How to document your travels without heavy gear?

Documenting a trip doesn't take lugging heavy gear at all. To come home from your holiday with beautiful photos and videos, all you need is a few light, practical accessories that fit easily in your backpack.

Your phone is the main tool

The most important thing is your smartphone, which, thanks to its great lenses and advanced recording modes, can work wonders. It's worth adding a small tripod, ideally one with flexible legs. It comes in handy both for filming vlogs and for taking group photos or shooting timelapses.

An action camera for the active

If you're planning a more active trip, say in the mountains or a cycling tour, a compact action camera is a great solution. It shrugs off knocks, water and dust, and thanks to special mounts you can easily attach it to a helmet or a bike to capture the most dynamic moments.

Don't forget a backup power source

While you're filming, don't forget a high-capacity power bank. It's an absolute must so you don't end up halfway through the day with a dead phone or camera. It's best to pick a model with fast charging and a few ports, so you can plug in several devices at once.

Organising gear and small bits

It's also worth keeping your cables and small items in order with an accessory organiser. A case with compartments saves you the frantic hunt for a memory card or a knot of tangled wires. It's worth considering a smartphone gimbal for smoother shots, spare memory cards, especially if you record in high quality, and filters that improve the colours. Tuck it all into a light camera bag, which protects your gear and gives you quick access to it at any moment.

In short: a light kit is the key to success

Put simply, you don't have to invest in a professional studio. A well-chosen, light kit will let you create great keepsakes, and who knows, it might even become the start of your own vlogging channel.