I never thought I’d send you a post like this

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here,

today we’re talking about a topic many of you have often mentioned – traveling more sustainably. It’s something I honestly didn’t pay much attention to when I first started two years ago. And even now, I think most travelers, especially on a tight budget, first learn through their own mistakes.

But over the past two years, I’ve stood in some of the most beautiful places on earth, only to turn a corner and find mountains of trash, massive waste burning on the streets next to children, or lakes and beaches completely filled with plastic. I knew this was an issue before I started traveling, but I never realized the scale until I saw it in Southeast Asia, India, and countries like Egypt or Jordan.

That’s why today I want to share with you 5 simple tips – and a couple of gadgets for each – that helped me reduce my impact and take at least a small step in the right direction.

🌍 1. Reuse & Repair Instead of Replace

👉 The greenest gear is the one you already own. Keep using your backpack, jacket, or shoes as long as they work. And if something breaks, repair it instead of buying new.
Gadgets I use:

• Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Patches – fixes rips in jackets or backpacks.

• Compact Travel Sewing Kit – tiny, cheap, and perfect for quick fixes.

💧 2. Cut Single-Use Plastics

👉 Buying bottled water and single-use cups adds up fast – both in money and in waste. Bring your own bottle and refill whenever you can.
Gadgets I use:

• Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle – folds up small when empty, great for flights and day trips.

• Hydro Flask Reusable Mug – keeps coffee hot for hours, no disposable cups needed.

👕 3. Choose Sustainable Travel Clothing

👉 Instead of packing fast fashion that falls apart after a few trips, go for clothes made from recycled or natural materials that last much longer and are easier on the planet.
Gadgets I use:

• Merino.Tech Wool T-Shirt – lightweight, odor-resistant, and lasts for years.

• prAna Stretch Zion Pants – durable, partly made from recycled materials.

🧼 4. Solid Toiletries Over Plastic Bottles

👉 Hotel shampoo bottles and endless mini toiletries = waste. Solid bars are lighter, last longer, and get through airport security without any issues.
Gadgets I use:

• Ethique Solid Shampoo Bar – eco-friendly, compact, lasts weeks.

• Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case – keeps bars dry and travel-ready.

🪣 5. Reusable Travel Basics

👉 Plastic cutlery, paper towels, and plastic bags pile up quickly. Swap them for reusable basics that take almost no space in your bag.
Gadgets I use:

• Bamboo Travel Cutlery Set – knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks in a lightweight pouch.

• PackTowl Personal Microfiber Towel – quick-drying, replaces endless paper towels.

So, as you’ve noticed, all of these gadgets are under $50 (except for the pants – they’re about $5 more, but let’s be honest, that’s what we usually pay for pants anyway).

What I wanted to show you is that with really small steps you can make huge progress in the right direction. Whether it’s a $15 water bottle or a $45 merino wool t-shirt – the most important thing is that the places we’re lucky enough to visit are still there when we’re old (or even older 😂).

If you want to grab the complete guide for free, just download the Gear Vault Bundle and this Sunday you’ll get the full eco edition added in.
CLICK HERE

👉 Click the button “Grab it free,” then hit “I want these” – and don’t forget to enter 0 so it’s free.

Safe travels,
Johannes ✈️🌍

PS: If you want to check out my new photos from Egypt this week – hop over to Instagram 👉 [Click here]