-Backpack-Daypack/dp/B0092ECRLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410870013&sr=8-1

-Small roll of toilet paper or kleenex for when nature calls unexpectedly

-Sunscreen

-Extra battery or power pack for charging phone/camera. I prefer the extra battery with external charger. It's great for when the hostel doesn't have a power outlet by the bed. Less risk than leaving your phone sitting out. Amazon this too.

-Umbrella if where you're going rains a lot.

Glad I can help. If you decide to got for it, the book by Alfred Wainwright (the guy that devised the walk) is great.

I've also uploaded a bunch of pictures from the walk, here.

1. Exactly which countries will you need this to work in? As you can see from this map, there are a bewildering variety of plug types around the world.
   
   
2. What type of plugs do your devices have—North American ones?
   
   
3. How many outlets do you need this device to have? What about USB?
   
   If size is your primary concern, check out something like the Kikkerland UL03-A Universal Travel Adapter, which I own. While it is small and works in most countries in the world, I find plugging in something heavy like a Mac adapter into it tends to pull it out of the outlet.
   
   TooManyAdapters recommends the Flight 001 4-In-1 Adapter. While on the expensive side, they say it fits snugly into all the outlets they tested.

I travel with this really small battery-powered trimmer. It does a pretty good job trimming my beard.

Always listen to your gut. Have you read “The Gift of Fear?” Good book on that subject.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0440508835/

Awesome! My first solo trip was Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam a few years ago and I've never looked back.

One thing you may want to consider is a portable battery charger for your phone. I got this one off Amazon for twelve bucks and its saved my ass multiple times.

Another obscure thing, bring a pen in your carry-on! Upon re-entry into the US, you'll need to complete an information card. Flight attendants will hand them out on the plane, but they rarely have a pen you can use. If you don't have a pen in your carry on, you'll have to find one at the airport.

This bag is from Travelon and worked really well in Italy (Rome was where I needed it the most) and had enough room in there that I packed for a weekend in it (lots of space in it). But I would say that common sense and spatial awareness helps a lot with the whole issue of bag slashing, like other commenters have said.

Into the Heart of Borneo - Redmond O'Hanlon

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Heart-Borneo-Redmond-OHanlon/dp/0394755405

Have you heard of the brand Travelon? They have backpacks that have anti theft properties and zippers that can protect against people trying to pickpocket you from behind. The link shows you it. My friend used it all over in Japan and suggested it to me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003DGL6W4/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522507299&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=travelon%2Bbackpack&dpPl=1&dpID=41cIZSDqPPL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

I don't have any experience, but just wanted to recommend reading A Million Steps!! It's by someone who did el Camino de Santiago.

Read this and this and you will gain a ton of knowledge on how to travel anywhere on your own.

I used a 20L outlander bag I bought on amazon. I liked it because it has 2 compartments (so you dont have to always search the main compartment for small stuff) and has the side mesh pockets for waterbottles. I used it whenever I did a multiday hike or whatever where I didnt wanna bring my 40L bag with all my stuff.

I bought one of these https://www.amazon.com/Wahl-9962-717-Cordless-Battery-Trimmer/dp/B000ICLIO2 because my other trimmer was twice the size and weight and the charging cord was huge (regular bic razors make me break out).

I just figured if I could avoid having half my face shaved and the battery dying on me that I might as well, but it obviously isn't worth it if there is a good chance they leak.

Any small, TSA-approved padlock should work. They're all the same.

Get one with a combination lock, not a keyed lock, so that you don't have to worry about the key. I prefer a cable lock because it's easier to thread through the zippers.

http://www.amazon.com/Luckies-London-Scratch-Map-LUSCR/dp/B003NCIPS6/ref%3Dsr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371675505&sr=8-2&keywords=scratch+map

There you go :)

Your phone, laptop, and most other chargers work on any voltage between 100 and 240. You won't need a converter for them.

Blow dryers, straighteners, etc typically require a converter to change the voltage. Power tools will need specific voltage and a specific hertz, making them the most complex.

But for just your phone, laptop, etc, you just need an adapter.

Kikkerland is a favorite of a lot of travelers because it's small and light. Heavier ones sometimes have trouble staying on the wall. Ones like this are popular also, but larger in your bag

I take this travel pouch of sorts with me on trips, your belt goes through one of the sewn on loops and the pouch rides on the inside of your pants. I keep one card and some cash in my billfold but spread the rest of my cards/cash between that pouch as well my backpack I keep locked up at the hostel.

> George Meegan's booked "Longest Walk" covers 10 years walking from Ushuaia to Alaska. It's not the easiest book to find though.

Actually it was really easy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/039608723X/ref=mw_dp_olp?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Maybe read Vagabonding and see if it helps you visualise your trip

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vagabonding-Rolf-Potts/dp/0812992180

You can take this as a carry-on as well. And it has tons of room inside.

You can learn about it in the Amazon Prime documentary: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R6PKR45

I have one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Luckies-London-Scratch-Map-USLUSCR/dp/B003NCIPS6

Hostels providing locks are the exception. Bring your own, this is what I have.

I usually put it by my feet because I'm paranoid and afraid someone might take it, especially when traveling. I also prefer to do this so I won't forget about it.

For larger bags, I've also purchased cable locks on Amazon that will allow me to attach my bag to the railing. Note that it's not really super sturdy, it's really more of a deterrent.

This is what I got - https://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-Combination-Assorted-4605D/dp/B000BD69G0

If you wear a belt, it means you probably don't wear skinny jeans. In that case this might be what you want.

I used mine for my 2 year trip and I'll use it on my upcoming trip. It's got room for backup credit cards and emergency cash. My pants and shorts are fairly loose fitting and the passport holder was rarely uncomfortable. Sometimes it's awkward to dig into your pants when you need it, but a little awkwardness never hurt anyone.

This won't work if you wear form-fitting clothes.

Edit: I didn't leave my passport in my room very often, and I never ever once left it in a dorm. If I did leave it behind for scuba diving or something, I hid it.

I became very interested in the Roma people when I lived in Italy. One of the best books I read was Bury Me Standing, which reviews say has a "pro-Gypsy bias" or is, at worst, "fair". Certainly it isn't anti-Roma. And if you read it, you'll come to understand the Roma's (fascinating, frustrating) socially and culturally ingrained attitudes about working for a living. Saying that pickpockets in Europe are often Roma is about as racist as saying anti-abortion protesters are often evangelical Christians.

Things I would add are:

• A decent padlock for Hostel lockers - I used this one
  
• Eagle creek wallet - Gave me so much peace of mind not having to worry about pick pockets.
  
• Mini LED keyring
  
• Reusable, washable ear plugs
  
• Talc (buy it there) kept me very dry in the places you wanna keep dry ;)
  
• Jeans, seldom used but handy when I went to a bar in a big city.
  
  I had a 40L bag and viewed it as a hierarchy, if I bought something I would have to give up something as my space was limited.