My 2015 Travel Gear Gadget List
We are nearing the end of 2014, and the holiday travel season is nearly upon us. I like to be well prepared when traveling, but I also like to travel fairly light. Over the years I've iterated on a set of core items that I tend to bring with me in my gadget "Dopp Kit". Many of these items I actually keep with me on a daily basis in a small pouch that fits in my work backpack. I add a few items when traveling internationally or when I know I will be giving a presentation. This may look like a large list, but everything that is listed below has a purpose, is used on a daily basis or has actually been instrumental during a trip, and is as small and light as possible to keep my travel bag bag to a minimum.
Keeping Devices Charged
2-Prong 3-Outlet Splitter
This is about as minimal as it gets for a 2-prong 3-outlet splitter. The key feature is that this isn’t polarized, since many international outlets aren’t polarized. A polarized two-prong outlet will have one prong wider than the other. The neat thing about this particular plug splitter is that the prongs are non-polarized, but the outlets you plug into have a wide side, so it can actually take a polarized plug. This is pretty unusual and hard to find item.
USB Car Charger
This USB Car Charger puts out 5 volts so you can charge any phone or even an iPad off of it, and the design is super slim and durable. You don’t want to be driving around a foreign country while your GPS navigation on your phone sucks your battery dry before you make it to your destination.
Dual USB charger with a flip-plug
This is perfect for charging two devices at once, and the amp rating is enough to charge an iPad. It’s small and the flip plug is great for keeping it compact in your travel bag. I also often take the standard iPhone charger with me. When traveling with a companion, you often both want your cell phones next to your night stand, so I find having two separate charging solutions is best. I’m tempted to actually get rid of the dual USB charging device and just use two little Apple iPhone charging cubes, but the ability to charge two devices from a single outlet as well as the 12 Watts of output for charging an iPad or other tablet is what keeps it in my bag. It’s also super handy at airports when everyone is trying to charge their phone before a flight and all the sockets are taken. Just offer to plug in your dual USB charger and the problem is solved. I considered just bringing the regular iPad charger but it is just a little big and not quite as versatile as this Dual USB charger.
Universal Travel Plug Adapter
You never need to worry about what kind of outlets you encounter when traveling abroad if you carry this with you. This combined with the outlet splitter gives you enough plugs to keep everything charged up.
USB Connecting Cables
3 in 1 Lightning, Micro USB and mini USB to USB Retractable Cable for iPhone 5 and iPad mini and All
They don’t seem to make this anymore, but I specifically wanted Micro, Mini, and Lightning USB adapters in a single package since those are the common ends I need with USB. Mini USB is finally getting less common while Micro is getting much more prevalent. As soon as I sell my old DSLR that uses Mini USB, I’ll probably get this Micro and Lightning USB Adapter which is a little simpler and less fragile than my current cable.
Standard Apple Lightning USB Cable
The original short lighting to USB cable is generally good enough, although sometimes my phone is on the floor as a result. I don't have one of these Long Lightning to USB Cables, but I can see how it can come in handy. It just isn't something I would put in my minimal travel gear bag.
Storage and Data Transfer
USB 3.0 Multi-Format Memory Card Reader
I’ve often found myself in situations where someone has a camera and wants to transfer photos quickly, but nobody seems to have the right adapters around. This is a great option in a small package that supports nearly all the card reader formats out there, and even uses USB 3.0 so everything transfers super fast.
USB Thumb Drive
I’ve got an old AData 16GB USB 2.0 stick I’ve had for about 8 years that is still going strong, but this year the storage capacities and size of 64GB USB 3.0 devices has finally reached the right price points to warrant an upgrade. More space space is always useful for transferring the increasingly large photos and videos that people take these days.
Audio Equipment
Apple Ear Pods
I keep this with me in my travel kit because it is super handy to have not just headphone, but also a microphone for taking calls hands free. I’ve also found that unlike the original round Apple earbuds, these new ear pods that come with your iPhone are actually quite comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Bose Noice Canceling In-Ear Headphones
I recently splurged on a pair of Bose in-ear noise canceling headphones. These are fantastic for cutting down noise fatigue while flying, ignoring the office chatter, etc. I've found they are quite comfortable to wear for hours on end and the noise canceling ability can be priceless at times.
Foam Earplugs
Noise Canceling Headphones can be great for travel, but I've found disposable earplugs to be absolutely essential. Be it concerts, having a hard time sleeping with others in the room, or sleeping on an airplane, having a pair of earplugs with you is a must. I only take a couple of pairs with me during a trip, and toss them afterwards, and that generally works. A little earplug case usually comes in the box which is handy.
3.5mm Audio Cable Extension
If you want to make sure you can connect your phone to an audio amplifier, you will need this standard 3.5mm audio cable and the next item in this list with you.
3.5mm to RCA Audio Cable
They don’t take up much space, but it can mean the difference between some great room-filling music or an iPhone in a cup. This is super handy for plugging in your phone to a TV or other kind of audio receiver that has the left-right split out into RCA plugs.
Audio Splitter
The other audio item I like to have on hand for flights is for splitting audio so two people can watch a show on a laptop or tablet together without bothering your neighbors. The great thing about this one is that you each can independently adjust your volume which is really important if one if you is using noise canceling headphones and the other isn’t. You’ll find that you need to have a different volume level to have a fairly even listening experience. It’s also nice to be able to control it so you don’t feel like you have to listen really loud or soft - you can both listen to your own preferences.
Two Prong Audio Adapter for Airplanes
I rarely need to use this, so I might remove this from my bag next year, but it doesn’t take up much space and just in case I want to plug into an older airplane it can be useful. Generally speaking, most airlines worth their salt will give you an adapter if you ask.
Presentation Gear
Logitech Clicker
If you don't know the environment you are giving a presentation, this little device can be a lifesaver. Sometimes the computer needs to be in a different location than the speaker, so having this little wireless device gives you that flexibility. Oh, and the little laser point is always handy when making specific points on your slide deck.
Ultimate Video Adapter
If you have a a laptop with Mini Display Port or Thunderbolt, this device will cover all your video output needs: VGA, DVI, and even HDMI.
Not In This List
I specifically haven't really talked in depth about what cell phone I carry, what laptop or tablet I find is best for travel, or what camera I like to carry with me. I decided to keep those big-ticket items out of this list and focus more on the supporting items that I'm glad I have with me on a day-to-day basis or on a trip to the other side of the world. When traveling to foreign countries, I never bring any chargers or gear that can't already work with international voltages (no need for those annoying voltage converters). ---------- Last Note: Many of the links above are affiliate links. Any money I might make from your purchase has zero impact on how I review or use any future gadgets. The above list is what I have found to be useful to me over the years.
