When heading off on vacation, a lot of people like to unplug and immerse 100% into vacation mode. While I don’t want to be connected to the world for my entire trip, there are some essential travel tech gadgets I just cannot travel without (obviously I could, but I just don’t want to). So I thought I’d share my absolute must have travel tech gadgets that I take on every trip to help others prepare for their vacations. Below – in no particular order – I’ve itemized my travel tech essentials.
Essential Travel Tech Gadgets for Every Trip
DSLR Camera
When I’m on vacation I typically bring my Nikon DSLR & Nikon 18 – 300 mm lens. This camera and lens combination gives me the most flexibility in my photo-taking and it’s not too heavy to lug around. Previously I would travel with two lenses or have to choose between my 55mm or 200mm zoom lens. Neither gave me the easy photo taking experience that I was looking for which is why I exclusively travel with my 18-300mm lens now. I also carry an extra battery and my Nikon battery charger.
Smart Phone
Currently I have a Samsung Galaxy S7, but regardless of make or model I always carry my smart phone on vacation. This is for numerous reasons including emergency phone service, connecting to wifi and my social channels, and for taking photos and videos. If I’m going somewhere I know my big DSLR might stand out, or I don’t want to carry a heavy camera all day, this phone takes great photos and is lightweight – the perfect travel tech gadget for any trip.
Go Pro
In 2017 my husband ordered me (really I think it was for him) a Go Pro Hero 5 for travel purposes. I always bring this tech gadget on my trips now, and coincidentally, my husband is the sole operator of said Go Pro. This works for me though because it frees me up to take photos of our travel destinations. I really enjoy the Go Pro – it’s waterproof and we purchased a kit of gadgets to use with it making it very versatile on our travels.
Gimbal
To go with my (ha! Let’s be real, my husband’s) Go Pro, we purchased a Zhiyun Smooth-Q 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer. This works with my cell phone and the Go Pro which is very handy. The quality of our videos has increased immensely by using this gimbal. Before we had shaky or unstable videos, and now they are so smooth! Definitely a great addition to my travel tech gadget set.
Samsung Tablet
I don’t actually know why I travel with a tablet since I never use it. But I always bring it with me… fully loaded with some Netflix downloads, eBooks, and games just in case. I have a Samsung tablet, but any tablet would do! And like I said, this is really just for emergencies, yet I can’t seem to leave it at home.
Portable Charger
My husband always packs a few Anker PowerCore portable chargers – you know, just in case. They always come in handy and in my regular life I find myself wishing I packed a portable charger sometimes. We have various sizes some small enough to fit in a pocket and some larger that need a purse or backpack – but no matter what, this travel tech gadget needs to be on our packing list.
USB Chargers
You never know if a hotel or resort will have USB ports built into their electrical outlets or not, so I bring my Anker 6-Port USB Wall Charger & 5 Pack PowerLine Micro USB Charging Cables to charge up my travel tech back in my room. If your room has only a few electrical outlets, the 6-port wall-charger is very useful!
Memory
I like to take photos on my phone and leave my camera behind if I’m going on a quick outing or can’t bring a large bag. The SanDisk Extreme 64GB microSDXC memory card provides me the space I need for thousands of photos and videos on my phone.
Extra Batteries
I find that my GoPro uses a lot of battery life if we are constantly recording throughout the day. The Smatree Replacement Battery & 3 Port Charger (for Go Pro) make it easy to have back-up batteries ready at any time. The ability to charge more than one battery at a time is also very helpful!
Fitbit Alta
This goes with me at all times – and I especially love taking my FitBit on vacation. When I travel I love to walk as much as possible to see the city. A personal best for me was over 36,000 steps in one day and aside from sore feet, I would have never known how much terrain I covered in one day! My FitBit is an essential piece of tech gear for my travels.
Kindle / Kobo
An e-reader is an excellent travel companion and one of my essential travel tech gadgets. Waiting in airports, while in transit, or even at home in between trips I need to have it with me. Whether you pick a Kindle or a Kobo – both options would be an excellent item to bring on your travels.
Bluedio Headphones
I love my Bluedio Turbine Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones (White) and use them every chance I get. The wireless feature makes them great to use without annoying cords and they easily connect to your bluetooth device (phone, tablet, etc.) while on your travels. In addition to these being handy for travellers, they are also great to use at home to drown out noise or to allow loved-ones some peace and quiet – a definite must have in my travel tech kit.
Travel Tech Summary
Everyone has their own preferences when they travel, and as time goes on I’m sure this list will change for me (just like my packing lists evolved as the years go on). But for now, these are my essential Travel Tech items that I like to take with me. Do you have any suggestions to add to my list? Share them in the comments section below.
