3 Must-Have Travel Tech for Easier Trips (& Home Use)

(Reviews and recommendations on practical tech accessories I use everyday and for traveling. This is part two of my Pack Like a Pro series.)

Introduction 

Are you an avid traveler seeking to enhance your travel adventures without overloading on travel-specific items? In this post, I’ll share my favorite portable travel tech essentials for on-the-go that you can also use everyday at home. I truly love maintaining a clutter-free home and utilizing valuable, multi-functional products. 

#1 The Ultimate Tech Gadget: Fast charging, universal charging adapter

This item is my absolute, must-have tech gadget because it's versatile and high-value. A requirement I have for my tech accessories is a charger that can charge multiple devices at super fast speeds (all at the same time). My favorite tech gadget is this fast 3 port wall charger and adapter (66W). I use it everyday to charge my devices at home and it also functions as my travel charger! It’s a reliable and compact travel adapter that charges my devices wherever I go, at super fast speeds, all at the same time. A huge perk of this charger is that the legs fold in when it’s not being used, making the square shape easy to pack. For reference, it’s size is about 2 inches x 2 inches.

Tip: For tech accessories, I noticed there can be a big difference in quality if you invest a little more for a high-value product. A little investment goes a long way. 

 The last thing I want to do on vacation is waste time in the hotel room to wait for my camera, phone and portable battery to charge. Chargers have varying ability to charge your devices at faster and slower speeds based on the power output (rated in Watts). For example, a 65 W will charge much faster than 30W. This charger and particular size is my favorite because it’s foldable and small, powerful (charges at 66W), and I can use it at home and for all my vacations. I typically don’t need to charge more than 3 products at once so this is the perfect size for me.

If you need a charger with the ability to charge four devices at once or up to 100W, I’ve used this fast 4 port wall charger and adapter (100W) as well. This one is about double the size of the smaller one, so it’s not as travel-friendly if compact is what you’re aiming for.

#2 Fast-charging cable

Just like wall chargers, charging cables may all look the same, but their technical specs play an important role in how slow or fast your devices charge. Faster charging cords are a little more pricey. USB-C cords charge much faster than USB-A cords (cheaper), but the time you can save from charging can vary by hours. (A small investment goes a really long way!) My favorite phone charging cable is the Anker USB C to lightning cable. I’ve used varying products from this company over the years and can say their products are reliable and durable (after years, the cords haven’t frayed due to bending). I have an iPhone so I use the USB C to lightning cable. (If you have a USB C compatible device, here’s the Anker USB C to USB C cable.)

#3 Long-lasting portable battery

Investing in a high-value portable battery can make a significant impact on your travel plans too. What’s worse than a slow charging portable battery? One that can’t fully charge your phone. I’ve experienced both before and they are small inconveniences that can be frustrating. After using it for two years, the battery bank I can recommend is the Anker slim power bank (10000mAh). It still has enough to juice to charge my phone and is versatile because it can charge a variety of USB devices. I love devices that can charge with a USB C cord because it’s so much faster.

Conclusion

These are my essential tech gadgets for hassle-free trips (and a cluttered-free home). By packing these tech accessories, you can enhance your travel experiences by spending less time charging and more time exploring. In my next post, I’ll continue this series of “Pack Like a Pro” and share with you stylish and comfortable travel shoes (part 3) and a versatile backpack I recommend (part 4).

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PS. Follow me on @budgetconsciousbabe

Featured photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash