When it comes to vacations, having the right gadgets for your trips is essential. Technology can solve all the biggest problems when going on vacation, from the sheer boredom of long trips to keeping all your devices recharged.
So when I headed to Costa Rica with my partner, this gave me the opportunity to create my perfect everyday vacation bag: a suite of technology guaranteed to help you make the most of every vacation, while also being sufficiently lightweight and portable. to store in your personal item like a backpack.
Oh, and if you’re curious, my favorite bag is the Able Carry Daily. It’s a little pricey at $138, but it has a sexy, minimalist look and is durable enough to last for many years.
Instead of talking or going into detail about how my pale English complexion stuck out like a sore thumb in San Jose, let’s get into my 5 essential travel gadgets.
1. Ray-Ban meta-smart glasses
When using them in the UK, functionality is limited when it comes to Ray-Ban’s Meta smart glasses. Sure, the photo and video capture capabilities are excellent, and the speaker and microphone combination make them ideal for hands-free calling on the go. But the AI features that were unlocked the moment I arrived in the US demonstrated what they are truly capable of.
Of course, it was amazing to get videos while driving an ATV through the jungle, but the real magic came when I got my hands on the multi-modal AI beta. This feature set starts with a very simple “Hello Meta! Look and tell me…” followed by any questions you have.
Whether translating signs from Spanish to English, identifying the species of jungle cat I was looking at, or getting a history lesson on the landmarks I saw, glasses bring a new dimension to any vacation. It’s not perfect: Being in beta, the software doesn’t always work well. But more often than not, it convinced me that Meta is really onto something when it comes to wearable AI devices.
Just make sure you get the transition lenses. That extra $97 cost may hurt, but being able to use them at all times dramatically increases their usability.
2. Mous 3 in 1 Portable Charger
The charging struggle is real, and I’ve felt it too much: pulling out a spaghetti joint of cables and plugs to power your phone, watch, and headphones. So being able to charge all three at one wireless station is key to having a cleaner Airbnb bedside table.
For my daily iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Watch Series 9, and AirPods Pro 2 controller setup, I opted for the Mous portable charger for one key reason: it’s super lightweight and super portable. At just a little over three ounces and about the same size as your standard credit card (just a little thicker), you can throw it in your backpack or case without a moment’s hesitation.
There is a slight drawback in the lack of certification, so charging speeds are slow (7.5W for the iPhone), but as long as you solve this problem by charging overnight, the design and low price make it a Valuable addition to any travel arsenal.
3. Shargeek Retro 35W GaN Charger
When it comes to plugging into outlets, I could have opted for a converter to use my 3-prong outlets, but these monstrosities tend to take up a lot of space in my backpack. On top of that, if you’re looking for a really cheap one, those exposed tips are prone to scratching other items hidden in there (RIP my old sunglasses).
That’s where my little Shargeek GaN charger comes in, giving you 35W of power in a small form factor. Even better, it’s an homage to the classic Macintosh that is incredibly adorable. The illuminated face also lets you see what the device is currently doing: it turns blue when charging fast, yellow when charging super fast, green when juicing at a constant rate, or white when not charging.
4. Steam platform
Imagine the scene. You are on a long-haul flight; inflight entertainment sucks; and the cabin crew announces that the WiFi is not working. It’s a mess that means you’re stuck watching The Brady Bunch for seven hours wanting to gouge your eyes out.
That’s why the Steam Deck has been a lifesaver for me on those super long flights. Load it up with games, make sure you have offline mode set correctly for those games that may start looking for online verification, and you’re done.
My favorites at the moment are a mix of Forza Horizon 5, Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remasteredand Cyberpunk 2077 for those long travel times. Bonus points if you pair them with the Xreal Air 2 Pro AR glasses – your neck will thank you!
5. Shargeek 100 Portable Battery
When you’re out and about, it’s fair to say that you’ll drain your phone’s battery by taking many more photos and videos than you normally would. That’s why a portable battery is essential.
But what if you have higher charging demands while traveling? That Steam Deck battery will drain quickly when you play more processor-intensive AAA titles. For that, you need faster charging and much more capacity than your standard small battery. That’s where the Shargeek 100 comes into play.
With a futuristic transparent look that gives me serious Nothing Phone (2) vibes with a hint of yellow for intrigue, this is a really stylish piece of kit and much smaller and lighter than you’d expect, perfect for on the go.
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