We love to travel, and we’re always on the lookout for new gear that makes the jaunt easier. And with the holidays right around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite travel gadgets to bring along on a trip. Whether you’re holiday shopping for a frequent traveler, a tech geek or a combination of the two, here are ten solid gift ideas.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones (Over Ear)
Noise-cancelling headphones are a no-brainer for a long flight (or any flight with crying babies, really), and the Sony WH-1000XM2 are still our top pick thanks to its 30 hours of battery life and touchpad control feature.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones (Earbuds)
If you find over-ear headphones uncomfortable, the Bose QuietControl 30 are a solid in-ear option. The battery life is shorter at 10 hours, but the sound quality is just as good.
DJI Spark Drone
If you’re a novice drone videographer or photographer, the DJI Spark Drone is the model to start with. It’s small and easily portable, so bring it along on your trip to get a bird’s-eye view of the scenery. (Just be sure to note any drone policies before flying — many hotels have banned them.) Once you’ve mastered this model, upgrade to the DJI Mavic 2 Pro.
DJI OSMO
If you’ve ever returned home from a trip and watching your travel videos gave you motion sickness, meet your new BFF. The DJI OSMO is a stabilizer that uses the same camera and gimbal from the company’s drone, but adapts them into a small handheld unit that shoots 4K video and 12 megapixel stills. The gimbal technology steadies your shot, even while you’re on the move. If you only need the stabilizer and not the camera, this DJI OSMO Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal will do the trick.
GoPro Hero7
GoPro’s latest model, Hero7, has introduced a video stabilization capability to correct camera shake without the need of a gimbal. It’s also waterproof without a housing to 33 feet.
Portable Espresso Machine
Have a traveling coffee snob on your list? The gift of portable espresso is one that keeps on giving. The Wacaco Minipresso GR is lightweight and compact, making it easy to have a quality espresso shot on the go — even without electricity.
Portable Speaker
Waterproof, sand-proof and a battery life of up 16 hours, to the Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket 3 is our portable speaker pick. Bring it on your next beach getaway to go from listening to tunes in your hotel room to dancing on the sand. Bonus: It doubles as a smartphone charger.
Wireless Travel Router
The RAVPower FileHub, AC750 Wireless Travel Router is versatile: plug it into your hotel’s Ethernet cable and you can create wireless internet access, or connect to the Wi-Fi and it will broadcast a new wireless signal (helpful to bypass any limit to device connections per room). It’s also a portable media server and battery pack.
TSA Compliant Travel Bag
While this bag doesn’t necessarily fall under the tech category, the Nomatic 40L Travel Bag was designed for the traveler with a lot of gadgets. It’s TSA compliant, so there’s a laptop pocket that lies flat, plus a shoe compartment, cord organizer and tablet pocket. There’s even a laundry bag and waist straps with spots to stow a passport or phone.
Travel Adapter
This JOOMFEEN Travel Adapter eliminates the need to pack multiple travel adapters or USB ports. It will work in more than 150 countries and can charge three devices at one time.
