The Inner Battle of Buying Gear While Travelling – Want vs. Need vs. Deal
A specific kind of mental gymnastics happens when you're a photographer abroad and stumble across a piece of gear you've eyed for months—only now it's cheaper, tax-free, or comes bundled with extras. The heated internal debate kicks in: Do I buy it now because it's a deal, or walk away because I don't really need it?
I've been there. Many of us have. You're on a trip—maybe even one where you promised yourself you'd travel light, live simply, and shoot with intention. Then you pass a camera shop in Tokyo or a secondhand market in Hong Kong, and suddenly you're calculating currency exchange rates in your head and justifying a purchase that wasn't even on your radar this morning.
The Gear Dilemma: More ≠ Better
As photographers, we tend to convince ourselves that gear equates to capability. But more gear doesn't always make us better. In fact, too many options can create friction. You end up second-guessing lenses, carrying more than you use, and spending more time organizing than shooting.
When I first started travelling with a camera, I packed backups for my backups. Eventually, I realized that my best images weren't made because I brought everything—they were made because I brought what worked.
That's the goal now: to simplify, to carry only what I need, not what I could use. It's about knowing your tools, not collecting them.
The Temptation of the "Good Deal"
Finding a piece of gear at a great price while travelling feels like discovering treasure. But that dopamine hit of scoring a deal often fades faster than you think, especially if the gear gathers dust.
Here's a test I use to calm the impulse:
Would I have paid full price for this at home last week?
Do I know exactly what job this will help me do better or faster?
Can this replace something I already use—or is it just adding bulk?
Am I buying it to solve a real problem, or just because it's shiny and cheaper?
If I can't answer clearly, I won't buy it. And honestly, I rarely regret walking away.
Best Practices for Selecting Gear with Purpose
If you're considering adding something to your kit, especially while travelling, here are a few suggestions to stay focused:
Define the Job First
Don't buy based on hype or price alone. Identify the exact use case. Is it for portrait work? Low-light video? A compact travel rig? Buy for the job you actually do, not the job you imagine.
Follow the Rule of Three
Only buy if the gear will serve at least three specific situations you shoot regularly. If it can't meet that bar, it likely won't earn its spot in your bag.
Test Before You Travel
If you're considering a new tool, rent or borrow it first. Know how it feels and fits your style before it joins your permanent kit.
Plan for Versatility, Not Redundancy
Choose gear that can serve more than one purpose. A lens that works for street, landscape, and portrait photography is gold. A camera body that shoots solid stills and good video is even better.
Commit to Rotation
If you bring something new in, consider removing something else. If nothing can be retired, you may not need the new addition.
Travel is one of the best times to reflect on your process, not clutter it. The point isn't to deprive yourself, but to be intentional. You want tools that enhance your creativity and reduce friction, not ones that add weight to your back and decision fatigue to your brain.
So next time you're tempted by that shiny, discounted 85mm in the Osaka camera district… pause. Ask the real questions. Maybe walk away, maybe don't. But make sure the why is stronger than the deal.
Because in the end, it's not about how much gear you own—it's how much it helps you create.
