Gear You'll Need to Travel Like a Pro
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We’re nearly halfway through summer (sorry, the passage of time is not something we’re able to control with an app yet), which means the WIRED Gear team has done a fair amount of traveling. And with each excursion, we’ve gained a new appreciation for the things we’ve carried, or we've discovered a frustration that can be easily solved with the right tool. Here are seven items to consider before you take off on your next flight.
Plane temperatures fluctuate quite a bit, and I tend to be cold no matter what. But if you’re lucky enough to be traveling somewhere warm, then bringing a sweatshirt or jacket solely for the flight might be overkill. That’s where Lululemon’s Vinyasa Scarf comes in. WIRED Gear editor Michael Calore swears by this versatile scarf, made with a soft “Rulu” fabric (a thick, winterized version of Lululemon’s proprietary, primarily-nylon fabric). The scarf can be worn seven different ways, and when you arrive at your sunny destination you can toss it in your luggage and forget about it. Plus, what other scarf comes with its own YouTube video? (Also available at Lululemon's store.)
You already knew it was time to give up disposable water bottles (unless you’re traveling in a place where tap water quality is a concern). Swell’s 17-ounce, stainless steel vessel is my go-to reusable bottle. Its slim design allows it to fit in the side pockets of a lot of backpacks and also means it’s comfortable for small hands to carry for extended periods. This Moonstone has a textured finish for an even better grip. Sure, the top isn’t latched and, as Swell users know well, it’s easy to overfill the bottle and spill water on yourself when sealing the top. But these are small considerations for such an ergonomic travel bottle. If you don't mind the added bulk and you want something cheaper, try a $15 Nalgene bottle. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill—and easy to dump in Emergen-C packets.
The world may be moving toward USB-C or totally wirefree headphones, but have you ever successfully been able to watch a movie on a crappy plane monitor using AirPods? I think not. I’m a big proponent of keeping a pair of inexpensive 3.5-mm headphones in your luggage at all times, and I recommend Skullcandy’s INK’d+ In-Ear headphones. They’re lightweight and comfortable, come with an extra pair of ear tips, have an in-line mic, and the flat cable discourages tangling. And they’re so cheap it won’t break your heart if you lose them. If expensive and over-ear is more your jam, then consider Master & Dynamic’s $249 MH40 headphones. Not only do they offer incredible sound, their smart design will likely be a conversation starter with your seatmates. Not that you’ll be able to hear them. (Best Buy has more colors available.)
Hopefully your summer travel is for leisure and not for work, but if you must fire up the laptop while sitting in cramped coach, you’re going to want a privacy protector for your screen. And you’re going to want one that fits your laptop’s specific dimensions, so be sure to do your research and don't buy just any old thing off Amazon.com. This adhesive option from Akamai fits my 13-inch laptop and creates a dark sheen for anyone sitting nearby who might be trying to take a peek (although, keep in mind, some of your laptop’s screen will still be visible from the side angle). Some people prefer magnetic privacy shields, like this one made by Kensington, but the biggest complaint with those is that they’re thick enough to keep the laptop from closing completely. Stickers aren’t as chic, but they do the trick.
With so many different tech standards to keep up with these days (see headphones section), traveling now involves carrying a mess of charging adapters and cables. That’s where the new Mophie Powerstation Hub comes in. It was a lifesaver for me during a recent trip overseas. The charging brick itself is Qi-compatible, so you can plop your phone on top of it and charge wirelessly. It also has one USB-C and two USB-A ports and comes with multiple wall adapters to support a variety of plug and socket types. Finally, the 6000-mAh brick is light enough to throw in your bag and carry with you during your multihour trip to the Louvre or wherever you’re headed, eliminating battery anxiety for the day.
I confess: I have yet to wear the Trtl during a long red-eye flight, but the WIRED Gear team has taken turns sporting it around the office (we’re cool like that), and we’ve determined that the makers of Trtl have come up with a better alternative to the standard neck cushion. The Trtl is essentially an adjustable, flexible neck brace with a super-soft fleece coating and a scarf that wraps around so it doesn’t look like, well, like you’re wearing a neck brace. You can wedge the curved side of it along your jawline and sleep with your head tilted to the side, or put it behind your head for extra cushioning. Trtl even suggests using it as a pillow on your seatmate’s shoulder, though we advise getting to know the person before you try that one.
An iPad Pro is always a splurge, but if your travel often involves a mix of work and play, this is the gadget to invest in. It’s your tablet. It’s your laptop (well, sort of). It’s your Kindle. It’s your movie screen. It’s your sketchpad. It can even be your camera. It’s whatever you want it to be, seriously, and the 11-inch model fits as well in medium-size handbags as it does on a tiny seat-back tray. I recently ditched my laptop during a nine-day vacation and used only an iPad Pro plus my smartphone. As anticipated, I needed to duck back into work briefly, and while I don’t love the iPad Pro’s $179 Smart Keyboard accessory, it was sufficient enough to get the job done. After that, I went back to using it simply to figure out which tourist trap to visit next.
