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Remember that long train journey when you badly needed some green tea, but couldn’t find hot water? Or, that trek in which your phone ran out of battery and you almost got lost, because you didn’t have a power bank?
Well, both scenarios have happened to me personally, before I realized the importance of travel gadgets. Certain tech and accessories can enhance your travel experiences. And if you forget crucial travel gadgets back home, some trips can turn into the worst nightmares!
So, to avoid ruining your vacation vibe, we have put together a helpful guide to the 13 best travel gadgets and accessories you need. Let’s get started?
Contents
1. Mini Electric Kettle
This portable kettle has been my lifesaver during trips, because I can’t do without my morning black coffee and am used to drinking warm water in the colder months. So, if we are on a train or are vacationing at a homestay, I use this kettle to boil water.
It comes handy even in some hotels of smaller towns like Shirdi, where they don’t provide kettles in the room. You can also use it to boil water for making cup noodles, besides tea and coffee. Plus, it can easily fit in your travel bags. Remember to carry some tea dips or coffee sachets with you.
Price: INR 2849
Pros: Compact, great for train/bus journeys & smaller towns
Cons: Takes some time to heat the water
2. Phone Tripod
I have been using this simple and affordable tripod stand on my travels for years now. Because while the gimbal can turn into a tripod stand, it doesn’t allow extension beyond a certain height and works best as a stabilizer and selfie tool.
So, for life size photos of ourselves with the background of the location, we simply set up this tripod. You can also use it to shoot videos without anyone’s help.
Price: INR 749
Pros: Lightweight, can fit into a suitcase or large backpack, great for self-photography, comes with a bag
Cons: None
3. Noise Canceling Earpods
My husband has been hooked to these Apple earpods for several years. We use it to listen to music or watch movies during flight/train journeys. And it totally shuts off ambience noise.
They are also safe to wear while you’re walking or running, as the pod sits perfectly inside the ear and doesn’t budge until you remove them. Their in-built case auto-charges the pods. However, you do need to charge the case once in a few days.
In case you’re not a fan of Apple products or looking for more affordable earpods, Boat earbuds are a popular option.
Price: INR 12,800
Pros: Sturdy, cancels background noise well, great sound quality
Cons: It can’t work if you forget to charge it
4. High Speed 5-In-1 Travel Adapter
When we have a packed itinerary, and need to be in and out of our hotel room within a short time, this 5-in-1 travel adapter becomes a savior.
It has all kinds of ports, including type C and USB, which can quickly charge a variety of devices at once. One of the best parts is that it’s lightweight and can easily be carried in our backpacks or suitcases.
Price: INR 3,999
Pros: Has multiple varieties of ports, compact in size, quick charging
Cons: None
5. Gimbal For Phone
If you’re a content creator or simply a selfie enthusiast who loves to get great travel footage, the DJI gimbal is one of the best travel gadgets! It stabilizes the videos we capture while walking and doubles up as a selfie stick, with its extendable rod and switches.
We have also used it as a tripod innumerable times! How, you ask? Well, it comes with a detachable stand that can be placed on the road, table or any plain surface. So you can shoot your own photographs or videos without having to request strangers.
Price: INR 11,990
Pros: Stabilizes moving videos, height can be expanded, has tracking sensor & buttons for zooming, focusing and changing angles
Cons: Extension rod is limited to a certain height
6. Bluetooth Clicker
When you use the gimbal’s tripod features or a separate tripod stand altogether to capture your travel photos, you need to have this bluetooth clicker.
Earlier, we used to use our phone camera’s timer feature and then run to the spot within 10 seconds to get the picture, which was such a hassle! Ever since we bought this clicker, all we do is turn on the bluetooth and capture the perfect photos and videos with just a click, even from a distance.
Price: INR 169
Pros: Super compact, works with bluetooth, simple to use
Cons: None
7. Flash Drive
For people who have a habit of shooting large travel videos, a flash drive or OTG can be a useful gadget to carry. My iPhone 13 Mini usually runs out of storage space, because I capture many videos during trips.
So all I need to do is connect the 256 GB flash drive to my phone, transfer the videos and then delete them from my device to shoot new videos. It can easily fit into small purses and pockets.
Price: INR 6,499
Pros: Great for video storage & very compact
Cons: Could get corrupt after a few years, so remember to take a secondary backup after your trip
8. Portable Power Bank
One of the most important travel gadgets is a portable power bank. After all, don’t you need your phone alive for calls, Google maps, internet, UPI payments and so many other situations?
We have been using this Ambrane power bank for over two years now. We also make sure to put it in our parents’ bags when they go on trips. It has a quick charging system, ensuring convenience while you’re on the go.
TWT Tip: There’s also a wireless solar charger we found on Amazon that doesn’t need electricity to get self-charged! It can charge itself with the sun’s light. All you need to do is place your phone on it. For rainy days, it’s got an electric port as well.
Price: INR 1599
Pros: Fast charging, dual ports, multi-layer protection
Cons: Slightly heavy
9. Self Defense Tool
Every traveler, regardless of gender, must keep self defense tools with them. Needless to say that it’s an absolute essential for solo female travelers, isn’t it?
So let’s hope you never have to use it, but this 15-in-1 Multi-Tool Pocket Knife can be helpful to scare away unwanted intruders during your trips. It can also double up as a tool for other purposes, such as opening a soft drink bottle, cutting open snack packets or as a screwdriver.
TWT Tip: We also found a self-defense SOS alarm that you can try out. You simply need to switch it on, if you ever come across unpleasant situations while traveling. Also, if you don’t already know, keep your location shared with loved ones on Google Maps for additional safety.
Price: INR 599
Pros: Pocket size, comes with a thick storage bag offering double protection for your skin when placed in the pocket
Cons: Could be confiscated if it’s carried in cabin luggage on a flight, it needs to be packed inside cargo luggage
10. Smart Tracker
How many times do we forget about where we’ve kept our keys or wallet while traveling? The Apple AirTag is the perfect travel companion if you’re an iPhone user.
It can keep track of important belongings, including pets, cycles, bikes or cars, as long as you keep the AirTag tagged to them. Especially in the case of thefts, this product can be a game changer, as you can easily track the location of your objects through the ‘Find My’ app on your iPhone or iPad.
If you’re not an iPhone user, you can use the Tile Pro Bluetooth Finder for tracking your belongings.
Price: INR 3,099
Pros: Can be placed in small zippers or tagged to your pets’ harness, finds exact location of your objects
Cons: Compatible only with iPhone
11. Mini Steam Iron
If you’re on a long trip where laundry is not available, a mini steam iron can be a useful travel gadget to carry. This Inalsa Steam Iron heats up in 40 seconds!
But, the most interesting part? You can iron even vertically-hung clothes without the need of an ironing board. It’s especially great for work trips, as you need your outfits to be well-ironed and crisp.
Price: INR 1,894
Pros: Quick heating, can iron both horizontally & vertically, lightweight
Cons: None
12. Portable Water Purifier
With 90,000+ positive reviews on Amazon, this award-winning mini water purifier is one of the most popular travel accessories globally. It’s especially loved by sustainable travelers and those who go on long camping trips to remote areas.
Found a stream, river or waterfall? Simply place the water purifier inside and drink the purified water from the other end. It is designed to eliminate 99.99% of bacteria and parasites from water. The best part is that, besides survival, it can reduce the use of disposable plastic water bottles on our trips drastically.
Price: INR 1,479
Pros: Super compact (can fit into handbag), purifies dirty water, prevents use of plastic
Cons: None
13. Pocket WiFi
When you go on workations, staying connected to the internet during work hours becomes crucial. That’s why you need a portable WiFi dongle that you can carry easily.
The AmazonBasics 4G dongle is compatible with all sims and offers 150 Mbps speed. It’s great for group trips as well, as it supports up to 10 devices.
Price: INR 2,649
Pros: Easy to use & compact
Cons: Could have connectivity issues in certain remote areas
TWT Summary
Most of the travel gadgets recommended above are what we personally use during our trips. And truly, they have proved to be a savior.
Some of the most essential travel gadgets needed universally are portable power banks, dongles and universal adapters. For the Winter and Monsoon seasons, accessories such as Mini Electric Kettle and Mini Steam Iron are very helpful.
On the other hand, the best gadgets for travel content creation include a phone gimbal, clicker and OTG. Don’t forget to keep a mini water purifier as well for sustainable traveling, and a smart tracker and pocket knife for safety of yourself and your belongings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Gadgets
1. Are there any budget-friendly travel gadgets available in India?
There are several affordable travel gadgets and accessories available in India, such as smart tracker, portable 4G dongle, pocket knife, travel adapter, tripod, bluetooth clicker and mini kettle.
2. Do we need to carry universal travel adapters these days?
A universal travel adapter is essential for train and bus journeys, or if you’re traveling to remote locations and staying in a homestay. This is because some places don’t offer a variety of charging ports required for multiple devices. However, you might not need it in 5 star hotels, as most of them update their rooms with the latest ports.
3. Do portable WiFi dongles really work in India?
It’s important to select a reliable brand while purchasing a portable WiFi device. Some dongles don’t offer great speed and might not connect in certain regions of India, especially remote or hilly areas. Options like Amazon Basics 4G dongle can be a safe bet, as it’s compatible with all networks.
4. Which are the most essential travel gadgets for road trips?
For road trips, travel gadgets like a smart tyre inflator, rotating car phone holder, mini water purifier and car phone charger can be very useful. If you’re planning a long road trip, you can also carry a camping chair, tent and stove.
5. Are there any safety gadgets in India?
India has a few gadgets like pocket knife, SOS alarm, and smart tracker that help with safety of your own self as well as your luggage and other belongings. You can also use the sharing feature on your phone’s Google Maps app to let your family know about your whereabouts.
Note: Prices mentioned were recorded at the time of writing the article.
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