Travel Gadgets: Five Favorites

Everyone has their favorite things to bring along to make trips more relaxing, fun, productive, or all of the above. Maybe it’s simple like a neck pillow or a deck of cards. Or maybe it’s super functional like international power adapters or a passport wallet.

Travel gadgets and accessories are subject to huge personal preference. Regardless, here are a few of my favorites (including more- and less-obvious items) that balance taking it with and (mostly) packing light:

1. External Battery or Power Bank
2. Bluetooth Speaker
3. Noise Cancelling Headphones
4. Compact Electric Toothbrush
5. Cordless Trimmer

External Battery/Power Bank

I’d assert that this is a must-have for anyone who travels by plane, train, or bus. Sure, most planes, trains and busses have in-seat power (Welcome to the party, Southwest). But these don’t always work. And have you ever tried to find an available outlet in the airport concourse, especially during a delay or layover? A little extra juice = entertainment on your device while waiting … or at a minimum, making sure your electronic boarding pass still works when it’s finally time to board.

As for what’s the “best” travel battery … well, there are a million options, give or take, from conference freebies to high-tech. I’ve linked a few options below, but since what’s available (or on sale) is ever changing, the things I’ve found important to consider are:

• Wired vs. wireless: options are endless (but for wired, make sure the battery supports the cord you’re carrying, such as USB-A vs. USB-C). A battery that works as a charging pad can avoid that hassle, and might avoid a nest of cords for different devices as well (such as split Android/Apple households, AirPod cases, and more). #protip: if you have a newer iPhone and use wired headphones, remember there’s only one port to handle charging and listening.
• Capacity: if you only anticipate emergency use, capacity may not be a concern. But if you’re sharing a battery among multiple travelers, are a heavy user, or are away from another power source for a long time, pay close attention to the battery’s overall capacity. Remember to keep spare batteries in your carry-on, but keep it under 100 watt hours (Wh) to be compliant for air travel.
• Charging speed: most newer iPhones will charge at up to 20 watts and some Samsung phones can charge a little faster still. Check your needs and expectations: the Anker power bank pictured above has good capacity, but charging at 5 watts, it’s sloooooow. Wired provides a good summary with more details.
• MagSafe compatibility: my newest battery (with the “100%” reading pictured above) uses Apple’s MagSafe system. This might not matter for you, but it was a game changer for me. MagSafe keeps the battery attached to my phone while I’m holding it and when I slip it in my pocket. All the while, it’s charging wirelessly. No cords. No hassle.

Bluetooth Speaker

I can’t travel without my music. Once I’ve landed and arrived wherever I’m staying, bring on the tunes. Here are my favorites for easy to pack speakers.

• JBL Clip (my oldest one, pictured, has been replaced with the Clip 3, 4, and 5). Several JBL models were available as Amazon Prime Day deals in October 2024.
  • Pros: pairs consistently and effortlessly, good battery life, supposedly waterproof (I haven’t tested it seriously)
  • Cons: Sound is good, not great with the small Clip model. Larger models trade some portability for better sound.
• Sonos Roam
  • Pros: good sound for its size, syncs with other Sonos products when they’re all paired on the same wireless network (unless you opt for the less-expensive Bluetooth-only model)
  • Cons: connecting is fussy for both wifi and Bluetooth (and not just the first time). Battery life is fair, and with no way to lock it in “off” mode, it often arrives at your destination discharged
• Altec Lansing Mini h2o (not pictured)
  • Pros: price is right, small size, pairs reliably
  • Cons: the “welcome to Altec Lansing” announcement at full volume EVERY time it’s turned on

Noise Cancelling Headphones

As with speakers, bringing my tunes with me en route is key. But whether you’re listening to music in flight, binge watching your favorite shows, or just tuning out, I’ve found that noise cancelling headphones are fantastic to help make flights less tiring and/or more restful. In general, my observations below apply to the same types of headphones from other brands:

• In-ear earbuds, such as Apple AirPods Pro (available at 35% off during Amazon Prime Day deals in October 2024):
  • Pros: small and easy to pack, and the case supports wireless charging. As well, I felt they had good sound quality and noise cancelling ability
  • Cons: battery life isn’t always sufficient for longer hauls, and it’s a giant hassle if one falls out of your ear in flight (which inevitably happens at night, with lights off, and with a full tray table). Also, the smaller the device, the easier it is to lose (sigh). If it matters to you, bluetooth-only use means that sharing audio from a single device (like watching a movie together) may not be an option, although Apple has improved some functionality in this regard but only with a limited range of products.
• Over-the-ear models like Bose Quiet Comfort models (also a Prime Day deal in October 2024):
  • Pros: over ear design is generally pretty comfortable, rechargeable and battery versions have good battery life, and (at least for the Bose models linked above) option to use a wired connection facilitates sharing audio from a single device if you have a splitter
  • Cons: they’re bulky and the better models are expensive. In general, you get what you pay for (I previously had a Sony pair: they were a fraction of the price of the Bose ones, but not as good). Will probably flatten your hair on top 😂

Electric Toothbrush

While not a necessity, I’ve grown accustomed to mine and prefer to take it along when I travel. My hubby will hold his ground since he loves his Sonicare, but I think I have the best travel option with my Quip toothbrush. Regardless, the pros and cons below should help you identify what meets your needs:

• Pro: the Quip is compact and easy to pack. Nearly as small as a non-electric toothbrush and much smaller than my hubby’s Sonicare. The AAA battery in my basic Quip brush is easy to replace when needed, and a spare (or rechargeable) is less bulky than the proprietary charging base of the Sonicare. #protip: I’ve tried charging the Sonicare on a charging pad. It doesn’t work
• Cons: up-front cost is obviously wayyyy more than a non-electric brush. Although I’ve opted out of having them send me new batteries with the by-subscription replacement heads, there’s no discount for doing so. Another #protip: skip the new rechargeable model. Not only does it use a proprietary charging cord (why?!?!), rechargeable AAA batteries work fine and last a long time, not to mention working in other devices like headphones

Cordless Trimmer

Again, not a necessity for everyone, and even less so if your trips aren’t long ones. But I can’t make it past day five without trimming my beard, so it’s essential for me for extended trips.

I’ve used a few Philips models at home over the years and have liked them just fine. But I recently ordered a Manscaped trimmer (Thanks, Instagram marketing! And also available in October 2024 as a Prime Day deal). And while I don’t actually use it for its advertised use, I love it. Here’s why—or what to look for, regardless of brand:

• Pros: small and easy to pack, including compact guard attachments for different lengths good for most trimming. I even gave the hubby a buzz cut with it in a recent trip. Battery life is great, and unlike my Sonos speaker, there’s a travel lock to prevent it from turning on inside your luggage (which helps avoid embarrassing and unintentional buzzing!). Even better, no need to pack the charging base: it charges on a wireless charging pad.
• Cons: guards and guard lengths are limited and may be pretty short depending on what you’re going for (note: they have a new Beard Hedger model which may help with this). Manscaped logos might require some explanation if you’re sharing it.

What are your favorite travel gadgets? Drop a note in the comments and let me know about your wouldn’t-travel-without-it gear…