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Shopping

Curated travel gear and our own Emporium favorites

Over four years of full-time travel has taught us one thing: not all products are created equal. We’ve had backpacks break mid-journey, adapters spark out, and travel pillows that barely lasted a flight. But we’ve also found products that stick with us; reliable, durable, and often with stories behind them. This page brings together the items we personally use and the designs we’ve created in our own Travel & Lifestyle Emporium.

Where We Shop

Our go-to places for gear that works

We don’t believe in long shopping lists filled with random links. These are the two places we return to over and over — our own Emporium, built from our designs and creativity, and Amazon, where we source practical gear that’s tested and road-ready.

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Travel & Lifestyle Emporium

Products designed with adventure in mind

  • Inspired designs like Mexican Tile Style 

  • Suitcases, backpacks, and cases built for travel

  • Personal creations we use ourselves

  • A collection that grows with our journey

Browse the Emporium

Get $10 CAD off of your first order with code: TRAVELRESOURCES

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Amazon

Trusted for the basics that keep us moving

  • Reliable delivery almost anywhere

  • Huge range of travel essentials

  • Budget to premium options side by side

  • Where we find practical solutions fast

Shop on Amazon

Our Recommended Products for Digital Nomads

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Helpful Reads From Our Blog

Stories behind the stuff we carry

Some products are just products. But others shape how we travel, how we pack, and even how we create. These blog posts dig deeper into our relationship with the gear we use.

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Full-Time Travel With Print on Demand

See how we use Printify to create and sell products while traveling — an accessible way to earn online without holding stock or handling logistics.

Find Out More
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How to Monetize a Travel Blog

Discover step-by-step ways we turned Closer Lives into income, from affiliate links to partnerships that support our full-time travel lifestyle.

Find Out More
A person holds an envelope labeled "Etsy WE QUIT," with "Etsy" crossed out in red. Below is a document, pen, notebook, and the "Chosen Lives" logo.

Why We Decided to Quit Etsy

After years on Etsy, we’ve made the decision to close. We explain what led to the shift, and what it means for our business going forward.

Find Out More

Explore More Travel Resources

Four categories, all built from tools we trust

Travel Essentials

From eSIMs to insurance, our must-have tools for life on the road.

Explore Travel Essentials

Earn Online While Traveling

How we teach, create, and monetize content while living your dream.

Monetize Your Travels

Banking & Money-Saving Tools

Cut fees, stay secure, and manage money abroad with confidence.

Discover Banking Tools

Resource Hub

Your starting point for everything: top picks, categories, helpful reads & more.

Get Your Essentials
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Stay Connected

Behind the gear and the journey

Our fortnightly newsletter shares fresh blogs, gear updates, and personal stories from life on the road. It’s a mix of travel tips, resources, and the things that keep us going.

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Work With Us

Let’s share products travelers actually use

We’re always open to collaborating with brands that align with real travel. If you make gear, lifestyle products, or designs that could help fellow nomads, we’d love to talk.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.

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We only recommend resources we’ve personally used or genuinely believe will add value to your travels. These partnerships help us keep Closer Lives running, so thank you for supporting our journey.

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ℹ️ Read our Affiliate Disclosure

Jenn & Leon at Closer Lives

Closer Lives was created to bring people, places, and stories closer together. Through travel, culture, history, poetry, and personal experience, we share the moments that shape how we see the world, and ourselves.


If you enjoy thoughtful travel guides, real experiences, and creative storytelling, you’re in the right place. You can also explore our Travel & Lifestyle Emporium, featuring inspirational travel pieces designed by us and shipped worldwide.

We explore more than maps. We journey through mindsets.

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