I Travel the World with a 10-Year-Old Laptop. Here’s Why It’s Better
The Indestructible Travel Companion
While other digital nomads are terrified of scratching their new $2,000 MacBooks, I work from hostels around the world on a ten-year-old Lenovo ThinkPad I bought for $150. It’s a tank. I’ve spilled coffee on the keyboard, and it just drained out the bottom. I can replace any part with a simple screwdriver. Most importantly, its boring, beat-up appearance makes it a terrible target for theft. It’s a reliable, powerful, and stress-free machine. My “old” laptop isn’t holding me back; it’s enabling my journey by being the one thing I never have to worry about.
The Ultimate “Go-Bag” Repair Kit That Fits in Your Pocket
My Tiny Toolkit for Global Problems
I travel with a small, Altoids-tin-sized repair kit that has saved me countless times. It contains a tiny precision screwdriver with interchangeable bits, a small roll of electrical tape, a few zip ties, a mini tube of super glue, and a pack of Sugru, the moldable glue. With this tiny kit, I’ve fixed a broken laptop hinge in a cafe in Lisbon, repaired a frayed charger in a hostel in Bangkok, and reattached the sole of my hiking boot in Peru. It’s my pocket-sized insurance policy against the small disasters of life on the road.
How to Fix Your “Only” Laptop in a Hostel in a Foreign Country
The Day My Digital Lifeline Died in Bali
My only laptop, my source of income, just died in a hostel in Bali. I panicked. But then I remembered the basics. I found other travelers who had a different charger I could try—no luck. I borrowed a screwdriver and re-seated the RAM—nothing. Finally, I used my travel adapter to plug it into an outlet in a different part of the building. It booted up. The problem wasn’t my laptop; it was a faulty power strip in my dorm. Troubleshooting with borrowed parts and a calm process saved me from a costly, unnecessary replacement.
The “One Charger to Rule Them All”: The Ultimate Travel Power Solution
The Quest for a Single Plug
My backpack used to be a tangled mess of proprietary chargers for my laptop, phone, camera, and Kindle. My solution was to go all-in on USB-C. I bought a tiny, 100-watt GaN charger, which is about the size of an old phone charger but powerful enough for my laptop. I carry one high-quality, long USB-C cable. For my older devices, I have a few tiny, keychain-sized adapters. Now, my entire global power setup weighs a few ounces and takes up almost no space. It’s the single best optimization I’ve made for one-bag travel.
Why a “Dumb” Phone is the Smartest Choice for International Travel
The Joy of Being Present (and Not a Target)
When I travel, I leave my expensive smartphone at home and use a $40 Nokia “dumb” phone. The battery lasts for two weeks, so I never worry about finding a charger. It’s so cheap and boring that it’s practically invisible to thieves. Most importantly, without the constant lure of social media and email, I am more present in the moment. I look at the world around me, not at a screen. It forces me to ask for directions and engage with locals. It’s not just a phone; it’s a tool for better travel.
How to Keep Your Old Tech Safe from Theft While Traveling
The Art of Looking Unattractive
My laptop is covered in peeling stickers and has a few visible dings and scratches. My camera has electrical tape holding the battery door shut. It’s a deliberate strategy. Thieves are looking for easy targets they can sell quickly. A new, shiny MacBook is a prime target. My beat-up, sticker-bombed ThinkPad looks like it’s not worth the effort. By making my gear look old, personalized, and slightly broken, I make it an unattractive target. My tech’s cosmetic flaws are its best security feature.
The “Sugru” Hack That Has Saved My Gear on Every Continent
The Moldable Glue That’s My Travel MVP
I never leave home without a pack of Sugru. This moldable, silicone-based glue has been my travel savior. In Italy, I used it to rebuild the corner of my laptop case that had cracked. In Thailand, I used it to reinforce my fraying phone charger cable, creating a durable, flexible new joint. In Colombia, I used it to create a custom, shock-absorbing foot for my portable hard drive. It air-cures into a tough, waterproof rubber. For any traveling tinkerer, it’s the most versatile and useful substance you can carry.
How to Create an “Offline” Version of the Internet for Long Flights
My Digital Survival Kit for 14-Hour Flights
Before a long travel day with no Wi-Fi, I prepare an “offline internet” on my old tablet. I use a tool to download entire websites, like Wikipedia articles and travel guides, for offline viewing. I download hours of podcasts and save a dozen long-form articles to Pocket. I use an app to download the entire map of my destination city for offline navigation. When everyone else is paying $20 for terrible airplane Wi-Fi, I have a rich, deep library of content and information that requires no connection at all.
The Best “Durable” Old Tech That Can Survive a Backpack
Built Like a Brick, Travels Like a Dream
Modern tech is obsessed with being thin and light, which often means fragile. For travel, I choose old tech that was built for durability. My go-to laptop is an old ThinkPad, famous for its internal roll cage. My travel camera is an Olympus Stylus Tough, a point-and-shoot from 2010 that is waterproof and shockproof. My primary music player is an old, metal-bodied iPod Nano. These items were built to withstand abuse, which makes them perfect for the chaotic life inside a backpack being thrown on and off buses.
I Used a Hotel TV as a Second Monitor for My Old Laptop
The Instant Productivity Upgrade
Working for a full day on my small, 12-inch laptop screen in a hotel room is a strain on my eyes and my productivity. The solution is usually right in front of me: the hotel room TV. I always pack a lightweight, six-foot HDMI cable. I plug my old laptop into the TV’s HDMI port, change the input, and instantly have a massive second monitor. This simple, zero-cost trick allows me to have my research open on one screen and my work on the other, transforming a cramped hotel desk into a proper workstation.
The “Power-Bank” Resurrection: How to Jump-Start a Dead Laptop Battery
The Portable Jump-Starter for Your Tech
My laptop battery was so dead that it wouldn’t even start charging when I plugged it in—a common issue with deeply discharged batteries. I was in a remote town with no repair shops. I used a trick with a portable USB power bank. I found a USB cable with the right size barrel jack for my laptop. I plugged it into the power bank, which delivered a low, steady current. After about 30 minutes, this gentle “trickle charge” had revived the battery just enough for the main laptop charger to recognize it and take over.
How to Deal with Different Voltage and Plugs Without Frying Your Gear
The Electrical Rosetta Stone
When I first started traveling, I was terrified of frying my electronics. The key is understanding that almost all modern chargers for laptops and phones are “dual voltage” (they accept 100-240V). You can see this printed in tiny text on the power brick itself. This means you don’t need a bulky, heavy voltage converter. All you need is a simple, lightweight plug adapter for the specific country you’re in. I carry a small, cube-shaped universal adapter that works almost anywhere in the world.
The “Pre-Travel” Tech Checklist That Prevents Disaster
An Ounce of Preparation…
The day before any big trip, I run through my tech checklist. First, I charge everything to 100%—my phone, my laptop, my power bank, my headphones. Second, I back up all my critical files to both a portable SSD and the cloud. Third, I download offline maps and entertainment. Finally, I do a “gear check,” making sure I have the right power adapter, my universal charging cable, and my tiny repair kit. This 20-minute ritual has saved me from countless “I forgot…” moments of panic on the road.
I’m Using an Old Kindle as My Primary Travel Guide and Map
The Perfect Low-Tech Navigator
My old, non-backlit Kindle Keyboard is my favorite travel companion. Its e-ink screen is readable in the brightest sunlight, and its battery lasts for weeks. Before a trip, I buy the PDF version of the Lonely Planet guidebook and load it onto the Kindle. I also save screenshots of maps and public transit schedules as images. It’s a lightweight, distraction-free device that holds all my critical travel information and doesn’t scream “expensive tourist gadget” when I pull it out on a busy street corner.
How to Secure Your Data on Old Devices When Crossing Borders
The Digital Ghost Machine
When I travel to certain countries, I take extra steps to secure my data. I travel with a completely clean, refurbished laptop. I use a fresh install of Linux and enable full-disk encryption, so the entire drive is unreadable without a password. I don’t store any sensitive data on it directly; instead, I use a secure cloud service to access what I need and then log out. If my device is seized or inspected at a border, there is absolutely no personal or client data on it to be found.
The “Gorilla Tape” Repair: A Traveler’s Best Friend
The Strongest Thing in My Backpack
I don’t carry a full roll of duct tape. Instead, I wrap about five feet of ultra-strong Gorilla Tape tightly around a small pen. This tiny roll lives in my bag and has saved the day more times than I can count. I’ve used it to patch a hole in my backpack, to hold a broken camera lens together until I could get it fixed, to tape over the blinking lights on a router in a dark dorm room, and even as a makeshift bandage. It’s the ultimate multi-tool for a budget traveler.
Why I Never Travel with Tech I’m Not Willing to Lose or Repair Myself
The Stoic Approach to Travel Gear
My travel philosophy is simple: if I would be devastated by losing it, it doesn’t come with me. My brand new, $1,500 laptop stays at home. My travel laptop is a $150 used machine that I know how to fix with a screwdriver and tape. My fancy camera stays in the studio; my travel camera is a cheap, durable point-and-shoot. This mindset is incredibly freeing. It eliminates the constant, low-level anxiety about theft or damage, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the travel experience.
I Used an Old Phone to Create a Personal Wi-Fi Hotspot for $5
Beating the Roaming Charges
On a month-long trip to Europe, instead of paying my home carrier’s exorbitant international roaming fees, I used an old, unlocked Android phone. When I landed, I went to a local corner store and bought a prepaid SIM card with a huge data package for about five dollars. I put the SIM in my old phone and turned on its Wi-Fi hotspot feature. Now, all my other devices—my main phone, my laptop—could connect to it for fast, cheap internet. It’s the single best travel hack for staying connected affordably.
The Best “Low-Bandwidth” Apps That Work on Terrible Wi-Fi
Thriving on a Dial-Up Speed Connection
In many parts of the world, hostel Wi-Fi is slow and unreliable. To stay productive, I rely on a suite of “low-bandwidth” tools. Instead of the bloated Gmail website, I use a simple text-based email client. Instead of Google Docs, I write in a plain text editor and sync the small files later. For communication, Signal messenger is far more reliable on a bad connection than WhatsApp or iMessage. By choosing lightweight, efficient software, I can keep working even when the internet connection is barely there.
How to Dry Out a Wet Gadget in a Humid Climate
The Fan and a Little Patience
During a monsoon in Southeast Asia, my portable hard drive got soaked in my backpack. The “bag of rice” trick is useless, especially in a humid climate where the rice is already saturated with moisture. The professional solution is airflow. I went to a local shop, bought a small desk fan for a few dollars, and pointed it directly at the hard drive for 48 straight hours. The constant, moving air is the most effective way to evaporate moisture from inside a device’s casing and saved my data.
The “Universal” Screwdriver I Never Leave Home Without
The Key to a Thousand Devices
The single most important tool in my travel kit is a small, pen-sized precision screwdriver with interchangeable magnetic bits. It takes up almost no space, but it has the Phillips, flathead, Torx, and Pentalobe bits needed to open almost any piece of modern electronics. It has allowed me to fix my own laptop, help a fellow traveler open their phone to dry it out, and tighten the loose screws on my glasses. It is the master key for a world held together by tiny, specialized fasteners.
I Repaired My Frayed Charging Cable Using Dental Floss
The Minty-Fresh Repair
My only USB-C charging cable started to fray near the connector while I was staying in a remote village, miles from any electronics store. I needed a quick, strong fix. I found some waxed dental floss in my toiletry bag. I tightly wrapped the floss around the frayed section of the cable, creating a rigid, protective splint. The wax on the floss helped it grip and stay in place. This simple, improvised repair held for two more weeks until I could get to a city and buy a new cable.
How to Find a “Maker Space” or Repair Cafe in Any Major City
Finding My Tribe on the Road
When I have a more complex repair to do while traveling, I seek out the local “maker space” or “hackerspace.” These are community-run workshops with tools like soldering irons, 3D printers, and knowledgeable people. I just search on Google for “[City Name] hackerspace” or “repair cafe.” I’ve found these welcoming communities in Berlin, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. It’s not only a great way to get access to tools and expertise, but also a fantastic way to meet local, like-minded people.
The “Cloudless” Nomad: How I Work Entirely Offline
My Declaration of Digital Independence
As a writer, I realized my dependency on the cloud was a liability while traveling. A bad internet connection could halt my entire workflow. I decided to go “cloudless.” All my work now lives on my laptop’s encrypted hard drive. I use simple, offline software like a plain text editor. I back up my work nightly to a tiny, rugged portable SSD. This setup means I can be fully productive on a 14-hour bus ride, in a remote cabin, or during a city-wide internet outage. I am never at the mercy of a Wi-Fi signal.
Why an Old Netbook is the Perfect Travel Companion
The Tiny, Tough, and Tasteless Gadget
I found a 10-year-old Asus Eee PC netbook at a thrift store for $20. It’s tiny, weighs nothing, and is completely worthless to thieves. It’s too slow to run modern Windows, so I installed a lightweight version of Linux. It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s perfect for the three things I need on the road: writing in a text editor, managing my files, and basic web browsing. The battery lasts for eight hours. It is the ultimate minimalist, distraction-free, and worry-free travel computer.
How to Use an Old Tablet as a Secure Travel Document Vault
My Digital Go-Bag
I use an old tablet as my dedicated travel document vault. I perform a factory reset, enable full-disk encryption with a strong password, and then load it with password-protected PDF copies of my passport, visas, flight confirmations, and hotel reservations. I don’t install any other apps or connect it to public Wi-Fi. It stays in my hotel room safe. If my main bag with my phone and wallet gets stolen, this offline, secure vault contains all the critical information I need to get help.
The “Sand and Dust” Proofing Guide for Your Old Electronics
The Desert Survival Kit
While traveling through the dusty deserts of Morocco, I had to protect my old camera and laptop. My low-tech solution was simple and effective. I kept my electronics inside Ziploc bags even when they were in my main backpack. For my camera lens, I used a clear UV filter to protect the front element. Before opening my laptop, I would wipe down the area around it with a damp cloth. These simple precautions prevented the fine, abrasive sand from getting into the delicate ports and moving parts of my gear.
I Fixed My Broken Camera on a Mountaintop. Here’s How.
The High-Altitude Repair
I was on a multi-day trek in the Himalayas when I dropped my camera. The lens got stuck and gave me an error message. I was devastated. Back at camp, I used my small travel toolkit. I found that a tiny screw on the lens barrel had come loose. I didn’t have the exact right screwdriver, but I was able to carefully use the tip of a small knife from my multi-tool to tighten it. It took 30 minutes of tense, careful work in the cold, but the lens retracted, and the camera came back to life.
The Best “Lightweight” Linux Distros for Underpowered Travel Laptops
Breathing New Life into Old Hardware
My old travel laptop was unusably slow running Windows. The solution was to install a lightweight Linux distribution. For absolute beginners, I recommend Lubuntu, which has a familiar interface but uses a fraction of the resources. For even older machines, I use Puppy Linux, which is tiny and can run entirely from RAM, making the machine feel incredibly fast. These free operating systems can turn a frustratingly slow old laptop into a snappy, responsive, and reliable travel tool.
How to Make Your Battery Last an Entire 12-Hour Bus Ride
The Art of Extreme Power Saving
To survive a long travel day without a charger, I turn my old laptop into a power-sipping machine. I lower the screen brightness to the absolute minimum. I turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. I close every single background application. Instead of working in a heavy program like Microsoft Word, I use a minimalist plain text editor. By reducing the load on the processor and the screen—the two biggest power draws—I can easily stretch my old battery’s life from three hours to over ten.
The “Signal Booster” I Made for My Phone Out of a Pringles Can
The Cantenna Strikes Again
I was working from a rural cottage with a very weak, one-bar cell signal. I needed to send an important file, but the connection kept dropping. I remembered the classic “cantenna” hack. I ate a can of Pringles, cleaned it out, and cut a small slot near the base. I placed my phone inside the can, with its antenna pointing toward the open end. I then aimed the can out a window in the direction of the nearest town. My signal jumped from one bar to a stable three, just enough to get my work done.
How to Barter Your Tech Skills for a Free Night’s Stay
The Modern Traveling Tinkerer
I arrived at a small, family-run guesthouse in Vietnam, and I noticed the owner was frustrated with his slow, virus-infected computer that he used to manage bookings. I made him a deal. I told him I could clean up his computer and make it run like new. In exchange, he could give me a free night’s stay. He happily agreed. I spent two hours removing malware and teaching him some basic maintenance. He got a working computer, and I saved $20 on accommodation. My tech skills are a currency I can trade anywhere in the world.
The Importance of “Physical” Backups When Traveling
Don’t Trust the Cloud Alone
I met a traveler who had his laptop stolen and his cloud account hacked on the same trip. He lost everything. This taught me the importance of physical backups on the road. Now, in addition to my cloud backup, I carry a tiny, rugged SSD drive about the size of a credit card. Every few days, I back up my most important files to it. I keep this drive in a separate bag from my laptop. This redundancy means that no single point of failure—theft, hardware failure, or a hacked account—can wipe me out.
I Used Google Translate’s Camera to Read a Repair Manual in Japanese
The Universal Translator in My Pocket
I bought a cheap, used camera in a shop in Tokyo, but it had a minor fault. The shop owner handed me the original Japanese user manual, which had a detailed repair section. I couldn’t read a word of it. I opened the Google Translate app on my phone, selected the camera feature, and pointed it at the page. The app translated the Japanese characters into English in real time, showing me the translated text overlaid on the live image. It was a moment of pure science fiction that allowed me to fix my camera.
The Most Common Tech Failures on the Road (And How to Prep for Them)
Expecting the Inevitable
After years on the road, I know what breaks. The number one failure is always cables, especially near the connectors. I always carry a spare. Number two is dead batteries. I know how to replace the battery in all my key devices. Number three is cracked screens. I use rugged cases and screen protectors on everything. By anticipating these three most common points of failure, I can prepare for them, turning a trip-ending disaster into a minor, fixable annoyance.
Why I Chose an Old GoPro Over a New One for My Adventures
The “Good Enough” Action Camera
The latest GoPro costs $400 and shoots in resolutions I don’t need. For my adventure travels, I use a GoPro Hero 4 I bought on eBay for $50. It’s small, tough, and the 1080p video it shoots is perfectly good enough for my travel vlogs. I’m not afraid to mount it to a rusty bus or take it into the ocean because if it breaks or gets lost, it’s a $50 loss, not a $400 one. This freedom from financial worry allows me to take more creative risks and capture better shots.
The “Minimalist” Tech Setup for a One-Bag Traveler
Everything I Own, In One Backpack
As a one-bag traveler, every ounce matters. My entire digital office fits into a small packing cube. It consists of a 10-year-old, 11-inch MacBook Air, which is still incredibly light and capable for writing. I have one tiny GaN charger, one cable, and a few adapters. My phone, a lightweight pair of wireless earbuds, and a Kindle complete the kit. This minimalist setup forces me to be disciplined and focused. It’s the ultimate expression of freedom—the ability to carry my entire life and livelihood on my back.
How to Fix a Broken Zipper on Your Tech Bag
The Pliers and a Little Patience
The zipper slider on the main compartment of my trusty backpack came off its track in the middle of a trip. The bag wouldn’t close, leaving my laptop vulnerable. A new backpack would have been $80. I sat down with a small pair of pliers from my travel toolkit. I carefully used the pliers to slightly pry open the back of the zipper slider. I worked it back onto the start of the zipper track, then used the pliers to gently crimp it shut again. The zipper worked perfectly.
The “Solar Panel” Charger: Gimmick or Lifesaver?
It Depends on Your Travel Style
For my first backpacking trip, I bought a small, foldable solar panel to charge my phone. It was mostly a gimmick. In cities and hostels, finding a wall outlet is always easier and faster. However, on a recent multi-day, off-grid trek through a national park, it was a true lifesaver. It was the only thing that kept my phone and GPS device charged. The verdict: for the average traveler, it’s unnecessary weight. For the serious, off-grid adventurer, it’s an essential piece of gear.
How to Use an Old Phone as a GPS Tracker for Your Luggage
The Poor Man’s AirTag
I was worried about my checked bag getting lost on a multi-leg flight. I took an old, small Android phone, charged it fully, and installed a “find my phone” app on it. I turned off everything except the cellular connection, put it in extreme power-saving mode, and buried it in my suitcase. The battery lasted for days. I could log in from my main phone and see my bag’s location on a map. It gave me incredible peace of mind during my travels, all for the cost of a cheap prepaid SIM.
The “Tethering” Tricks That Save You a Fortune on International Data
Your Phone as a Modem
My laptop needs internet, but international data plans are expensive. My trick is to use my phone’s tethering feature, but smartly. I use an app that lets me set my phone’s hotspot as a “metered connection.” This tells my laptop to use as little data as possible, stopping big background downloads and updates. For even more savings, I use a USB cable to tether instead of Wi-Fi. It’s a faster, more stable connection and uses less of my phone’s precious battery.
Why a Simple Headlamp is the Most Important Tech Repair Tool for Travel
The Power of Light
I was trying to fix my laptop in a dimly lit hostel dorm late at night. I couldn’t see the tiny screws, and my phone’s flashlight was awkward to hold. The solution was my simple, $10 headlamp that I usually use for hiking. By strapping it to my head, I had bright, hands-free light pointed exactly where I was looking. It made the delicate repair possible. I now consider a headlamp to be the single most important tool in my travel repair kit. You can’t fix what you can’t see.
How to Stay Productive on a 5-Year-Old, 11-inch Laptop
The Power of Constraints
Working on a tiny, old laptop forces you to be efficient. I can’t have 30 browser tabs open. I can’t run bloated, slow software. I use a lightweight operating system and single-purpose applications. This lack of power is actually a feature. It eliminates distractions and forces me to focus on one single task at a time. My workflow is lean, fast, and incredibly productive precisely because my tools are limited. It’s a powerful lesson in how constraints can breed creativity and focus.
The “Redundancy” Rule: Always Have Two of Critical Items
One is None, Two is One
I learned this rule the hard way after my only charging cable failed in a remote town. Now, I live by it. I carry two charging cables. I have my main debit card and a backup credit card, stored in different places. I have my critical files backed up to my portable SSD and to the cloud. I have my passport and a photocopy of it. For any item whose failure would be a trip-ending catastrophe, I always have a backup. It’s a simple rule that has turned potential disasters into minor inconveniences.
My “If This, Then That” Flowchart for Any Tech Emergency Abroad
The Pre-Planned Panic Response
To avoid panicking during a tech failure on the road, I have a simple mental flowchart. IF my laptop doesn’t turn on, THEN I will find another traveler and try their charger. IF that doesn’t work, THEN I will try to reseat the RAM. IF my phone gets wet, THEN I will immediately power it off and find a fan. By having a pre-planned, logical sequence of steps for the most common problems, I can react calmly and methodically instead of emotionally, which dramatically increases my chances of a successful fix.
How to Protect Your Gear from Power Surges in Old Buildings
The $10 Electrical Insurance Policy
In many older hostels and guesthouses around the world, the electrical wiring can be ancient and unstable. A sudden power surge could fry my expensive laptop charger or even the laptop itself. I travel with a tiny, single-outlet surge protector. It’s lightweight, costs about ten dollars, and plugs in between the wall outlet and my charger. It’s a small, cheap piece of insurance that gives me peace of mind when I have to plug my digital lifeline into a questionable-looking outlet.
The “Old iPod” Filled With Music and Podcasts That Has Saved My Sanity
The Distraction-Free Entertainment Box
On a 20-hour bus ride through Argentina, my phone died. The bus TV was blaring a bad movie. What saved my sanity was my old iPod Classic. It was filled with hundreds of albums and dozens of podcasts. Because it does nothing else—no notifications, no internet, no apps—it is the perfect, focused entertainment device. Its battery lasts for 30 hours. It is a small, durable sanctuary of sound that has gotten me through countless long, boring, and stressful travel days.
How to Make Friends in a New City by Fixing Their Broken Tech
The Universal Language of a Broken iPhone Screen
As a solo traveler, it can be tough to meet people. My secret weapon is my repair kit. I’ll sit in the common area of a hostel, and if I see someone with a cracked phone screen or a glitchy laptop, I’ll offer to take a look. Even if I can’t fix it, it starts a conversation. I once fixed a girl’s phone charger with some electrical tape, and she and her friends invited me to join them for dinner. My ability to fix things has become my way of breaking the ice and connecting with people everywhere I go.
The “Low-Tech” Solutions That Are Often the Best
Sometimes, the Smartest Tool is the Dumbest One
I see other travelers with expensive smartwatches and complicated GPS devices. I navigate with a simple, liquid-filled compass that costs five dollars and never needs a battery. I take notes in a small, waterproof notebook with a pencil. My alarm clock is a cheap, durable Casio watch. These low-tech solutions are more reliable, more durable, and less of a target for theft than their “smart” equivalents. On the road, reliability always trumps features.
Why My Old, Scratched-Up Gear Tells a Better Story Than a Shiny New Gadget
Every Dent is a Memory
My travel laptop has a dent from when it fell off a table in a cafe in Prague. My camera has a scratch on it from a rock on a trail in Patagonia. The stickers on my water bottle are from hostels in 20 different countries. My gear is not pristine, and I love it for that. It’s a physical scrapbook of my journeys. A brand new, perfect gadget has no stories to tell. My battered, repaired, and well-loved old tech is a testament to the miles it has traveled with me.