Our favorite travel gear | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep323 | 9-12-25
Frequent Miler on the Air
Frequent Miler
4.9 • 640 Ratings
🗓️ 12 September 2025
⏱️ 76 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's podcast episode, we're sharing our favorite travel gear (like Nick's Japanese nail clippers), and we'll explain why a UK power adapter is especially useful, and why we carry backpacks in our backpacks.
Giant Mailbag
(01:18) - One reader writes in about their first big redemption
(03:14) - Preferred Hotels & Resorts safari lodges, bookable with iPrefer points, hiccups and all
Read more about Preferred Hotels & Resorts with points here.
(07:28) - Mother and son plan a 9-country, 1-month itinerary booked on points
Main Event: Our favorite travel gear
(11:40) - Which backpacks and go bags do we like best?
(17:57) - Our favorite luggage and toiletries
(33:38) - Which tech gear do we keep in our backpacks?
(45:50) - Why we carry backpacks inside of backpacks
(48:28) - Travel Wallet
(52:25) - Misc weather gear
(58:45) - Miscellaneous clothing tips
Question of the Week
(1:05:40) - When deciding between an option that costs more miles and less cash, or more cash and fewer miles...how do you decide?
Want some of these products for yourself?
Disclosure: With the following product links, Frequent Miler will earn a commission for qualifying purchases.
Greg's Tumi backpack: https://amzn.to/4gvAiiL
Greg's Briggs & Riley carry on suitcase: https://amzn.to/4mcnG1i
Packing cubes with compression zipper (similar to cubes Greg uses): https://amzn.to/4ghB5nc
Greg's toiletry bag: https://amzn.to/45ZR3Pw
Nick Stick (for shaving cuts): https://amzn.to/3KhkX9k
Greg's travel-size antiperspirant roll-on: https://amzn.to/3JZzIgX
Greg's tiny usb-c charging brick: https://amzn.to/46v7sM1
Greg's magsafe wireless charging battery: https://amzn.to/462ad7x
International power adapter that won't fall out of wall socket: https://amzn.to/3VhirlU (this is not one we have, but it looks useful!)
UK adapter: good for staying put in airplane power sockets (Greg uses similar item): https://amzn.to/45ZyICe
Kindle paperwhite (Greg has an older model): https://amzn.to/3VhirlU
Greg's portable laptop stand: https://amzn.to/4gli9nR
Greg's magnetic phone holders for selfie photos and videos:
- Clamp style: https://amzn.to/3Im3wUD
- Suction cup: https://amzn.to/4nstX9V
Greg & Nick's backpack inside backpack: https://amzn.to/47BUcq1
Greg's passport wallet: https://amzn.to/4mZHQwy
Greg's travel raincoat: https://amzn.to/42coyMn
Greg's microfiber towel: https://amzn.to/3VhkBSy
Greg's quick dry boxer shorts: https://amzn.to/4mhddll
Greg's quick dry t-shirts: https://amzn.to/4mYjcfI
Greg's slip-in Sketchers shoes: https://amzn.to/4ghMmE8
Nick's Tumi Alpha Brief Pack: https://amzn.to/42uQnPR
Nick's Muji Carry-On (not available at Amazon): https://www.muji.us/collections/luggage/products/adjustable-handle-hard-shell-suitcase-36l-carry-on-eee02a4s
Nick's 200W 4-port wall charger with detachable cord: https://amzn.to/4ps1AuD
Nick's bigger power bank (no longer available new, so when he needs to replace it he'll look to buy something similar): https://amzn.to/41QJ8l5
Nick's Anker magsafe charger: https://amzn.to/4mgUqGt
Nick's right-angle USB-C adapters (bought as fillers when using a Dell credit, but he uses them): https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/visiontek-usb-c-right-angle-adapter/apd/ab647234/monitors-monitor-accessories
USB-C extension cable: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/c2g-3ft-usb-c-extension-cable-usb-c-to-usb-c-extension-cable-usb-31-gen-2-10gbps-m-f/apd/aa561282/pc-accessories
Nick's laptop stand: https://amzn.to/47FiZcP
Nick's prescription medicine tracker/reminder: https://amzn.to/3VJuxEv
Nick's Pixel Buds Pro (note that these are his model, but Pixel Buds Pro 2 are also out): https://amzn.to/4n0jFhz
Nick's Bose over-ear headphones: https://amzn.to/3VJuRTJ
Nick's Logitech MX Vertical Mouse: https://amzn.to/4ggHjDS
Nick's laptop (same model and core specs): https://amzn.to/4mV6uyt
Cadence Capsules for toiletries: https://amzn.to/4guqlSQ
Zip off pants similar to Nick's (his are from L.L. Bean, but same idea. Of key importance, these have a number of zip pockets, which Nick prefers for money/wallet/etc: https://amzn.to/46fJ8fQ
Nick's merino wool stuff has been Wool & Prince. Note that wool is quick-dry, but not moisture-wicking. What he likes is that it picks up no odor, so if you can't wash it right away it won't make everything in your bag stink, and it dries quickly (so easy to wash, hang, and dry by morning). He's tried a few brands but likes Wool & Prince the most so far:
https://woolandprince.com/products/signature-standard-v-neck-tee-iron-gray
https://woolandprince.com/collections/boxer-briefs
Nick loves this for cooler weather: https://woolandprince.com/products/knit-button-down-charcoal-heather
Nick's large carabiner clip used to attach water bottles to backpack:
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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is a Voyescape podcast. You can find all of our travel podcasts from around the world at voyescape.com. |
| 0:10.9 | On today's show, we're going to be talking about our favorite travel gear, including Nick's Japanese nail clippers, why a UK power adapter is particularly useful, and why we carry |
| 0:23.9 | backpacks inside our backpacks. Frequent Milo on the air starts now. Today's main event, |
| 0:32.7 | our favorite travel gear. Nick and I today are going to be talking about what suitcases we prefer, what |
| 0:39.1 | backpacks we like to carry everywhere, and what gear goes into those things. What do we take |
| 0:44.3 | everywhere with us when we travel? What's our favorites? That's the topic of today's show. |
| 0:50.2 | Yeah, I'm excited because, you know, we travel quite a bit, and so there are things that we've come to love over time. And people do periodically ask about, you know, which types of things we like or we always bring with us. So it's kind of fun to share that. So we'll share some of that stuff. And remember, if you want to jump ahead to something or you want to come back to something later on, you can always find the timestamps in the show notes. Just expand the description box. And if there are links to more information about any of the stuff we've been talking about today, that's always where you can find that stuff as well. For wherever you're watching or listening, don't forget to give us a thumbs up, a like, leave us a review, leave a comment. We always appreciate hearing about you, and I'd love to know what stuff |
| 1:27.6 | you always bring with you, too. On that note, let's drag out this week's Giant Mailbag. |
| 1:31.8 | All right, today's Giant Mail is quite giant. We've got three giant entries today. |
| 1:37.9 | And I'm going to start the things off with Neil, whose subject heading was First Big Redemption. Neil said, I wanted to reach out to |
| 1:48.3 | thank you guys and the whole FM team. I recently returned from my first points redemption. My wife and I had a |
| 1:54.8 | bucket list 14th anniversary trip to the Conrad Bora Bora earlier this month. Using tricks I learned from you guys, I was able |
| 2:02.6 | to book the room with a combination of two Hilton Free Night certificates and points earned via |
| 2:07.6 | Hilton aspire and surpass signups last July. Flights were handled via a combination of United Miles, |
| 2:14.9 | points from work travel, and Air Canada for a United Medal. |
| 2:19.7 | The Freakimiler team has truly made tackling the hobby approachable, but also laid out |
| 2:23.9 | in-depth tips and insights, both on the podcast and web, which I greatly appreciate. |
| 2:29.5 | That's awesome. Congratulations. That's exciting. That's the type of trip that I feel like a lot of people would think is inaccessible. |
| 2:37.1 | Because if you just are looking at cash prices, it's something that most people would have to save for for years and plan for and may not be able to do. |
| 2:46.7 | And yet with a few credit card signups, you know, a few new credit card bonuses, boom, |
| 2:51.8 | you made that kind of a trip happen. So that's great. That's a big start. So you set the bar high. |
| 2:57.5 | Now you've got some more planning to do. Neil did. And, you know, and for a beginner, like knowing |
... |
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