Traveling is a strange experience. On the one hand, it gives you opportunities to experience a whole new style of life – at least temporarily. But on the other hand, it denies you many of your home comforts. Sitting on cramped aircraft and walking for miles around foreign cities is part and parcel of the experience.
Fortunately, brands are riding to the rescue. While they can’t always eliminate your travel hassles, they can make them far more manageable.
In this post, we take a look at some of their creations and why they will benefit you.
In-Your-Pocket Washing Machine
If you’re going on an African Safari, the likelihood of encountering a washing machine is quite low. Yes – some resorts have them, but many don’t. And that means that you wind up finishing your trip smelling worse than a classroom full of adolescent boys.
Now, though, there’s a solution. Scrubba and other brands have developed wash bags that contain washboards. All you do is place your clothing in the bag and then wash them, as you might have washed your clothes in the past.
It takes a bit of work, granted, but it’s a great solution for people who love adventure vacations. All you need is a couple of liters of water and some hand-friendly detergent, and you’re done. Your body odor is a problem no more!
A Sand-Proof Beach Mat
If the idea of a sand-proof beach mat sounds like science fiction, think again. Such products are now in existence. These mats use military style technology. Instead of fibers, they’re made of a material that naturally repels sand, stopping it from clumping. If a breeze knocks some sand onto the mat, you can easily shake it back off again. This way, you can enjoy reading a book, spreading out a picnic or whatever else you fancy.
Portable WiFi Hotspot
When you travel, the internet can become a scarce commodity. What’s more, you’re constantly worrying about SIM cards, roaming charges, and whether your phone will actually work.
Fortunately, there’s a simple way around this: mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. These clever little devices provide both mobile network and broadband internet connections, and operate in more than 130 countries across the world.
The way they work is simple. Instead of worrying about network charges and fees when you arrive, you simply pay a subscription to the device provider. They then provide you with daily access to the internet as you move around. It couldn’t be easier.
Photo Drones
The wonderful thing about drones is that they let you take the most amazing vacation shots imaginable (and negate the need to hire a helicopter). Devices, like the DJI FPV let you turn your holiday memories into cinematic experiences.
When choosing a drone, look for one that offers modern features. You’ll want things like autonomous crash avoidance, intelligent focus and the ability to film in 120 fps. The best drones come with GPS so you always know where they are. And they land themselves when they detect they are running low on battery, avoiding any nasty crashes.
Smartphone Gimbal
Taking videos with your smartphone is hard when you’re on the move. The camera jolts around all over the place, and there’s only so much that onboard software can do to stabilize the feed.
Fortunately, you can now get smartphone gimbals. These clever devices allow your phone to bob and weave – a bit like a bird’s head – keeping your videos smooth and bump-free.
Phone gimbals wrap around your handset and then come with a handle which sometimes offers controls, such as zooming wheels. They also have in-built batteries, similar to your smartphone, and can run for an impressive 12 hours on the trot.
Travel Vacuums
If you think vacuuming is impossible while traveling, think again. Companies, such as VAGO, are developing miniature gadgets which they say are perfect for reducing the amount of space your clothes take up in your bags.
The way they work is simple. First, you start by putting all your clothes into sealed plastic bags. You then attach the vacuum device to the external valve fitting and switch it on. It will then proceed to suck all of the air out, including any actually inside your clothes themselves. What’s more, it’s small enough to take with you, reducing the net volume of your luggage substantially.
Water Purifier
If you’re an adventurous soul or you’re going to a part of the world that doesn’t guarantee clean water, then a water purifier bottle could be just what you need. These are helpful because they’re small, suitable for travel luggage and portable.
These bottles have two chambers: an upper and a lower. You fill the top compartment and then wait for the water to percolate down to the bottom under gravity. Once it gets there, you’re then free to drink and the water should be clean.
Every so often, you’ll need to swap out the filter. If you don’t, the bottle won’t work efficiently.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Recently, you’ve probably seen people walking around with blaring speakers in their pockets, listening to their favorite music. It’s all possible because of Bluetooth speakers which connect to smartphones and other portable devices.
How big you want to go entirely depends on you. The larger, the more powerful the unit is. Those looking for something travel-friendly should choose a device less than 12 cm long and 8 cm wide.
Tree Tents
Sometimes pitching a tent on the ground just isn’t possible. There are creepy crawlies all over the place, or you’re in the middle of a bog.
Not to worry: tree tents have you covered. These impressive pieces of mobile accommodation lash to trees a bit like a hammock. But instead of having just two points of contact, these have three or four. What’s more, because they don’t rely on poles, they take up less space in your bag, making them ideal for trekking. However, don’t pitch them too high – you’ll struggle to get in!
Flasks With Lights
High-quality flashlights and flasks are roughly the same size. And, as far as travel gear goes, they’re both quite large. Now, though, you don’t have to choose between a hot coffee to keep your energy levels up during the day and seeing what you’re doing at night. You can now get flasks with lights built into them, ideal for festival goers, hikers, campers and anglers.
You’ll often see these devices marketed as “multifunctional” tools. You get things like bottle openers, LEDs, compasses, shot cups and more all built into a single product. Think of it as the Swiss army knife of flasks.
Video Sunglasses
Google tried to launch glasses with recording abilities ten years ago. It didn’t go well. Most people hated the idea.
In 2022, the world and technology have both moved on considerably. Now a number of smaller, independent companies are playing with the idea of fitting glasses with cameras.
Naturally, the main purpose of these devices is to record what’s happening as you go about your travels. However, brands in this space, such as Spectacles, are also making it so that wearers can sync with their social media accounts and upload live.
The issue at the moment is battery life – you’re lucky to get an hour. But it can be a lot more fun than walking around with a camera in your hand all day long.
Urination Devices For Women
If you don’t like sitting down to go to the bathroom in the great outdoors and would prefer to stand up, then you might want to invest in a female urination device. These allow you to funnel your pee in whatever direction you want and avoid the need to use unsanitary public toilets.
Foot Warmers
Foot warmers are ideal for anyone planning a winter or skiing break. These are essentially inserts that you put in your shoes that keep your feet warm throughout the day.
They rely on clever thermostat-driven control systems that use electrical energy to heat the material – a bit like a heated blanket. Users control the temperature using a remote control. There are buttons on each insert to turn them on and off.
Solar-Powered Light
You never know when you’ll need a light when you’re traveling, particularly if you’re the sort of person who likes camping and being outdoors. Fortunately, there are now companies making inflable lights. These charge in the sun and are extremely lightweight. You can use them just about anywhere.
Anti Jet-Lag Pillow
Most travel pillows are just sausage-shaped tubes that prevent your head from lopping from one side to the other as you fall asleep. However, as any experienced traveler will know, they’re not ideal.
Now companies are developing more advanced concepts. These anti-jet lag pillows cover the entire head with a space at the front for breathing, and even arm holes at the top for additional comfort. They look a little strange, that’s for sure, but they’re highly effective. Regular travelers swear by them.
So, which of these travel gadgets will you be taking with you on your next vacation?
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