travel vlogging equipment for beginners

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9 Essential Travel Vlogging Gear For Every Trip

As a travel vlogger, identifying the essential gadgets to bring along without carrying a mountain of gear can be quite challenging. Not to mention that most filming equipment is heavy, making it hard to walk around with them for long.

This guide lists the main vlogging gear you need that’ll help document your adventures without carrying along with an entire studio.

At A Glance

2. iPhone 13 Pro Max

3. samsung galaxy s21 ultra 5g, 4. external microphone, 5. windshield, 6. portable wifi, 8. gopro action camera, 9. backpack for vlogging, what travel vlogging gear to pack for your trip, 9 gears you can’t do without for travel vloggers on the road.

While travelling, the choice of camera narrows down to compatibility and image stabilization. A compact and mirrorless camera is the lightest option that can match a DLSR’s quality. Mirrorless cameras have a larger sensor and this feature plays a crucial role in capturing light; thus, the camera works great even in poor lighting.

The Canon G7X Mark II is one of the most recommendable compact and lightweight cameras that you can consider. It can easily fit in your pocket or any backpack, and some of its key features include outstanding optical image stabilization, 1.8flens, and a flip screen.

Other recommended compact cameras include Canon EOS M50 Mark II and Sony ZV-1 . These small cameras usually have low battery life, and with the immense recording as a travel vlogger, you will need to carry extra batteries.

Apart from cameras, smartphones are a great choice for shooting and can act as backup for the camera. Some of the best camera phones for 2021 include;

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is currently one of the best vlogging camera phones, thanks to its advanced auto HDR, deep fusion, and 3x zoom features. The phone is lightweight, has a great battery life, and guarantees great video quality and stabilization.

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G,  with this phone, you get a big-sensor main camera that gathers a lot of light and an autofocusing ultrawide camera. You not only get one but two telephotos offering you one of the most versatile zoom setups.

At times, vlogging in windy scenarios can affect the quality of the audio of your videos. You don’t want to have to discard a chunk of footage just because of poor sound quality.

The built-in mics in cameras are good at picking up your voice but not in windy scenarios. This is why you need an external microphone that can focus on your voice over background noise. A shotgun microphone is the most recommendable option for travelling since they are excellent at reducing the background noise, allowing you to record smooth videos .

Some of the best microphones include the Rode VideoMic Pro+ , Sennheiser MKE 600 , and Rode NTG3 .

Another compact microphone that works great for travelling is the lavalier microphone . The mic allows you to wear it and move around while still capturing sound for a great price.

They do offer excellent audio, and you can plug them directly into DSLR cameras, PCs, portable audio recorders, and even smartphones. Some of the best lav mics include Sony ECM-AW4, Audio-Technica AT899 , and Rode Lavalier Go .

As stated earlier, the weather while travelling isn’t always stable, and you’re bound to encounter extremely windy scenarios. If you plan to hike a mountain or vlog along the beaches the quality of your audio will be affected. Having a good quality microphone helps, but a windshield does a better job retaining the sound quality in windy situations.

There are various types of windshields that you can use on your camera’s built-in microphone, a shotgun mic, a lavalier, or even on your smartphone. If you don’t have an external microphone, getting a mini windscreen is the least you can do to maintain the quality of your audio.

Top recommended windscreens include Auray WSW-007 MKII Windbuster , Rycote Softie Windshield , and Movo WS220 .

As a travel vlogger, you’ll probably be editing your videos while on the go, and you’ll need a stable internet connection to upload your videos or pictures. One way to remain connected to the internet across countless countries is by using a hotspot.

Bear in mind these hotspots are not exactly intuitive since you have to keep changing SIM cards. More so, the internet connectivity won’t always have the best speed that can help you upload travel videos. This is why you need to have portable WiFi, and some options even work off 4G, which guarantees a safe and fast connection.

These portable WiFi routers work great on your laptop and mobile phones, and in addition to uploading your videos, having a strong internet connection while travelling allows you to pass the time streaming your favourite show or playing your favourite online games.

Moreover, if you stream live on platforms such as Twitch or Youtube, a strong connection is paramount otherwise it may end up with glitches. Whenever playing a game or watching a stream, lags can be very irritating, especially if you are playing live casino or slots.

If you wish to play slots on the go, be sure to have great WiFi and check for comparison sites that compare all the best online casinos where you may play anytime, anywhere, as long as you have internet. They have the most recent games from prominent providers while assuring that only the sites they recommend are safe and licensed by trustworthy organizations to secure your money. There, they look for all of the greatest free spins offers, write detailed evaluations, and offer advice on the various banking options, like Paypal and/ or Ethereum.

A tripod is an essential accessory for shooting cinematic scenes. As a travel vlogger, you’ve to consider the functionality, weight, and size of a tripod before choosing to buy one.

With a travel tripod such as the Joy Gorilla Pod , lightweight and multifunction are its best factors. Ideally, its legs can be moulded and attached to pretty much any surface.

You can attach it to a tree or a rock, and it’ll remain steady. The GorillaPod usually comes in various sizes, allowing you to choose the most convenient size depending on your camera’s size. From this GorillaPod guide, it’s evident that these tripods have a lot to offer. However, if your camera is heavy, you will definitely need a heavier tripod to help hold it securely.

Nevertheless, the GorillaPod can make vlogging too bulky if you work with a mirrorless or DSLR camera. The Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2 is a recommendable tripod that works great with a DSLR camera, and you can easily vlog for a longer period without straining your hands.

Other recommendable tripods for your travel include Sirui ET-35K, Benro Tabletop Tripod, and the Joby GripTight ONE Micro Stand .

This is not a must-have gadget, but it can elevate the quality of your travel vlog by capturing unique shots that are impossible to get on a regular camera. A GoPro camera is a great option if you’re planning a trip with extreme activities such as hiking, water rafting, snorkelling, or kayaking.

The device is waterproof, and it has incredible features that allow you to capture moments in action. If you’re going on an adventurous trip, you can get the latest GoPro Hero 9 . It’s small and lightweight and is great at taking wide-angle pictures.

However, we emphasize that this camera is only suitable for fast-paced moments and doesn’t really fit normal shots. Ideally, the ultra-wide-angle lens does have a perspective distortion, making everything look unnatural. Thus, your viewers will find it hard to watch, especially longer videos.

While you can still use the usual backpacks, those designed for photography usually come in handy. This is because they have compartments that allow you to store your travel vlogging equipment safely while maximizing space.

Most of these bags are also weather-sealed, which is an excellent feature that gives you peace of mind when travelling since your equipment won’t be damaged because of extreme weather.

One of the best backpacks you can consider for your next trip is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack . This bag is designed for digital nomads and is made from an ultralight waxed Kodra synthetic canvas. The fabric also has an extra DWR coating which makes it weatherproof. It has multiple access points, making it easy to remove your equipment. The shoulder straps are padded and can rotate and swivel for extra comfort.

Other reliable travel backpacks that offer durability, quality, and utility include the K&F Concept Multi-Functional Camera Backpack 600D and the MOSISO Camera Backpack .

Having the right equipment as a travel vlogger is crucial, but at the same time, you don’t want to be carrying around huge bags.

Ideally, when choosing your gadgets, the key features to consider should be compatibility and functionality. If you can get lightweight equipment that does the job right, you don’t need to buy a bulkier version.

When packing for your next trip, make sure you have a camera, most preferable, a compact or mirrorless one. You’ll also need an external microphone to boost the quality of your audio. A windshield is also necessary for windy situations. Other vlogging tools include a compatible tripod and an action camera if you are going on an adventurous trip such as water rafting, hiking, snorkelling, or kayaking.

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Isabel Leong

Full-time travel blogger at Bel Around The World and SEO coach roaming the world at a whim, Isabel helps aspiring content creators and brands get the most out of their online presence by attracting organic leads/traffic and achieving financial freedom with her Skyrocket With SEO course. She's closely involved in and has been featured as a speaker in other travel & digital nomad networks & podcasts such as Traverse, Travel Massive, The Nomadic Network and Location Indie.

Hi! I'm Isabel, a full-time traveller and digital nomad from Singapore. In the past 10 years, I've lived in New Zealand , Japan , Kauai Hawaii , Mexico , Costa Rica and Bali , while traversing 55+ countries. Pulling from my travel adventures and life lessons, I share my tried and tested tips, so that I can get YOU to work LESS and enjoy MORE!

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9 Essential Travel Vlogging Equipment for Beginners

Embarking on your journey as a newly turned digital nomad, you have traversed cities and countries, collecting riveting stories. But before you dive headfirst, there are countless checkboxes you need to tick. 

Foremost among these is the selection of travel vlogging equipment – from tripod stands and a quality camera to microphones and more. To help you get a comprehensive view, this blog will guide you through everything you need to know about travel vlogging equipment for beginners. 

Let's dive in.

Keep these things in mind when  travel vlogging  

Keep your videos crisp 

Keep your videos brief, aiming for under 3 minutes to retain viewer interest. During travels, capture short clips (3-10 seconds) for easy editing into a concise, engaging compilation. Remember, a crisp and short video has the potential to make a lasting impact. Begin with less and make it memorable.

Show the planet from your lens

What sets a travel vlog apart from regular travel videos is its ability to weave a first-person narrative, immersing viewers in the adventure they seek. A successful vlog captures your personality and perspective, providing a personal touch that standard travel videos may lack. 

Unlike traditional travel videos, travel vlogs prioritize showcasing your temperament. Elevate the viewer's experience by incorporating numerous first-person point-of-view shots into your adventure.

Involve other people 

Encounters with people—whether locals or fellow travelers—are abundant during your travels. Some may approach you, while you may initiate contact with others for directions or a simple greeting. The richness of these interactions often goes beyond what travel guides or Google can offer about a place. 

Be a storyteller

The essence of meaningful videos lies in storytelling. Storytelling is the art of conveying meaning without explicit definition. Imagine wandering in a jungle, transporting viewers with the crisp sound of fallen leaves, the scent of moist soil from raindrops, and the sensation of cold wind drifting through the woods. Allow them to experience the forest as you do. 

Use the right travel vlogging equipment

Use the right travel vlog equipment. While you can shoot with your phone and AirPods, it's better not to compromise on quality. Depending on your vlogging goals, consider researching and investing in decent gear for a better overall experience. Quality equipment makes a difference in the professionalism and impact of your videos.

9 Best Travel Vlogging Equipment to Carry

Travel vlogging goes deeper than merely capturing some snippets on your smartphone. An accurate, seamless travel vlogging story means a high-quality video with clear voices and sounds. And that’s where travel vlogging equipment or gear comes into play. Here are nine must-travel vlog equipment you must carry with you. 

It's a no-brainer! Crafting immersive content demands a top-notch camera that captures every detail. Whether it's a compact, DSLR, or mirrorless camera, the key lies in its features. Ensure your camera boasts high video quality (preferably 4K resolution), a microphone jack, a built-in stabilizer, a rotating LCD screen, portability, and manual mode for maximum creative control.

If you are traveling in a car or a bike and want to shoot the best views along the road, how do you do that? Use a robust adhesive mount for cars or suction car stands to fix your action camera when driving. These camera stands are engineered to help you get the best angles when shooting and are the best fit to capture for Instagram Reels. 

For a low profile, flexible positioning of your camera or smartphone and to capture dynamic shots, use a suction cup mount . For spontaneous pictures and videos and to capture a panoramic view, use an adhesive phone mount ; it is one of the best vlog equipment. 

A tripod is the most important travel vlog equipment. Unlocking full potential requires a robust support system, not just in life but also in vlogging. Shaky footage is a viewer's pet peeve, making a reliable tripod a must-have investment. The bonus? It frees up your hands, allowing for more expressive and engaging content. With numerous options available, choose a tripod based on your camera's weight for optimal stability.

While there are innumerable tripod stands, the best ones can hold your device securely while helping you get the best angle. Moreover, it should be compatible with smartphones and compact cameras. 

Our Tripod Phone Mount is a two-in-one magic instrument you can hold as a selfie stick for a better shot amid crowds. Or, like a traditional stand, fix it firmly in the ground, poles, or fences by bending the mount’s legs and creating live videos. Check out our tripod mount to learn more. 

Another good option is to use an 11-inch tripod mount. The metal plates will ensure your smartphone stays firm while you move it like a selfie stick through a concert crowd or place it at the roots of a tree. Check out what makes our handy tripod a must-have vlogging equipment. 

3.  Gimbal 

Enhance your support system by adding a gimbal, especially if you seek tripod-level quality with the freedom to pivot while capturing moving subjects. A gimbal ensures camera stability, producing smooth, high-quality footage without bumps and shakes.

4. Microphone

Regardless of how fantastic your video is, viewers will quickly lose interest if they can't hear you. A quality microphone is, therefore, crucial travel vlog equipment. Ensure your mic can suppress background noise and make your voice crisp and clear. Remember that built-in microphones cannot suffice as vlog equipment. You need a mic for outdoor shoots. 

5. Remote shutters

A Remote Shutter is a nifty tool often overlooked but a valuable addition to your gear. It enables you to remotely start, pause, or stop recording your camera, allowing you to stay in position for retakes—an invaluable feature. 

These devices simplify vlogging considerably and are budget-friendly. If your camera has WiFi, you can achieve similar functionality with your smartphone. Otherwise, consider the AmazonBasics Wireless Remote Control, ensuring compatibility with your camera model.

Things to keep in mind when buying travel vlogging equipment

Here are essential factors when selecting the best vlogging equipment:  

• Portability: Opt for lightweight and compact gear for easy travel.
• Versatility: Choose equipment that serves multiple functions to streamline your kit.
• Durability: Prioritize robust and durable gear to withstand varying conditions.
• Compatibility: Ensure your equipment and editing tools are compatible with each other.
• Power Efficiency: Select gear with long battery life or convenient charging options for uninterrupted filming.
• Weather Resistance: Consider weather-resistant or waterproof options for diverse shooting environments.
• Budget: Establish a realistic budget, focusing on essential items to avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Audio Quality: Invest in a quality microphone for clear and engaging audio in your vlogs.
• Stabilization: Include stabilizing equipment like gimbals or tripods for steady footage.
• Storage Capacity: Ensure ample storage space through large memory cards or external devices.
• Editing Requirements: Choose gear that supports your editing preferences and desired style.
• Adaptability: Opt for versatile gear suitable for various shooting scenarios.
• User-Friendly: Prioritize equipment that is easy to use, especially if you are a beginner.
• Research Reviews: Read reviews and watch demonstrations to gauge the performance and reliability of your chosen gear.
• Warranty and Customer Support: Check for warranties and reliable customer support to address any issues.

What makes Arkon’s the best choice? 

Be it a camera, smartphone, or additional lighting object, we have gear for everything. Arkon is your one-stop solution for all your travel vlogging equipment needs. Get the best vlogging equipment, like our bending tripod stands and adhesive car mounts. Here’s what makes us the best choice for travel vlogging equipment. 

Our mounts and tripod stands boast customization features, ensuring 360-degree adjustability and compatibility with smartphones, tablets, and cameras. Capture exceptional videos with precision, achieving perfect shot angles that guarantee stability and eliminate any unwanted shaky footage. 

Tailored for content creators and streamers, our series of mounts and stands are discreetly designed to stay out of the shot while offering a steadfast hold for consistently smooth footage, enhancing the quality of your content for your audience. Arkon is committed to providing the best tools for elevating your travel vlogging experience.

Specialized Selection : Arkon curates a specialized selection of travel vlogging equipment, catering specifically to the needs of vloggers. 

Tailored Customer Support : Arkon emphasizes personalized customer support, you benefit from a more tailored shopping experience with assistance in choosing the right equipment.

Innovating continuously : We keep innovating and featuring cutting-edge technologies in travel vlogging equipment.

In this blog, we have covered the essential travel vlogging equipment list. Consider this your starter pack, as capturing the perfect shot involves having the right gear and using it at the opportune moment. To delve deeper into the realm of travel vlogging equipment and learn more about optimizing your gear for the perfect capture on foot or in your car and on the road, visit our page today. 

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Travel Vlogging Equipment For Beginners – Top Picks

• June 23, 2022

Whether you’re a seasoned travel vlogger or only just getting started in the world of producing travel-related digital content, one thing you will agree on is the need for good quality vlogging equipment that you can rely on to produce high-quality content. 

While a phone camera or a simple point-and-shoot can get you started, sooner or later you’re going to have to invest in some decent equipment if you’re serious about making progress as a content creator. 

And contrary to popular belief, you need not spend a fortune to get your hands on some of the basic vlogging gear that will enable you to advance from a beginner to pro relatively quickly and easily. But what does a vlogger need to get started?

One of the first and most obvious pieces of vlogging gear you’d want to invest in is a high-quality, versatile camera. 

Once you’ve checked that one-off, you’d want to make sure you’re always carrying sufficient memory to capture those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moments as well as an external hard drive for backups.

 One more piece of travel vlog gear that will add flair to your content is a drone, so consider allocating a budget for this useful piece down the line as well. You’ll also want to include a tripod, a microphone and a carry-on bag (that is preferably waterproof).

All that said, it can be somewhat overwhelming to search for the right gadget at the right price. So we’ve put together a list of some of the best travel vlogging gear for beginners that we’ve seen.

Top cameras for vlogging

When selecting a travel vlogging camera, some of the things you need to be mindful of is good stabilization to capture footage while on the move, a wide enough focal length to shoot yourself as well the background and a front facing flip screen.

Vlogging Camera

1.sony zv-1 digital camera vlogging and online video kit.

The Sony ZV-1 is possibly one the best travel vlogging cameras you can get for your money’s worth. It packs a punch with some very travel vlogging friendly features. Its large right hand grip makes it ideal to hold for a one hand recording. It has a slide flip-out 3.0 touchscreen and 3 capsule microphone making it a good choice for front face recording and the online video kit includes a dead cat (wind cover) to minimize wind and external sound disturbances to your video. If you want to take longer takes on your video the camera comes with extended continuous video recording. The camera is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel .

2. DJI Pocket 2

The DJI Pocket 2 is a compact, ultra portable option with a gimbal stabilizer and 4K camera. What we most like about this camera is its built in stabilizer which makes it extremely handy to shoot while on the move. It’s waterproof so it can withstand weather changes, and it’s not hard on the wallet either. The camera operates only on two buttons making the operation of the camera very straightforward. It has a long battery life making it long lasting while shooting a video. All these great features, as well as its compact size, make it one of the best equipment for travel vlogging you can get your hands on.

3.Canon EOS M200 Compact Mirrorless Digital Vlogging Camera

If you’re a fan of Canon cameras and already familiar with its controls, then this is a good travel friendly model from the brand. It brings the same superior picture quality Canon is known for in this mirrorless version, and has a low minimum shutter speed; enabling you to capture time lapse shots. This is by far one of the most compact, lightweight Canon cameras we’ve seen around and the flip out screen makes it a good option for your travel vlog gear.

Best Microphones For Vlogging

Whether it’s for Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or any other social media platform out there, you’ll want to make sure your vlog audio quality is on point. Capturing audio for your vlog while traveling can be challenging as it tends to pick up background noises and may drown out your voice. This makes it crucial for you to have a good microphone as a part of your travel vlog gear.

There are different types of microphones out there, from USB microphones to lavalier microphones to wireless ones. We have put together a list of the 3 most frequently used Microphones for Travel Vlogging in 2021.

Vlogging Microphone

1. rode wireless go microphone.

Wireless microphones are one of the best options for travel vloggers given the freedom of movement it offers. The Rode Wireless GO Compact Wireless Microphone System is a great option and goes easy on your wallet as well. This microphone is ideal for vlogging beginners and pros alike, offering secure Series III 2.4 GHz digital transmission and easy operability. The rechargeable battery lasts upto 7 hours on a single charge and would make it to a best vlogging kit for beginners list easily.

2. Shure MV88+

This is one of the best pieces of travel vlogging equipment for beginners, especially if you’re using a smartphone to record your videos. If you’d like, you could take it up a notch with the video kit which includes a small tripod, shoe mount, wind guard and a headphone jack. Since it draws power from your smartphone you do not need to have any additional batteries and it connects directly to your smartphone or tablet. The only downside of this is an additional strain on your phone battery life.

3. Rode VideoMic Go

Rode VideoMic Go is a shotgun microphone option you can attach to the camera; a great way to capture audio while traveling. An integrated Rycote lyre shock mount isolates the video mic from vibrations felt during travel and reduces surrounding sounds. It’s easy to use and connect to the camera.

4. Blue Yeti Nano (optional)

If you’re looking to produce podcast type content or add voice overs to your videos, then a Blue Yeti Nano is the way to go. Trusted by millions of top content creators and streamers, you can’t go wrong with this option, and the Yeti Nano won’t break the bank either. While this option delivers the exceptional quality Blue Yeti is known for, it is less bulkier than a usual USB mic, making it portable for your travels.

The best drones for vlogging

A drone is the travel vlog gear to take your content to the next level. Flying a drone around is not only fun but with the right drone camera you can capture amazing footage for your vlogs. Here are a few of the best drone options out there.

The DJI Mini 2 is a super compact and lightweight drone, making it a great piece of travel vlog gear. Its compact nature makes it easy to carry around with you in all your vlogging journeys. It can shoot 4K videos and captur RAW still images. Like the DJI MAVIC Air 2 it has a high definition and 31 minute maximum battery time giving you time to take the perfect shot.

DJI MAVIC Air 2

DJI’s drones are reliable and very easy to control and fly. It bring together a high end camera with technology in one drone that is both affordable and easy to use. The Maivic Air 2 has inbuilt sensors allowing it to avoid obstacles that are approaching in front, back or even below. It’s li ghtweight and compact and can travel with you almost anywhere and fit into almost any bag. 

It also has a camera that can shoot 4k video and gives a video timing of 34 minutes of flight in a fully charged battery. It is also able to fly in windy and otherwise other weather conditions making it a preferred choice among many vloggers.

If you are a beginner at vlogging and would like to consider affordability over many other aspects, then the Ryze Tello is the drone for you. It has many incredible features and it’s affordable for just under $100. The Tello is also waterproof allowing you to fly it even in rainy weather conditions.

The best bags for carrying vlogging equipment

When we consider travel vlogging equipment for beginners, one of the essential pieces you need to invest in is a durable travel bag – capable of hauling all the equipment you’ll be gathering as you progress in your vlogging journey. The right one for you will depend on your preference and nature of travel and vlogging. We’ve put together for you 3 of the best fit bags that we think are in three different ranges, considering weight and capacity, storage and access options.

Bags for vlogging

1. endurax extra large camera backpack.

This is probably the best large vlogging backpack out there. It’s super spacious and comes with multiple compartments giving you a wide array of storage and access options. 

The bag comes with two large separate storage compartments which can carry both your personal belongings and vlogging equipment all in one bag.

Each compartment comes with smaller separators so you can store not only your camera and tripods but other smaller equipment like lenses, smartphones, batteries and your other equipment. 

The bag also includes a laptop compartment, a tripod pouch and a rain cover as well to help protect your gear in rainy weather and circumstances. For this price range and capability, the Endurax backpack is a great deal.

2. Lowepro - Tahoe BP 150 Camera Backpack

Known as a lightweight and compact backpack this is a great option for airline travel as well. Although the bag is smaller in size, it can surprisingly hold more than you initially assume. 

It also has quality construction that includes thick padding that keeps your travel vlog gear well protected. The sections are adjustable, giving you the flexibility to store your equipment as you see the best fit. 

You can fit a small DSLR camera, a small drone and a few other small vlog equipment that you carry with you. It comes with an affordable price tag and is very comfortable to carry.

3. Zecti Waterproof Camera Bag

If you are an outdoor vlogger looking for a great durable bag that is waterproof to withstand all weather changes and rainy conditions then this is your bag. 

The Zecti backpack is definitely one of the best waterproof and daily camera backpacks for beginner and professional vloggers alike.

The bag is sturdy, built from good quality material and has enough space to fit in all your vlogging gear. It has a sleek and comfortable design that is suitable for either air, train or almost any other kind of travel.

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The Best Vlogging Equipment Starter Kit For Beginners

January 13, 2020

You asked, I answered! Here’s my guide to the vlogging equipment you need to get started…

Table of Contents

Vlogging Equipment For Beginners: What Do You Really Need?

Let’s cut to the chase: what kind of vlogging equipment and blogging paraphernalia do you actually need? I’ve written this list in response to friends, colleagues and readers asking me about the vlogger equipment I take with me when I work and travel the world. It’s part of my job and so it’s something I take pride in – but I’m also well aware that tech and kit talk leaves a lot of people cold.

Then there are others. Those who fall in love with the machines and forget what the purpose is behind it all: to capture moments, perhaps forever, and share them with the world.

This vlogging starter kit article aims to hit the middle of the two standpoints.

Do you feel that a lack of vlogger kit is the thing that’s holding you back?

Let it hold you back no more…

• Recommended reading: learn to love the camera masterclass

Essential Vlogging Equipment

When it comes to your vlogging setup, this is what you’ll need:

• A camera that can record video. The end.

After that, you can start thinking about:

• A microphone
• A gimbal for filming on the move
• A selfie stick or vlogging stick

I’ll talk about each of the pieces of equipment I use in detail further on. But first of all, let’s have a quick run through of the vlogging essentials.

• S hort on time? Check out the handy amazon vlog gear list over here. If you do decide to buy anything, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A Vlogging Camera

As Chase Jarvis famously said “the best camera is the one you have with you” and that principle can really be expanded to what we’re talking about here.

The best equipment for vlogging is the kit you have with you. The best vlogging camera is the one you have with you that you aren’t afraid to use. Don’t get lost in the pursuit of the perfect kit: it doesn’t exist. That said, don’t skimp on things that will make life much, much better, for both you and your audience.

Top Tip: the first place to upgrade is with sound by buying a microphone. It’s nearly impossible to fix bad sound but you can fix a myriad of problems elsewhere.

What is a Vlog?

The word comes from video log and the trend began as a video diary affair. Now, vlogging refers to just about any video for social media. It’s accessible, informational and entertaining (or at least it should be!) but it doesn’t typically require a full crew.

Really, the biggest obstacle to developing a career in vlogging is not the equipment. It’s the getting started and keeping going…honestly!

A Decent Smartphone

Smartphones these days take incredible video.

The iPhone 15 Pro , for example, can record in 4K at 60fps (make sure to check your settings as it defaults to a lower quality file to save space.) Image quality and smartphone video capabilities keep on increasing, with inbuilt image stabilisation and mic input options to create a mobile beginner YouTube vlogging kit.

Note that you NEED to pay close attention to lighting and audio and need a gimbal or tripod most of the time.

But start with those before splashing out for a bigger, better camera or any other vlogging camera equipment. Please? Your phone is all the YouTube equipment you need when you’re starting out. After that, if you want to delve deeper, you can check out this guide to YouTube equipment   here.

A Mirrorless DSLR

Mirrorless DSLRs or mirrorless cameras are now what most blogging and vlogging professionals use. They’re big but not too big (the mirror has been removed) and you can still use interchangeable lenses. That said, most travel bloggers and vloggers I know stick to one lens most of the time and a few they keep in reserve. It takes time to switch lenses and it’s awkward to carry them around.

Since so much of travel photography is spontaneous, it doesn’t make sense to miss the shot while fiddling around with your vlogger equipment. I use the SONY alpha 7 III with this SEL2870 lens. Check it out, it is a great camera, but you don’t need it to start with!

Compact Cameras

Personally, I’ve never really got on well with compact cameras. Stick with a smartphone for your video recording or else upgrade to a mirrorless DSLR, ideally with a live view.

As you’d expect, the rule of thumb is that video quality and the options while recording or shooting increase with price. But if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: it’s what you do with your kit that counts the most.

Again, with travel, you need to balance up weight and stability against portability. I love my Neewer SAB264 tripo d because it’s tall (177cm) lightweight (2.8lbs) and very quick and easy to use. I’ve tried several other cheaper ones over the years and they’ve all broken like a false economy bin bag on its sad march through the house. False. Eeeconomy. Don’t skimp here!

A Microphone

The first thing to fix is your audio. Learn how to soundproof a room. Listen out for wind. Look out for building works. And then buy a microphone. There are two main types for when you’re on the move.

A lav mic, which clips to the lapels of the person you’re interviewing (or you.)

And one that plugs in direct to your camera (or phone – I have the iPhone X so use this plug in SHURE microphone. I used to use lav mics a lot but this works better for me on the go as it’s faster to set up.)

Microphones can get very expensive but they are probably the first area to address when it comes to upgrading your vlogging equipment. Top vloggers recommend Rode videomics – and you can find an entry level microphone here.

Don’t forget to take headphones with you so that you can check the sound without annoying everyone around you. I mean, there is more to it than that, but that’s the place to start!

Nothing gets more attention on the road than travelling around with a gimbal! Out of the box, people are fascinated. What does it do, how does it work?

Inside the box, well it looks like a cross between the world’s smallest violin and an oddly unashamed dildo.

What it actually does is smooth out your filming so that viewers don’t get seasick. You used to need to spend hundreds of pounds and lug around a lot of kit to achieve this with a steady cam. Now, you can buy a handheld device for the price of a return trip for your luggage with Ryanair.

This has probably been the game-changer for me when it comes to video. It’s given me so much more confidence and I get to do lots of different creative things. It also does the very basic job of letting me move around without making youtubers seasick.

You can buy the Zhiyun Gimbal that I use on Amazon here.

Selfie Stick for Vlogging

Yes, it’s embarrassing but it’s time to get over that! Get a firm selfie stick with a tripod base and a bluetooth remote control. I’ve tried several and I’m still looking for my perfect match.

I love this selfie stick because it’s so light and quick to use. But it only works for my phone, not my GoPro nor my bigger camera. I’ve tried other interchangeable ones but the quality hasn’t been that great. So I’m still searching. If you have any recommendations, let me know!

Vlogging Accessories

A GoPro – this is just another camera with a record function but it’s designed for active use. You can buy a range of accessories to help you attach it to your head, your chest, your dashboard… You can swim with it, operate it by voice and lots more. It’s also useful for wide angle views inside buildings.

GoPro Accessories

You can buy as many or as few of these as you like. I find the following really useful:

• A bubble (dome lens) for underwater photography and filming
• A float for water photography and filming
• A GoPro dashboard mount (it’s illegal in many countries to film while driving. And for good reason!)
• Head mount – great for climbing, cycling, running after small children…
• GoPro Wrist mount – better for when you have one hand spare. So, steep hiking, sloppy, sticky festivals, that kind of thing…

Also note that you can find and buy many GoPro accessories that are brand “X” and much cheaper. Sometimes this saves a lot of money. Sometimes, they break on first use. I keep switching back and forth between my approach. But if you have your heart SET on a particular moment that you will never be able to repeat again then it’s probably best to play it safe and buy the GoPro approved version.

A Card Reader

This sounds trivial to begin with but gets really important really quickly. In my experience, the biggest obstacle to publishing good work is managing to keep on top of it all. To stay organised and move files from A to B seamlessly before firing them off into the alphabet soup of social media, backup everything online. A card reader is a small piece of equipment that plugs into your computer. You put the memory card from your camera into that instead of fiddling around with wireless connections or wires. The files transfer much faster that way.

But, obviously, it has to fit the attachments on your computer and the size of your memory card. Double check which you need before you buy.

Spare Batteries

Vlogging eats up storage and power. When you work in travel (or just want to have a beautiful record of your travels) you’ll find video gobbles up both pretty quick. When buying a main camera (DSLR or mirrorless) always buy at least one spare battery at the same time.

Multi-Power Adapter with Extension Cord

You can buy these almost anywhere but they’re so useful when on a working trip. Some hotel rooms have plugs in awkward positions or possibly just the one. Plug in one of these and charge all your devices and spares at the same time. Ta da!

Round the World Adapter

Save stress packing by having two of these. One in your hand luggage and one in your main suitcase (in case you lose your luggage.)

Gorilla Pod

Gorilla pods are bendy tripods with fittings that you can attach to tiny iPhones or chunky big goliath cameras. The first tend to do a little better, though, as the heavier the lens, the more the limbs of the tripod struggle. I also use these to extend the length of my gimbal during Facebook Lives.

Remote Controls

This almost comes within the category of cameras but you can buy them separately. Camera remote controls, whether for phones, GoPros or cameras, make it far easier for you to film yourself and cut down on edit time later. They are also essential for taking photos in very low light when the pressure of your finger can blur the image.

Natural daylight provides some of the best light around. But if you need to film indoors a lot and live in a gloomy country (hello Britain!) then it can be very useful to have backup lighting.

An entry level lighting set up to sit on your desk for a work Zoom call can make you look much more professional. The Lume Cube Broadcasting Kit is a good example.

Next up, is the ring light on a tripod. This donut shaped light source provides a bright but forgiving light to faces, so beauty vloggers love it! I’d really recommend the Neewer Selfie Ring Light on a stand.

Do You Need Different Gear For Travel Vlogging?

A lot of travel vlogging equipment works just as well for all types of situations, but not always. The most obvious difference is that with travel, you need to carry your gear.

All of it. A lot.

Around and around, up stony staircases, down slippery muddy paths, through sweaty, sticky jungles and into ice-cold air conditioning so fierce it seems as though a power-crazed polar bear has seized control.

But also, since travel is about being in the experience and reacting quickly to things around you, it’s better to go with less. Seriously. In fact, I think it makes it more fun as you learn to make the most of what you have with you at any given time. One final note: don’t fall into the trap of being so worried about your equipment that you never use it. Yes, some of this is expensive and it would be annoying for it to break or be stolen. But keeping it your hotel room or, worse yet, at home, for fear of ruining it defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.

Don’t flaunt it or leave it lying around. But don’t forget to use it.

Can you recommend a single vlogger starter kit on Amazon?

Personally, I think it’s best to start with the smartphone you have and introduce a tripod, gimbal and microphone before getting anything too fancy. You can buy dedicated “vlogger starter kits” on Amazon but they tend to include more things than you need and the quality isn’t always worth it.

You can find my recommendations in my Amazon shop here.

Do you need different vlogging equipment for YouTube?

No! You can vlog for YouTube just as easily as for anywhere else. Your YouTube vlog camera, tripod, microphone can be multipurpose.

What about vlogging equipment for lighting?

You can buy a range of mobile and fixed lighting devices to make your videos look brighter. I haven’t found any I love yet that make the price worthwhile. But I’ll keep you posted and add them here when I do.

Can you recommend a vlogging kit for iPhone?

Yes I can! Stretch up to the iPhone X if you can and then grab the iPhone microphone, selfie stick and tripod from this amazon list here. If you plan on doing any travel vlogging at all, then I strongly recommend you buy the gimbal as well.

Do you need a camera with a flip screen?

I personally don’t get on with them very well, perhaps because I’m in front of the camera so often. But many other vloggers swear by them. So see if you can borrow one for a test run and see which works best for you.

The Best Vlogging Equipment: In Summary

• The best vlogging equipment is the stuff you’re happy to take with you and actually use.
• It has a decent microphone.
• It stabilises the view.
• It is YOU! What you do with your vlogging kit matters most of all. Go, get to it!

More Travel Gear

• The best  yoga mats for travel
• The  Osprey Transporter 120  Review: the family size one
• The  Osprey Farpoint 36
• The  Osprey 65 Review:  a backpack on wheels?
• The  recycled Osprey Daylite Duffel
• Reviewing the  Osprey Tote
• The  best carry-on luggage for women
• Level8 luggage review: the Russian doll suitcase with a difference

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Travel Video Gear: The Ultimate Travel Vlogging Gear For Beginners

Posted on Last updated: January 12, 2021

There is a common myth that to take good travel videos and photos you need lots of expensive gear. With this travel video gear guide I aim to disprove that.

When I first started travel vlogging I didn’t really know where I was going with it (like most people) and it’s only normal not to want to spend lots of money on expensive cameras and accessories.

This travel video gear list was updated in January 2019, since over time I’ve accumulated more bits and bobs that I felt I needed.

If you’ve just started travel vlogging and want some cool gear to take beautiful photos with but don’t want to break the bank, this ultimate travel video gear guide is the place for you!

• 1.1 Main camera: Nikon D3300
• 1.2 GoPro Hero 4 Silver
• 1.3 Sony Compact Camera
• 1.4 DJI Spark (Fly More Combo)
• 1.5 GoPro Dome
• 2.1 Bokeh lens for Nikon D3300
• 2.2 Extra batteries
• 2.3 Memory cards
• 2.4 GoPro floaty backdoor
• 2.5 GoPro selfie stick
• 2.6 GoPro red dive filter
• 2.7 Memory card for GoPro
• 2.8 External Hard Drive
• 2.9 Rode Microphone & wind protector
• 2.10 Manfrotto Compact Tripod

The Treasury of Petra in Jordan, shot with a Nikon D3300

My travel video gear essentials

Main camera: nikon d3300.

This is my main camera, and it does pretty much everything, from wide panoramic shots of landscapes, to close ups of food or people’s faces.

I actually bought this before I began making videos, as it’s considered one of the best DSLRs for beginners, and it’s pretty easy to use.

You can also change the lens, so it’s a pretty good camera to start with, then when you feel ready to step up your game you can just get another lens, such as a brighter one, or a more powerful zoom, instead of buying a whole new camera!

I usually keep my camera in a simple camera sleeve , it’s a lot smaller and lighter than an actual camera case, and it does the job in keeping your camera safe when you put it inside a bag.

Click here to see the latest prices of the Nikon D3300

Cala Soraja, Italy, shot on Nikon D3300

GoPro Hero 4 Silver

I use this as my action camera, and take it pretty much everywhere I don’t want to risk getting my Nikon wet or broken.

GoPros are generally considered amongst the best cameras for bloggers , and it’s easy to see why.

You can take all kind of shots with a GoPro , I’ve used mine for example on sailing boats, kayaks, or when swimming. It comes with a bunch of basic screws and sticky bases that you can use to begin with.

There are also a number of new GoPro models out, but if you don’t want to spend too much money on one you can start with an older model.

Check the latest price for the GoPro Hero 4 Silver & newer GoPro models here

Snorkelling in the Similan Islands, Thailand, shot on GoPro Hero 4 Silver

Sony Compact Camera

This was a later addition to my travel video gear, and became my travel vlogging camera. At first I filmed most things with my DSLR, and when I felt like I needed to do a vlog selfie type video I just used my phone.

However if you can invest in a vlogging camera with a flippable screen it’s probably better, as the video quality will be better than your phone and it’s easier to carry around and film with than a DSLR if you’re doing active activities, such as cycling.

I got a fairly cheap one but there are also fancier models if you want to step up your travel vlogging game.

See the latest prices and models of Sony Compact cameras here

Cycling in Copenhagen, Denmark, shot on Sony Compact Camera

DJI Spark (Fly More Combo)

The latest addition to my gear collection! I have been wanting a drone in forever and when DJI released the Spark just a few weeks before my birthday, I knew what my present to myself was going to be.

The DJI Spark is a great consumer drone, it’s small and light, perfect for me to carry around during my travels, and really simple to manoeuvre. You can check out a video I made with it here , featuring lots of flying over water!

Extra batteries are an essential for a drone. The battery for the Spark lasts only around 15 minutes, if you’re going to be out and about all day, having an extra one is pretty much essential!

I bought the Fly More Combo , which includes a spare battery, the remote, and a couple other extras. It works out cheaper than buying the drone, a spare battery, and the remote separately, so definitely worth the value for money.

If you’re looking for advice on what drone to choose, check out the best travel drones reviewed by travellers .

Get your drone here and start filming epic aerial travel videos!

Swimming in Sardinia, Italy, shot on DJI Spark

The natural pools of the Archipelago of Maddalena, shot on DJI Mavic Pro

This is more of an accessory than an essential, however since I never go anywhere without it these days I would classify it as an essential.

GoPro domes are used to take those epic half over and half underwater shots, without breaking the bank on an expensive DSLR underwater dome case.

Click here to read my GoPro dome review and over / under photography tips.

Click here to purchase your GoPro dome!

An over / under water photo taken with a GoPro Hero 4 Silver & Telesin GoPro dome

Travel vlogging gear – useful accessories

Bokeh lens for nikon d3300.

As I mentioned above, one of the advantages as getting a Nikon D3300 as your main travel vlogging camera is the opportunity of removing the lens and swapping it with another.

Most DSLRs have this feature but don’t take it for granted, some cameras have a fixed lens.

You often see all over social media and magazines photos with a nice blurred background, that make the person standing in the middle stand out (this effect is known as Bokeh).

Despite my best efforts I couldn’t recreate this with my DSLR, until I found I needed a different type of lens for it. This is where the Nikon f/1.8 35mm lens comes in.

This is a fixed zoom lens, meaning you can’t zoom in and out but will physically have to get closer or further away from the object you’re taking photos of, but it will allow you to create this soft blurred background effect.

See the latest prices for bokeh lenses here

Sunset at the London Eye, shot with Nikon D3300 and the f/1.8 35mm lens to get the nice blurred background effect

Extra batteries

Whether it’s an extra battery for your Nikon D3300 or your GoPro if you’re planning on making videos, you will need another battery.

Especially if you’re out and about all day without chance of recharging, you don’t want to be out filming and then your camera dies half way through an epic activity!

Click here to get extra batteries for your camera gear!

Sunrise at Uluru in Australia, shot on Nikon D3300

Memory cards

You will need also a memory card. I recommend you get a relatively big one, I have a 64GB memory card .

Similarly to the having an extra battery, you don’t want to be out and about and run out of filming space.

Click here to get memory cards for your cameras!

Porto Faro, Italy, shot on Nikon D3300

GoPro floaty backdoor

If you’re planning on using your GoPro in water, a floaty backdoor is essential.

It will ensure that when you drop it, or it detaches itself from wherever it is you have attached it (because it will happen) it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the ocean and you lose it forever.

It’s nice and bright and orange too so it’ll be easy to find.

Purchase your GoPro floaty backdoor here!

Sailing in Sardinia, Italy, shot on GoPro Hero 4 Silver with floaty backdoor (no way of retrieving it if it falls here!)

GoPro selfie stick

If you want to take shots with yourself in it at anything other than arms length, you will need a GoPro selfie stick .

Click here to get your GoPro selfie stick!

Maya Bay, Thailand, taken on GoPro Hero 4 Silver with selfie stick

GoPro red dive filter

If you want to get good underwater shots, especially when diving in tropical waters, you need this. I didn’t know this before and this is what my first scuba diving shots look like. It’s all blue.

I got the red dive filters in preparation for my Bali trip and you can see below in the second photo the difference.

Get your red dive filters for GoPro here!

Swimming with turtles in the Similan Islands, Thailand, shot on GoPro Hero 4 Silver without a red dive filter

Nemo in the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, shot on GoPro Hero 4 Silver with a red dive filter

Memory card for GoPro

You will need to get a memory card for your GoPro, this is different from your DSLR card as it’s a tiny one .

Again, you want to get a big one, 64GB or more, especially if you’re going to attach your GoPro somewhere and have it film a whole event or can’t retrieve it for a while.

For example when I used it sailing I couldn’t stop to pause until we eventually went back to shore, a good hour and a half later!

Click here to get your GoPro memory card!

Sunset in Venice in Italy, shot on Nikon D3300

External Hard Drive

If like myself, you have a laptop with limited memory, you will need an external hard drive . This is also useful for backing up your data, you wouldn’t want to lose it after you spent so much time filming it!

I actually have two external hard drives, when I first purchased one I went for 1 TB thinking it was huge and I’d never fill it up. Less than a year later I had to buy another and decided to go for a 5 TB one this time so it lasts longer.

See the latest prices and various models for external hard drives here

Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand, shot on GoPro Hero 4 Silver

Rode Microphone & wind protector

I didn’t get a microphone for quite a while because I didn’t think I needed to, every time I filmed myself speaking the audio turned out fine anyway.

Until I tried filming myself speaking outdoors on a windy day. Needless to say you couldn’t hear much, so I invested in a proper microphone and a dead cat (I’m not making this up, that’s actually what they call it!) to protect it from the wind.

Click here to get your vlogging microphone!

Sunset over Florence, Italy, shot on Sony Compact Camera

Manfrotto Compact Tripod

Another recent addition to my gear collection! I should have probably bought this much earlier on, as it allows you to take many more and better quality shots.

It’s got a convenient handle so you can spin it around and ensure your panorama shots are smooth, without the bumps you get by doing it by hand.

Also, if you want to take photos that require a long exposure or shutter speed you can’t do it by hand, you’ll need a tripod.

You know which ones I mean, the cool ones of cities at night with moving lights, or any shot of the night sky if you want to capture the stars. It’s also perfect for travellers since it’s very light and will easily fit in a backpack.

Click here to purchase your Manfrotto compact tripod!

Long exposure shots at Kings Cross Station, shot on Nikon D3300 & Tripod

Final thoughts on the best travel video gear

This is all the gear I personally use for all my travel photos and videos.

If you’re just starting out with travel vlogging this travel video gear list is a great place to start, as I have tried to include cameras and accessories that won’t break the bank.

Are you also a travel vlogger? What gear do you use? Let me know in the comments below!

I hope you find this travel vlogging gear guide useful in creating your own epic travel videos! Also, if you want to see this travel video gear in action don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube for more videos!

Enjoyed reading about the best travel vlogging gear? Pin it!

TRAVEL VLOGGING GEAR

Picking travel vlogging gear can be very overwhelming. Believe me, I’ve done countless hours of research on cameras, stabilizers, tripods, memory cards, selfie sticks… you name it. There is so much on the market and every brand is claiming to have the next best vlogging camera.

Over the last 3 years of YouTube I am proud to say I have a very lean kit. My preference is to have the least amount of equipment possible, and maximize the output from said equipment. As a solo-female travel vlogger, I find this to be the best way to make sure I capture my adventures authentically, and not get bogged down with excess technology.

BEGINNER VLOGGING EQUIPMENT

If y ou are just starting out as a travel vlogger and need to know what gear to get, here is the exact equipment I started with and made over 200 videos with:

The Canon G7X is hands down my favourite vlogging camera. It is a great camera to start your travel vlogging journey, because it is easy to use right out the box but also can do way more than its size lets on. Once you get comfortable with the basic features of the Canon G7X, I highly recommend looking at how you can utilize the 60 FPS + many other settings to push this seemingly simple point-and-shoot to its full potential. This was my main vlogging camera for over two years and I would always get questions about what I shot my b-roll on… to everyone’s surprise… the Canon G7X!

ADVANCED VLOGGING EQUIPMENT

Today, I still actively use everything in the ‘Beginner Vlogging Gear’ kit featured above. But I’ve also recently decided to upgrade my setup by investing in a heavier camera and stabilizer to create more cinematic travel vlogs . So here is the additional equipment I am using to make the vlogs you see today:

The Sony A6400 is a thing of beauty. I made the decision to add this camera to my kit because I wanted to improve the quality of my vlogs and better showcase travels. The Sony 10-18mm lens is almost the same price as the body of the camera, but it’s SO worth it. The 10-18mm is a beautiful wide angle lens that can also zoom in and do some pretty epic macro shots. For a travel vlogger, having a wide-angle lens is a must. It allows you to give more context to your videos without any extra effort – your audience will get a better view of your surroundings and be able to see what’s going on in the background of your footage.

These are my top recommendations for travel vlogging gear, and I hope this helps you navigate the wild world of camera equipment!

Happy vlogging friends 🙂

PS: if you need some tips on how to edit travel vlogs , make sure you check out this video !

• Royalty Free Music

12 Essential Travel Vlogging Equipment Items

Are you thinking about starting your own travel vlog and sharing your exciting adventures with the world? Well, you’re in for an amazing journey! But before you hit the road, you’ll need some essential travel vlogging equipment to capture those breathtaking moments and create awesome content. It can be a bit intimidating to choose the right equipment for travel vlogging, so we’re here to help you out! 

So here is a list of travel vlogging equipment for beginners: 

From camera and filming gadgets to software and other tools that are sure to help you be a better and more well-rounded creator!

• Camera: Your camera is the heart of your travel vlog. While smartphones can work just fine, investing in a dedicated vlogging camera can take your content to the next level. Look for one with good image stabilization, low-light performance, and 4K video capability for stunning visuals. 

2. Tripod: Steady shots are a must, and a tripod is your best friend. It helps you capture smooth footage, film yourself without assistance, and prevents shaky hands from ruining your shots. Get a compact, lightweight tripod for easy travel. 

3. Microphone: Audio quality is often overlooked but crucial. Built-in camera mics may capture unwanted noise, wind, or poor audio quality. Consider an external shotgun microphone or a lavalier microphone for crisp and clear sound. 

4. Drone: If you want to capture breathtaking aerial views, a drone is a game-changer. It adds a cinematic touch to your vlogs, showing your audience landscapes from a whole new perspective. Make sure to check local regulations and restrictions on drone use. 

5. Action Camera: For adventurous activities like snorkeling, hiking, or biking, an action camera is a must. They’re small, rugged, and designed for capturing action-packed moments in high definition. GoPro is a popular choice in this category.

6. Gimbal: A gimbal is like magic for smooth, cinematic shots. It stabilizes your camera or smartphone, eliminating jerky movements, and giving your footage a professional look. It’s perfect for walking shots or capturing fast-paced action. 

7. SD Cards and Storage: You’ll be shooting lots of footage, so stock up on high-capacity SD cards. Also, carry external hard drives or cloud storage to back up your precious content on the go. 

8. Power Banks and Chargers: Your devices won’t last forever without a charge. Pack power banks and chargers to keep your camera, smartphone, and other gadgets powered up, especially when you’re on the move. 

9. Travel-Friendly Backpack: Invest in a backpack designed for travelers and vloggers. It should have compartments to safely store your equipment, as well as space for personal items and essentials. 

10. Editing Software: Once you’ve collected your footage, you’ll need software to edit your vlogs. Programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or even free options like DaVinci Resolve are popular choices. Learn some basic editing skills to make your vlogs pop! 

11. Backup Equipment: Stuff happens, and gear can break or malfunction. Always carry backup equipment for your essential items, like an extra camera, microphone, or tripod, so your vlog doesn’t come to a halt. 

12. Research and Planning Tools: Lastly, equip yourself with research and planning tools. Use your smartphone for navigation, translation apps, and travel guides to make your journeys smoother and more informative. Remember, it’s not just about the gear but also about your storytelling skills. Engaging content and a unique perspective are what truly make a travel vlog shine. 

We hope this guide to the equipment needed for travel vlogging helped you prepare for your next adventure! So, pack up your essentials, hit the road, and share your incredible adventures with the world. Sync with style and elevate your vlogs to new heights to immerse your content in premium vlogging music ! 

If you want to elevate your travel vlogs further, get the best copyright-free music on hoopr.ai. Explore a wide range of travel friendly playlists, like Travel Beats and more!

Travel Vlogging Equipment – What You Need to get Started

I’ve been uploading travel vlogs to YouTube for over a year now, and I thought it was time to share my travel vlogging equipment. My travel vlogs are more casual than cinematic so I use more beginner vlogging gear. Which means if you’re just getting started as a travel blogger or vlogger, this gear list is perfect for you.

*This post contains affiliate links. Which means that if you purchase something after clicking on a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel Vlogging Equipment – Cameras

I’ve been using the Sony ZV-1 for all my YouTube videos for a little over a year, and let me tell you it’s been wonderful. I previously used a Canon G7X Mark II , and while it’s a great camera there are some features that it was lacking in comparison. 

For instance, the Canon’s screen isn’t fully articulating and only flips up. With the ZV-1, the screen can pop up out to the side, rotate forwards and back, and close in on itself to protect the screen. Another thing the Canon doesn’t have is an external microphone port. 

A couple of other features of the Sony ZV-1 that I love are the background defocus, which blurs your background with the touch of a button, and the product showcase mode, which quickly focuses on a product put directly in front of the lens. No more putting your hand behind things to make the camera focus! All these features, plus its user friendliness, are what makes the ZV-1 a great vlogging camera for beginners. 

The only part I miss about having the G7X is the great Canon Connect app which allows you to transfer photos and videos easily to your smartphone. Sony also has an app but it’s terrible from my experience with it. 

GoPro Hero 10

The GoPro Hero 10 is the second camera I added to my travel blogging kit. I got it right before I went to Costa Rica , because I wanted to be able to capture footage of me and my friends zip lining, paddle boarding, and white water rafting. 

A GoPro is a great secondary travel vlogging camera; especially, if you’re doing any adventure or water activities. 

iPhone 13 Pro Max

I use my iPhone to grab quick photos and videos for social media. For me, it’s easier to shoot vertical video on my phone than to shoot it on my Sony or GoPro and have to transfer it. 

Travel Vlogging Equipment – Accessories

Memory Cards

There’s nothing worse than running out of space on your memory card while you’re out shooting, and trying to figure out what to delete so you can keep going. That being said, I keep 2-3 SD cards with me when I’m out. For my ZV-1, I use the 128 GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SD cards and for my GoPro I use the 128 SanDisk Extreme Micro SD cards. 

Extra Batteries 

Worse than running out of space on your memory card, is running out of battery. It’s important to have a couple of spare batteries; especially, if your camera’s battery life isn’t the greatest. When I’m traveling I carry 2 extra batteries for my ZV-1 and 2 extras for my GoPro . 

Rode VideoMicro

For a small and affordable microphone for travel vlogging, the Rode VideoMicro microphone is just the thing. Just make sure the wind muff is fully on, and use the rivets around the screw ring to secure the cable and keep your mic from bopping around. 

Travel Tripod

Traveling with a tripod isn’t necessarily necessary, but if you’re a solo traveler or you want to be able to get group shots without having to bug someone, a travel tripod comes in handy. I bought a MeFOTO Backpacker tripod , and I’m honestly surprised by how small it is. It fits in most standard backpacks and comes with its own carrying case. 

Phone Adapter for Tripod

Rather than having a phone tripod and a tripod for your camera, get yourself a phone adapter. I got this one off Amazon, and it even came with a little bluetooth remote. 

External Hard Drive

If you take a lot of photos or shoot a bunch of video, you’ll want to get yourself an external hard drive. I use a 2TB LaCie hard drive that stores all my content. They have different versions that come with different cables, so just make sure you get the right one for you.

While traveling, I like to offload everything from my memory cards each day to a. keep my memory cards free and clear and b. ensure that should I lose a memory card on the go, all of its contents are backed up. 

Phone Water Pouch 

A water pouch for your phone is important if you’re planning on doing any water activities and what the ability to use your phone while doing so. I got mine off of Amazon and it worked great while I was in Hawaii . 

Portable Charger

If you’re going to be using your phone for shooting photos and videos, getting directions, updating IG stories and what not, make sure you have a good portable charger. I use this one from Amazon and it charges my iPhone 13 Pro Max 1.5 times, which is more than enough for a full day out. 

There are tons and tons of accessories for GoPros but here’s the essentials: 

• Float housing or handle – makes your camera float in case you lose hold of it in water
• Thumb Screws – for easier dismounting 
• Adapter for tripod – use your GoPro on any tripod you have
• Tripod Selfie Stick – a good option if you’re solely using a GoPro to film and shoot
• Sticky M ounts – come in handy when activities don’t have helmets with GoPro adapters

Travel Vlogging and Blogging Equipment and Apps 

Editing Computer 

I have a 2020 MacBook Pro, but any decent laptop that can handle editing software will do.   

I love editing my travel photos with Lightroom. There’s tons of Adobe presets, but you can also get some great presets off Etsy. What I like about Lightroom is that it’s easy to adjust colors. For example, if you want to make the blues in your photo pop, you can turn up the blue saturation from the color mixer without messing with the other colors in the photo.  

The mobile version of Lightroom is free, but if you want to edit from a computer you’ll need an Adobe subscription . 

Premier Pro

Premier Pro is the software I use to edit my travel vlogs and other videos. It is another Adobe program that requires a subscription for the desktop version, but there is a free mobile version of the software called Adobe Premier Rush. If you’re looking for a way to edit Reels and TikToks without the watermarks, this is a good option. 

When I quickly want to edit photos for Instagram, I use the Tezza app. The filters are really nice and there are a good amount of adjustments that can be made. You can download the app for free but there are some features and filters behind a paywall. For instance, if you want to be able to make adjustments to videos you’ll need to pay for a subscription ($5.99/month or $39.99/year.

Canva is what I use to create my YouTube thumbnails and Pinterest graphics. There’s tons of free premade templates, but you can also design from scratch. I get by using the free options but like most free programs there’s more features and options when you pay for a subscription. 

Keysearch is an SEO research site. You can check keyword difficulty as well as find keywords to target. There’s also a competition analysis that lets you know how you stack up against other blogs in your niche. I pay $17/month for 200 daily searches, which is plenty for me. 

Travel Blogging Kit Wishlist 

Mirrorless Camera 

The next camera I want to add to my travel blogging gear is a mirrorless camera. I want to up my photography game and get a camera with interchangeable lenses. I’ve been eyeing the Sony a7 II , which is pretty much everything I’m looking for in a travel camera. 

The second item on my travel vlogging equipment wishlist is a drone. I would love to have a drone someday to capture far away shots and footage. I’ve been doing some research on them on YouTube and the one that has caught my eye is the DJI Mini 3 Pro . It’s super compact but still has some great features including being able to shoot vertical video. 

Zhiyun Crane M3

The Zhiyun Crane M3 is a compact gimbal and perfect for travel vlogging. For those who don’t know, a gimbal stabilizes your camera in order to get really smooth footage. If you’ve done a vlog and noticed the bouncing of your steps in your clips, a gimbal helps reduce that. The Sony ZV-1 does have internal stabilization, but it causes a crop on an already tight angle. I’d love to add this gimbal to my kit!

So, there’s all my travel vlogging equipment that I currently use to film and edit content. I hope this helps you get starting with your travel vlogging/blogging journey. If you have a questions about anything, just drop it below in a comment.

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Hello, I like your site/videos. I’m thinking about starting a blog, I’m a retired elementary teacher with too much time on my hands and want to do something with a senior audience in mind. I’ve started collecting equipment from your list and any other tips I would appreciate. I’m working on figuring out the camera (Sony zv1f) I finally gave the Go Pro to my daughter, it was frustrating, I’m not really a tech person.

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• Vlogging Gear

The Best Travel Vlogging Equipment: What We Use to Film Our Travel Vlogs

So you want to get started in vlogging and making videos for YouTube but aren’t sure where to start when it comes to equipment. All you know is that you want your videos to be crisp, engaging, and high quality. Don’t worry, we’ve got you! From the best camera bodies and lenses to microphones, lights, and file storage, here is the best gear for starting your own vlog. 

We start by outlining the equipment in our camera bag and why ( we run a YouTube channel featuring videos on food and travel — check it out! ) . We then offer a full, detailed list of recommendations, including more information on the pros and cons of each. 

Keep in mind that travel vlogging and building a following on YouTube — if you want to create high-quality videos that capture and keep the attention of your target audience — does require an upfront investment. Equipment is expensive. However, it’s a fixed cost that won’t reoccur other than the occasional repair, maintenance, and replacement (which, if you choose wisely, shouldn’t happen too often). 

If you are interested in vlogging as a hobby, don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on equipment, and want something to get started quickly, we’ve got you covered as well. 

Keep scrolling and you’ll be ready to start vlogging in no time!

Just so you know, if you click on an item and purchase it through Amazon we’ll get a small commission. These small commission help to keep us on the road making more videos! We’re super grateful for your support! 

Table of Contents 

I. What’s in Our Camera Bag? II. Best Cameras for Travel Vlogging III. Our Favorite Camera Lenses IV. Tripods V. Audio VI. SSD Cards & Hard Drives VII. Drones VIII. Other Gear IX. All-in-One Vlogging Equipment X. More Resources for Starting a Travel Vlog

Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission at no cost to you.   We use the majority of equipment listed below and only recommend products we truly believe in.  Thank you for the support!

Here is the basic equipment that we always travel with. All of it fits into a backpack for long days of on-the-go filming!

• Sony a7 III camera body  (and we just pre-ordered the  Sony Alpha 7 IV ! ). We will be using both cameras to get more shots as we continue to grow our YouTube channel, but one camera worked just fine as well. 
• Sony 16-35mm camera lens.  This is the lens we use to shoot most of the footage you see on our current  YouTube videos .
• JOBY GorillaPod tripod . It’s bendy, flexible, and very compact, as you can see in the photo on the left!
• Sennheiser wireless microphone system  to ensure that we have optimal audio quality in our videos. We also use a  Rode microphone  when we’re shooting multiple subjects.
• DJI Air 2S drone
• Sony TOUGH-M series SDXC UHS-II Card
• Samsung T7 Portable SSD 2TB . We have three of these that we consider our most precious possessions — lots of footage to store!
• Godox mini LED video light
• Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone Bundle . We don’t lug this around with when we are filming, but we do travel with it to record voiceovers on the go.

Best Cameras for Travel Vlogging

Sony a7 III

Sony Alpha 7 IV

GoPro HERO8 Waterproof Digital Action Camera with Touch Screen  

Our favorite camera lenses.

Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens

Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II Full-Frame Constant-Aperture telephoto Zoom G Master Lens

JOBY GorillaPod 5K Kit. Professional Tripod 5K Stand and Ballhead 

DJI Wireless Lavalier Microphone

Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mount

Sony TOUGH-M series SDXC UHS-II Card 256GB

Samsung T7 Portable SSD 2TB

DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo

DJI Mini 3 Pro Camera Drone

Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone Bundle (for recording voiceovers)

Godox M1 RGB Mini Creative Light, Led Video Light

Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera for Content Creators, Vlogging and YouTube

Sony Vlogger Kit ACCVC1 

Epidemic sound, the ultimate guide to starting a youtube travel vlog.

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Travel Vlog – The Ultimate Guide For Beginners

As a travel vlogger, you’re in for a treat. Not only can you go on a road trip or fly to some exciting places, but you also can make memories about those places.

Of course, like with anything else in life, there’s a learning curve involved. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this travel vlogging guide for beginners, we’ll cover everything you need to know about getting started, from choosing the right equipment to brainstorming travel vlog ideas. So let’s get started!

How You Can Start Making a Travel Vlog

If you’re reading this travel vlogging guide, you’re already interested in starting your travel vlog. But where do you even begin?

The main step is to pick a platform to publish your video content. Here are a few options you can use:

Social Media

Social media is used by 59% of people worldwide. So, it’s no surprise that travel vloggers often start their channels on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. If you already have a following on one of these platforms, it might make sense to start your travel vlog there. All have video capabilities, and you can share your travel vlogs directly to your followers’ feeds.

Video-Sharing Platforms

YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion are great for any travel vlogger because they’re designed specifically for hosting and sharing videos. Plus, they offer plenty of features that can help you grow your travel vlog such as the ability to add tags, descriptions, and links back to your website or social media profiles. YouTube is the second most popular website in the world and one of the best travel vlogging platforms. It’s also very user-friendly and has a huge global audience.

Live Streaming

You can go live on platforms like Twitch and Mixer or any other alternative. This is a great way to connect with your audience on a deeper level and give them a behind-the-scenes look at your travel vlogging adventures. You can show your viewers what’s going on in real-time, whether you’re exploring a new city or taking a cooking class. Plus, it’s interactive, viewers can comment and ask you questions as you go. Don’t forget that you need to get internet access for your live stream.

6 Tips For Vlogging Like A Pro

1. Plan Ahead

Planning your trip is always necessary. This will help you make the most of your time while you’re on location and avoid making mistakes .

Start by doing some research on your destination. Find out what the must-see attractions are and see if any special events are happening during your travel dates. Once you have a good understanding of what’s available, you can start planning out your travel vlog content.

2. Prepare A Script

Even if you’re mostly winging it, it’s always necessary to prepare some sort of travel vlog script before you start filming. This will help keep you on track and make sure you hit all the key points you want to cover in your travel vlog.

To make things easier, start by brainstorming a list of topics you aim to cover. Once you have something, start putting together an outline of what you want to say (or show) for each topic. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just a few bullet points will do.

If you’re feeling stuck, try looking up travel vlog ideas online or watching other travel vloggers for inspiration.

3. Invest In Good Equipment

If you want your travel vlogs to look polished and professional, you’re going to need to invest in some quality vlogging equipment . Here are some essentials:

• A camera: You don’t need an expensive DSLR to get started. Most smartphones these days have pretty decent cameras built-in. But if you’re serious about travel vlogging, you’ll eventually want to invest in a higher-quality camera that can shoot at least in 4K.
• An external microphone: Audio is just as important as video, if not more. If your viewers can’t hear you, they’re not going to stick around for long. To avoid this, invest in a good quality microphone that can pick up your voice clearly, even if you’re in a noisy environment.
• A stabilizer: To get steady shots and smooth footage after filming, consider using a tripod or gimbal stabilizer . This will help you a lot, especially if you’re travelling solo and don’t have anyone to help you out with the camera.

4. Be Entertaining

Create engaging and informative content if you want people to keep watching. Your travel vlogs should offer viewers something they can’t get from watching someone else’s travel vlogs or reading a blog post.

Tell stories and add personal experiences. Viewers want to see the real you, not just a travel robot who spouts off facts and statistics. So don’t be afraid to open up and share your travel stories, both the good and the bad.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun! Travel vlogging should be enjoyable for both you and your viewers. If it starts to feel like a chore, take a break and come back to it when you’re feeling more inspired.

5. Save Memory Space

Travel vloggers need to be extra mindful of the amount of space their travel videos will take up. After all, you don’t want to run out of storage space halfway through your trip!

If you’re not planning on showing your travel videos on a big screen, there’s no need to make 4K videos. Shooting in lower 1080p will help reduce the file size of your videos without sacrificing too much quality.

Another option is to reduce your file size by using compressed video formats like MP4 or MOV. These are more space-efficient than some of the other video formats out there. For example, as the MP4 format is considered the best to make videos for YouTube, you can use any tool to compress MP4 file without losing quality.

6. Edit Your Videos

After you’ve filmed all your travel vlogs, it’s time to start editing. This is where you’ll put all your videos together and add in any extra touches like music, title cards, or special effects.

If you’re new to video editing, don’t worry, there are some best video editors for vlogging out there that are easy to use, even for beginners. Some of them are completely free while others require a paid subscription to use them. Make your choice depending on your budget, skill level, and the features you’re looking for.

Final Words

There you have them, our tips for vlogging while travelling. By following these tricks, you’ll not only be able to travel to amazing places and see incredible things but also share gained experiences with your family, friends, or other people via videos. And what could be more gratifying than that?

Mr and Mrs W

Marcus and Mellissa, a married couple who love travel and adventure but now require a bit more luxury during their trips. Blogging and vlogging around the world, sharing hints, tips and stories. Enjoying the ride, having a laugh and even the odd argument.

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Last Updated on August 18, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa

Best Travel Vlogging Gear for Solo Female Travelers

Best Travel Vlogging Gear for travel, youtube and solo female travel. I’ve been a female solo travel content creator since 2008, writing blog articles, filming for youtube and posting on social media.

I have to carry my luggage and tech equipment, so I appreciate gear that won’t weigh me down. As I’m also filming myself traveling alone, I need travel vlogging cameras and accessories that help me get the best shots too.

So the equipment i’m sharing is what I consider to be the best vlog and blog equipment for DIY content creators and travelers.

Below you’ll also see my latest blogging and vlogging equipment, youtube vlogging courses, camera bags I use and a video gear checklist.

Remember, the best travel vlogging gear is the one that empowers you to capture your story authentically and share your adventures with the world.

My Best Travel Vlogging Cameras

These are the travel vlogging cameras I am rocking.  I’m currently testing to see which can handle it all so I can downsize my camera kit. I also own a Sony A7iii , but only use it for video freelance work; the color and picture look different from my Canon vlogging camera in the edit. It also weighs more than the my Canon DSLRS. As a female solo travel vlogger, I want to be as light-weight as possible.

Canon Vlogging Camera This is my favorite vlogging camera. I always pack two of these babies in case one goes down while I’m traveling.  * This camera is often sold out these days and i’m not sure if it’s being discontinued. If you find one on sale from a reputable dealer, grab it.

Sony vlogging camera This is a decent replacement and it is comparable to my Canon vlogging camera as it has an audio port.

GoPro Hero Black is a great action camera, which can take hard knocks, weather and is water proof. I dropped it on the Indian highway and there was not a scratch when I retrieved it! Capable of wide and super wide angle lens. If you get the GoPro you’ll want to get a Full Action Kit

Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera/4K is like a mini DSLR. I have a   Canon EOS adapter M mount, so I can use my Canon EF/EFS lenses w/ my Canon M50. I love using it with my zoom lens, which is great for safaris.

Canon Zoom Lens Had this for years and highly recommend for street photography and safaris! The cheapest zoom lens for Canon

Canon Wide angle lens *Best Wide lens and least expensive*

📷 Download my free Camera Buying & YouTube Guide

Past vlogging cameras i’ve used which are good.

Past Best Travel Vlogging Cameras I Have Used and would recommend

Canon 80D DSLR Creator Kit with Rode VidMic  |  Watch my  review . I used a   Canon EOS Rebel for many years- highly recommended for beginners.

Insta360Nano Camera 360 camera connects to mobile phone. I used this camera more for dynamic 360 little planet photos.  Insta360 has definitely gotten better over time!

Sony NEX-5T mirrorless camera   was my vlogging camera for Greece and Turkey until I dropped it and broke its battery door. But it’s a cute camera for stylish women adventurers. Watch  my review

Want to Help Keep Me on the Road ?

Related blog articles on travel vlogging camera gear.

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Insta360 Nano Review: Taking 360 degree travel photos & videos with a mobile phone

11 Best Vlogging Cameras for Travel Videos

What’s in my camera gear bag, best travel camera backpacks for under $100.

Through the years, I’ve gone through a ton of camera bags for travel vlogging. The best camera bags for solo female travel content creators seemed to remain elusive.  I juggle a travel journalistic style, am constantly on the go, switching out lenses and gear, I need to be lightweight and do not like setting my bag down like a photographer. These options worked for me and they may work for you. Read my reviews .

My Favorite Travel Camera Backpack I found my camera backpack Cinderella fit! I’ve tried a lot of camera backpacks, even plain backpacks and nothing suited my style or workflow until I came upon this Manfrotto backpack! I love the easy access and ability to use it as a day pack!

Manfrotto Metropolitan Camera Backpack This is my backup in case my something happens to my other Manfrotto bag. I like the fabric of my other backpack more than this one, but this travel camera backpack is a good runner up!

Apecase Envoy Bag This is a minimalist cross-body travel camera bag that performs great if your tools are few. It can also double as a travel purse. I’ve taken this with me to Tokyo and some other countries when I wanted to be more fashionable and lightweight. Carries 1 DSLR’+ a lens + point-n-shoot camera+ iphone. My go to bag when I want to be girly and pack for city sightseeing

Best Travel Vlogging Accessories for Solo Travelers

Joby 5K Gorillapod This alien tripod makes a great travel tripod. Mounts up to DSLR cameras.

Joby Wavo Mobile Microphone As of 2019, it’s been my new mic to replace my Rode VidMic Pro . Smaller and more compact, it’s easy for me to setup

Wind Screen to filter wind noise on point and shoot travel vlogging cameras

DigiPower Selfie Extreme Stick. It’s not a cheapie selfie stick. It extends to 5 feet, can go diving with me and is enough to stabilize a shot.

Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD (2TB drive) , 4TB v2 drive By far the smallest, lightest and rugged portable external drive I’ve owned yet! It’s an SSD vs HDD so storage is safe. Waterproof, dust and shock proof. Almost the size of a credit card.  Read my review .

Tip: I’ve replaced my external drives for SSD drives, read  the difference between portable SSD and external drives .

Pelican memory card case  + Sandisk Extreme 128GB cards You can never have enough memory cards when filming.  Sandisk extreme r eads speeds up to 90MB/s; write speeds up to 60MB/s . Compatible with GoPro

Insignia USB card reader I always pack a USB card reader for transferring footage from my memory cards to my laptop/external hard drive.

Universal International Travel Adapter with USB B & C ports. This international travel adapter helps me plug into any plug outlet when I travel.

MultiPlug adapter   I like to pack this multiplug adapter in my in-flight bag so I can charge multiple things at once during my layover. I have four of these for my Go bag and in my house.

Mobile Vlogging Equipment

iPhone 13 Pro Max (Factory Unlocked) 512 GB  

Mgnaooi Magnetic iPhone case . It is a magsafe case with powerful magnets that let me stick this to anything metal. This works well with Anker xPop Socket Magsafe charger , and Anker nano lightning charger

Mobile Vlogging Kit for mobile phone vlogging. Watch my unboxing video to see what you get inside

10-inch ring light with 65″ stand for mobile Portable and helps in a pinch. Stand is not as sturdy as I like, so I mount the ring on my gorillapod so it’s perfect face lighting for Zoom conferencing.

Bocasal Wallet Cases – I love them! These mobile wallet cases have a card holder and magnetic flip cover that turns into a kickstand . Magnetic case can attach to anything metallic. Perfect if you want to use it to take selfies. Read my mobile travel accessories

Tip: Also, check out this handy Crossbody purse case with Magsafe charging

  PopSocket   is a must for any selfie taking Instagrammer.

My Office Essentials

Apple MacBook Air 13 & 15 Inch Laptop (Amazon Renewed) :  These are the portable laptops I take with me on all my travels. Light-weight, small, thin; it’s exactly what I need to conduct things on the fly.  

Amazon Prime membership . I shop a lot of products on Amazon due to free shipping, two day shipping, easy returns and Prime membership sales like this . Get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime to see if it is a good fit for you. I guarantee it will be!

Tip:  Download the Amazon Mobile App  Having the app on your mobile device is soooo handy for quick browsing, last minute deal hunting for your trip or even when you’re on it (you can have items sent to your hotel or Amazon pickup points)!

Mint Mobile ( USA )| Unlimited GB of 5G At home in Hawaii, I use this economical plan for as low as $15/mo unlimited! Once owned by Canadian Ryan Reynolds, it works off a T-Mobile server, so it has great connection and it’s fast. Best of all, it’s helped me keep my phone Unlocked and open for other mobile services when I travel.

Tip: Best value if you commit in 6-12 month terms. You can trial it for as little as three months !

USB C to HDMI Multiport Adapter, 7 in 1 Dongle with Card Reader For the travel content creator who has to multitask and connect multiple devices!

Neewer Dimmable LED Diva Ring 18 inches This large diva ring works great for a home office studio (it’s too large to travel with). Read how I create my YouTube studio setup

Surge Protector Multi Plug Power Strip This charging station holds 8 Outlets, with 4 USB (2 USB C) w/ 5 ft Braided cord. Super handy for charging multiple devices.

Seagate Backup Plus 5TB This was my old travel backup drive for video footage and photos. For travel purposes, I’ve upgraded to SSD drives but I still use various sized Seagate hard drives as a home backup. These hard drives are weightier than SSD drives but is sturdy for home use.

Adjustable mobile stand  S turdy and love that it is adjustable and collapsable

Tools I Use to Grow my Travel Blog

A2Hosting is my current hosting company; was recommended to them by a few Dev folks. Fast speeds. I host my blog and portfolio sites on them. Use my affiliate link for an enormous discount off your first year.

Impreza Theme , a Themeforest theme for WordPress. If you like my design, this is the theme I used. It is sold through Envato , a marketplace of plugins and themes. Impreza feels easy to learn with some WordPress knowledge. Their support is really responsive and good- highly recommended.

New Zenler is a Kajabi killer at a fraction of the cost.  All my creator courses are housed on it and I love that it has so many features. It is an all-inclusive course creation and store site offering a variety of ways to monetize your audiences from webinars to subscriptions, lead magnets, email lists and more!  Use my referral code for the free Beta version.

Tools I Use to Grow my YouTube Channel

Adobe Premiere Pro I’ve been Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 for years.  Adobe Premiere isn’t the most intuitive video editing software out there, but it does the job needed of professionals.

Unlimited Video Editing is the way I make my YouTube workflow affordable and lighter. With the intense amounts of video content I need to create and manage, this service offers economical plans and fast turnarounds. Use my referral link for $200 off your first month

TubeBuddy is a tool every travel vlogger needs!  The free tool offers a lot of basic features needed optimize your video : keyword tool for search engines, thumbnail analyzer. Install TubeBuddy FREE version to get started.

VIDiQ Similar to TubeBuddy but VidIQ offers AI recommendations and help with scripts, description, etc… Install VidIQ toolbar for FREE . It’s worthwhile to get the upgraded membership for the AI features and analysis.

Epidemic Sound How do I get the coolest tunes I use on my YouTube videos? Get a Month Free!

Patreon    A great way for artists and creators to build a supportive community and sustainable income for their creations. It helps me afford video editing help!

YouTube Creator Business & Monetization

YouTube PowerFLO template A YouTube work flow system is essential! Organize and monetize your YouTube workflow with this management system. Includes video tutorial and plug-n-play template on Airtable for YouTubers Creators.

Viral Video Money Toolkit How to make money, even if you are a small channel. 6 categories of income to build your monetization strategy around.14 viral video formulas to plug into your content strategy.

How to Make Money with YouTube & Blogging Over 70 ways to make money with YouTube and blogging.

1:1 YouTube Coaching & Course Program Designed for video creators and business owners who are striving to expand their influence and profit. We’ll come up with a customized strategy plan for your channel to level up your game so you know what 100K+ channels know and start you on a powerful business mindset.

YouTube JumpStarter Kit Bundle Youtube JumpStarter Kit for the busy professional, who wants a bundled cheatsheet of YouTube essentials.

Branding Influence shows you how create powerful personal brand & a Bullet-Proof Business with YouTube. Laser focus on your tribe. Discover the unique IT factor and secret sauce. Sculpt a magnetic brand that stands out in the YouTube sea.

Blogging SEO Digital Nomad Wannabe Sharon Gouley shows you how to grow your traffic and increase your blog income and her surefire strategies help!  Take her free 7 Day SEO Boost Challenge   or do her 7 Day Link Challenge and you’ll find your AHA moment.

Download Free YouTube Holy Grail: 11 Accelerator Tips Checklist

Do audiences not love you or is it the algorithm? There may be something missing in your YouTube practice.

How to Make a Travel Video on YouTube (in 6 Steps)

Read full article: how to make travel videos, articles on the travel content creator business.

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A Complete Beginner’s Guide on How to Become a Digital Nomad

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post which helps support the work I do. The companies listed, I recommend because I think they’re awesome and they’ve helped me a lot in my travels. If you support this site in some way and want to book your trip, these links will help you do that.

How to Make Money with YouTube & blogging

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Travel Vlogging 101: How to Create and Monetize Your Travel Vlog

• Team Gravel
• Travel Tips

Have you ever found yourself watching travel vloggers on YouTube and wishing you could do the same?

Well, you totally can!

In this article, we'll dive into the world of travel vlogging — how to get started, what kind of equipment you'll need, and how to create engaging videos.

Plus, we'll answer the burning question: can travel vlogging be a profitable business?

Let's get into it!

What is Travel Vlogging?

Travel vlogging is all about creating videos of your travels and sharing them online for others to watch and enjoy. It combines elements of traditional blogging, videography, and storytelling to create a captivating visual experience for viewers.

Travel vloggers often document their experiences, share tips and recommendations, and give an inside look into different destinations around the world. It's a great way to inspire others to explore new places and make the most of their trips.

How to Get Started as a Travel Vlogger

First, you'll need to decide on your niche. That way, you can establish a brand and attract a specific audience. Maybe you're into adventure travel, budget-friendly trips, or one-day itineraries. Find your passion and stick to it!

Next, you'll need to invest in some basic equipment (which we'll cover below). Then, start creating and uploading your videos to a platform like YouTube or Vimeo. Consistency is key, so if you can't regularly travel to new destinations, we recommend building up your content backlog before launching your channel.

Finally, having a strong online presence through social media platforms and a website or blog is crucial. This will help you reach a larger audience and potentially collaborate with brands in the future. So make sure to secure your domain name, social media handles, and brand colors before you start.

What if I Don't Have the Budget to Travel?

Travel vlogging doesn't necessarily mean you have to travel to exotic and expensive destinations. You can start by exploring your home city or nearby towns, and gradually expand your travels as you grow your audience and potentially earn income from your videos.

If you're balancing a full-time job, consider saving money for weekend getaways or longer, cost-effective trips during your vacation time. Alternatively, if you have a particular skill or talent, you can offer that as a service in exchange for free accommodation or experiences while traveling.

What Equipment Do I Need?

A smartphone with a good camera is enough to get started. However, investing in more professional gear can help you stand out from other travel vloggers.

Here are some key recommendations:

• Camera:  Look for one with HD video, image stabilization, and low-light performance.  Popular options for travel vlogging include Sony ZV-1 and Nikon Z30, ranging in price from $500 to $1000.
• Microphone: Audio quality is just as important as video quality. So consider investing in a good external microphone that's both lightweight and inconspicuous.  Lavalier mics , for example, are a popular choice among travel vloggers.
• Tripod: A sturdy and compact tripod can help you stabilize your shots and make filming much easier. Look for one with adjustable legs, a leveler and a universal phone mount (see:  GorillaPod ).
• Small action camera: In addition to your main camera, you may want to invest in a small action camera for adventurous activities like hiking, water sports, or even just capturing unique POVs. The GoPro and Osmo Action series are widely favored choices in the travel vlogging community.
• Wind muff: If you're filming in windy locations such as the beach, getting a wind muff can help minimize background noise.

Tips for Packing When Travel Vlogging

As a travel blogger, you'll want to make sure you pack light and efficiently, bringing only the essentials for your trip. That way, you can focus on capturing great content for your vlog without the added stress of lugging around unnecessary items.

In the video below, you'll find some useful tips that can help you pack smartly and make the most out of your travel vlogging experience.

9 Tips for Creating Top-Notch Travel Videos

Here are some key tips to help you create engaging and professional-looking travel vlogs:

• Know your audience: Who is your travel blog for? What do they want to see? Keep your content informative and entertaining to cater to your target audience.
• Be authentic: Avoid imitating other travel vloggers. Find a distinctive style that connects with you and your audience, while letting your personality shine through.
• Learn from others: Watch other travel vloggers and take note of what you like and don't like about their videos. Use this knowledge to improve your content.
• Brand your channel: Choose a name, logo and color scheme that reflects the type of content you'll be sharing. Make sure your tone and style are consistent throughout your videos.
• Tell a story: When sharing your trip, don't just show clips. Tell a story through your footage. Take your viewers on a journey by adding narration, music and creative editing techniques.
• Keep it short: Resist the urge to include every moment of your trip in the video. Lengthy videos are less likely to hold the viewer's attention! So plan your shots around specific activities or places and keep it concise.
• Don't isolate yourself: Collaboration is key in the world of travel vlogging. Reach out to other creators, join online communities, and include others in your videos to add variety and new perspectives.
• Use captions: Not everyone can watch your videos with sound on. Adding captions to your footage will make it more accessible to a wider audience.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and interact with your audience on social media. This will help build a loyal following and improve your content's overall quality.

Travel Vlogging Pro Tips:

• Drafting, outlining or  storyboarding your video before filming can help you save time in the editing process while staying organized and on brand.
• Free video editing tools like iMovie and DaVinci Resolve are great for beginners. But as you progress, consider investing in advanced editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for more creative control.
• Use  royalty-free music to enhance your videos and avoid copyright issues.
• Don't think of your travel vlog destination as vacation time. It's important to take breaks, but don't forget that you're there to create content.
• Optimizing your video titles, tags and descriptions with relevant keywords can increase the chances of your content being discovered by new viewers on YouTube.

Is Travel Vlogging a Lucrative Business?

The answer is yes, but it's not easy. You'll need to put in a lot of time, effort and creativity in order to stand out in a saturated market. Many travel vloggers also rely on sponsorships and brand collaborations to earn income.

That said, travel vlogs can be a very lucrative business if you have a large and engaged audience. Brands are always looking for ways to reach new customers, and travel vloggers with a strong following can offer them just that!

How to Monetize Your Travel Vlog

There are several ways to monetize your vlog, including sponsorships, affiliate marketing and selling merchandise. But the most important factor is having a loyal and engaged audience. To achieve this, it's essential to consistently produce high-quality content that resonates with your viewers.

Once you have a strong following, you can start reaching out to brands for potential collaborations and sponsorships. You can also earn passive income through  affiliate marketing by promoting products or services in your videos and receiving a commission for any sales made through your unique referral link.

It's a Wrap

Travel vlogging can be a fulfilling career if you're committed to creating engaging content for your viewers.

By investing in the right equipment, following these tips and staying true to yourself and your audience, you can turn your travel vlog into a successful business venture.

But as a travel blogger, remember that you're a public figure and role model, so it's crucial to be responsible, respectful and ethical in your content creation. Respect local cultures, laws and privacy. And be mindful of your words and actions in your videos. An insensitive comment or action can have serious consequences for your reputation and relationships with viewers and brands.

With that said, go out there and start creating amazing content for your travel vlog! 🌎✈️🎥 🧳✨☀️

This is just the beginning of your journey as a travel vlogger! Stay curious, keep exploring, and share your experiences with the world. For more travel tips and inspiration, don't forget to check out the rest of our blog , and browse our online shop for unique travel gear to enhance your adventures!

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6 Essential Travel Vlogging Gear to Have in Your Backpack (+2 Optionals)

As someone who travels several times a year and wants to record the whole experience, there are a few essential things that I carry on every trip. If you’re looking to record some cool vlogs about your travels, here you’ll find all that you need to make it possible without hassle.

You will need:

Table of Contents

Top Cameras for Travel Vlogs

2) extra batteries or power bank, 3) windshield for your camera’s mic, 4) small tripod or phone holder, 5) enough memory from the right class, 6) a good backpack, 7) optional: an action camera, 8) optional: microphone.

**Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

1) Your Smartphone or Compact Camera

The last thing you want when traveling is to carry around a rig like this:

The right camera for travel vlogging doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. You can simply use your smartphone if you have one with a good camera.

I used to carry around a huge rig because I thought I needed it. The fact is that modern phones are almost as powerful as most semi-professional cameras. As long as it has good stabilization and image quality, it should be good enough.

I only carry a better camera with me if I think I’m going to record a lot in the dark. In those cases, I prefer carrying a mirrorless since the larger sensor makes the footage a hundred times in the dark.

Here are some of my favorite cameras for vlogging, including both compact and mirrorless cameras:

You can read a deep comparison between these cameras here.

Nothing consumes more power than recording video, and travel days are long and full of fun activities you don’t want your audience to miss out on. You need to be prepared to use more than one charge per day.

You can either buy extra batteries for your camera or get a good power bank to charge your device anywhere.

If you are going for a power bank, please make sure it’s good. I can’t count how many bad power banks have just stopped working in the middle of my trip. It’s worth investing in one that is reliable. I use a Charmast power bank that has not let me down for a couple of years now.

For traveling, I recommend getting one with at least 10000mAh so you can give your device at least one extra charge and a bit more depending on the battery capacity. Here are some good options:

As I said before, travelers will encounter windy scenarios more often than any other kind of vlogger. Mountains, beaches and basically any kind of open field can cause you a lot of troubles. Using a microphone windshield will help you record useful audio in most situations like this.

There are windshields for every kind of microphone. It doesn’t matter if you want to use your smartphone, a lavaliere, a shotgun mic, or even your camera’s built-in microphone, you can find one for each kind. Just look for one compatible with your microphone on Amazon and you will make it possible to record in almost any windy situation.

If you don’t want to use an external mic for audio, the best you can do is get a mini windscreen for your camera’s mic. These are little windscreens you can stick to your camera’s mics.

The location of the microphones will depend on your camera model. To identify where they are, look for two tiny holes on your camera’s body that aren’t a charger or USB input. They are hard to miss if you look closely.

But for one last time, be warned: you might end up having to mute your entire vlog if you use your camera’s mic. You can get a good mic for only $12. I don’t think it’s worth risking it!

For travel vlogging, getting the right tripod is a big deal. I like to bring it down to two main option, either a GorillaPod or the Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2 . I’ll explain what’s good about them:

A gorillapod is a tripod that you can transform into almost anything. Besides being able to use it as your camera’s stick and tripod, you can set it on any kind of surface, no matter how irregular it is.

Found an amazing view and a tree cut in half by a thunder strike is the only possible place to set your camera? No problem! This makes this tripod an incredibly useful tool.

GorillaPods come in all sizes and you should choose one based on the size of your camera. The heavier your camera is, the heavier the GorillaPod you will need to hold it steadily.

The problem with them is that if you have a mirrorless or DSLR camera, combining it with one of these tripods can make your vlogging rig too big and heavy, and that’s when the next tripod comes into play.

The second option—the Manfrotto PIXI EVO 2 —is not as versatile, but it is a lot lighter and can still support a DSLR. You can use it as a tabletop tripod or a camera stick. You will be thankful for its weight when you hold your camera for an entire day while walking around a foreign city.

My favorite option for vlogging is the Manfrotto. Still, I love carrying a GorillaPod because it allows me to take shots that’d be impossible with any other. For me, they are useful for different things, so you should choose the one that is right for you.

There’s another good option to use as a tripod for your trips that you may like. Check my tripod comparison for more info on this .

When it comes to memory to save your footage, the more the merrier.

I like to go for 64GB for Full HD, but that would depend on the length of the trip. I also prefer to go with multiple cards instead of just one that is huge. You might lose one during your trip, or maybe it may stop working, who knows? It is better to be prepared with multiple cards if this is the case.

Another thing that brings me peace when recording is uploading all of this footage to the cloud as soon as I get to the hotel each day.

I can’t express in words how frustrating it is to lose entire GBs of recordings during a trip. This is why carrying a laptop that you can use to upload your footage might be a good idea too. But thankfully, most devices allow to upload to the cloud without needing a computer,

You might think that you can just get any backpack if you’re a travel vlogger. This might work for you, but you should know that there are some perfect backpacks for photography that allow you to store your equipment with efficient use of space and more safely.

These allow you to save A LOT of gear in a small space in a secure way. Many of them are also weather-sealed, so you won’t have to fear any of your expensive equipment getting damaged.

So if you’re taking a lot of gear with you, consider a good backpack for vlogging . Here are some of our favorites:

Having a GoPro available can be incredibly handy for a travel vlogger. It’s not only that you can record underwater footage or record your point of view of any sports activity you do, it’s also great at taking wide-angle pictures. And it’s so small and light that you may forget you have it on you.

But unless you are an extreme sports vlogger, you won’t want to record everything with your GoPro. I often see this mistake.

You hear about the GoPro, and see some amazing footage, so you buy one and think you’re set to record incredible shots and vlog your entire trip. Error. You only want your GoPro for those fast-paced, adventurous moments. You don’t want to be speaking to an action camera.

Why? Basically, your longer videos will become hard to watch after a while. The ultra wide-angle lens featured in GoPros applies a lot of Perspective Distortion. This makes everything look unnatural, including your own face. You might not know why, but if you watch a video like this for a while you will start feeling weird.

Action cameras are an amazing tool, but you have to use them for what they are made for.

There was a time when built-in mics were extremely bad. But now that people want to share videos on their own social media all the time, most brands have stepped up their game in this regard.

There was a time when I wouldn’t go without an external mic. But nowadays I prefer going without one. The amount of hassle that it saves me is well worth it. But that’s only because I have cameras that can record good audio out of the box.

If that’s not the case for you, you might want to get an external mic. I like lavalier microphones as they are the ones that have given me the best results overall.

However, it’s not comfortable to carry one of them clipped on your clothes all the time. Also, sometimes you’re required to hold it with your hand close to your mouth, which is not ideal.

The other options are shotgun mics. But for that, you need a hot shoe to mount them on your camera or smartphone.

I suggest recording some footage outside while speaking and simulating you’re vlogging. Then, listen to it on your computer with headphones or decent speakers. If it sounds fine, just take a windshield with you in case it’s windy, and call it a day.

Otherwise, here are some of my favorite mics:

If you want to start recording your trips, make sure you have the right equipment before leaving for the airport. If you want to make sure you will be able to record everything without many troubles, make sure you have the following list of things:

In my opinion, if you’re just starting you shouldn’t spend too much on equipment. Test out your equipment and start to assess what parts need improvement. Is it video quality or audio that needs to be better? After you’re sure that you need a new device, then go for it according to my tips in this post.

There are some stuff you should not forget, though. Specifically, always make sure you have enough battery and memory and that you’re prepared with a windshield for your mic. This way you’ll avoid common frustrations that may arise when recording vlogs while traveling.

Will has been a full-time content creator since 2014. He’s an audio, video, and tech hobbyist dedicated to reviewing products and giving you the best tips he knows to grow your audience.

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THE BEST TRAVEL VLOG EQUIPMENT: WHAT WE USE TO FILM OUR TRAVEL VLOGS

What's In Our Camera Bag?

What travel vlogging gear do we use.

Siya and I are often asked, "What cameras and other travel vlogging gear do you use to film your travel videos?" In this post, we share the cameras and gear we use to create the videos and photography you see on this blog and all of our social media platforms. Most of the items we use cost between $1000-$2000 CAD. Whatever your budget may be, we have the best camera equipment recommendation for you to choose from when deciding on the best camera and vlogging equipment for your own video and travels.

Have you ever wanted to be a YouTuber or to try starting your own travel vlog? Do you dream of getting paid to travel the world making travel videos and taking kick-ass photos? Or are you just looking to get your hands on the best travel vlogging gear and camera equipment to take on your next trip? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're going to love this video and post.

Travel Vlogging Gear & Cameras for Video and Photography

Sony RX100 5

GoPro HERO6 Black

GoPro HERO5 Black

DJI Phantom 4

Camera Lenses for the Sony A7SII

Sony 16-35mm lens

Sony 24-70mm lens

Sony 85mm lens

HOYA Polarizing Filter

HOYA ND Filter

HOYA Lens Protector

Portable WiFi Device

Skyroam Solis

GoPro Accessories

GoPro Karma Grip

Joby Suction Cup

SD Cards & Hard Drives

LaCie Rugged 2TB USB-C Portable Hard Drive

WD 1TB Portable Hard Drive USB 3.0

Water Resistant SD Card Hard Cover Case

Lexar Professional 64GB SD Card

SHURE LensHopper Camera-Mounted Shotgun Mic

Sennheiser Lav Mic

Rode VideoMicro Shotgun Mic

Zoom H4N Multitrack Recorder

Manfrotto Be Free Tripod

Joby Gorilla Pod and Ballhead Bundle

  Manfrotto LED Camera Light

MyCharge Portable Power Bank

Solar Power Bank

SCROSS Pro Plus World Adapter

Peak Design Camera Clip

Camera Cleaning Kit

Have you ever dreamt of travel vlogging gear? Do you fantasize about traveling the world making YouTube videos? Let us help you make it a reality by sharing our secrets and advice on the best travel vlog equipment!

I've teamed up Nadine Sykora ( Hey Nadine ) and Matthew Kepnes ( Nomadic Matt ) who are two of the top people in the travel vlogging and blogging world to create: The Ultimate Course to Creating Travel Videos and Vlogging . Whether you’re looking to try and make a career out of travel, photography, videography or you're just to get better at filming your own adventures, this course has been designed to help you improve your travel video making skills. It's not just the best travel vlogging equipment that brings our videos to life, it's also practice, education and a desire to get better.

For Only $269USD

Want to see our travel vlogger gear and equipment in action? Watch  our latest travel videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel, so you get notified when we post new videos each week.

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22 Comments

Covid came and ruined everything now didn’t it?

if you’re reading this I hope it has ended well… cuz this thing really seems to be wanting to stick around forever.. oh Great article btw

Hey, nice article. Thanks for sharing this useful information.

Loved to read this blog.

A Great Article Inspired Me a lot.

Great Photograpy Tips. Really Helps me Further.

Great Article about Gadgets for travel. Informative Post.Thank You !

Good information, I always knew that phone is bit expensive, What I didn’t know is that it take good pictures, thanks for the information

Is this still the gear you’re using? Would be interesting to know how the RX100 is holding up two years later. Do you often record in 4k with it? Some fantastic photography in your blog by the way.

In today\’s era, when a lot of people are veloggers, we have to understand that velogging could b so easy when you have the right equipment and if you don\’t have the right equipments , you will not survive in this fast age. So there are some modern techs which are helpful in making videos.

Thanks for sharing with us! Sony 24-70mm lens is one of my favorite lenses. Have tried a lot of camera equipment because I love to click the photos so I buy a different kind of equipment sometimes I buy used equipment too. Loved to read your article and got nice information.

Was searching for a good microphone for the longest time now, The Rode looks nice, might give a try! Good article overall, hope you keep up the good work.

Great article about the gadgets . It would helped me out.

Awesome photography tips for travel vloggers. All you need is a passion for photography. Similarly Voila Studio is also specialized in photography like product photography, model shoot, just the difference is we are passionate for delivering our photography services to others.

When the subject is a person in street photography, I always try to share the picture I just took by showing the camera screen; that often opens the door to a second series of shots, which I always find much better because the subject is more reaxed !

We bought the Sony A7SII a few weeks ago thanks to your recommendation and are loving it so far

Great overview about equipment. I will try this.

Thanks for reading. What camera are you using right now?

If you had to travel with only your sony rx100 or the go pro, which would it be?

And I thought I carried a lot of equipment. Great overview and advice on your gear.

It actually crazy how all of this fits into two backpacks. We carry one backpack each and a carry on suitcase and never have to check anything 🙂

I would like to learn to do this but have no knowledge of camera use. I don\’t even own a cell phone. I am also very computer illiterate. Is this a course I can take and understand with my limited knowledge? When i saw all the equipment you use it scared me from taking the course.

thanks, ruth

Absolutely Ruth! The way we structured the course is for beginners as well as intermediate. Not only will you learn about how the camera works and tips and tricks to taking great shots, but also how to edit and promote your videos, work with brands and tourism boards, etc. Basically everything we’ve learned throughout the years to allow us to do this full time.

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• Electronics
• Camera accessories

The Best Vlogging Cameras and Gear

By Geoffrey Morrison , Arriana Vasquez and James Austin

Vlogging, or video blogging, is a way for you to share your life and interests with the world, potentially making money while you do it.

From cooking to travel, from makeup to hair care, from pugs to parakeets—whatever you’re into, someone else probably is, too.

The most popular platform for vlogging is YouTube, at more than 2 billion users. With enough viewers, you can monetize your videos, which gives you a share of the advertising profits.

You don’t have to enter the vlogging world with the idea of making money, but that potential is there. You can treat your channel like your feed on any other social media site, sharing your adventures and interests with friends. Eventually, though, with a bit of luck, work, and some compelling content, you can pass the magical 1,000-subscriber threshold and start making money from your hobby.

But first, you need a vlog. And to record a vlog, you need a camera, at the very least. We’ve put together a list of gear and some tips to help you begin, starting with a camera that you probably already have and working your way up through more expensive options as both your vlog and your experience grow.

The research

Why you should trust us, how to approach building a kit for vlogging, how we picked and tested vlogging cameras, smartphone accessories, for use with phones: our picks for better sound quality, best camera for vlogging outdoors and on the go: sony zv-1 ii, best camera for action vlogging: gopro hero12 black, best vlog-camera image quality for the money: sony α6700, best drone for vlogging: dji mini 4 pro, vlogging camera accessories, why not a video camera or camcorder.

Geoffrey Morrison has been a professional writer and photographer for 20 years. He has written extensively about cameras for multiple publications, and for most of the past decade he has been a digital nomad, doing travel writing and photography for outlets such as Wirecutter, The New York Times, CNET, and Forbes. He also has his own YouTube channel , which features lots of vlogging footage.

Arriana Vasquez is a senior updates writer for Wirecutter and has contributed to our guides to tripods , tripods for smartphones , and instant cameras . She is also a photographer at a product studio, where she shoots everything from antique charms to zebra-print leggings.

James Austin is a staff writer who covers games and hobbies and also serves as Wirecutter’s expert on drones . He has been following a variety of daily vloggers since 2010, and he has even made some vlogs of his own, chronicling the build season of his robotics team.

Vlogging can be a lot of fun, and if that’s the only thing you want from it, all you need is an idea and a video. However, if you want to make money, it is unquestionably a job. Many YouTubers get burned out facing the constant hustle of producing new videos that must perform, or else they lose their income. All that is to say, you’ll need to treat it like a job way before you’ll get paid like it’s a job.

What you don’t need is a lot of expensive gear, at least not to start. Your first videos likely won’t be seen by many people. It will take time for you to streamline your process, get used to being on camera, and figure out whether this is something you really want to do. Start with the gear you have, learn the job, and then upgrade your gear later, if you decide to stick with it.

But don’t take our word for it. Consider the advice of Kika and Dan, the duo behind Sailing Uma , a channel about buying an aging sailboat, fixing it up, and learning how along the way. They’ve been supporting themselves with YouTube videos (and Patreon ) as they’ve sailed around the world for the past six years. At this writing, their channel has 420,000 subscribers and over 95 million views.

We asked them what they would say to someone just starting out, and they told us, “The most important step is to just get out there, and do the best you can, with what you have at that point in time. With experience, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t, and what gear fits into your own style and workflow.”

“To some extent, gear does matter,” Dan said via email. “But like my high school shop teacher used to tell me, ‘a good carpenter never blames his tools.’ Over the years we developed our own style, experimented, and slowly evolved our gear to help make our creative process flow smoother.”

We highly recommend their “ A ‘Master Class’ in Advanced Video Selfies ” video, which shows how they made this beautiful travel/day-in-the-life video .

Karl Smallwood, creator of Fact Fiend , has 753,000 subscribers and 320 million views at this writing. He’s able to support himself and a small staff from the channel’s income with his laid-back but highly informative videos about random facts.

He told us, “We’ve never particularly cared about visuals and instead focused on audio when upgrading and purchasing equipment, as more people than you’d expect listen to videos as background noise and, in our experience, people are more likely to forgive janky visuals than bad audio.”

A good mic is a crucial purchase, and we’ll discuss microphones for use with phones and with cameras below.

In the end, what makes a vlog successful is largely how much effort and time you’re willing to put into it, regardless of what you’re shooting with.

As the adage goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. This is true for vlogging, as well. Any current smartphone—even models a few years old—can record videos that look fine on YouTube.

The benefit of using your phone, or whatever camera you already have, is that you can get used to the process of making vlogs before you spend lots of extra money. It’s also easy and fairly inexpensive to boost the quality of what you can get out of your existing camera by purchasing some basic accessories, which we’ll discuss in a moment.

That said, upgrading your camera can result in better-looking video and help you get shots and clips not possible with a phone. In some cases, our pick for the best action camera is a logical option. As for other kinds of cameras, we’ve identified a few features specifically important for vlogging that we don’t focus on for our general camera guides:

• Face recognition: This feature ensures that your face (and the face of anyone you might interview) is in focus at all times.
• Flip-up or flip-out touchscreen: This kind of screen allows you to see where you are in the frame while you’re recording yourself.
• Built-in Wi-Fi: Connectivity makes transferring still images or video clips to your smartphone or tablet quick and easy, and even more important, it lets you start or stop recording remotely.
• Microphone input: This feature allows you to add a directional or wireless microphone, which makes your voice easier to hear when you’re recording in noisy situations.
• 4K resolution: Compared with 1080p, 4K provides four times as many pixels. Even if you don’t plan on creating 4K videos, having extra resolution gives you options during the editing stage, allowing you to zoom in or crop differently. And in general, your video will have more apparent detail even if the end result is 1080p.
• Slow-motion capabilities: If you want to create cinematic shots that increase your video’s apparent production values, slow motion is one way to do it.

We also favor more portable cameras for this purpose. DSLRs can provide great video, but they’re quite heavy and generally lacking in image stabilization, so we primarily focus on mirrorless and fixed-lens cameras for vlogging. (If you’re only ever going to stay in one place and produce cooking videos or makeup tutorials, though, heavier cameras like DSLRs can be suitable.)

If you’re planning to stream videos live instead of uploading individual vlog entries to YouTube, our picks wouldn’t work well for you. Most of them aren’t designed to handle a constant flow of video, and they are hard-coded to limit video clips to 30 minutes or less. If you’re looking for something that will help you make your own Let’s Play channel, for example, a webcam will serve you better.

If you’re wondering about camcorders, we address them in their own section .

Insta360 Flow

For smooth, stabilized cell phone video.

This gimbal effectively stabilizes video shot with even the shakiest hands, while offering useful features such as a built-in tripod and an integrated selfie stick.

Buying Options

Assuming that you already have a phone you like, we’ve found that a few accessories can improve the quality of any phone’s video. The first is a gimbal .

These motorized handles counteract your arm and hand movement, stabilizing the phone so that you can record smooth video with no distracting bouncing. Think of it as a hand-holdable Steadicam rig, one that you can get for well under $200.

The Insta360 Flow is the best phone gimbal because of its approachability, compact size, long-lasting battery, and helpful built-in accessories. It creates far smoother video than what a phone can do internally, or what you can get from any software stabilization you can add in post-production.

Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit

A small tripod that can grip.

The GorillaPod works as a small tripod and a selfie stick, and it can grip surfaces for a variety of placement options.

May be out of stock

For many videos, you might not want to have to hold your phone or camera at all. Placing the phone on a desk, counter, or anywhere you’re recording a video is always, pun intended, handy. Doing so gives you many additional creative options, not to mention the freedom to use both hands. (If you like talking with your hands, it’s especially vital.)

For something small that can work as a handle and can grip fence poles, benches, railings, and lots of other objects for stability, we like the Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit . It’s light and highly adjustable, and it can grip onto things with its ball-jointed legs. It can also work as a short selfie stick.

To connect your phone to the tripod , you also need the Square Jellyfish Metal Spring Tripod Mount , which has a rotating mount that can hold any size phone comfortably and can serve as a stand on its own.

Bad audio will alienate potential viewers faster than anything else. No less a luminary than George Lucas once said , “Sound is half the experience in seeing a film.”

Even if you plan on recording only indoors, a good microphone will make your voice more prominent and more professional sounding, and it has the potential to reduce room noise and echoes.

Which of the many available microphone options will work best for you depends a lot on how you’re going to vlog and where. Just about any brand-name mic will sound better than the one built into your phone. Here are some options that we like for use with phones.

Versatile desktop USB mic

This mic offers clear, full sound and easy connection to any computer.

If you’re sticking to vlogging at your desk, check out our favorite USB microphone , the Blue Yeti . The Yeti has been our pick since 2013 and has come out on top during every retest of available microphones.

In our testing, the Yeti produced clear, rich recordings and preserved the natural vocal warmth of our testers’ voices. This is a microphone that both amateurs and professionals turn to for their voice or music work, and it will last for years.

Note, however, that it’s a full-size, wired, desktop microphone, so if you plan on recording video on the go, this model won’t work well.

Røde VideoMic Me

A convenient mic for your phone.

This mic mounts to your phone to give you better sound with minimal fuss. It includes a wind reducer to improve outdoor recording.

If you want something simple that attaches to your phone, check out Røde’s VideoMic Me. It comes in three flavors: the Me-L for Apple phones , the Me-C for Android phones with USB-C , and a version for any phone with a headphone jack .

It has a cardioid (heart-shaped) pickup pattern to better separate your voice from background noise. On the back is a headphone jack, which allows you to monitor or listen to your recordings without removing the mic. An included furry “ dead cat ” wind reducer helps keep your voice clear outside when it’s breezy.

Each version also comes optionally in a kit that includes a grip, an LED light, and a furry wind reducer. To hear how the VideoMic Me sounds and how the overall kit performs, check out Geoffrey’s review of the Røde Vlogger Kit on YouTube.

Sony ZV-1 II

For vloggers ready to upgrade.

Compact, light, yet able to record stabilized 4K video, this made-for-vlogging camera represents a great step up for beginners.

When you’ve gotten comfortable with vlogging and are ready to step up your video quality, we recommend the Sony ZV-1 II . It’s designed explicitly to serve as a vlogging camera, with the ability to record 4K video at 30 frames per second and 1080p video up to 120 fps. It also records stereo audio with a clever top-mounted directional mic. The flip-out screen lets you easily frame selfie shots, and the built-in optical image stabilization smooths out your movements.

The ZV-1 II is capable of recording better video than a phone for two main reasons. The first is its 1-inch stacked sensor, which is significantly larger than the image sensors found in most mainstream cell phones. The second reason is that the ZV-1 II pairs the sensor with an f/1.8–4 Zeiss lens, which lets a lot of light fall on the sensor despite its compact size. It also offers a smooth 2.8x zoom, giving you an 18mm-equivalent wide angle and a reasonable 50mm-equivalent telephoto.

This lens isn’t as wide as what you can get from a typical cell phone camera, but at arm’s length you should be able to fit your face and shoulders in the frame, especially if you use any sort of selfie stick or handgrip.

The ZV-1 II’s flip-out screen is easy to use and makes framing selfie footage simple. On the touchscreen, you can choose your focus point, start or stop recording, and access commonly used settings, including the shutter speed and ISO. Beyond the touchscreen, the menu systems and button layout on the ZV-1 II aren’t as intuitive as they could be; vloggers may find that Sony’s phone app ( iOS , Android ) offers a better way to adjust settings on the fly.

Numerous software features built into the camera make it great for vlogging, as well. For starters, with the touch of a button, you can enable a soft bokeh blur to separate you or your subject from the background. In addition, the fast autofocus can quickly lock in on you, on a separate subject, and then back to you. It can also identify your face and stay focused on you if you move around in the frame.

Although we still recommend a separate mic, the ZV-1 II’s internal mic works quite well and even comes with a furry windscreen “tribble” to keep wind noise at a minimum. A 3.5 mm microphone input and Sony’s MI Shoe mount on top allow you to add an external mic.

The body itself is nicely designed, too, with well-placed grips for you to hold the camera securely multiple ways. Plus, it’s small enough to easily fit in a jacket pocket or purse. On the downside, the screen might be hard to see in bright light, and the camera gives you no way to monitor your audio levels since it lacks a headphone jack.

The ZV-1 II doesn’t have in-body image stabilization (IBIS), but we found that enabling Sony’s software-based Active Steadyshot stabilization on 4K video produced relatively smooth footage. A grip or tripod such as the Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit or Sony’s own Bluetooth controller and tripod can further reduce shakiness. Turning on Active Steadyshot causes the camera to apply a slight crop to recorded clips, but we still fit comfortably within the frame for selfie footage.

Then there’s the matter of price. The ZV-1 II is $900 at this writing. For the features it offers and its overall performance, that is a very good price—in our research, we found many other cameras that offered less for more money. However, $900 is still a lot if you’re unsure whether vlogging is for you.

If you like the sound of the Sony ZV-1 II, but you’d like to save a little money, the original Sony ZV-1 , a former pick, remains a great option, and it’s occasionally available for as little as $650 (though its official retail price is $750). It’s similar to the ZV-1 II in size, shape, and capability, but it has a slightly tighter field of view, with a widest focal length of 23mm (in contrast to the ZV-1 II’s 18mm), and its touchscreen is less useful. On the plus side, the ZV-1 has IBIS, so its photos and videos are just a little less shaky than those of the ZV-1 II.

GoPro Hero12 Black

Best for action vlogs.

Offering high-resolution, highly stabilized video, a forward-facing screen, and a waterproof body, this action camera is perfect for outdoor, active vlogs.

The GoPro Hero12 Black is our favorite action camera for two main reasons: image quality and stabilization. Both of those factors make it an excellent vlogging camera if your vlog includes any sort of energetic outdoor activity.

Maxing out at 5.3K resolution, the Hero12 Black offers far more detail than other action cameras do. That resolution allows you to crop your footage to zoom in. With its super-smooth stabilization, you likely don’t need a gimbal for steady shots, even when the camera bounces around during recording. It’s also waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters). And its audio performance is good, thanks to a group of built-in microphones, though in most cases you should consider using an external mic.

The image quality is no match for what you can get with a larger-sensor camera such as the Sony ZV-1 II or especially the Sony α6700. However, the Hero12 Black creates a vibrant, detailed image in bright light and works fairly well in low light.

No action camera can handle true low-light situations. If you’re usually spelunking in dark caves or crawling through poorly lit abandoned buildings, consider a bigger camera with a larger sensor and lens, provided that you can afford to carry the weight.

The two features of the Hero12 Black that help make it a great vlogging camera are its forward-facing screen and its multiple field-of-view options. The color forward-facing screen is small but lets you easily set up selfie shots. As for the “lens” options, you can choose from wide, linear, and narrow, which allows you to frame yourself and your adventure in more ways than you can with most action cameras.

In addition, the Hero12 Black lets you more easily record vertical and horizontal content at the same time. So if you create videos for YouTube (16:9 aspect ratio) and TikTok (9:16), for example, recording 8:7-aspect-ratio videos with the Hero12 Black makes it easier to use the same recorded footage for both.

For more advanced users, the Hero12 Black can also record 10-bit log for easier post-production color grading, and you can enable time-code synchronization to more easily sync footage across multiple cameras. This feature is also available in the slightly cheaper GoPro Hero11 Black , but the Hero12 Black has better battery life and is worth the extra money.

GoPro’s app, called Quik ( iOS , Android ), offers a variety of editing options, allowing you to trim and create videos without third-party editing software, though of course you can get better results in a professional-grade video editor.

One important GoPro accessory that’s worth the investment for any vlogger is the Media Mod . It includes a plastic frame that encloses the camera, plus a built-in microphone and two mounts for either a wireless mic or a small LED light. On the rear are a 3.5 mm audio input, a Micro HDMI port, and a USB-C port (since the frame covers the camera’s USB-C port).

Although the Hero12 Black is an excellent action camera, it is still an action camera. It doesn’t offer any sort of optical zoom, and the digital lens modes merely crop in on the image, so you’re essentially stuck with a wide-angle lens for every shot.

Better vlogging image quality, especially in low light

This APS-C mirrorless camera offers excellent image quality with 4K video, and it does so for a reasonable price. But it’s larger and far more expensive than our other picks.

When you’re ready to step up your game, the Sony α6700 offers the best combination of image quality, stabilization, and price. It’s easy to use for beginners, but it has advanced features that are useful for professionals and semi-professionals as well.

However, it’s quite expensive, so you should consider it only when you’re sure that image quality is what will take your content to the next level. Most likely this means you already have a monetized channel and know what you need from your footage. That said, this model is also a great option if you just want an excellent camera that you’ll also use for vlogging.

If that’s you, the α6700 offers a lot for the money. It can shoot extremely high-quality video, including 4K at 60 frames per second, with the option for 10-bit log recording for easier post-production color correction. This 4K footage is downsampled from 6K, so it’s extremely detailed. The α6700 can also record in-camera time-lapses and 4K at 120 fps for high-resolution slow-motion video.

This camera’s internal optical stabilization, with gyro data recorded for post-production use, can help smooth out bouncy videos, though the GoPro Hero12 Black or a gimbal is a better option if you’re doing anything particularly active. The flip-out, rotatable screen makes it easy to frame selfie shots, or when you’re holding the camera above your head or by your feet.

The APS-C sensor in this camera is larger than the one found in the ZV-1 II and significantly larger than what you get in phones and action cameras. As a result, it produces less noise in low-light situations, has a higher dynamic range , and creates a more professional-looking image overall. Fast and accurate autofocus, including eye and object tracking, helps it maintain sharp focus even when the subject is moving.

In addition, the α6700 has significantly longer battery life compared with the ZV-1 II. Sony estimates around three hours of recording time per battery, and of course you can always get another battery to swap in (and you should).

One of the biggest advantages of an interchangeable-lens camera like the α6700 is that it’s compatible with the many E-mount lenses from Sony and third-party manufacturers. That lets you greatly expand the type of videos you capture: Telephoto lenses can bring faraway subjects up close, wide-angle lenses can capture entire rooms in one shot, and so on.

Otherwise, the only issues are size and price. The ZV-1 II, the Hero12 Black, and your phone are all lightweight and easy to carry. The α6700 is small and light for what it is, but it’s a lot bigger than those alternatives. And while the α6700’s image quality is noticeably better in detail, color, and contrast, this camera typically costs more than twice as much as the ZV-1 II—and that’s without a lens.

DJI Mini 4 Pro

The best vlogging drone.

This portable, light, and capable drone offers high-end features such as obstacle avoidance and an excellent camera. It’s a great option for walk-and-talks where you don’t want to be seen holding a camera.

Cinematography drones allow filmmakers to capture unique angles and wide vistas, bringing a distinctive look to videos. For vloggers, these small flying cameras work well for creating cinematic establishing shots, recording casual walk-and-talks, and capturing action that other vlogging cameras would struggle with. And they can serve as a tripod-free option when you want to talk straight to the camera (though you’ll probably want a separate microphone).

You’ll find no shortage of great drones to choose from , but for vlogging, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is the best option. For one thing, its sub-250 gram weight makes it easy to carry with you and means that it doesn’t require FAA registration for recreational use. (That said, if you’re planning on making money from videos that incorporate drone footage, you’ll need to get your FAA Part 107 license .)

But despite the Mini 4 Pro’s light weight, it retains plenty of crucial features. It includes a sharp, stabilized 38mm-equivalent camera with an f/1.7 aperture, as well as 360-view sensors that help prevent crashes and allow the drone to track and follow subjects without ending up stranded in a tree.

It shoots at up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second with HDR (and slow-motion 4K at 100 frames per second without HDR). The lens’s wide aperture makes for surprisingly good low-light footage, even though it’s paired with a tiny, 1/1.3-inch sensor.

The Mini 4 Pro is a bit slower than DJI’s larger Air and Mavic drones , but it can easily keep up with a walking or running subject, and it even does a fair job of keeping up with a cyclist. It’s also quieter than its larger cousins, so it’s a little less distracting for other people when you fly it out in the world.

A few key accessories will improve your video and sound quality—and by extension, how “professional” your vlog looks and sounds.

A solid, adjustable tripod: The Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100 is perfect for many vloggers because it can extend horizontally to better position a camera over a desk or counter. Its legs can also pivot wider than those of most tripods , allowing you to position the camera lower to the ground. You could also use this tripod for vlogging with your phone (though that’s a bit overkill), as long as you add something like the Square Jellyfish Metal Spring Tripod Mount .

A good microphone: If you’re planning on staying in one place for your vlogs, such as at a desk and talking to the camera, the Blue Yeti is an excellent USB microphone and one of our longest-tenured picks. Read more about it in the section above .

For audio on the go, the Røde VideoMic Go is an affordable directional microphone that doesn’t take up too much space in a bag. Its only major downside is that it attaches to the camera, so you have to be attached to it, as well. For more freedom of movement, Røde’s Wireless Go offers a receiver that attaches to your camera and a transmitter that doubles as a microphone. You can also connect a lavalier mic . The Røde Wireless Go II adds a second transmitter, which is useful if you’re part of a vlogging couple or if you regularly interview people. It can also record internally.

Powerful editing software: To create a compelling, professional-looking video, you need to learn how to work with video-editing software, which allows you to add titles, insert graphics, combine multiple clips into longer videos, cut boring parts, and so on. It’s vital.

You can find a variety of free options, including iMovie, which is included with Apple devices. A full list of available editing apps is beyond the scope of this article, but finding one that works for you is worth the time. Popular options include Adobe Premiere Pro , Apple Final Cut Pro , and DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design.

If you haven’t shot much video before, you might not know that a compact, mirrorless, or DSLR camera is typically limited to about 30 minutes of recording time for a video clip. (This is because video cameras are subject to higher import duties in some regions, notably the EU.)

If you want to record for longer stretches than that, you have to opt for a camcorder (or a Panasonic camera, since that company simply pays the duty). This restriction might make some potential vloggers think that a camcorder is a better option for their needs, but it really isn’t.

For one thing, 30 minutes is a long time when it comes to video. In general, you should keep each installation of your vlog shorter than 30 minutes in length. It’s rare that a vlog entry lasts longer, and even rarer that one would be longer than 30 minutes in a single, uninterrupted shot. It’s much more typical for a vlog post to consist of clips that are each five minutes or far less, strung together to make a final video.

Another reason is that with a camcorder you lose the great still-image capture that comes with the best vlogging cameras we’re recommending here. Even if you only rarely drop still images into your videos, you’ll be able to use your camera to capture stills for use outside of your vlogging.

Furthermore, the sensors in most reasonably priced camcorders aren’t as large as those in our picks, aside from the one in your smartphone. The larger sensors in our picks for the best vlogging cameras are better suited to capturing great video and stills across a wider array of situations.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.

Meet your guides

Geoffrey Morrison

Geoffrey Morrison is Wirecutter’s former AV editor, current editor-at-large, and a travel writer and photographer. He covers action cameras, gimbals, travel backpacks, and other gear. He has been to all 50 states and 60 countries, and he is the author of Budget Travel for Dummies and the sci-fi novel Undersea .

Arriana Vasquez

Arriana Vasquez is a senior updates writer for powering, home office, cameras, and hobbies at Wirecutter. When she's not taking photos, she's reading or running D&D games. She is the producer and dungeon master of After Work Adventurers , a live-play D&D campaign on YouTube.

James Austin

James Austin is a staff writer currently covering games and hobbies, but he’s also worked on just about everything Wirecutter covers—from board games to umbrellas—and after being here for a few years he has gained approximate knowledge of many things. In his free time he enjoys taking photos, running D&D, and volunteering for a youth robotics competition.

Mentioned above

• If you want to shoot sharp photos while using a slow shutter speed, we think the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100 tripod is the best choice. The Best Tripod  
• Joby’s GorillaPod 1K Kit and the Ulanzi ST-27 tripod mount are the best choices to steady your smartphone when shooting photos and video. The Best Tripod for iPhones and Other Smartphones  
• The best instant camera for taking high-quality, retro-cool photos is the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40. The Best Instant Camera  
• After testing 33 drones, we found the DJI Air 3 to be the best drone for most photographers and videographers. The Best Drones for Photos and Video  
• If you want to take photos and videos in any situation, even extreme weather, the GoPro Hero12 Black is the best option for most people. The Best Action Camera  
• If you’re unsatisfied with the camera that’s built into your computer—or if it doesn’t have one—the Logitech Brio 505 is your best option for sharp Zoom calls. The Best Webcams  

Further reading

The Best Android and iPhone Gimbal

by Geoffrey Morrison and Signe Brewster

If you want smoother, more professional-looking video from your smartphone, the Insta360 Flow is the best gimbal.

The Best Camera Cleaning Gear

by Tim Barribeau and Ben Keough

Like anything, lenses and cameras need to be cleaned, and this gear will help you clean them properly.

You Can Get Almost-New Camera Gear for a Fraction of the Cost. Here’s How.

by Ben Keough

Camera gear is expensive. Our expert camera editor shows you how to score significant bargains on used lenses, bodies, tripods, and more.

How to Buy a Camera Flash

by Arriana Vasquez

A camera flash can take your photography to a new level of creativity, but picking one can be tricky. We explain how to choose the right flash for your camera.

• Travel Podcast
• Work with Travel Experta

• Travel Tips
• Central America
• El Salvador
• United States
• Who is Marina ‘Travel Experta’
• Work With Marina ‘Travel Experta’

Vlogging Essentials: Top 5 Equipment for Travel Vloggers

Traveling and discovering is one of the biggest benefits of Vlogging, there are many Vloggers out there discovering beautiful places with their backpacks and camera. It all seems like a dream, but with the right vlogging essentials, it can be a lifetime memory and experience to remember.

Five of the pieces of travel vlog equipment will allow you to advance your career and appeal to more viewers.

Though your backpack alone can work well it should carry a few traveling essentials , and when Vlogging is involved some equipment is also very much needed. Many times the vloggers have been asked about the gadgets and camera they use or about the travel equipment they prefer to keep.

In order to solve this mystery here, we have discussed some travel essentials for Vloggers and YouTubers just to give them a hint for their packing list.

Keep reading!

Table of Contents

Essential Equipment for Travel Vloggers

1.      camera.

When you are thinking about investing in your Vlogging experience, then we would recommend you to invest in the best camera you can buy . It would not only help you in shooting the most beautiful views with less effort but also be cost-effective in the longer run.

For instance, Canon and Sony have some best camera series for beginners and travelers, while there are many versatile options as well.

2.      Drone

For mountains or beautiful angles, one would definitely require the drone to fit their camera and capture the most delightful view. The drone is always traveled friendly, and all vloggers should carry it while traveling to the mountains or any other landscape location.

3.      Microphones and Sound

The mic is the most underestimated equipment, but surely we need them in traveling. Better sound creates better videos, and truly the microphones can be super mobile and manageable.

4.      Light-weighted tripod

If you want to enjoy the view or take your own picture with that view, then the tripod would be your best friend with the right timer set on the camera.

5.      Extra Essentials

Regardless of these above-mentioned gears, we also need some extra backups to overcome any emergency or chaos.

●       Power Bank

Traveling means going from place to place without staying longer, so one would not have a chance to charge their cameras and cellphones. That’s why power banks and extra batteries are necessary.

●       Extra cables

Extra cables for charging multiple devices at once, then again for connecting the devices together to share data.

●       Small torches

Smalls torch is another essential to improve lightening effects as well as making the way easier to travel in darker areas.

●       SD cards

The memories and files can be of larger GBs and it is possible that you might need extra space to carry those.

●       Extra Lens

In any case, your camera lens misses somewhere or it gets damaged with scratches.

Wrapping Up

There is a wide variety of the best YouTube Camera , some famous names are mentioned above. One can choose the best according to his own needs and budget, despite having a good camera all other essentials are also very important to carry while traveling as this little travel vlogging equipment can make a bigger difference in your Vlogging and shooting with the right angle and lighting.

Last Updated on October 23, 2023

Need more? Try these

• How to Manage Your Health Abroad
• Skiing holiday in France? Go to the sunny Portes du Soleil!
• Discovering the Pinnacle of Winter Luxury: Your Ultimate Guide to Sälen’s Finest Ski Lodge
• A Comprehensive Guide on Supercar Rental in Dubai
• Essential Gear for Shooting Perfect Holiday Tour Videos

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The Best Vlogging Kits for Beginners, According to an Influencer

Trust the expert.

If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

I may have 600K followers combined across TikTok (where I've garnered a casual 53.7 million likes on my videos), YouTube , and Instagram now, but when I first decided to start vlogging, I didn’t know where to begin — I wondered what kind of content would resonate with people, but most importantly, I wondered what equipment I would need to get my videos to stand out from the millions of others online.

When I was scouring the internet for vlogging equipment in 2020, all I would come across were paid ads that influencers were publishing. I wasn’t sure if they were actually being truthful or had actually put in the time reviewing these products (no shade to them; if I was getting paid a bazillion dollars to promote a specific camera, I would). So, I decided to take it upon myself to research the entire internet for equipment that would make my vlogging experience a breeze. Thankfully, those hours spent meticulously researching helped me find the best vlogging kits and cameras money can buy. Even for novices. I've created over 115 videos for my YouTube vlog channel, which has more than 44,000 subscribers, and thankfully, those hours spent meticulously researching helped me find the best vlogging kits and cameras money can buy. Even for novices.

I know firsthand how it can be super overwhelming when you see dozens of different cameras, microphones, tripods , etc., all at different price points. Don’t fret, though. You have me, a successful influencer who’s spent way too much time reading the specs and details of these gadgets, plus putting them to hours and hours of use, to guide you. I’ve been making videos for years.

The Best Vlogging Equipment

• Best Overall Camera: Alpha ZV-E1 Vlogging Camera
• Best Vlogging Kit: Canon EOS R50 Content Creator Kit
• Best Camera for Beginners: Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera
• Best Microphone: Rode Wireless Go Dual Channel Microphone System
• Best Tripod: Sony Wireless Bluetooth Shooting Grip and Tripod
• Best Ring Light: SENSYNE 10-inch Ring Light with 50-inch Extendable Tripod Stand
• Best Selfie Light: Newmowa LED Rechargeable Light
• Best Phone: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Best Phone Case: OCTOBUDDY Silicone Double-Sided Suction Phone Case

What to Consider

Stepping into the world of vlogging can be super intimidating when you see creators with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, but you don’t need all of the bells and whistles to make great content. Before you go spending your savings account on things you probably don't need, like backgrounds or high-end editing software (TikTok has all of that included in the app, people!), think thoroughly about your experience level, the setting and setup you want, and the platform you're filming for. These will each impact the items necessary to craft the perfect vlogging kit for your needs.

Truly, if you have a smartphone with a 4K camera, some sort of external microphone, and a tripod, you’re golden. Most short-form creators and vloggers use their phones because of their convenience and portability, which I used to do. However, since I primarily vlog on YouTube, I opted for some better equipment, like the Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera , since the content is in longer form. Everything I have listed below can help you craft the perfect no-frills vlogging kit. These items are pricy enough, so I don't believe you need to spend more on unnecessary accessories to craft great content.

My biggest advice to new vloggers is to never be afraid of posting the content you like to create. Don't feel the need to conform to what's trending. As long as you post the content that inspires you, you'll find the right audience!

Setting and Setup

First, think about what type of vlog content you plan on making. Are you going to be primarily inside? Outside? Stationary? On the go? Different environments call for different equipment. If you plan on filming content that has lots of movement, you’ll want to opt for a camera that favors stabilization features — and we have just the one below. If you’re outside, an external microphone is a must. Getting products that help with your specific vlogging style can take your videos to a whole new level. Remember, though, if a $50 4K camera deal on Amazon seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fake deals are an unfortunate reality for tech accessories like vlogging equipment.

Does the app you're filming for matter? Absolutely! Short-form content, like Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, can all get away with a basic setup (depending on preference, of course). However, for longer-form vlogs, an actual camera is recommended for a more cinematic, professional look.

I sincerely believe that my integration of high-quality equipment was key to the growth of my social media presence. Sharper images, clearer audio, and the correct tripod create a sense of elevated production value that viewers will form a connection with and make them come back for more. Countless times, my followers will stop me on the street and tell me that the main thing they love about my videos is the cinematography and how it makes them feel. As soon as you find the style of vlogging that speaks to you and your audience, you’re golden.

How We Selected

Throughout my time vlogging as a creator, I've tested around 20 products all fit for a stellar vlogging kit. From ring lights and sticky phone cases to high-end cameras and smartphones, I've put in days, weeks, months, and even years for some products, testing out vlogging gear. This didn't just occur in my bedroom, either. I took this equipment with me outside for dreary-day man-on-the-street interviews, spent sunny hours in the park with this gear, and have used it across the world (I take my gear on trips abroad with me, duh!).

And even if a product didn’t necessarily work for my setup, this years-long process gave me great insight into even the tiniest intricacies of each type of equipment needed to make any content creation great.

Why You Should Trust Me

In case you didn't see above, I've garnered a pretty big following online, specifically on YouTube and TikTok, where I post vlogs and skits weekly. In addition to being a creator in my own right, I was in charge of social media for Firstfinds.com , the sister site to Best Products, which is dedicated to trending viral products. I've been vlogging consistently for 4 years and have tested and tried out dozens of vlogging kit essentials on my own time, including my favorites of all time, the Sony Alpha Lens and the Nowmowa selfie light listed below.

Sony Alpha ZV-E1 Vlogging Camera

In my experience, nothing beats a Sony lens. There’s just a specific, enhanced look and coloring that comes with a Sony lens that can’t be duped. If money is not an issue for you, this small but mighty camera is specially designed for those who favor superior video quality and versatility. Unlike the ZV-1F, this camera features an interchangeable lens system so vloggers can test with a variety of optics. AI features are also a huge selling point with this camera.

The Auto Framing feature automatically crops the frame to keep the subject in a prominent position when shooting. It also uses AI to accurately recognize movement, so even if you or your subject is facing away from the camera, it will still be able to recognize their movements. Even if a person is facing away from the camera, you can track them using human pose estimation technology that recognizes body and head positions.

Canon EOS R50 Content Creator Kit

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for your content creation needs, look no further than this Canon kit. It comes stocked with a great Canon EOS R50 camera housing a 24.2-million-pixel image sensor, a tripod grip with a detachable remote, and a stereo microphone for crisp and clear audio.

Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera

This is the camera that I currently use for my YouTube vlogs. It’s simple, compact, and straight to the point. This camera has 4K recording and was made with content creators in mind. The camera's adjustable settings and low-light performance ensure that you will still get great footage even in challenging conditions, like dim lighting or a cloudy day.

It seems that Sony is really pushing this camera for content creators specifically because it supports seamless connectivity to external devices, facilitating efficient content transfer. AKA, it is super simple to share your videos. This camera is the ideal next step for vloggers graduating from their phone camera, like me!

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RØDE Wireless Go Dual Channel Microphone System

This effortless microphone is my go-to when vlogging. Consisting of a transmitter and receiver, this microphone is designed to be worn as a clip-on and features a 70-meter range, which makes it perfect for vlogging. It features omnidirectional microphones so you will sound great from any angle.

What really sold me on this microphone was how simple it was to use. I took it out of the box and basically already knew how to use it since I had no issue setting it up and connecting the pre-paired receiver and microphone to my camera.

Sony Wireless Bluetooth Shooting Grip and Tripod

When looking for a tripod, look for one that has multi-function, like this one. Sony offers a Bluetooth tripod that blends together three essential features into one easy-to-use device. A comfortable grip, a three-leg stable tripod, and a Bluetooth wireless camera controller. The compactness and portability make this tripod a no-brainer for those with a Sony camera.

SENSYNE 10-inch Ring Light with 50-inch Extendable Tripod Stand

With over 60,000 reviews, this ring light is clearly a crowd favorite. It’s perfect for solo content creators and vloggers and gives the illusion of professional-looking illumination. Good lighting can make or break your video, so stay one step ahead with this $30 essential. Included is a 50-inch’ extendable tripod, so it can be placed on your desk or the floor to film from any height.

Newmowa LED Rechargeable Light

Coined the “Alix Earle Light” on TikTok, you can’t scroll past three videos without seeing someone rant and rave about this light. Sure, they get some commission, but the reactions to how bright this light can get are warranted. I was filming a clip for my vlog in a very dimly lit space and as soon as I turned this light on it basically lit up the entire place. Just kidding, but that’s how bright this is. This light can clip onto virtually any smartphone and users can flip between three light modes and 10 brightness settings to find the perfect lighting for their environment.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

This is my tried and true. My best friend. My confidant. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is my go-to when filming content on the go thanks to features like its 4K video recording, HDR, and high frame rate options. These allow vloggers of all levels to capture professional-looking videos. The three lenses also allow for new creative ways to shoot your content using telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. With features like video stabilization, video editing, 256GB storage, and an all-day battery life, this iPhone is really an all-in-one package for vloggers who are on the go.

Our tech editor and resident iPhone expert, Stefan Vazharov, approves of this staple, also. "The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the best video recording capabilities in the business, so it's a fantastic vlogging tool," he said. "Its sophisticated camera sensors and image stabilization tech, in tandem with the vast processing power of the A17 Pro chip and its Neural Engine, make cinema-grade quality videos a breeze even for complete newbies."

OCTOBUDDY Silicone Double-Sided Suction Phone Case

More often than not, I find myself scrambling to find a flat surface that I can lean my phone on to film. However, with this case attachment, that’s a struggle of the past! This phone case adhesive sticks to any silicone case and turns any wall into a tripod. Now, no matter where you are you can be sure you get the best angle.

What started as a fun thing to do with friends as a kid, turned into an outlet of self-expression. That inevitably evolved into a want to create the best content possible with the best equipment possible (in my price range). Now, it’s my job. I’m a vlogger on YouTube, a content creator on TikTok, and I run social here at Best Products and Firstfinds! From cameras to microphones, tripods to phone lighting, I’ve spent my teen and early adult years compiling the best tools to take your vlogging and content creation to the next level.

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Travel vlogs resonate with aspiring adventurers in ways that written content can't. They let the audience identify and connect with travel vloggers, and explore and experience new and exotic places with them.

Are you looking to get started with travel vlogging? We put together a comprehensive beginner's guide on how to start your journey.

Read on to learn about what travel vlogging really is, how to actually get started and find useful tips and tricks on growing your audience. We'll even throw in some travel vlog ideas for beginners!

Not what you were looking for? Explore several other aspects of filmmaking .

Travel vlogging definition

Let's start with the basics! What really is travel vlogging?

Travel vlogs are personal, realistic videos that feature the vlogger exploring new areas or locations. These vlogs or video blogs are then uploaded on video-sharing pages like YouTube, where a wide range of audiences can watch them.

As one of the most consumed video content on the internet, travel videos have a great audience who are ready to live vicariously through their favorite travel vloggers.

These vlogs can also provide helpful travel tips on what places to visit, where to eat and where to stay at.

How to get started with travel vlogging

If the wanderlust has taken over and you're ready to dive in, here's the steps to get started:

1. Set up your channel

First things first, you need to decide where you'll share your travel videos with your audience. YouTube and Vimeo are by far the most popular platforms for sharing video content, with YouTube alone having 122 million active users every day.

Head over to the platform of your choice and create a channel with your own name, a stage name, or something entirely customized.

Take good time to think about how you want to portray yourself, as this is the first step of your online branding journey!

Fill out your channel with a profile picture, contact info and description, and tie it to the rest of your public social media. Personalizing your channel now will give viewers a better chance to connect to you!

2. Get the right equipment

What are the travel vlog essentials to pack? Well, depends on your needs of course!

One thing to always keep in mind is portability. If you pack lightly or go out for a day of exploration, you don't want to be weighed down by a full camera bag with all the extra accessories.

A front-facing camera is great for vlogging too, and a wide enough focal length is a must!

Instead, you need to find what's your best travel vlog camera and top 3 lenses. Bring along a small, durable mic and maybe a gimbal, and you'll have all you need.

For lightweight and durable cameras, you can't really go wrong with a mirrorless . They're very versatile and come with a range of interchangeable lenses, where you can definitely find your favorites! Add a gimbal to minimize camera shake, which can make or break your footage.

If you're very active and always on the go, maybe an action cam or a 360 camera could come in handy too! They fit in your pocket so you can pull them out as needed.

While every vlogger has their own preferences, the Sony ZV-1 is a compact made specifically with beginners in mind. The Sony a6600 is excellent in low-light and comes with great in-body image stabilization. The Fujifilm X-S10 is a bit more advanced but it's great value for its price and it handles great. If you want to learn more about the best vlogging cameras , read on. For those planning international travel vlogs, services like VisaFly can be invaluable in navigating visa requirements and travel documentation efficiently.

3. Create your first travel vlog

It's time! Hop on a plane, train or boat and pack your equipment.

It might make sense for you to define a story arc before you actually start filming. Knowing what events or locations will take the main stage of your vlog can help set the pace and know how much to record. But if you're the type to just go with the flow, that can work as well!

Get filming and put yourself out there. A vlog is meant to be personal. If you want the audience to connect with you, be friendly and open while staying authentic to yourself.

Editing your video is where you'll make sure to give your vlog a consistent flow. You don't need to be an expert to get started, but it might be worth checking out some travel vlog editing courses, like these ones on Skillshare.

Add some upbeat copyright-free music to keep up the energy through the travel adventures and set the right tone. Make sure you include brand promos, like your logo and end with a Call To Action, such as "Please like and subscribe!" It's simple, yet effective.

5. Publish and promote

Over time, as you build up a following, it definitely makes sense to cross-promote new travel videos on all your social media!

You can also reach new viewers by collaborating with other creators while building a network and having fun! Interacting with your fans in the comments and addressing them directly will also

Create thematic playlists that viewers can binge before deciding to subscribe! Grouping all videos from your South Asian road trip makes logical sense and encourages viewers to keep watching.

Growing your audience 101

If you wanna be the next Louis Cole or Matthew Karsten, you'll have to build and grow an engaged audience. Having passion and wanderlust is a necessary first step, but the following tips will help you get better and enter the ranks of polished, professional travel vloggers.

Consistency

You might find it boring to hear this over and over again, but consistency is really a must if you want to make it as a content creator.

Especially in the beginning, you can expect no or marginal gains. You have to keep at it every day to let more and more people discover your channel. Creating genuinely good content will pay off in the long run. If the rise to fame would be easy, a lot more people would be doing it.

Keep learning

The beauty of technology and various online platforms is that anyone can pick up a camera and start vlogging. But make no mistake, there's always more to learn!

With time and experience, you'll find your own vlogging style, get better at recording and editing, and learn what sort of promotion works best for you.

Never be afraid to do your research about your destination either. As a well-informed traveler you won't miss out on any local staples and you're a lot less likely to commit cultural faux pas as well.

Set an upload schedule

... and commit to it! Like in everyday life, no one likes to be let down when promises were made. Aim to upload vlogs 2-3x a week or even daily for rapid growth.

Make sure you don't disappoint your subscribers by disappearing without a warning - but don't be afraid to take a break when you need to either. Clear communication goes a long way.

Shot variety

If you've done your research and scoped out the competition, you'll find that most successful vloggers include more than a few different kinds of shots in their videos.

Keep your audience entertained! Open with a good establishing shot , have proper close-ups of mouthwatering food or stunning decoration or throw in a drone wide shot to show off the sun setting over the cliffs.

Use movement and a range of angles to bring some spice and variety. If you want to learn more, check out our comprehensive camera angles 101 .

Keep your videos short

Or at least don't drag them out to be longer than they need to be. Short and sweet is the way to go, especially if you consider the average adult's attention span.

If you have entertaining content to fill out 20 minutes, great for you! Rules are meant to be broken. However, as a general guideline always ask yourself: would viewers spend the time to watch my whole video, or are there parts I could cut shorter?

Travel vlog types

While it's not necessary to pigeonhole yourself into just one thing, it helps a lot with the narrative thread if you pick a type of travel vlogging to focus on. This will also make it clear for your subscribers what to expect, and in return, they'll likely stay with you on your travel adventures.

Depending on your trip, you might want to focus on solo, family travel or couple travel vlogs. You can even involve the locals! Whether you focus on down-to-earth road trips, travel tips or culinary gems, lean into your style and make it your own. It will help you stand out in the vast content type options.

Your tone of voice can also vary depending on your style. Do you want to be entertaining, informational or educational? Find your brand and stick to it to build a loyal following.

Best travel vloggers

If you're in need of inspiration, learning from the best travel vloggers on YouTube seems like a great idea!

You can't go wrong starting with creators like Fun for Louis , Ben Brown or Fearless & Far .

Closing thoughts

Do you feel ready to get started? Hopefully, this guide provided you the info and inspo needed to take the first steps on your travel vlogging journey.

If you want to learn more, we have plenty of articles to teach you about travel filmmaking , or the best vlogging camera .

Buy your tickets, bring your A-game and enjoy your travels!

About the instructor

Videographer

London, United Kingdom

Thomas Alex Norman is a professional filmmaker, YouTuber, and musician. He regularly posts videos about travel filmmaking, editing, gear, and more.

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Regina Dörflinger

Regina is a digital marketing associate who enjoys creating content for the community. In her free time, she likes baking for her friends and writing all sorts of things, including fiction.

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