It is exciting to work as a full-time digital nomad each week in a different place with different people and get inspired. However, this kind of lifestyle also requires a work environment that matches mobility, security, and productivity
My years of experience gave me the ability to develop a tech stack that can be carried in one backpack and allows me to continue work when I need to change continents.
For the past few years, I’ve been living as a full-time digital nomad—working from beaches in Thailand, cafés in Lisbon, and co-working spaces in Mexico City. But this lifestyle isn’t all Instagram-worthy sunsets and smooth sailing. There have been plenty of moments where my entire income depended on having the right tech setup.
Like the time I was on a 12-hour layover in Istanbul and had to join a client call from the airport lounge—only to find the Wi-Fi was painfully slow. Thankfully, my eSIM gave me instant 4G, and my noise-canceling headphones drowned out the chaos around me. Or the day I spilled coffee on my laptop in a Medellín café and had to rely on cloud backups to restore everything on a borrowed computer within minutes.
The Digital Nomad Setup I Rely On
These experiences (and a few near-disasters) have shaped my digital nomad setup into something that’s lightweight, reliable, and failsafe. I don’t carry unnecessary gear, but I also don’t compromise on performance.
These experiences have refined my setup into a carefully curated balance of minimalism and power. Every item earns its place by being either:
✔️ Lightweight (because I carry it daily)
✔️ Reliable (because my income depends on it)
✔️ Multi-purpose (because backpack space is precious)
Here’s the battle-tested gear that lets me work confidently from anywhere on Earth:
A Lightweight but Powerful Laptop
My work involves content creation, editing, and the occasional video call marathon. I use a 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 chip) for its balance of power, portability, and battery life. It’s incredibly fast, handles multitasking like a champ, and fits easily into my daypack. I keep it in a protective case and always have a micro-fiber cloth handy to wipe off dust and coffee stains from my café sessions.
Global Wi-Fi- SIMs, eSIMs, and Local Networks
I use Internet as my lifeline. I have a non-locked smartphone equipped with eSIMs and never forget to read about ideal data plans beforehand. I use apps such as Airalo or Holafly to enable cheap eSIMs immediately I arrive in the country. I also have a travel router to amplify the Wi-Fi signals in areas with intermittent connectivity to make videoconferencing more efficient. However, being connected is not everything since being secure is equally important.
Digital Security Is Non-Negotiable
Traveling often means connecting to public or untrusted Wi-Fi networks, especially if I am visiting places like Jibhi in Himachal where cellular network is bad. I can’t risk sensitive client work or my personal data being exposed to hackers. That’s why I always use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). After trying several options, my go-to is CyberGhost VPN.
Why CyberGhost? It has an absolutely simple set up, blazing-fast servers in more than 100 countries and has apps on all my devices. I do not only use it to encrypt my connection but to unlock location restricted tools and content. It also allows me to trick the banking apps to believe I am still in the US or it tricks others to think I am in the UK to watch some shows. It is quite a digital nomad secret weapon of freedom and privacy.
Essential Accessories
- Noise-cancelling headphones– for deep work sessions and tuning out noisy hostel common
rooms. - Compact external SSD– for backups. I use a 1TB SanDisk Extreme that’s waterproof and
shock-resistant. - Travel surge protector– with universal outlets and USB ports.
- Bluetooth mouse and foldable stand – better ergonomics go a long way during 10-hour
workdays.
The Cloud Is My Office
- I don’t rely on local storage. My entire workflow is cloud-based-Google Drive and Dropbox for file sharing
- Notion and Trello for project management
- Slack and Zoom for team communication
- Grammarly and Canva for content polishing
It means I can switch devices anytime or collaborate with teammates across the globe without
missing a beat.
Routine, Not Rigidity
Finally, it is not only about the technology but attitudinal. My daily routine is loose so that I can adjust to time zones and travel days. I focused on work during early mornings, calls in the afternoons and explored at evenings. Being set up in such a way that I can work wherever I am will help me base my life around life and not work.
It is a permanent career, permanent lifestyle never to be at rest, never to have a place to sit on and get a rest. The right gear and the right tools will make or break your productivity. My VPN, my laptop, and every other component of my device configuration have a definite purpose, boosting my connectivity, well-being, and productivity, no matter where I may wander. If you’re considering the digital nomad life or already on the move, I can’t recommend enough starting with a secure connection.
