Travel Gadgets: Five Favorites

Every traveler has their go-to travel essentials to make a trip more relaxing, fun, and productive. For some, it’s simple items like a neck pillow or a deck of cards; for others, it’s practical must-haves like an international power adapter or a secure passport wallet.

The best travel gadgets and accessories ultimately come down to personal preference and travel style. That said, this curated list of travel must-haves includes both obvious staples and underrated favorites—with my shopping considerations to help you stay organized, comfortable, get value where it’s worth it, and (mostly) pack light on your next trip. Here are my five must-haves:

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 many of these now 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: both have pros and cons, 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—if the pad works with all your gear.
• 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 I think it’s great while I’m on the go. 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.

• The JBL Clip is my go-to for the beach. My oldest Clip 2, pictured, still works but has been replaced with the Clip 3 (which I also have) and it’s a pretty good deal at about $35. Clip 4 and 5 models are now available too—just a little more expensive.
  • 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.
• The Sonos Roam is my most-used portable speaker, both at home and in hotels. It gives better sound than the little JBL and at home, it links up with my Sonos system that pipes music throughout the house.
  • 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 okay, but with no way to lock it in “off” mode, it often arrives at your destination discharged.
• The Altec Lansing Mini h2o (not pictured) is what I bought when I lost my first JBL Clip. It’s smaller and less expensive than the two options above—and you get what you pay for.
  • Pros: price is right, small size, pairs reliably
  • Cons: the “welcome to Altec Lansing” announcement at full volume EVERY time it’s turned on, sound is about what you’d expect for a $20 palm-sized speaker.

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 the noise around you, I’ve found that noise cancelling headphones are key 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 are what I use on most flights, mostly because of the small size.
  • Pros: small and easy to pack, and the AirPod case supports wireless charging. Their sound quality is good, as is their noise cancelling ability
  • Cons: battery life isn’t always sufficient for long haul flights, 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). 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 with a limited range of products.
• Over-the-ear models like Bose Quiet Comfort models tend to last better on long-haul flights for me, even though the bulk isn’t ideal:
  • Pros: over ear design is generally pretty comfortable, rechargeable and battery versions have good battery life, and (at least for the Bose models I’ve used) the 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 insist his Sonicare is best, but I think my Quip toothbrush is the best for travel (so much so that I actually bought a second one specifically for travel). 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 battery (or rechargeable) is easier to pack than a charger.
• 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. But do skip Quip’s rechargeable models. 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.

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, internet marketing!). And while I don’t actually use it for its advertised purpose, 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. 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 pad and newer models have a USB-C port
• Cons: guards and guard lengths are limited and the longest 12mm guard may be pretty short depending on what you’re going for (note: they have a Beard Hedger model which may help with this; as well, the 5.0 model comes with an extra-short guard not included with the 3.0 model). Manscaped logos might require some explanation if you’re sharing it.

Final Thoughts

As mentioned above, everyone’s preferences are a little different when it comes to travel and travel gadgets. But there’s one other thing I find hard to travel without that didn’t get mentioned above: a water bottle. Whether it’s to prevent getting dehydrated in the airplane’s dry air or to have a little something when turbulence prevents in-flight service, having water available is pretty much a non-negotiable carry on for me.

Happy travels, folks!