Cape Verde in December

Merino or synthetic. Cotton holds the sweat and you'll smell it by day two.

SimondSIMOND Women's Travel 500 Merino Wool T-Shirt$49.99Shop at Decathlon →CoalatreeQuick Dry Short-Sleeve T-Shirt - Unisex$34.30 was $49Shop at Backcountry →KiprunKiprun Men's Run 500 Dry Running T-shirt$20 was $24.99Shop at Decathlon →ForclazSimond Women's Merino Resist Long-Sleeve T-Shirt$45 was $69.99Shop at Decathlon →

A wind jacket isn't a rain jacket. It packs to the size of your fist and stops the wind, but steady rain gets through.

CotopaxiVuelta Performance Windbreaker Jacket - Women's$65 was $130Shop at Cotopaxi →ForclazForclaz Men's MT500 Windbreaker Jacket$69.99Shop at Decathlon →Helly HansenHelly Hansen Ridge Infinity Shell Jacket - Men's$293 was $650Shop at Backcountry →Helly HansenHelly Hansen Odin BC Infinity Shell Jacket - Women's$228 was $650Shop at Backcountry →

One pair for every two days, plus two.

SmartwoolEveryday Merino Thong Underwear - Women's$34Shop at Backcountry →SmartwoolEveryday Merino Bikini Underwear - Women's$34Shop at Backcountry →SimondSimond Trek 500 Merino Wool Backpacking Underwear Women's$29.99Shop at Decathlon →REI Co-opREI Co-op Women's Merino Hipster Underwear$29.95Shop at REI →

Bring the pair you already walk ten miles in. Brand new shoes on day one is how the blisters start.

NnormalKjerag Shoe$109 was $140Shop at Backcountry →SaolaQuito Shoe - Men's$130Shop at Backcountry →SaolaEzo Shoe - Men's$83.96 was $120Shop at Backcountry →New Balance530 Shoe$60.47 was $110Shop at Backcountry →

Polarized kills glare, but the tag has to say 100% UV separately, and that's the part your eyes need.

Ray-BanRay-Ban Wayfarer Oval Polarized Sunglasses - Women's$171 was $244Shop at Backcountry →SmithSmith Era ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses - Women's$113 was $189Shop at Backcountry →CostaCosta Caleta Net 580G Polarized Sunglasses - Women's$174 was $248Shop at Backcountry →KnockaroundKnockaround Junipers Polarized Sunglasses - Women's$17.50 was $35Shop at Backcountry →

REI Co-opREI Co-op Merino Wool Neck Gaiter$26.95Shop at REI →Turtle FurTurtle Fur Micro Fur Fleece Totally Tubular Neck Gaiter$29.95Shop at Backcountry →SimondSimond Trek 500 Merino Wool Multi-Position Hiking Neck Gaiter$17 was $24.99Shop at Decathlon →BuffBuff x National Parks Coolnet UV Neck Gaiter Great Smoky$24.95Shop at Backcountry →

REI members usually get 10% back on full-price gear. Membership is $30, once. How it works

10,000mAh is about two phone charges, 5,000 barely gets you through one long day.

Top pickGoal ZeroGoal Zero Venture 75 Power Bank$120Shop at REI →BioLiteBioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank$99.95Shop at REI →AnkerAnker MagGo Power Bank (10,000 mAh, Slim)$80Shop at REI →AnkerAnker Power Bank (30W, Fusion, Built-In USB-C Cable)$40Shop at REI →

Buy it used: REI Re/Supply sells gear like this for less. See used gear

65W or more charges a laptop. Anything smaller only keeps up with phones.

Peak DesignPeak Design 65W Dual Slim Charger$64.95Shop at REI →Peak DesignDual Slim Charger$64.95Shop at Peak Design →AnkerAnker Wall Charger (33W, 2-Port) with USB-C to USB-C Cable$25Shop at REI →AnkerAnker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Foldable Pad) with Charger and USB-C Cable$100Shop at REI →

Cape Verde uses Type C or F, and an adapter changes the shape, not the voltage.

Top pickMatadorGlobal Travel AdapterSee price15% off with CHRISANDSARAShop at Matador →Eagle CreekGlobal Travel Adapter USB 30W$4015% off with CHRISANDSARAShop at Eagle Creek →Eagle CreekGlobal Travel Adapter Micro$25Shop at Backcountry →Eagle CreekGlobal Travel Adapter 45W$6915% off with CHRISANDSARAShop at Eagle Creek →

Pick one that keeps no logs, and install it before you leave. Some countries block the download.

35 to 45 liters fits most cabins. Check your airline's size limit first. Most won't take much over 40L in the cabin.

Top pickMatadorMatador 45L Global Travel PackSee price15% off with CHRISANDSARAShop at Matador →MatadorMatador GloberiderSee price15% off with CHRISANDSARAShop at Matador →PacsafeGo Carry-On 44L Backpack$180Shop at Backcountry →Osprey PacksOsprey Packs Archeon 30L Backpack$132 was $265Shop at Backcountry →

Hard shell protects what's inside, soft shell squeezes into a tight bin, and either way check the size with wheels included.

CotopaxiCoraza Suitcase - Carry On$295Shop at Cotopaxi →SamsoniteHyperflex ∞ Carry-On Spinner$126 was $180Shop at Samsonite →SamsoniteVirtuosa Spinner$154 was $220Shop at Samsonite →Peak DesignRoller Pro Carry-On$600Shop at Peak Design →

15 to 25 liters.

MammutLithium 20L Daypack$135Shop at Backcountry →CotopaxiConsuelo 22L Daypack$120Shop at Cotopaxi →CotopaxiElqui 24L Daypack$100Shop at Cotopaxi →The North FaceIsabella 3.0 20L Daypack - Women's$66.75 was $89Shop at Backcountry →

Look for an IPX8 rating. Anything below that is splash proof, not waterproof.

Nite IzeNite Ize RunOff Waterproof Phone Pouch$34.95Shop at REI →Peak DesignEveryday Case for iPhone 11 Pro$26.96 was $29.95Shop at Peak Design →Peak DesignEveryday Case for iPhone 11 Pro Max$26.96 was $29.95Shop at Peak Design →ChromeChrome Large Phone Pouch$25Shop at REI →

Get locks marked TSA approved. Security can cut anything else off to search your bag.

MatadorMatador BetaLockSee price15% off with CHRISANDSARAShop at Matador →KnackKnack TSA-Approved Lock$16Shop at Knack Bags →ThuleTSA Cable Lock$17.95Shop at Backcountry →PacsafePacsafe ProSafe 1000 TSA Combination Luggage Lock$17.95Shop at REI →

It runs on Find My, so this one's for iPhones.

AppleApple AirTag (2nd Gen, 4-Pack)$95.99Shop at B&H Photo →eufyeufy SmartTrack Link (2-Pack)$19.99Shop at B&H Photo →AppleApple AirTag (2nd Gen)$29Shop at B&H Photo →

Going in the water, buy the 80-minute one, since 40 minutes is barely one swim.

BadgerBadger SPF 50 Adventure Sport Mineral Sunscreen - 2.4 oz. Tin$18.95Shop at REI →Sun BumSun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion$17.50Shop at REI →ThinksportThinksport Clear Zinc Active Face SPF 50 Sunscreen$15.95Shop at REI →Sun BumSun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Stick$14.50Shop at REI →

Picaridin at 20% works as well as DEET, and it won't melt your sunglasses or the plastic on your pack.

Ben'sBen's Eco Spray Insect Repellent - 30 Percent DEET$9.50Shop at REI →Adventure MedicalBen's 30 Deet Tick & Insect Repellent$1.92 was $2.95Shop at Backcountry →Adventure MedicalAdventure Medical Ben's 30 Deet Tick & Insect Repellent Pump$1.92 was $2.95Shop at Backcountry →Ben'sBen's Insect Repellent - 30 Percent DEET$7.95Shop at REI →

It goes on clothes, not skin, and it wears off after six weeks or six washes, whichever comes first.

SawyerSawyer Permethrin Pump Spray$14.50Shop at REI →

Rehydration salts, not a sports drink. The salt and sugar are mixed in the ratio your gut can actually absorb when it's upset.

SaltStickSaltStick Fastchews Chewable Electrolyte Tablets Coconut Pineapple$19.99Shop at Backcountry →SaltStickSaltStick Fastchews Chewable Electrolyte Tablets Tropical Mango$19.99Shop at Backcountry →Tailwind NutritionTailwind Nutrition Recovery Drink Mix - 1 Serving Salted Caramel$3.25Shop at REI →Tailwind NutritionTailwind Nutrition Recovery Drink Mix Salted Caramel-12 Pack Box$39.49Shop at Backcountry →

For customs forms.

Fisher Space PenFisher Space Pen Military Pen$22.50Shop at REI →Fisher Space PenFisher Space Pen Stowaway$17Shop at REI →Fisher Space PenFisher Space Pen Backpacker Pen$35Shop at REI →

A filter stops bacteria and parasites. For viruses you need a purifier, and the box will say which one you're buying.

Top pickGraylGrayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle$99.95Shop at REI →LifeStrawLifeStraw Go Series Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Filter Bottle$59.95Shop at REI →HydraPakHydraPak Breakaway+ Water Filter Bottle$50Shop at REI →KatadynKatadyn BeFree AC Water Filter Bottle 0.7$49.95Shop at REI →

Rechargeable over USB-C, so it shares a cable with everything else you carry.

FenixFenix HM50R V2.0 Rechargeable Headlamp$59.95Shop at REI →BioLiteDash 450 Rechargeable HeadLamp$69.95Shop at Backcountry →BioLiteBioLite Dash 450 USB-C Rechargeable Running Headlamp$69.95Shop at REI →Black DiamondStorm 450 Headlamp$38.47 was $69.95Shop at Backcountry →