Having read the list in detail, I agree with many of the choices, but the author doesn't give us any logic or reasoning behind the choices. It's like we are just reading their packing list.
This type of article would be much more impactful and helpful as a reference if they went into their decision process and reasoning behind every choice.
Lets just take the pen as an example, A original bic pen, why? Because its cheap and replaceable? Or is there some property of the ink that they love?
I travel with a brass screw cab pen... Why? Because when your one bag traveling, you probably pack pretty tight and don't want the pen to break getting ink on everything. My pen also has a friction clip so I can keep it in my daily carry satchel.
If I could find a cheaper screw cap pen, I'd totally use it, its just a fungible travel pen.
If the author went into this kind of detail for every item, I think we would have a very useful reference for travel advice. But as its, its just a shopping list with affiliate links. Clearly someone put thought into it, but the presentation is very lacking.