Taking the right gear on your travels can make life more comfortable. (Image: Anker / Sony / Twelve South / Apple / Life360 / Lowepro)
Being a technology journalist has given me the opportunity to travel on a regular basis over the past decade – and I’ve learnt a lot about the best tech to take on my travels.
Having can just make life so much simpler, more comfortable and keep you better connected. This is the tech I take on my travels and how it makes life better – and some of these make for really
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 are excellent for travel (Image: Sony)
Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones
As soon as I step on a plane, I want to go into noise-cancelling mode. Aircraft are noisy and that constant background hissing will grind you down – not to mention babies crying, kids screaming and people fiddling with their baggage.
The aren’t Sony’s latest headphones (those are the WH-1000XM5), but Sony’s older headphones have a big advantage – they fold down smaller in their case. The noise-cancellation is excellent, the sound quality is fantastic and they also come with a cable so you can plug into the in-flight entertainment. They’re also available at a super price of £175 at Amazon, or .
The Sony 1000XM4 are slightly older, but are still a great pair of headphones. They offer great quality sound, fold up well and have outstanding noise-cancellation – with the advantage of being almost laughably cheap.
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Go wireless on your next flight with AirFly. (Image: Getty)
Twelve South AirFly SE
If you’re tight on space or prefer to use , then the AirFly from Twelve South is an essential bit of kit when flying. This clever gadget plugs into the headphone socket of the in-flight entertainment system and converts it to Bluetooth so you can connect your wireless headphones. It’s perfect for connecting your AirPods to the plane.
The AirFly comes in a number of different models, but the SE is the best for most people, allowing you to get connected and enjoy the in-flight entertainment with your own Bluetooth headphones. This also makes a great stocking filler because it’s .
The AirFly SE will plug into the headphone socket of an in-flight entertainment system and convert it to Bluetooth so you can connect your own headphones.
A power bank is essential to keep your devices charged. (Image: Anker )
Anker Prime power bank
You never know where the next plug socket is going to be. I work on the move and so often that involves being away from a desk for a long time – and the Anker Prime power bank can recharge a laptop, meaning I can stay productive. The Anker Prime 20,000mAh is a big power bank, but it will recharge all your devices, more than once. You can get it for a great price on Amazon right now, .
If you don’t need something that big, then there are plenty of options, but I’d recommend at least a 10,000mAh device. This will recharge a typical phone twice – or more importantly, two phones, so you can keep your travel buddy topped up too. This Anker power bank and alternatively you can shop direct from the
Organise your cables before you head off on your travels. (Image: Lowepro / Chris Hall)
Lowepro Gearup Pouch
Are you still throwing all your cables and adapters into your hand luggage, leaving them to wrap around everything, so you can never pull them out when you need them? Get organised with the instead. This handy punch has elastic loops to hold all your cables in place.
The best thing is to organise your bag with one of these cable and adapter pouches and then always carry it. You won’t be left wondering if you have that essential cable you need, because it’s always there in your bag. Being able to pull out your cable organiser, unzip and get your hands on that cable is so refreshing.
AirTag is a great travel accessory and Christmas gift. (Image: Getty)
Bluetooth trackers
These make ideal gifts for anyone who travels regularly, no matter the distance. If you’re an Apple user, . It’s rarely discounted and only comes in one style – buy it, connect to it, put it in your luggage and then watch where your bags travel around the airport.
If you don’t need a pack of four AirTags then Very has cut the price of the idividual device to £28 – which you can
If you’re an Android user, then Tile is your best option. Tile is a little more versatile than AirTag because there are different models. I prefer the Tile Pro because you can change the battery, but if you want something for your wallet there’s the Slim, while the Sticker is useful too, as it’s tiny.
The Apple AirTag is a stealth hit, allowing Apple users to track their processions, like bags, keys or suitcases. This 4 pack might seem excessive, but you’re only paying £21 per AirTag, a real saving.
The author with a Fire TV Stick in the Alps on holiday. (Image: Chris Hall)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
Seriously, why fight with someone else’s TV system when you can just connect your own Fire TV Stick 4K, signed into all your own accounts, and get watching? Many AirBnB apartments will have a TV you can just connect to, and many hotels have an accessible HDMI socket just for this purpose.
Yes, some services might not work (like BBC iPlayer) and some might throw up messages about regional access, but Netflix is golden and once you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to stream and keep yourself entertained. I’ve used this trick when travelling with my kids – it can make life so much easier and takes up no space at all.
The Fire TV Stick 4K offers much the same experience as the MAx model, but is a little slower, with lower-spec Wi-Fi and no Ambient experience. It’s cheaper though.
Now Sony’s 1000XM4 headphones may be slightly outdated, using the Fire TV stick abroad hasn’t always been foolproof, and Apple AirTags aren’t a good choice for Android users (well, they simply won’t work) but these products have been a staple for travel and as I’ve tried and tested them I couldn’t not recommend – despite a few small quirks.