Top 5 best gadgets that will make a traveler’s life easier
Travelling is easier than ever before – you can hop in a plane, train, or automobile and be almost anywhere in the world in a matter of hours with little more than determination and a bit of cash. The new ease in travel, however, doesn’t mean you can’t make it even easier.
Every day, new technology makes your travel simpler, safer, and faster. Whether you’re a resort-hopper or a backcountry trekker, there’s always a tool available to make your life that much easier. Check out these five gadgets to improve the ease of your travel and give you a little more time to relax.
#1: Solar Phone Charger
No matter where you travel, there seems to be one anxiety that never lifts – the accessibility of power outlets. Traveling outside the country means incompatible devices, and even traveling at home can mean battles over scarce outlets at airports, cafes, lobbies, and shared hotel rooms. Luckily, there are options that skip the wall wart all together – and the solar phone charger is the best among them.
Portable battery chargers, made by brands like Ruipu, allow you to charge all of your devices wherever you are without expensive and heavy batteries, special plugs, and worry. Solar chargers come in several shapes and sizes, from the emergency battery saver to massive banks that can charge as many as five devices at once off of one full charge. As long as you have sunlight (sorry, North Pole), you have electricity – and peace of mind. This is one gadget not to miss.
#2: Satellite Messenger
All types of travelers occasionally find themselves in situations where communication is impossible. Whether it’s a dreaded dead zone or an intentional journey into the deep wilderness, losing contact with civilization can be anxiety-inducing – and, unless you’re extremely well prepared, dangerous. Even if you’ve got your handy solar charger, it’s no use for a phone with no service. Enter satellite messengers.
Satellite devices like the SPOT Satellite Messenger allow travelers to send messages to their friends and family from anywhere on the planet. While they’re designed to help out in emergencies (you’ve got search and rescue on speed dial), many feature options to track your location, send out “I’m okay” messages, and even keep track of how far you trek each day. Satellite messengers are a perfect way to ensure your safety no matter where you go – from long hikes to road trips in remote locations.
#3: Quality Binoculars
This next gadget seems like a no-brainer for many, but for a lot of travelers, the idea of carrying binoculars has never even occurred to us. Anywhere you go, whether your trip is business or pleasure, will have new sounds, smells, tastes, and, of course, sights. Make sure you make the most out of your trip by seeing all there is to see, and invest in a pair of high-quality binoculars.
When buying binoculars, look out for the magnification rating. Binoculars are labeled with two numbers, usually something like 10x50 or 10x70. The first number refers to how many times the lens magnifies the object you look at, while the second number refers to the actual diameter of the lens. For beginners, look for a lower magnification level, like 6.5-10. If you want to get into stargazing or some serious sight-seeing, check out this list for recommendations on the best high-power binoculars. Make sure you don’t miss a thing with these gadgets.
#4: Video Drones
This next gadget might seem a little out there, but think of it as an extension of binoculars. For certain types of travelers, scoping out your destination can be essential, if not just awesome. Cartographers, explorers, hunters, trekkers, and other adventurers can benefit heavily from seeing their terrain before they embark towards it, and that’s where drones can come in handy.
Different drones have different uses. Some are purely for hobby, some for racing (yes, really), and some come equipped with high-definition cameras that allow you to see far beyond your normal capacity. For instance, the DJI F450 is a perfect tool for those who want to scope things out in high def – and those who want to nerd out a little, too. In the modern world, drones are becoming ever more common for every-day use by every-day people. Join the trend now and make your travel simpler!
#5: Trekking Poles
Finally, we come to our last item. This one may not seem like a “gadget” per se, but its usefulness is certainly unparalleled. Trekking poles are perfect for all types of travelers – including those who don’t trek. Any traveler that walks can take advantage of these tools and prevent damage to knees, ankles, hips, and lower back by stabilizing your stride and providing your body with extra support.
When combined with regular exercise, like these workouts for hiking, build muscle, maintain balance, and equalize your stride to ensure that you get the most out of your movement. Whether you’re a backpacker, mountaineer, trekker, or just a city street explorer, maintaining proper walking form allows you to go further and stay healthy longer – and that goes for young folks, too. Trekking poles are the perfect accessory for savvy travelers who care about their bodies, and they are lightweight, easy to carry, and come in compressible and foldable styles.
We’ve come to the end of our list, and we hope that you take advantage of some of these great tools. These gadgets range from the simple to the very complex, but all of them have one thing in common – they make your travel life easier.