Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals on our favorite essential items (2020 Edition)

Last updated on Monday Nov 30, 2020 with Cyber Monday deals.

This post is out of date for our latest deals,
please check out our 2021 Edition here!

As aspiring minimalists, we don’t extensively buy stuff and rather focus on experiences. However, we are savers that can’t pass on a good deal especially for an essential item we needed to buy anyway. This makes Black Friday sales the perfect time to make these thoughtful purchases as they are usually heavily discounted. The key here obviously is “essential item”.

Since everyone will likely be looking at deals online (especially in 2020 – a big year for online deliveries), we decided to put together a list of our favorite slow travel essentials items that we have found discounted as part of the 2020 Black Friday season.

Wait! Why would I buy essential travel items in 2020?

Good questions, especially since 2020 have been a pretty tough year on so many fronts. Here are at least 2 reasons why you should consider the items we put together on this post for you:

1. We carefully selected items we own ourselves that would still be relevant while staying home. Ultimately as we become full-time travelers, our day to day needs haven’t been that much more different than the one we used to ave back in sunny California.
2. A great deal is still a great deal! And this holiday season might be the best time to equip ourselves with 2021, especially as we hope that next year will look much more normal than 2020 and provide the light we have been looking to see at the end of the long 2020 tunnel.

Some links to the products mentioned below are affiliate links, meaning that if you click and make a purchase, Nomad Numbers (we) may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please review our disclaimer page.

Our pro-tips to get the most out of these deals:

• Due to the timely nature of Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals, please always double-check the price of these items before purchasing them to confirm that you can still benefit from a great offer!
• As we discover new deals we will update this post, so feel free to come back to this post.
• If you found other deals, please leave us a comment below so we can share them with our readers.

Women’s carry on packing list

Here is Mrs. NN’s selection of items from our Women’s carry-on packing list for long-term travel post that are currently discounted during Black Friday.

Top 5 Deals

• [Tech] Amazon Kindle – A must have to read books without having to carry a bunch of books. When I first moved overseas to work in 2010, my physical books were the first things to go and I’ve been completely digital since then. Yes, I do miss aspects of physical books but for a full-time traveler, using a Kindle is just so much more practical. I could use the iPad to double up as a reading device but I don’t like staring at a lit screen for more than I have to. A Kindle does a decent job of imitating the experience of reading paper.
• [Packs & Bags] Nomad Lane Bento Bag (30% off) – I used to carry a second smaller backpack as my personal bag that I keep at my seat but I found it awkward to carry two backpacks. Also, the second backpack wasn’t very well organized because it was built for hiking but not for travel. That’s why I decided on this travel-specific bag, you can carry in your hand via the handles or use the cross shoulder straps. The best thing about it is all of the pockets, compartments, and cases for all of your organizational dreams come true. The only criticism I have about the bag is that it is built more for the business traveler in mind so the material is on the heavier side and when it’s full, it gets bulky.
• [Underwear] Thinx Period underwear – (Use this referral link for $10 off). I love these! They work really well as pad replacements, are comfortable, eco-friendly, and look good. They are comfortable enough to wear on days I’m not on my period too. It saves the hassle of having to purchase and carry pads/tampons while traveling and are well worth it!
• [Zero Waste] Premium Reusable Mesh Produce Bags with Tare Weight Tags – We do a lot of grocery shopping and we aim to use zero plastic bags. These have been super handy for fruits and vegetables.
• [Zero Shoes] Xeroshoes TerraFlex Trail Running and Hiking Shoe – I wanted hiking shoes that were not bulky and heavy and that did not scream ‘hiking’ or ‘tourist’ so that I could wear them for urban walking too. This is one of the items I spent the most time researching the internet because it was going to be a big space commitment and it was not easy to find. Most hiking shoes are really bulky, stiff, and not comfortable for casual walking. I’m so glad I discovered Xeroshoes! They are meant for barefoot enthusiasts so they are minimalistic, very light, and bendable. The black color is also discreet so I could wear it casually for walking around town. You might notice that Mr. NN has the exact same pair for men, we look like quite the interesting couple walking around with the same shoes!

Other deals

• [Zero Waste] Silicone Food Storage Containers with BPA Free Airtight Plastic Lids This kit comes with 4 collapsible containers of different sizes. They are a great way to reduce our footprint when we need to pack our food on the go. They can double as a great storage container too. We took the two biggest ones and each of us carries one
• [T-Shirts/Tops] Prana zip-up swimming sun shirt – I used to pack an athletic-looking rash guard because I like to go swimming or snorkeling in one for sun protection. But I didn’t wear it that often and I don’t like packing items that get minimal use. This rash guard is perfect because I can use it as a cardigan for daily wear so it is multi-purpose!
• [Hiking] Outdoor Research athletic T-shirt – This is a great hiking or workout shirt because it’s so light and airy. When I work up a sweat, it doesn’t get sticky and uncomfortable as a cotton t-shirt would. It’s also nice enough to wear on a normal day.
• [Swimwear] Prana bikini top – I find I’m fine with just one top because I can let it dry overnight and wear the next day + Prana bikini bottoms – I happened to pack 2 bottoms and I can mix and match with the top, they are different colors and only a slightly different design.
• [Outerwear] Marmot Precip Rain jacket – Light jacket for those rainy days. I used to own the higher-end version with Gore-tex that I lost but I’m happy with this version because it’s lighter and good for hot weather. I also like the blue color.
• [Underwear] ExOfficio Quick-dry underwear – I had purchased these for a trek that I did in Nepal. They are sweat-resistant and are great for hot weather and dry quickly if you need to do laundry quickly.
• [Toiletries] Mineral sunscreen SPF 20 – I make sure to get a mineral-based sunscreen because unfortunately a lot of sunscreens have toxic ingredients.
• [Self Care] Tongue scraper – an ayurvedic morning practice to get rid of bad bacteria 
• [Zero Waste] Simple Modern Wave Water Bottle – 17oz – This water bottle is insulated so it can keep water hot (for 10 hours!) or cold (for 24 hours). I use the 17 oz capacity but you can get up to 34 oz if needed.

Men’s carry on packing list

Here is Mr. NN’s selection of items from our Men’s carry-on packing list for long-term travel article that are currently discounted during Black Friday.

Top 5 Deals

• [Tech] Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling [x1] – I use these headphones when working, on a plane or on any long commute. The noise canceling technology that Bose developed is pretty impressive and remains best-in-class
• [Underwear] MeUndies Boxer Briefs – I discovered them back in 2014 and they have been since the most comfortable and colorful underwear I’ve ever owned. They feel amazing, look great and they are uber comfortable. Use our referral link to get a 20% discount on your first order. If you don’t love your first pair of MeUndies, they’ll hook you up with a new pair or a refund!
• [Tech] SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD – USB-C, USB 3.1 – I use this to supplement the storage of my laptop for any movie/photo editing I’m doing which requires pretty fast write/read speeds. I also like how small and rugged this SSD is. It comes with an adapter if I need to plug it in a standard USB-A port.
• [Compression/Organization] Eagle Creek Travel Gear Luggage Pack-it Specter Tube Cube, White/Strobe – These weigh next to nothing and do a good job at minor compression and bag organization. I use this long one for socks and underwear.
• [Compression/Organization] Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cube Set, White/Strobe, 2 Pack – These weigh next to nothing and do a good job at minor compression and bag organization. I use these two for pretty much every other piece of clothing.

Other Deals

• [Sunglasses] GAMMA RAY Polarized UV400 Sunglasses with Mirror Lens – These polarized sunglasses are 100 percent UV protected, they look good, are comfortable, and are really inexpensive. I do actually carry two of them in case I break/lose one.
• [Hiking] NIKE Authentic Dri-FIT Low Profile Cap – This was gifted to me before we took off on our nomadic trip and I love it. It’s very simple, yet. It is made of 100% Dri-FIT & moisture-wicking polyester, which means it will keep the sweat away and remain dry all day!
• [Warm gear] Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket for Men – This is my minimalist rainproof jacket. It can be stuffed into its own front pocket, so it can easily fit into my daypack when going for a hike or just going outside for a walk. It has an underarm vent that lets cool air in when necessary and an adjustable hood to make sure that water stays outside.
• [Workout] NIKE Men’s Dry Miler Running Top – I used these tops when going out for a run (or a warm hike). The breathable mesh panels and quick-drying fabric help keep me cool. They also dry really quickly.
• [Workout] Arena Tracks Swim Goggles – As an avid swimmer, these are minimalistic but keep my eyes protected and dry when I want to do some laps in the pool or the ocean.
• [Photography] Canon EOS Rebel SL2 DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm STM Lens – I downgraded from my Canon 7D Mark II to the SL2 to save space and weight. With the impressive progress in camera quality that we have in our smartphones, I might ditch this completely in the future.
• [Tech] Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS, 40mm) – Space Gray Aluminium Case – The Apple Watch is my health companion. It helps me stay active daily and also works as a great way to filter the notifications I care about from my phone. (Note: I own the Series 4)
• [Tech] SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSDXC UHS-I card – Essential to be able to record footage from my drone. I have two as it is always good to have backups!

Year round offers

Since we started our nomadic journey, we’ve been recommending a few great services that have made our journey possible. They come with great referral offers and are still great products/services we highly recommend and still use as we are writing this.

• Airbnb – The best platform to find long term stay on the Internet, period. By using this referral link to get up to $67 off your first booking (read our ultimate guide to Airbnb here)

While long-distance travel during the pandemic isn’t an option, Airbnb stills remains a great place to plan a staycation (or even book an Airbnb experience in a small group) to discover or experience something new. Use the form below to do a quick search about what stay or experience is available near you.

• Bluehost –  I’ve been using Bluehost to host and manage this blog since day 0 and I couldn’t be happier. By using this referral link you save up to 60% on your order (read our full review of Bluehost & step by step guide to start your blog here).
• Google FI – The best phone service if you are often on the road. By using this referral link you get $20 credit towards the service (read our full review of Google FI here).
• Traveling Mailbox – The best virtual mailbox service when you are on the road, so you don’t (read our full review of Traveling Mailbox here).

And also…

• Books – Books are a necessary part of life! They expose us to new ideas/methods, they help us improve ourselves as well as our understanding of the world and how to best adapt to it (review the books that changed the trajectory of our lives here).
• Credit Cards Rewards – We’ve been flying around the world for (almost) free using these credit cards and while international travel is currently on pause, most cards will let you rewards these juicy sign-up bonuses towards local purchases instead. (read our ultimate guide to travel rewards here | check out our best credit cards here).