Editing They are the tech gadgets you’ll wish with you when you’re traveling
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The particular Insider Picks team writes regarding stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the income from your purchase. <br>ShutterstockPresident's Day weekend is nearly upon us, which means it�s time for people to start moving around. Probably you�re heading back home, maybe you�ve got a business trip to make, maybe you�re just starting to plan the next vacation. Whatever the case, a few good gadgets can make hitting the road (or skies) altogether less exhausting. (Relatively talking. ) So below, we�ve rounded up some of our favorite travel-friendly technology. They�re varied, but all of them can help you survive your ride in their own way. <br>A pair of noise-cancelling headphones<br>BoseWhether you�re riding shotgun with the family or even stuck on a cross-country flight, at some point during your trek you�ll probably need everything around you to just shut up. You can try asking politely, but a much better idea would be simulating the same impact with a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. <br>Bose�s QuietComfort series is the cream of the crop right here, and its in-ear QuietComfort 20 is the lightest and most portable of the number. It�s also $250. If that�s too much, Phiaton�s BT 100 NORTH CAROLINA isn�t really close to the QuietComfort�s silencing tech, but it�s more than solid for $100, and sounds pretty great to boot. Just make sure you�re cool with its neckband-style design first. <br>Now, not all of you will need noise-cancelling to take pleasure from some music on the go. If you�re just looking from something inexpensive, light, and nice-sounding, I like the particular clean and detailed sounds of the MEE Audio A151 - though by now you should know that there are lots of other ways you can move. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Bose QuietComfort 20, $299, available at Amazon. <br>Phiaton BT 100 NC, $99, available at Amazon. <br>MEE Sound A151, $32. 65, available at Amazon. <br><br>A laptop<br>Flickr / alejandropintoFor all of the devices claiming to threaten the existence, a good laptop is still one of the most natural blend of �something for amusement? and �something for getting things completed.? They�re eternally good for travel. If you grab a super thin Ultrabook, they�re aren�t much of a hassle to throw in a bag, either. <br>There are usually two clear-cut winners among those: The wonderfully well-made Dell XPS thirteen for Windows users, and the long-steady MacBook Air for Apple loyalists. With its sharper screen, lower starting price, and tighter design, I prefer the new XPS 13, but you really can�t go wrong either way. <br>Laptops are one of those markets where you really see a drop-off in quality if you try to cut costs - there are a few decent budget choices out there, but most are too chunky and battery-light to be great companions on the go. <br>If you know you can be careful with it, though, Toshiba�s Satellite C55-C5241 is really a pretty solid performer for just $430. If even that is too much, or you just want something to kind up some Word docs within the flight, I don�t mind the $180 Acer Aspire One Cloudbook eleven, either. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Dell XPS 13 (Non-touch), $799. 99, available at Dell. <br>Apple MacBook Air (13. 3-inch), $999. 99, available at Best Buy. <br>Toshiba Satellite C55-C5241, $469. 99, offered at Amazon. <br>Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 11, $167. 92, available at Amazon. <br><br>A tablet<br>Business Insider / Steve KovachUnless you splurge on something like a Surface Pro 4 - which still appears to be as good as it gets, for a hybrid - your own tablet will probably get more mileage like a consumption device than a production 1 on the road. It�s mostly something with regard to movie watching, web browsing, book reading, and game playing. <br>To nobody�s surprise, Apple�s iPad line still has the best mix of beautiful design, super fast performance, and dead simple software for making all that the pleasure. If you grab the flagship iPad Air 2, you�ll go that�s at least somewhat accommodating to the majority of people�s work too. <br>The iPad mini 4, meanwhile, is about since powerful as the Air 2, and more compact, but won�t be since friendly if productivity is a big-deal. <br>The entry-level iPad mini 2 is the weakest in the series, and has a comparatively lesser display, but it�s still great for the money, and also a little less unwieldy by default. The particular sheer user-friendliness of iOS on tablets keeps it a step above just about any other budget tablet out there. <br>For pure value, though, the particular $50 Amazon Fire is challenging to top. It�s a cheap slate, to be sure, but it�s consistently competent where it matters. If you just want to move the time with a few videos, especially if you�re an Amazon Prime associate, it�s a great buy for the cash-strapped. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Microsoft Surface Pro 4, $899, available at Microsoft Store. <br>Apple iPad Air 2, $499. 99, available at Best Buy. <br>Apple iPad small 4, $399. 99, available at Best Buy. <br>Apple iPad mini 2, $269, available at Wal-Mart. <br>Amazon Fire, $49. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>A portable keyboard <br>logitechIf you�d really rather not crunch your laptop into your handbag, packing a portable keyboard will make working with your tablet less of the headache than it�d be using a virtual QWERTY pad. <br>These don�t get much lighter and slimmer than the Logitech Keys-to-Go, which is what one of the Surface Pro�s Touch Addresses would be like if it had genuine feedback and travel. It�s completely spill-resistant, too, and these days you will find it for a relatively affordable 35 dollars or so. <br>Its ultra-thin design won�t be for everyone, however. If you�d rather a slightly more traditional, although no less affordable, keyboard, the new Logitech K380 feels good, looks great, and isn�t a burden to carry around. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Logitech Keys-to-Go, $34. 99, available at Best Buy. <br>Logitech K380, $34. 76, available at Amazon. <br><br>An e-reader <br>AmazonIf you�re the type who spends your rides plowing through books, Amazon�s Kindle Paperwhite is a great buy. The Kindle ecosystem is far and away the most reliable of the e-reading crop, and the good display, big battery, and built-in backlight of the Paperwhite make being able to access it very smooth. The only significant issue is that it�s not waterproof; if that�s a concern, Barnes & Noble�s new Nook GlowLight In addition should do the trick. <br><br>What you should consider: <br>Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, $119. 99, available at Amazon. <br>Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight Plus, $129. 99, available at Barnes & Noble. <br>An unlocked smartphone<br>Business Insider / Lisa EadiciccoYou don�t need me to explain why your smartphone is an important travel accessory. There�s a good chance it runs your life as it is. But if you�re a frequent tourist in the market for a new phone, it�s worth picking up an unlocked model : i. e., one that isn�t tied up to a particular carrier. <br>You�ll still pay a little more for it upfront -- though times are changing - but one perk you�ll obtain in return is the ability to swap out there SIM cards and switch companies if you�re heading overseas. You�ll keep coverage and avoid pricey running around charges as a result, and most of the time you�ll even make a little more cash in regards time to resell the device. <br>None of this really changes which smartphones are best, though: The iPhone 6s is still covers for most people, what with its wonderful camera, blazing fast performance, full screen, and eternally supported app store. Presently there isn�t really anyone for who it�s outright bad. <br>Huawei�s Nexus 6P is a fantastic alternative for Android and phablet aficionados, though, and the Motorola Moto G and Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 are well-rounded choices for those on a budget. <br>And in case you just need a cheapo old-school phone in case of emergencies, you can look to something like the Blu Tank II. Don�t judge. <br><br>What to think about: <br>Apple iPhone 6s, $649. 99, available at Apple. <br>Huawei Nexus 6P, $449, available at Google. <br>Motorola Moto G, $177. 68, offered at Amazon. <br>Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4. 7-inch), $174, available at Amazon. <br>Blu Tank II, $19. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>The media streamer <br>amazonAlright, you�ve made it to the hotel, and you want to relax a bit before heading back to the wild. You can catch some Netflix on one of many solid media streamers, but of the cheaper and more compact dongles on the market, I like the Amazon . com Fire TV Stick. <br>Though its UI caters heavily to Primary members, it�s faster than the Roku Streaming Stick, doesn�t require another device like the Google Chromecast, plus supports most major apps. It may bypass the pesky captive portals that keep some streamers from connecting at hotels, and its brand new remote now has built-in voice search. For $40, it does what you require, and does it well. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Amazon Open fire TV Stick, $34. 99, available at Amazon. <br>A Bluetooth speaker<br>JBLYou may liven up that hotel room (or the particular drive to it) by blasting some music (or just some NPR) through a quality Bluetooth speaker. There�s an overwhelming number of options to choose from, but the JBL Flip 3 nets a full, smooth sound, about 10-12 hours of battery life, water level of resistance, and a sturdy, colorful design for under $100. It�s just a great purchase. <br>If you�re backpacking or generally heading outdoors, though, a more small speaker like the JBL Clip+ might work better. As its name implies, it offers a built-in carabiner clip that will lets it easily attach to a bag or belt loop. It also has the same water resistance. It can�t get as powerful as the Switch 3, naturally, but its sound continues to be crisp, clear, and largely free from distortion. It�s a superb choice in the $40-50 range. <br><br>Things to consider: <br>JBL Flip 3 or more (Black), $85. 50, available at Amazon . com. <br>JBL Clip+ (Red), $43. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>The travel router <br>HooTooAs we�ve noted before, HooToo�s series of TripMate devices are explicitly designed to make traveling more convenient. The TripMate Ti (symbol) is the high-end model of the group, plus acts as a serviceable portable battery, travel WiFi router, and network-attached storage space all at once. <br>It isn�t outstanding in an one of those areas, but it�s the rare all-in-one that actually does multiple things well. It isn�t especially big, either. For $59 (normally), it�s a fairly affordable way to consolidate a few handy devices into one. <br><br>What to consider: <br>HooToo TripMate Titan, $39. 50, available at Amazon. <br><br>A transportable USB battery <br>ankerStill, a lot of you may not need a travel router or NAS to make it through your trip. The portable battery, on the other hand, is almost often something you�ll be glad to have brought with you. <br>Anker is a tried-and-true name in that market, and its brand new PowerCore batteries are smooth, slender, and efficient. Ranging from $20 for any 10400mAh unit to $40 for a 20100mAh pack, they aren�t excessively expensive either. <br>That they have almost perfect user reviews on Amazon at the moment need to give you an idea of how reliable they may be. If you have a long ride ahead, there�s just a heightened sense of safety that comes with having one of these things around. They�re usually worth the handbag space. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Anker PowerCore 10400mAh, $19. 99, available at Amazon. <br>Anker PowerCore 15600mAh, $36. 99, available at Amazon. <br>Anker PowerCore 20100mAh, $39. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>The USB and Lightning cable and Power strip <br>ankerThen there�s the obvious power-related stuff. Regardless of what gadgets you bring on your travels, it may never hurt to have a few spare microUSB and/or Lightning cables close to in case one gets misplaced along the way. Again, Anker has reliable plus affordable options here with its PowerLine microUSB Cable and Lightning-to-USB Cable connection. <br>Likewise, if you wind up in a hotel room that doesn�t have enough outlets to cost all your devices, a small power remove like Belkin�s SurgePlus Mini Phone chrgr can come in handy. <br><br>What you should consider: <br>Anker PowerLine microUSB Cable (6ft), $5. 99, offered at Amazon. <br>Anker Lightning-to-USB Cable (6ft), $7. 99, available at Amazon. <br>Belkin SurgePlus 3-Outlet Mini Charger, $17. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>A mobile hotspot <br>verizonFinding steady internet on the go (or inside a spotty hotel room) is a notorious hassle, but you can bypass much of that annoyance with a mobile hotspot. If you can�t or don�t want to occurs phone as such, Verizon�s Jetpack MiFi 6620L is a dependable, consistently well-reviewed option. Like most MiFi routers, it�s not cheap, but Verizon�s network is certainly the fastest and most expansive in the nation. If you live on the road, it could be the wise investment. <br><br>What you should consider: <br>Verizon Jetpack MiFi 6620L, $49. 99 (w/contract) or $199. 99 (w/o contract), available at Verizon. <br>An emergency flash drive<br>sandiskFinally, your gear will be more prone to unfortunate occurances when you�re outside the confines of your home. As such, it�s worth another tip that you should really go out of your way to backup your data before heading off. In case you�re working with a handful of important documents in particular, bringing along a spare adobe flash drive is a simple and space-efficient method to keep them safe. <br>The differences in between most USB sticks aren�t huge, practically speaking - just make sure you buy an USB 3. 0 one particular - but the SanDisk Extreme gets you proven fast read/write speeds and a fair amount of space in a affordable price. With a 4. six rating after 1, 800 Amazon . com reviews, it�s shouldn�t let you down. <br><br>What to consider: <br>SanDisk Extreme (16GB), $16. 66, available at Amazon.
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