Take a Leisurely Journey With These Jet Customization Gadgets and Tools
Travel is a great gift, but if you can’t afford a $ 5,000 trip to Bora Bora, give it another great thing: gadgets! Present the traveler on your list with any of these fun gadgets and tools to make their next trip even more enjoyable.
Nomad Leather Wallet
Phone chargers don’t take up much space – that is, until you pack your carry-on luggage and need all the space you can get. The chargers are not very bulky, but they can be tricky to keep close at hand when traveling. Plus, they’re easy to lose.
The Nomad Leather Wallet ($ 120 for the slim model, $ 150 for the double folding) is actually a battery and iPhone charging cable built right into a beautiful leather wallet. It uses a thin 2400mAh Panasonic Li-Ion battery and an Apple MFi- certified Lightning cable to charge the phone. Our very own Patrick Allan tried it out and vouched for its effectiveness as a charger and wallet. Unfortunately, there is no Android version, but CHARG is a decent alternative and it charges pretty much everything as it uses a portable battery and a USB connection.
Of course, the downside is that you have to carry a USB-microUSB cable with you, but you can find a short one that doesn’t take up much space.
Cubes packing
Packing cubes help you organize your travel essentials so you can easily find things when you need them. The cubes store clothes, shoes, jewelry, and anything else that you stuff into your suitcase in neatly packed boxes . These boxes make packing a lot easier so you can optimize every square inch of space in your carry-on or suitcase. Plus, they’re pretty affordable. You can find a set of three for under $ 10 .
Good mobile hotspot
Accessing Wi-Fi isn’t always easy when you’re on the go. If you travel frequently, you can invest in a good 4G hotspot , and the Karma hotspot is a reader favorite, even at $ 149. It’s small (fits in your pocket), fast, and you can pay as you go. It comes with 1GB of data and after using it only costs $ 15 for the extra GB. It’s a great backup option if you’re traveling and need internet access (and don’t want to spend money on your phone’s data plan). If you don’t want to spend $ 150, FreedomPop Photon is a more affordable option at $ 79 (and you get 500MB of free data every month). If you know a digital nomad or someone who just works and travels frequently , this is the perfect gift.
Organizer Grid-It
Grid-It is another great gift for lovers of gadgets, devices and chargers. A net is basically a net of interwoven elastic bands that help secure things and hold them in place. If the recipient of the gift has a habit of losing things at the bottom of a bag or backpack, this is the perfect and simple solution. They come in a variety of colors and some have a neoprene sleeve. Best of all, they’re cheap: you can find a basic Grid-It for under $ 15.
Mobile battery
If the Nomad isn’t on your budget, or you often don’t carry your wallet, there’s another option: a mobile battery.
When you’re on the go and your phone, tablet, or other device dies, an external battery can save the day. It’s a one-stop gadget that can charge whatever you plug into it, so it’s convenient and versatile – perfect if you’re traveling light. The Anker Astro series is a reader favorite and it’s easy to see why: they’re affordable ( $ 15.99 for the base version ), compact and powerful (the E7 includes a 26,800mAh battery).
Portable laptop lock
If you’re shopping for a digital nomad or traveling businessman, gift them protection (like their laptop). This portable Kensington cable lock ($ 14.99) keeps any laptop or device secure with a simple yet powerful 4-wheel combination lock. You simply plug it into your laptop, attach it to something secure, and then lock it in place. It features a sturdy, self-rotating steel cable that can stretch up to 6 feet but compress to a comfortable 3 inches. No need to ask a stranger to look after your belongings while you wake up to use the toilet!
Cable shortener
Headphones or an unnecessarily long laptop charger can seriously damage your backpack. Frequent travelers usually live off their backpacks, so this can be a little frustrating. Applecore Cable Wrapper is a cheap way to save time. Prices start at just $ 1.99 and it’s basically a small, shorter, coil-shaped cable. Applecore is not available on Amazon, but there is a decent alternative . You just wind the cable onto the spool and you’re done.
TravelPro Maxlite3: your favorite carry-on bag
For a worthy gift, choose the TravelPro Maxlite 3 ($ 110 at Amazon). This is an awesome lightweight carry-on (and your favorite ). It is durable and measures 21 “x 9” x 14 “and will fit under most aircraft seats. Of course, carry-on baggage restrictions vary by airline, but dimensions are pretty standard for most of them. It comes with a 38 ” and 42.5 ” adjustable lockable aluminum handle. It also has a pair of interior storage pockets and, of course, a standard front pocket for any last-minute purchases. If you’re looking for something smarter, you might consider the Raden A22 carry-on luggage ( around $ 300 ) or the A28 Check suitcase ( around $ 400 ), both of which have built-in rechargeable batteries, luggage scales and proximity sensors.
TSA pre-check
Be a hero and present speed through the airport . You have several options: CLEAR , Pre-Check Membership, or Global Login . Each option, of course, requires an email address, ID, and other personal information to register, so this can be a little tricky. One option? Set up a digital gift card with a service like GiftRocket and suggest where the recipient uses it (e.g. TSA pre-verification). Or just give them some good old money with registration instructions.
Trakdot Baggage Monitor
If you’ve ever lost your luggage, you know what a nightmare it is. The Trakdot Baggage Monitor gives travelers peace of mind for under $ 50 as they can track where their baggage is while in transit. You just drop it in the bag and you can track its location. It sends travelers a text message or email when they land, notifying them that their luggage has also landed. A subscription is required to work, but it comes with a free year and a $ 50 lifetime subscription that you can also opt for.