Exclusive | I’ve been to every country in the world — here are the 5 things I never leave home without

Nypost · Apr 21, 2026 · 586 words · By Reda Wigle

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What to know about Exclusive

I’ve been to every country in the world — here are the 5 things I never leave home without Even if you consider yourself an avid traveler, odds are Barry Hoffner has you beat, as he’s one of the few people who have visited all but one country on Earth.

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

An investment banker-turned-farmer and philanthropist, Hoffner was inspired to visit every corner of our beautiful, broken world after the sudden loss of his wife, Jackie, in 2017.

Common ground

“Travel couldn’t be an escape for me but rather the path to reclaiming the belief that even after loss, my life and the world still held wonder, he wrote in “Belonging to the World,” the book that chronicles his global journeys through grief and other…

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Exclusive?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Barry Hoffner has visited all but one country on Earth?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/lifestyle/traveler-who-has-visited-192-countries-r…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 3

info Single Source 3

verified Verified 2

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Claim 1: “Barry Hoffner has visited all but one country on Earth.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm Barry Hoffner has visited 192 of 193 countries, meaning he has visited all but one.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — An investment banker-turned-farmer and philanthropist, Barry Hoffner has visited 192 of the world's 193 countries, including every single 'banned' country.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/04/lifestyle/ive-been-to-every-ba…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Barry is the founder of Caravan to Class, a nonprofit advancing girls’ education in West Africa through the Bourse Jackie program, named in his wife’s honor. His book, Belonging to the World (Girl Fri…
https://www.mariashriversundaypaper.com/barry-hoffner-travel…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Barry Hoffner, from San Francisco in California, lost his wife Jackie to a tragic accident in 2017, leading him to attempt to visit every country in the world in her memory.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/news/dads-world-fell-apart-p…

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Claim 2: “An investment banker-turned-farmer and philanthropist, Hoffner was inspired to visit every corner of our beautiful, broken world after the sudden loss of his wife, Jackie, in 2017.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm he was an investment banker, a philanthropist, and that his wife Jackie died in 2017.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Investment banker turned danger tourist Barry Hoffner has made it a goal to visit every country in the world. And he's only one short of the accomplishment.His wife, Jackie, also joined him on his tra…
https://www.wideopenspaces.com/investment-banker-sets-out-to…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In 2017, Hoffner’s life was upended when his wife Jackie died suddenly while travelling in Africa, leaving him heartbroken and drifting in the face of unimaginable loss.
https://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2026/02/review-belongin…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Barry Hoffner’s journey: from Timbuktu traveler to education changemaker.When his wife Jackie died in a tragic accident in Botswana in 2017, it was this grief that ignited a new purpose.
https://www.traveldailynews.asia/column/interviews/barry-hof…

verified

Claim 3: “They’re made from merino wool”

VERIFIED

Multiple sources from the brand itself and reviews confirm that Unbound Merino T-shirts are made from merino wool.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Browse Unbound Merino's selection of men's Merino wool t-shirts. Merino wool shirts for men are a great base layer & a travel must-have. Shop the collection.
https://unboundmerino.com/collections/shirts

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Unbound Merino Wool T-Shirts are super soft, comfortable, and can go a while without a wash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsGnCq4s0-A

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Unbound Merino crew-neck t-shirt is made of ultrafine Merino wool (17.5 microns) with a fabric weight of 190 gsm.Unbound Merino’s crew-neck shirt is a great all-rounder. I wear my three t-shirts o…
https://www.minimalistjourneys.com/unbound-merino-mens-tshir…

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Claim 4: “Hoffner’s worldwide wanderings have taken him to 192 out of 193 countries”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results explicitly state he has visited 192 out of 193 countries.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Having visited all but one country on earth, Barry Hoffner is well versed in the fine art of packing.Hoffner’s worldwide wanderings have taken him to 192 out of 193 countries (with plans to cross Nort…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/lifestyle/traveler-who-has-vis…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The traveler has been to 192 out of 193 countries. He plans to eventually cross North Korea off his list. Traveling so much, he told the outlet that he packs light and carries just one carry-on.
https://www.wideopenspaces.com/traveler-who-has-been-to-almo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — After Mr. Hoffner lost his wife and travel partner, Jackie, his grief took him on a mission to visit all 193 countries on Earth. His journeys led to transforming his pain by experiencing a connection …
https://www.confettitravelcafe.com/travel-stories-life-lesso…

info

Claim 5: “some, including Southwest, have cracked down on the battery-saving devices, limiting one per flyer and requiring that the device either be on their person or in a bag under the seat due to concerns about midair fire risks.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided search results for Southwest Airlines are generic homepages and help centers; none of the provided evidence mentions specific restrictions on battery-saving devices or portable chargers.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find low fares to top destinations and plan your travel today. Book Southwest flights, rental cars, and hotels on southwest.com.
https://www.southwest.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find the best Southwest Airlines flight deals and book cheap flights with flexible travel options and no change fees.
https://www.southwest.com/air/booking/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find answers to all of your travel and flight-related questions and view common FAQ articles regarding your travel experience when you fly with Southwest Airlines.
https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/

info

Claim 6: “Hoffner opts for an Osprey backpack over a roller bag.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one specific source mentions that Hoffner opts for an Osprey backpack over a roller bag. Other sources discuss Osprey generally but not in relation to Hoffner.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Unsurprisingly, Hoffner opts for an Osprey backpack over a roller bag. “I just feel better with that because there are a lot of places I travel where the roller just doesn’t work,” he shared. Merino w…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/21/lifestyle/traveler-who-has-vis…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find the best-fitting, finest-quality, eco-friendly backpacks and gear for hiking, biking, commuting and travel over mountain, trail and road, only from Osprey.
https://www.osprey.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Osprey offers backpacks for travel, hiking, day trips, and everything. Whether you want a smaller backpack that can be used for any travel or one that can hold all your hiking gear, Osprey definitely …
https://www.pilotplans.com/blog/osprey-backpack-review

verified

Claim 7: “he wrote in “Belonging to the World,” the book that chronicles his global journeys through grief and other transformative terrain.”

VERIFIED

One source explicitly mentions the book 'Belonging to the World' will be released in early 2026, and another source provides a review of the book, confirming its existence and authorship.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed, an aspiring and talented but struggling actress from Joplin, Missouri. She meets Barry when he joins her acting class and becomes romantically involved with him, culminat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_(TV_series)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — It follows a depressed hitman named Barry (Bill Hader) who's looking for a way out of the business. He travels to L. A. to kill actor but falls in love with the city.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5348176

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Find out how and where to watch "Barry" online on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ today – including 4K and free options.
https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/barry

info

Claim 8: “Hoffner packs odor-resistant, temperature-regulating, fast-drying, anti-wrinkle T-shirts from the brand Unbound Merino.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim that Hoffner specifically packs Unbound Merino T-shirts is mentioned in one source (the same one as the backpack claim). Other sources describe the brand's products but do not link them to Hoffner.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Unbound Merino Difference: The Best Travel Clothing for Women. There’s a reason merino has become the go-to fabric for modern travelers and those who value quality over quantity. Unlike convention…
https://unboundmerino.com/collections/womens-merino-wool-clo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Unbound Merino Wool Crew Neck T-Shirt. Steven wearing Unbound Merino Merino Polo.Related: The 16 Best Merino Wool Brands Your Money Can Buy. Ethically Sourced. They work with independent wool farms in…
https://durabilitymatters.com/unbound-merino-review/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Unbound Merino's Philosophy: Style without the push of Fashion. Unbound Merino is the first clothing brand I've reviewed on this blog.Review: Women’s Unbound Merino T-Shirts. I ordered Unbound Merino’…
https://www.tiltedmap.com/unbound-merino-review/

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.