Travel Gear: three essential pieces of kit

Vibram Furoshiki Wrappable Shoe

Vitale Bramani's work is underfoot on trails worldwide. He invented the Vibram sole with the yellow logo now on the soles of footwear from Merrell, Meindl and The North Face among others. Recently, Vibram has been a barefoot pioneer with its distinctively minimal Fivefingers shoes. Now its new Furoshiki wrappable shoe is another minimalist innovation. It's the ultimate in deconstruction, with just a sole and flaps of stretchy fabric out each side which you fold around your foot. You can literally pack them envelope flat and then wrap on a pair. €99 from eu.vibram.com

Between the bendy-armed Gorillapod and the myriad suction pads available for adventure cameras, you might have thought the tripod's day is numbered in this growing market. However the Pakpod is a new three-legged take developed by an underwater cameraman who wanted a way to anchor his camera to the sea bed. Pakpod has blade-like stakes at the end of each leg which can jam in soil, snow or sand, or clip to ropes or other edges. It's waterproof, freeze-proof and lightweight. And there are tools hidden away in its body for tweaks. $99 from pakpod.com

Professionals, from emergency services to film crews, with a vital, vested interest in keeping their gear safe have used Pelican cases when travelling. Now it's introduced an Elite range for the paranoid regular punter, which are just as watertight and crushproof. Moreover with integrated TSA locks and recessed latches, their own toiletry bag and shoe sack, there's a full luggage system here. Of course, there would need to be, given the eye-watering price. Still they do come with a lifetime guarantee. $495 from amazon.com @tomtomkelly