camera
I only recommend upgrading if you think you need the features. You'll get much better photos with PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE than any camera equipment. Furthermore, the value in buying better lenses is much better than getting a new camera body. I have upgraded to this body from a Canon T3. I needed the articulating touch screen so it was worth it for me.
I have considered going full-frame but I don't think I'm ready for that jump yet. I'm looking forward to getting a Canon 80D as my next camera.
If you don't have a camera however, I do recommend getting the most recent one, the Canon T7i
lenses
This is my daily driver; my walk-around lens. Despite this lens being an upgraded kit lens, it's my favourite lens and I shoot most things with it.
My nature lens. I don't use it as much as I thought I would initially. But I have taken a few wildlife shots that I'm happy with.
Another favourite. I've taken loads of long exposure shots and landscapes with this lens.
I bought this specifically for travel. Sometimes I leave the 18-135mm (it's quite heavy) and carry this, the 50mm, and the 10-18mm with me during travel. It's very sharp and very light.
I bought this lens for portrait photography. I find that I get great images of flowers and food. It's not image stabilized, however, so it's difficult to get good portraits in low light without a tripod. This lens will be key when I experiment with flash photography in the near future.
filters
Many photographers use filter plates so that their filters can be used with a variety of lens types. I used to do this, however, I found myself gravitating to the same lenses when I wanted to shoot a long exposure shot. This kit is very easy to travel with due to how it stores within itself. The quality of the filters is very high and I've taken some photos that I've been pleased with.
tripod
Manfrotto BeFree Compact Lightweight Tripod for Travel
I had two tripods prior to buying this but here's why I bought this one:
1) My SLIK tripod is industrial grade and although very sturdy, too heavy and bulky to travel with
2) My Sony VCTR100 tripod is very short (39"), very light, but also very unstable and cheap
I was looking for a high quality travel tripod that can support a DSLR with a telephoto lens attached. I wanted it to be lightweight and be quick to set up and take down. This Manfrotto delivers on all those fronts. The Aluminium alloy construction is very durable and you can feel that this thing is made to last. The head is quick release and tilts/rotates.
It's not as light as the Sony, but much higher quality and full sized. On a couple of trips, it was a pleasure to use. The price is steep but I was able to pick one up on sale making it worth it for me. I highly recommend for travellers.
bag insert
This insert is well priced and does the job. It fits nicely into my backpack sleeping bag compartment. I recommend getting a non-black colour as it's a bit difficult to see inside the black one in low light conditions.
charger
I really like this charger for my Canon T5i. The main reason is micro-USB charging. Almost all my travel devices use micro-USB so this enables me to save weight by eliminating extra cables and chargers from my kit. The charging speed is decent, maybe a bit slower than the original Canon accessory. It's also thinner and lighter than the original Canon accessory.
Go PRO
I personally use a GoPro Hero4 but there is no use buying old technology. I use it exclusively for adventure photography and underwater images. It's taken some nice shots but I don't prefer using it as much as my DSLR. If I was to buy now I'd definitely get a Hero5 over the Hero4 for it's inbuilt waterproofing.
GO PRO FILTERS
I use these while diving or shooting in bright light. It makes my underwater pictures much more colour corrected. There are knock-off brands that make these but this is what I personally use.
GO PRO STICK
CamKix Premium Telescopic Pole
I have tried a number of sticks for underwater use. Unfortunately most of them rust away after a few salt-water dives. This stick extends to 4ft and has not failed after more than 35 dives.
Memory card
I keep a few of these in my bag. It's important to have fast cards to store video and to keep it future proof. Although I haven't personally used 4K much, it's coming around the corner and it's best to be ready. I prefer buying MicroSD as it can be used interchangeably between my DSLR and GO PRO.