According to a survey by Consumer Reports, 94 percent of American travelers bring electronic devices on vacation, with two out of every three taking a smartphone.This likely comes as no surprise to smartphone owners, but what kind of smartphone should be on your travel gadget list? And what other devices should you never leave home without? Here’s a round-up of travel gadgets that should have a permanent spot in your suitcase.
Galaxy S7
A quality smartphone should be water resistant, durable, not terribly expensive and come with a high-quality camera. The Samsung Galaxy S7 allows for unlimited streaming video with their “Binge On” app. Its 12 MP rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera make for smooth and crisp photos and video. And, unlike other smartphones that drain your phone when you’re taking and watching videos, the Galaxy S7 has 28 hours of talk time and 12 entire days of standby time. So your phone will stay powered up even if you’re in a remote area, want to disconnect or just want to take photos every once in a while.
SteriPEN
Ever been stuck in a part of the world where even the bottled water smelled or tasted suspect? Don’t leave home without a UV water purifier. SteriPEN is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. You can camp and hike comfortably near natural water sources without worrying about rationing out your canteen filled with bottled water. Just stick SteriPEN directly into your water bottle or glass and turn it on for under a minute. It eliminates Cryptosporidium, which can cause diarrhea and other intestinal ailments. SteriPEN is also super portable and eliminates the mess of tablets that dissolve in your water.
Tylt
Traveling with all of your devices? Need a charge on the go? Electronic addicts shouldn’t leave home without the Tylt backpack. It comes with a 10,400mAh battery pack to charge four different devices. A micro-USB connector recharges your battery pack so you’re ready to go the next day. Store your cables in a front zipper pocket designed to stay neat, orderly and convenient to charge while walking or taking a tour.
Bragi Dash
Noise cancelling headphones often make travel must-have lists. But their bulk isn’t always practical while traveling. Meanwhile, earbuds often require untangling a long cord, usually in mid-air while trying to block out the noise of a screaming child. Pick up a set of Bragi cordless earbuds before your next trip. These Bluetooth enabled headphones let you listen to music, take phone calls and respond to voice commands. And, unlike most earbuds that are only moderately comfortable, Bragi earbuds are designed to live in your ears with FitTip sizing for secure comfort so you don’t have to constantly fiddle with them.
goTenna
Eliminate the stress of skyrocketing charges for text and GPS when traveling around the world. goTenna puts both capabilities on your phone without any service required. This means you can trek through remote jungles and mountains and still stay connected to your travel buddies. This USB-style stick uses old-school radio waves to send messages to others nearby. You can share your location on a hike, send encrypted messages or just enjoy one-on-one messaging.
Bluesmart
There’s a smart gadget for everything else in your life, so why not your suitcase? The Bluesmart suitcase is the size of an airline approved carry-on and can track itself, auto lock and even charge your devices. Worried about weight restrictions after stuffing your bag with new clothes and souvenirs? Bluesmart will also weigh itself so you know what to expect before you get to the airport. And if your bag gets lost or stolen, you can track its GPS location right from your smartphone.
