Snarky Nomad

A thorough Babbel review after finishing all of Russian

April 10, 2015April 10, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

So I’ve been on a bit of a language kick lately, having finally finished the French lessons on Duolingo (check out a review here), and following it up with a …

Adventures / Blog / Places

19 great things to do in Antigua Guatemala

March 17, 2015March 19, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

Antigua is something of a backpacker hotspot in Guatemala, and with its many leafy plazas, colonial churches, cobblestone streets, colorful markets, and very, very affordable living costs, it’s easy to …

Blog / Gear / Musings / Packing / Tech / Tips

10 reasons why you might like ebooks better than paper

March 7, 2015March 19, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

Well, I finally got one. I had been wanting a Kindle for all those ridiculous 18 hour bus rides that become oh-so-inevitable on any sort of extended trip, because I …

Blog / Languages / Musings / Tips

A thorough Duolingo review after finishing all of French

January 30, 2015August 28, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

(Quick update: Duolingo just added a huuuuge amount of grammatical explanation to every lesson, at least in French. This was one of my biggest complaints about the service, and it …

Gear / Packs

The Tom Bihn Aeronaut: Probably the best duffel bag for carry-on-only travel

January 11, 2015May 2, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

I have something of a bag obsession. I know all sorts of specs and fabric details for so many bags from so many random companies, and finding a bag that manages to …

Clothing / Gear / Packing / Tips

Why merino wool t-shirts are the best travel t-shirts

January 4, 2015July 14, 2016 - by SnarkyNomad

There’s an interesting pattern that emerges from perusing the packing lists of long-term (or frequent) backpackers; they end up using eerily identical sorts of gear. You’ll see surprisingly consistent suggestions, such as using …

Clothing / Gear / Packing / Tips

Soft shell jeans, the world’s greatest invention

December 23, 2014February 28, 2019 - by SnarkyNomad

Jeans. The world’s greatest stylistic achievement. Rugged. Comfortable. Dependable. Gloriously adaptable to the whims of fickle fashion nonsense, anywhere in the world. Soft shells. High-tech fabric that’s tough on the outside, …

Clothing / Gear / Packing / Tips

5 great merino wool dress shirts for staying comfy and wrinkle-free

December 7, 2014March 12, 2018 - by SnarkyNomad

I have a pathological distaste for cotton. It has been my lifelong textile arch-nemesis, and I am slowly, but surely, winning the battle of banning it from my existence. More or …

Blog / Funny / Musings / Rants

Why Black Friday will be the downfall of American civilization

November 29, 2014March 19, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

Much has been made of the bigger-is-better consumerism of American culture, with holiday cheer frequently overwhelmed by the associated commercialism of the moment: Christmas is merely a month-long shopping extravaganza, New …

Blog / Gear / Musings / Rants / Tech

Why I refuse to buy a Kindle, even though I totally want one

November 11, 2014March 19, 2015 - by SnarkyNomad

Amazon had a deal yesterday for a $79 refurbished Kindle Paperwhite. That’s $40 less than a brand new one, and convincing enough that it’s now backordered for 3 to 5 weeks. But …