Tech Gadgets to Take On Your Next Vacation

Vacations are a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Ideally, you’d want to stay away from social media and the like. But taking the right gadgets with you can really add value and make your vacation more enjoyable.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most useful gadgets you should pack for your vacation. These will surely facilitate your travels and make the experience that much more convenient.

Essential Gadgets to Pack on Your Next Vacation

#1. Noise-canceling headphones

Let’s face it, aircraft are noisy and make relaxation difficult. And that is why you should always carry a pair of noise-canceling headphones when you’re traveling. Noise-canceling is the important feature here as it eliminates annoying background noise.

There are a lot of noise-canceling headphones out there but they don’t all work the same. Always go for the high-quality ones. These will be more expensive but they’ll also isolate your ears better.

Bose AE2i noise-canceling headphones are fantastic. They aren’t cheap at nearly $180, but it’s an investment that will serve you well.

#2. Waterproof phone case

Your smartphone is one of the most important gadgets that you carry. They’re great devices to have on a vacation too, helping you stay in touch and providing time-saving navigation. When the weather takes a turn for the worst, your smartphone becomes especially vulnerable to damage. That is why it’s important to have a waterproof phone case for protection.

Almost every popular smartphone will have third-party waterproof cases for it. These aren’t very expensive and the convenience they offer is well worth the cost.

#3. Backup important travel documents

Important documents like your identity card and passport should always be carried with great care. But regardless of that, it’s always a good practice to have digital backups in case an accident happens. Consider backing up copies of these documents onto a cloud storage service. Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud are all easy to use, and reliable services. They’re free and you can count on them to work anywhere in the world. Backing up to multiple services is also a good idea if there are any website restrictions (Tech Gadgets to Take On Your Next Vacation blocks access to Google).

One thing to note here is that you need to be wary of digital security as well. If you’re accessing these documents on a public internet network, there’s always the risk of digital theft. If you’re using public WiFi to access these documents, consider using a VPN service to make Public WiFi access a lot more secure. Alternatively share your documents with a friend or family member so they can help if needed.

#4. Power bank

We’ve all felt that pang of dread when the smartphone has only a few minutes of charge. The thing is that this doesn’t need to be the case. The market is littered with portable power banks that will charge your phone several times before they need a recharge. These are generally quite affordable and do the job as advertised. The charging capacity of these power banks is something you should look out for. Smaller power banks are super-portable because of the smaller battery they carry. During travel, you’ll want something that can change your smartphone several times before running out.

What’s little known about these power banks is that some units can even charge your laptop! One of the best products in this category is the OmniCharge Omni 20 power bank. It’s small enough to fit in your hand but packs a serious punch. It has a 20,400mAh capacity but what’s unique about it is that it can output 120/230V (depending on which one you buy). This high voltage rating gives it the ability to charge laptops. This is definitely a gadget worth investing in if you’ll be traveling for long periods at a time.

#5. Wireless Travel Router

Unless you’re traveling with an international SIM card, one of the first things do is disable international data services to avoid hefty carrier fees. But this means you’ll be offline, usually when you’re bored or urgently need to check email or messenger.

A cheap alternative is purchasing a wireless travel router. For under a hundred bucks, you can have a matchbox-sized device which uses local SIM cards. Most countries have ‘Pay as You Go’ SIM cards which include 1GB of data for under $20. Stream your favorite content abroad the affordable way.

Go Pro

#6. Sports / Action camera

The action camera has become a huge hit with people who have active lifestyles. If you’re going on vacation to enjoy natural scenery, you have to have an action camera. The latest iPhone might have a stellar camera but it’s still no match for a GoPro when it comes to something very important: field-of-view. A camera with a wide field-of-view will capture more of the scenery in the same shot, and this is where action cameras like the GoPro excel.