While I did my fair share of bare-bones backpacking in my 20s (the Europe kind, not the trail kind), things got a little easier once I picked up a few gadgets along the way. Now in my 30s and a travel writer based in Europe, I have a little arsenal of electronics that I keep packed and ready to go between trips.
I’ve dropped in some of my favorite (and wish-listed) travel gadgets for your next big trip, from noise-canceling headphones to a super-slim Kindle. Pack these useful electronics for your next vacation, below.
Best travel gadgets
A solid pair of noise-canceling earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM4 Wireless Earbuds
You might have a screaming baby in the row behind you for 10 hours, but you don’t have to hear them with these wireless Sony earbuds and an action movie with a few explosions.
A GPS tracker for everything
Apple AirTags (4-Pack)
When you’re on the move or destination-hopping, a lot of things can be left behind (say a laptop in the back of an airplane seat, not to name a recent example). We are all human, and now tech is catching up to our failings with trackers you can attach to your Airbnb keys, checked luggage, and more.
An e-reader for your travel bookshelf
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB)
I’m a fan of physical books, but if I’m heading off for a couple of months, six or seven books can take up a lot of my luggage quota. The Kindle Paperwhite keeps my literary cravings satisfied while I’m on the go, and it’s especially helpful if I’m somewhere English isn’t spoken, and bookshops aren’t readily available.
A lightweight power bank
Anker PowerCore 10000
If you fly the cheap seats, chances are they won’t come with a handy USB charger. Stay juiced up with this $30 power bank, which can charge an iPhone XR twice (with some left over) from full power and weighs just 6.35 ounces.
An electric mosquito repeller
Thermacell Mosquito Repellent E-Series Rechargeable Repeller
Waking up to the whine of an invisible mosquito dipping in and out of your hearing range can ruin a night of good sleep — and, as a result, the day after too. This battery-powered repeller gets top marks for doing the most when it comes to keeping mosquitoes out of a bedroom-sized area, and the liquid repellant cartridges are unscented and easy to replace.
A global, port-filled adapter
Universal Travel Adapters
This universal adapter not only works with whatever outlets you’re giving it, but it has two USB-A and two USB-C ports up top so you can charge a ton of gadgets without having to triage according to their power level or rationing out time in the charger.
A luggage scale
Etekcity Luggage Scale
One of the biggest sources of travel-day stress is approaching an airline counter with a bursting suitcase and not knowing how much exactly your luggage weighs. Plan ahead and pick up this super portable scale. This one switches between pounds and kilos for international travel and even (somehow??) tells the temperature.