Equipment used to produce Vagabonding.com

Fujitsu P2000 Lifebook laptop computer – I researched laptop computers endlessly for this trip, and this little Fujitsu was the best machine for my purposes. It was a netbook before they made netbooks. Just 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) in size, it burned discs and had a Firewire port (used to transfer video between camera and computer). I composed all Vagabonding content on this computer, enjoyed a huge music library, archived materials to disc, and even watched the occasional DVD.

Of course, if I were doing it all over again, I'd bring a MacBook. But at the time they were too clunky.

Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini-DV Camera – this was the showpiece of my kit. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg), this was the smallest professional DV camera on the market. And it was a durable workhorse. I used it in rainforests, deserts, and at freezing high-altitudes; in every condition, it performed like a champ.

I brought this camera because Panasonic gave it to me. Yep, I wrote them and asked for sponsorship right as this guy was coming out and they sent it to me for free. Gotta love Panasonic.

However, if I were doing it again, I'd bring the smallest damn camera I could that still had a microphone jack. Seriously. I wasn't making a documentary film. I was shooting video for the web. A little Flip HD camera would have been fine. And it would have looked a lot less conspicuous! Ah well.
 

Shure SM11 wired lavaliere microphone – I bought Shure's least expensive lavaliere microphone when I was in Kolkata, India – four months into the trip. I wished I'd had it from the start. I clipped it onto interviewees and, even in noisy surroundings, their audio sounds dynamic and clean. I also use this microphone for my voiceovers. All the audio I captured before having this microphone is junk.

Manfrotto 3001D tripod – what good is a big honking camera without an equally big tripod? At 3 lbs (1.35 kg), this is Manfrotto's lightest tripod, and I fitted it with one of their lightest fluid heads, the 3130. This tripod and head performed remarkably well, especially considering the number of times I dropped them, bashed em around, bounced them off bike racks, etc.

Out in the field, I carried the tripod in a quiver-like bag that I had made in Vietnam for $3. When moving from place to place, I stowed it in my main backpack.
 

Sony digital camera – I don't care what anybody says – as far as consumer digital cameras go, nobody comes close to Sony. This is the second Sony digital camera I've owned, and I love it. It was tiny but powerful. It also does mini-movies with sound, a feature that I use for the underwater videos.

I carry two extra batteries for the camera and an extra Memory Stick.
 

Sony Marine Pack – this ingenious plastic housing is custom-made for the P5. Good for up to 40m below the surface, I've used this housing to take photos and videos while diving. Sony makes the marine packs for other camera models too, although I hear they're discontinuing them.
 

Fujitsu USB Floppy drive – Old school, yes. But when I was traveling many PCs didn't have USB ports, and I traveled just before wireless was ubiquitous in cafes and so on. I used the floppy to transfer data from the laptop to the Internet cafes.
 

IOGear mini optical mouse – the little nubbin on laptop computers was fine for quick bouts of navigation, but when you're editing photos or working on video, you need a proper mouse. This little guy did the trick.
 

I carried the standard power adaptors and connector cables for my equipment. I also had two sets of headphones.

The one noteworthy item from this group is a global plug adaptor called the Road Warrior. It was the most compact plug adaptor I've seen, and the design is elegant. I'm not sure who makes it, but if you dig around on Google you'll find it.

I also used a small Belkin surge protector called the Master Cube.

Crumpler Messenger bag – The laptop and camera fit perfectly into a padded messenger bag made by Crumpler. With pouches and pockets that held all of my gear well, this bag seemed custom-engineered for my project. Its styling was discreet and rugged, and even at the end of the trip it looked great.
 

PacSafe – another key security item was the PacSafe - a wire-mesh sack that you can lock your stuff inside of and then secure to a piece of furniture or something. Whenever I wasn't using the DV camera or computer they were secured inside of this baby. Sure, a determined crook could easily hack through this contraption, but it goes a long way in preventing opportunistic theft.
 

Sea to Summit Bags – to keep the electronics dry when I lugged them about, I stored them in three Sea to Summit dry bags. They rock.
 

Insuarance with Safeware - the laptop and cameras were insured with Safeware, which is really the best form of security and protection. It's wasn't easy finding this sort of coverage. After many rejections by traditional insurance companies, I found Safeware.

The noteworthy items from this group were my Chaco sandals. Never have I had a more comfortable – or smoove – pair of sandals. I wore those babies for 270 days in a row and they still looked smart. Also, Chacos served as a sort of ID card for North Americans, as anybody who had them was from the US or Canada.