Those who follow me on social media or read this travel blog regularly must know that I am not into luxury travel. Of course, I had a fair share of luxury experiences, including my luxury train travel in India and exploring private island in the Great Barrier Reef, but mainly I focus on adventure travel.
I would choose experiences like solo motorbiking in the mountains, and trekking and camping, over sitting in a private Yacht in the Mediterranean Sea enjoying a glass of red wine.
But that doesn’t mean I am wild and boring. I mean if you will look at my life right now — I live at 3000 metres above sea level in the Himalayas, running 2 boutique properties, owning two German Shephards, whom I sometimes go out with in my 2010 Gypsy King, especially while snowboarding in winter. Most people in India would only dream of it.
In short, I am what Woodland is for the shoe industry — wild, rugged and stylish.
For every kind of lifestyle, there’s a brand that resonates. Woodland stands for the spirit of adventure. It is meant for hikers, trekkers and adventure seekers like me.
I mean for someone living in Manali having a lifestyle like mine, it demands rugged and tough footwear during the day (when you are out in the wild) and something fancy and presentable at night (as you plan for a few drinks with friends).
If I wear a pair of trekking boots it serves the purpose for the day but wearing the same footwear and visiting a friend, or dining out in a fancy restaurant, doesn’t. That’s where a design that serves both purposes comes into play.
I appreciate products that make life easier — be it on the road or while enjoying a lazy afternoon somewhere.
That’s why niche products have such a big market. For any traveller, it’s important to have good travel gear. I often try buying products that serve me various needs. Often, the products I use are expensive, but in the long run, they prove to be a good value for money.
And then, there are other product categories too like backpacks and jackets.
Your Rucksack Should Be More Than Just A Rucksack.
If tomorrow I plan for Hamta Pass Trek in Himachal and buy a few products I might need for the trek I would like them to be multifunctional. The 50L rucksack I will buy for the trek should help me back home as well and not just sit in my closet.
That’s where products with good usability and multifunctionality come into play.
I have a habit of carrying a 40L backpack around whenever I go out. This keeps my daily essentials. A product not wonderfully designed would make it hard and not want you to carry it with you. A good product, on the other hand, would make your day easier.
Check the following video to get a fair idea of how carefully I have handpicked every product for my motorbiking trips…
I use travel products that are small in size, lightweight, and durable. Most of the products I buy are often expensive — whether it’s my 2000 Rupee travel towel or a 70,000 Rupee mirrorless camera — but in the end, they always prove their worth, making my journeys easier.
o speaking from my personal experiences, I always advise people to only invest in the best travel or motorcycle riding gear. But there’s more to Packing Smartly than just investing in the most expensive travel product available out there.
In this video shared above for example, I speak about the travel products I use during my journey and my smart packing hacks. The video compiles a list of my travel and motorcycle riding gear including mentions of what riding jacket I use, my tank bags, the helmet, saddlebags and other products of everyday use.