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NAVIGATION
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Gone are the days when you need a GPS-dedicated device that is not a phone. Nowadays, we just use apps on our phones such as Google Maps, Maps.me, or OsmAnd+. The only problem is how do you protect your phone from frying in the searing sun or getting drenched in the pouring rain?
Instead of subjecting my nice phone to the elements, I bought a cheap phone that I put in a waterproof case. I've downloaded offline Google Maps for the places I'll be headed to, and voilà, a perfect GPS. Plus, my phone charges on the bike as we ride. If you'd like more information on how I've managed that, check out my Electronic Upgrades for the Bike section. |
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The Best Phone Holder - Of course, you'll need something to keep your phone securely on your motorcycle. I've heard horror stories from fellow riders who have lost their phones due to a crappy phone holder.
So after a bit of trial and error with other products, I bought the Perfect Squeeze, and it has kept my phone sturdily in place over potholes, river crossings, and every Latin American speed bump and Namibian corrugated road we've been down. |
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BLUETOOTH HEADSET
Being able to talk to each other while on the road is essential. And having music has become an added luxury that we just can't live without anymore! I don't think I could ever travel again without our bluetooth headsets.
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What We Use Now - We are using the Cardo PACKTALK Edge Duo set, (here is the link to the Single Set), and the sound quality of its JBL speakers is out of this world! Paired with a set of good Earplugs, I can hear notes from Jack Johnson's guitar that I never knew were there before, and Marisa can listen to audiobooks or podcasts while zooming down the highway, and she still understands everything.
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There are a lot of advanced settings and capabilities of this super smart product, and I love the the ability to use voice commands instead of always trying to hit buttons. The Cardo PACKTALK Edges have great long-range bluetooth capabilities as well, We use the boom mic as opposed to the puck mic in our helmets in order to get the clearest sound from our voices.
The following video is a tutorial of how Tim installed our first Cardo communication system seamlessly into our helmets.
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S.O.S. SATELLITE MESSENGER
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Having some form of satellite device can be life saving, but if that's not enough to get you excited about it, they also have a lot of other great uses. GPS messengers can be used to record your GPS position, send messages to friends and family from anywhere in the world (even from places without cell reception), get weather updates, and most importantly, to send for emergency rescue when needed.
Still Our Favorite - We have the Garmin inReach Explorer+, and we love it. This device has never faltered even in the rain, heat, and cold. And after 5 years of use, it still has a long battery life! We use it every single day we're on the road to track our location (it sends a ping every 10 minutes), and our plan includes 40 custom messages a month, and unlimited preset messages. The preset messages are perfect for telling our parents each evening that we're safe and settled down for the night. The message also sends out a map detailing our exact location. Needless to say, Marisa's mother loves this device, as it gives her peace of mind. |
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The Garmin inReach also has an S.O.S. button that you can hit at any time, from any place, and it will send a search and rescue team to you (really just a rescue team since they'll already know your location). They will then bring you to a hospital of your choosing. Now, that's not going to be cheap by any means, but it might save your life. Just knowing that button is there makes the journey a little less stressful for us.
One of my favorite things about our Garmin inReach is that it tracks where we go on a digital Google Map. Sometimes I don't even know where we've been that day, so it's great to look back and see all the incredible places we've traveled to, and to draw that line across the map. Also Good (So We've Heard) - Another popular satellite brand is SPOT, which offers cheaper devices that maybe don't do it all, but it'll have the features that you want it to do. For example, if you just want to track your bike, you can get a little GPS device only for that. |
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PHOTO & VIDEO CAMERASPhoto CameraGreat for Photography - As a middleweight photography camera, not a DSLR, but not a standard point-and-shoot, the Panasonic Lumix G7 4k Mirrorless Camera has been a great piece of hardware that has captured all of the fantastic images that we have taken along the way.
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The camera does take video as well, but its autofocus function is not up to the standard that we need for our YouTube Channel. Also, it has no stabilization, and so this camera is strictly used for taking amazing pictures, some of which end up in our free online articles on Upshift.
I've paired my Panasonic camera with a higher zoom lens for catching monkeys or other objects that are far away. And with the addition of our tripod, I can get some great night shots. Overall, this camera has served me well. |
Vlogging Video Camera
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Amazing for Video - Because our Panasonic camera was really only good for photos, we wanted something that we could rely on for excellent video footage. So we bought the Sony ZV-1, and I have frequently said to Marisa after watching one of our videos, "This was one of the best investments we've ever made."
This camera is small and easy to manage while hiking a trail, or exploring some ruins. Marisa just keeps it slung around her shoulder, and she can whip it out and get filming in just an instant. It has pretty good stabilization, but best of all, its autofocus is phenomenal. We never have to worry about the lighting, or the focus, it will pick up on our faces or whatever we are pointing at, while blurring out the background for a professional look. Unfortunately, because the Sony ZV-1 doesn't have a viewfinder or an interchangeable lens, we find it is not the right fit for us for photos (hence the Panasonic). But for video, we absolutely love this camera, and recommend it to anyone who is serious about making high-quality videos. |
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ACTION & 360˙ CAMERAS
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Action CamerasGoPros Are Good - Long ago, you needed a camera crew for your motorcycle adventures to look good on film. And then came GoPro, and they really changed the whole game. For all our “action" shots, we bought a couple GoPro Hero 9's. We've been using them for years, and they take amazing footage, and are more reliable than the cheaper $100-range action cameras. They are fully waterproof, dust-proof, shock-proof... and we have truly tested them.
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Plus, the 9's have phenomenal stabilization. Even on bumpy roads, it will pan smoothly, like it's on a gimbal. Sometimes the footage it takes is so good, some of our most popular pictures are actually screenshots from a GoPro video! But we've noticed that our old GoPro Hero 7's just weren't up to the same standard of video quality and stabilization as the 9's or later. So that is something to keep in mind when purchasing a used one.
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But GoPros Aren't Perfect - The audio on the GoPros is not awesome, though it has improved over the years. Plus, they can be a bit glitchy. Marisa often has to restart hers to get it back on track.
And since this is an action camera, it's only going to take a wide shot with everything in focus all the time. It will never take cinematic footage, and steep hills always look less so, and mountains come out tiny. That being said, for action shots, we still think GoPros are good. |
Not Recommended - Because of the audio issues, we tried combining one of our GoPros with the official Media Mod kit which can allow for an external speaker. Unfortunately, I believe the Media Mod added to the GoPro's glitching tendencies. We needed the Mod to pick up on our voices in our helmets, but it consistently caused problems. This eventually led us to invest in another action camera brand.
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Our New Helmet Action Cam - Because of the audio issues with GoPro, we purchased the DJI Action 3 camera. Not only is the footage from it good quality, but it has some features that we really like, such as the magnetic quick-release mount. But most importantly, it has a better setup to connect with other microphones, which has allowed us to improve our in-helmet voice recordings. We are putting this camera and its capabilities to the test in Asia, so we'll update you on how it goes.
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360˙ Cameras
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360˙ cameras are action cameras that takes spherical footage and sew it all together for you to manipulate into the shot that you want. This is wonderful for if we're riding through gorgeous scenery and we don't want to miss any of the beauty, this will capture it all at once! Then we can edit it later on to pick our favorite bits. We like to incorporate 360˙ footage into our videos because of the wide angle that it can produce. When filming, you don't have to worry about which way the camera is facing. You just turn it on, and go.
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One great feature that 360˙ cameras have is that they automatically erase the camera stick out of the footage. Magic, right? It's pretty cool, and it can make your videos look like the camera is floating above you.
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Our Exciting New 360˙ - After hearing all the rave reviews from fellow motorcycle vloggers about the Insta360 camera, we knew we had to give it a try. Known to have clean seam lines, and user-friendly editing software, we are extremely excited about it. But even more than its 360˙ capabilities. we are excited about its regular wide-angle mode. We struggled with regular "Hero" mode on the GoPro Max, and so we're looking to see what improvements the Insta360 has in store for us. So keep an eye out for our 360˙ footage during our Asian adventures.
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Because we've partnered with Insta360, we've actually been given a special promo code for you to use!
Our First 360˙ - Before Insta360, we started with the GoPro Max which is the 360˙ camera that GoPro makes. And for the most part, it worked quite well for us when it came to the 360˙ portion of the camera. The audio was quite good, and the software for the video editing wasn't as cumbersome for us as some people had said it was.
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The problems really revolved around (... pun intended) the regular "Hero" mode on the camera. We simply found that the image quality on it was not up to par with our other GoPros, which meant the camera could only be used for 360˙ footage. It wasn't the end of the world, but we would have preferred both modes to have worked properly.
MICROPHONES
Shotgun Mics
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Many people don't realize how important good audio is to making a good video. Audio is so important, that even if the video quality isn't good, having great audio can compensate for a lot. This is why we've worked hard at getting quality microphones to compliment the visuals you see in our videos.
Our Go-To Mic - We've paired our cameras with a Plug-in Shotgun Microphone, which allows it to professionally capture even the faintest sounds.
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Lapel / Lavalier MicsShotgun mics are wonderful for capturing ambient sounds, or if you're talking to people who aren't mic-ed up. But if you really want to capture your voice in a professional capacity regardless of the wind or background noise, then lapel mics are the way to go. Simply clip them onto your clothing around your chest, and talk away.
Versatile and Wireless - These DJI Wireless Lavalier Microphones were kindly gifted to us by some truly wonderful friends of ours (you know who you are), and they have been one of the greatest additions to our video-recording setup. Not only are they wireless and easy to clip on whenever we need to record a video, but the sound is of high quality, and it can even be manipulated through the audio receiver that plugs right into the camera. Whats more, these lapel mics have a long battery life, as well as an awesome little charging station for when you're done. They really couldn't be any more perfect and we highly recommend them!
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Cheap and Reliable - Before we got the awesome DJI Wireless Microphones, we found a pair of Wired Lapel Mics that were cheap and wonderful. They connected right into the camera (through splitters), and the sound quality through them was quite good. So even if there were airplanes, or traffic, or lawn mowers in the background, the mics only picked up the lovely sound of our voices, and synced right into the video.
You can hear a sample of the these Lapel Mics at work in this video where we use them during the interview parts. |
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CAMERA ACCESSORIES
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Gimbal
All of our video cameras have some form of digital stabilization, but not all of them are as smooth as we would like. When we first started our trip, our footage was extremely shaky. Thankfully, gone are the days of shaky videos with our awesome Zhiyun Crane Gimbal Stabilizer.
We've set up our gimbal to work with our Sony ZV-1 vlogging camera, but it can work with your phone, action camera, or any other mid-sized camera that you would like. Using a gimbal can take some getting used to, but once we first watched the playback of our videos while using it, it immediately became apparent why this was a good investment. Our footage transformed into movie quality, whether it was as simple as a shot of me walking towards the motorcycle, suddenly I was in my own movie. And that was an incredible feeling. TripodOf course, we also carry a tall tripod with us that can extend to nearly my height. This has been great for recording us doing our video interviews, or we put it up at the side of the road and then we can both ride by. Also, it is absolutely necessary for night shots.
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Selfie SticksThere are zillions of selfie sticks to choose from, but we personally like the Insta360 Invisible Selfie Stick. It's durable, light-weight, and has a nice grip to it.
Quick Release MountsBecause we have selfie sticks and tripods and motorcycle camera mounts, we wanted a universal and easy (but secure) mounting system for all of our cameras. And so we use the Insta360 Quick Release Mount. It snaps your camera right in, and you don't have to worry about it falling off. And when you want to remove your camera, simply push down the button, and it snaps right off!
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DRONE
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I think everyone can agree that drone footage is awesome. And we all know that owning a drone can really "elevate" your videos...
Halfway through our Alaska trip, we purchased a drone - the DJI Mini 2. And it has been a game changer for us. We are now constantly on the search for gorgeous places to capture from up above, and it really allows us to fly through the scenery. It's also great for getting wildlife shots while still keeping a safe distance, and for seeing glaciers and mountains from up above. We love it! |
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DIGITAL STORAGE
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The Best - To save all our pics and vids, we wanted a solid-state external hard drive that wouldn't get destroyed by all the bumps on the road. It needed to be small, lightweight, and durable. Previously, we had purchased the standard disk drives (not solid-state), and they failed us. You definitely do not want that happening and loosing all of your glorious footage! So we bought a few Sandisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD drives, and they've served us flawlessly.
Tiny Flash Drive - For a smaller, more portable thumb-drive, we each have a Samsung 128 Gig Flash Drive. 128 gigs in something that small is remarkable, and of course, these are indestructible. |
Terrible, Just Terrible - We used to have Silicon Power 2T external hard drives, and they died on us within two months! Don't buy those!
EXTRA GIZMOS
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Portable ChargerTo charge our nicknacks while wild camping, or just while the electricity has gone out (we still love you, Uganda), we bought an EasyAcc Portable Charger. It has four USB outlets so we can charge multiple items at once. Yes, these external batteries can be big and heavy, but for any type of off-the-beaten-path camping, or serious international travel, this is a must if you want to be able to use your electronic devices at all times. Plus, this charger actually charges things quickly!
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Plug Adapters
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If you're just sticking to the US, Canada, and Central America, the US plugs (Type A) will be fine. But once you hit Chile and Argentina, you'll need international plug adapters. Having a European (Type C) plug and a British one (Type G) will get you far, but not everywhere. Mind bogglingly, South Africa decided to have its own unique plug (Type M).
So do your research, and get the right plug adapter for where you're going. Because there's nothing worse than spending a long day on the road, crossing a difficult border, and then checking into a hotel that night only to find that you can't plug anything in. |
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Our Go-To Adapters - This Ceptics 12Pcs International Set has every single one you'll ever need and is what we use. Ceptic may sound like a crappy brand name, but they have proved to be #1 (not #2)... Okay, I'll stop with the poo poo puns...
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Extension CordAt first, this might not seem very important, but there have been countless times where we've gotten to some hotel room, and we really needed to charge our phones but also wanted to check out the map for tomorrow’s drive, or look at the weather forecast, or go through some recent pictures... And of course, the only outlet in the room is way off in the corner where you’d have to sit on the floor to be near it.
This is where an Extension Cord is invaluable. Even just a 6' (~2 meter) one does the job nicely for us. We’ve met other travelers on the road who watched us bring out our extension cord, and as if it were made of gold they said, “Ohhh... that’s something we forgot.” It's also nice because it will give you a few extra plugs that you won't need an adapter for. |
SOFTWARE
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Software is just as important as hardware these days. Here we've given you a list of what programs and apps we use.
Route Planning - iOverlander (works offline, free, possibly the greatest app ever), FreeCampsites.net (good for North America, free) Navigation - Googe Maps (free, works offline with maps downloaded), OsmAnd+ (free, works offline), Maps.me (free, works offline) |
Photograph Editing - Adobe Lightroom (not free), GIMP (for logos and graphics, free)
Video Editing - Adobe Final Cut Pro (a bit of an investment), iMovie (free with Mac products)
Video Editing - Adobe Final Cut Pro (a bit of an investment), iMovie (free with Mac products)
Choose Another Gear Category:
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Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission whenever you purchase something using our links through Amazon, at no extra cost to you. So thank you! Every little bit gets us further down the road.
Also to keep in mind, we have been sponsored by the brands listed here and in the footer below. Of course, we try to be as honest about their products as we can be, and we would never promote anything that we did not genuinely like.
Also to keep in mind, we have been sponsored by the brands listed here and in the footer below. Of course, we try to be as honest about their products as we can be, and we would never promote anything that we did not genuinely like.
Questions? We'd love to chat!
