Traveling is one of the joys of life, as it helps us get a broader view of the world by seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing a different culture. However, not all travel experiences are the same, especially if you’re just starting out and on a budget.
But to get the most out of your travels, consider investing in these ten gadgets and accessories on your next trip.
1. Portable Power Bank
A portable power bank is necessary when traveling since it’s your emergency outlet if your cell phone or other electronics’ battery drains. There’s nothing scarier than being lost in some unfamiliar place with your dead phone and unable to speak the language.
Just a point to remember: Make sure your power bank’s capacity is within the allowable ratings of the airlines if you’re traveling by plane. For instance, you can carry a maximum of 100Wh (watt-hour) on Cebu Pacific or about 20,000mAh to 27,000mAh.
2. Portable Mini Fan
We live in the Philippines, of course, it’s always hot (sometimes, even if it’s raining). Because of this, having a rechargeable portable mini fan inside your bag is a necessity to keep you cool and comfy during hot times, especially during commutes.
While most affordable handheld mini fans don’t have high-speed options to cool you down, there are more robust fans, which will cost a little bit more than those you can buy cheaply online.
3. Mini Travel Steam Iron
There are times when you’ll need to have ironed clothes, especially if you’re traveling for work or special occasions. If that’s the case, a mini travel steam iron will solve your problems, and you will have straightened clothes in no time. But if you have more space in your luggage, you may also choose a handheld steam iron.
4. Universal Travel Adapter with USB Ports
If you’re traveling abroad, you may encounter countries with different types of electric outlets than we commonly have in the country, like Australia and South Korea. So, by bringing your own universal travel adapter, you wouldn’t have to worry about your gadgets’ chargers not fitting the wall sockets of your Airbnb.
The additional USB ports, on the other hand, will be useful for plugging your other devices or chargers into one convenient adapter at the same time.
5. Digital Luggage Scale
How many times have you feared going over the maximum seven-kilogram allowable baggage weight and paying overweight fees when traveling with budget airlines like Cebu Pacific and AirAsia?
Fear no more for the digital luggage scale, which is your portable solution to make sure that you’re always within allowed limits. It is a simple weighing scale that you will strap on your bag or luggage and let gravity do its thing.
Just make sure you buy a good brand, as you wouldn’t want your measurements to show incorrectly due to a lack of calibration.
6. Kindle or any E-Book Reader
It’s hard to be a bookworm and a travel junkie at the same time because you’ll always need to allocate your baggage allowance to one or more books you’ll bring in your travel. So, by having a Kindle or other e-book reader at your fingertips, you’re bringing a whole library inside your bag.
Kindle Paperwhite 10th Gen and above are also waterproof, so you wouldn’t have to worry about getting them wet if you’re reading by the poolside or on a beach chair.
7. Waterproof Action Camera
If you love going to the beach, canyoneering, hiking, and other outdoor activities, then you should have an action cam inside your dry bag. These cameras are more rugged and compact than your mobile phone, making them a better option for capturing precious moments.
It’s also designed to get wet, submerged, or even dropped, so you don’t have to worry too much about using them outdoors or underwater. It’s also a great gadget if you’re a motorcycle or bicycle long-distance traveler, as you can buy a mounting setup to attach it to your helmet.
8. Travel Cable/Equipment Organizer
Imagine your cellphone charger, action cam charger, ebook charger, laptop charger, and other wires all tangled up inside your bag. It’s a total mess, right? So, if you have a cable organizer, you can easily tidy up and organize all your wires and chargers in a convenient package. It’s also the cheapest item on this list, but it will definitely help you stay orderly.
9. Noise-Canceling Headphones
There will be times during your travels when you just want to sit back, relax, and watch a YouTube or Netflix show or listen to music during transit. During those times, you wouldn’t want to disturb others by blasting your phone’s sound towards them. As a polite gesture, you should always wear an earphone.
However, if you’re on the receiving end of the noise, like a crying baby or gossiping seatmates, you may want to have noise-canceling headphones or earphones instead. Just to be sure.
10. Portable Vacuum Compressor
After all the fun and excitement of the travel, it’s time to go home. However, the common problem is that the once carefully folded and arranged luggage on your way to the airport is now a mess of dirty clothes, souvenirs, and other stuff. This is where a portable vacuum compressor can be useful.
This device is used to suck out all the air from a container or bag (which usually comes along with it), making the items inside the container less bulky and easier to fit back into your bag. This is also a useful tool when packaging smelly pasalubongs.
Our gadgets are now an important part of our travels because it helps us enjoy the experience more. They also can make your travels more convenient, making the additional expenses worth it.
What is the most important gadget or accessories you couldn’t live without? Please share them in the comments below.