They are the tech gadgets you’ll want with you when you’re traveling
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| − | + | The particular Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Company Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue 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, probably you�re just starting to plan your next vacation. Whatever the case, a few good gadgets can make hitting the road (or skies) altogether less exhausting. (Relatively speaking. ) So below, we�ve curved up some of our favorite travel-friendly technology. They�re varied, but all of them will help you survive your ride in their own method. <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 upward. 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 here, and its in-ear QuietComfort 20 may be 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 great with its neckband-style design first. <br>Now, not all of you will need noise-cancelling to savor some music on the go. If you�re just looking from something cheap, light, and nice-sounding, I like the clean and detailed sounds of the MEE Audio A151 - though right now you should know that there are lots of other ways you can proceed. <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 the devices claiming to threaten its existence, a good laptop is still probably the most natural blend of �something for enjoyment? and �something for getting things done.? 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 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 actually 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 options out there, but most are too chunky plus battery-light to be great companions on the run. <br>If you know you can be careful by it, though, Toshiba�s Satellite C55-C5241 is a pretty solid performer for just $430. If even that is too much, or perhaps you just want something to kind up some Word docs for the flight, I don�t mind the particular $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 . com. <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 this gets, for a hybrid - your own tablet will probably get more mileage like a consumption device than a production one on the road. It�s mostly something with regard to movie watching, web browsing, guide 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 lifeless simple software for making all that a 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 tablet mini 4, meanwhile, is about since powerful as the Air 2, and more compact, but won�t be because friendly if productivity is a big deal. <br>The entry-level iPad mini two 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 sheer user-friendliness of iOS upon tablets keeps it a step above just about any other budget tablet available. <br>For pure value, though, the $50 Amazon Fire is difficult to top. It�s a cheap slate, to be sure, but it�s consistently competent where it matters. If you just want to complete the time with a few videos, particularly 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 two, $269, available at Wal-Mart. <br>Amazon Open fire, $49. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>A portable keyboard <br>logitechIf you�d really rather not really crunch your laptop into your handbag, packing a portable keyboard will make working with your tablet less of a headache than it�d be using a virtual QWERTY pad. <br>These don�t get much lighter and thinner than the Logitech Keys-to-Go, which is exactly what one of the Surface Pro�s Touch Addresses would be like if it had authentic feedback and travel. It�s completely spill-resistant, too, and these days you will find it for a relatively affordable thirty-five dollars or so. <br>Its ultra-thin design won�t be for everyone, however. If you�d rather a slightly more traditional, though no less affordable, keyboard, the new Logitech K380 feels good, looks great, and isn�t a burden to carry close to. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Logitech Keys-to-Go, $34. 99, offered 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 trips plowing through books, Amazon�s Amazon kindle Paperwhite is a great buy. The Amazon kindle ecosystem is far and away the most reliable of the e-reading crop, and the great display, big battery, and built/in backlight of the Paperwhite make accessing it very smooth. The only noteworthy issue is that it�s not water-proof; if that�s a concern, Barnes and Noble�s new Nook GlowLight Plus should do the trick. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, $119. 99, available at Amazon. <br>Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight In addition, $129. 99, available at Barnes & Noble. <br>An unlocked smartphone<br>Business Insider / Lisa EadiciccoYou don�t require me to explain why your smart phone is an important travel accessory. There�s an excellent chance it runs your life since 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 down 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 SIM cards and switch carriers if you�re heading overseas. You�ll keep coverage and avoid pricey roaming 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 the really changes which smartphones are best, though: The iPhone 6s is still clothes for most people, what with its wonderful digital camera, blazing fast performance, full screen, and eternally supported app store. There isn�t really anyone for whom it�s outright bad. <br>Huawei�s Nexus 6P is a fantastic alternative for Google android and phablet aficionados, though, as well as 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, available at Amazon. <br>Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 or more (4. 7-inch), $174, available at Amazon . com. <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 wish to relax a bit before heading back into 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 Fire TV Stick. <br>Though the UI caters heavily to Primary members, it�s faster than the Roku Streaming Stick, doesn�t require an outside device like the Google Chromecast, plus supports most major apps. It could 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 exactly you need, and does it well. <br><br>What to consider: <br>Amazon Fire TV Stick, $34. 99, offered at Amazon. <br>A Bluetooth speaker<br>JBLYou can 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 less than $100. It�s just a great purchase. <br>If you�re backpacking or usually heading outdoors, though, a more diminutive speaker like the JBL Clip+ may work better. As its name implies, it has a built-in carabiner clip that lets it easily attach to a handbag or belt loop. It also has the same water resistance. It can�t get as powerful as the Change 3, naturally, but its sound is still crisp, clear, and largely free of distortion. It�s a superb choice within the $40-50 range. <br><br>What you should consider: <br>JBL Flip 3 (Black), $85. 50, available at Amazon . com. <br>JBL Clip+ (Red), $43. 99, available at Amazon. <br><br>A travel router <br>HooTooAs we�ve noted before, HooToo�s series of TripMate devices are explicitly designed to make traveling more convenient. The TripMate Titan is the high-end model of the group, and acts as a serviceable portable battery, take a trip WiFi router, and network-attached storage space all at once. <br>It isn�t outstanding in any one of those areas, but it�s the particular rare all-in-one that actually does several 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 portable USB battery <br>ankerStill, many of you may not need a travel router or even NAS to make it through your trip. A 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, thin, and efficient. Ranging from $20 for the 10400mAh unit to $40 for any 20100mAh pack, they aren�t excessively expensive either. <br>That they have almost perfect user reviews on Amazon at the moment should give you an idea of how reliable they may be. If you have a long ride ahead, there�s just a heightened sense of security that comes with having one of these things around. They�re usually worth the bag 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>A USB and Lightning cable or Power strip <br>ankerThen there�s the obvious power-related stuff. Regardless of what devices you bring on your travels, it can never hurt to have a few spare microUSB and/or Lightning cables around 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 strip like Belkin�s SurgePlus Mini Phone chrgr can come in handy. <br><br>What to 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 in a spotty hotel room) is a notorious hassle, but you can bypass much of that will 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 has long been the fastest and most expansive in the united states. If you live on the road, it could be the wise investment. <br><br>What things to consider: <br>Verizon Jetpack MiFi 6620L, $49. 99 (w/contract) or $199. 99 (w/o contract), offered at Verizon. <br>An emergency flash drive<br>sandiskFinally, your gear will be more prone to disasters when you�re outside the confines of your home. As such, it�s worth another reminder 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 data files in particular, bringing along a spare adobe flash drive is a simple and space-efficient method to keep them safe. <br>The differences among most USB sticks aren�t huge, practically speaking - just make sure you purchase an USB 3. 0 one - but the SanDisk Extreme gets you proven fast read/write rates of speed 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 straight down. <br><br>What to consider: <br>SanDisk Extreme (16GB), $16. sixty six, available at Amazon. | |
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