How Can Travel Gadgets Make Being Nomadic Easier?
Advances in technology allow us, as travelers, to pack lighter, to be more connected, and to last longer on the road. When one works remotely, technology is not just a convenience, but also a gateway to earnings and a necessity, so it pays to have the best gear in your bag. Here are a few travel gadgets (and our favorites) that will enrich your nomadic lifestyle even further.
1. Headphones
Do you hate talking to strangers on the plane? There is an elegant solution to this problem; look as anti-social as possible with the most enormous headphones you can find. Boss headphones (our absolute favorite) not only successfully achieve this, but their sound-canceling capabilities will allow you to block out any unwanted chatter in your immediate proximity as you stare off into space, ignoring your neighbor. They do come at a higher price than some of their competitor’s products, but the product quality and the clarity of the sound is unrivaled, and the worldwide warranty will stop you spending ridiculous amounts on replacements all the time. Sennheiser also has some excellent and stylish products that will make you dance a little as you try to find your seat on the plane.
2. E-Readers
As romantic as the notion of depositing your DNA into a physical book is, it is just slightly impractical to lug around the entire contents of your local library in your luggage. An E-Reader tends to be lighter than a single book and can carry thousands of novels and books to entertain you during your travels and downtime. If you use a tablet, there is likely to be an E-Reader of sorts built in, and if not, you will most likely be able to download one, which eliminates the need to buy and carry a new device. That said, the Amazon Kindle and the Paperwhite E-Readers make reading a pleasure, and with specialized screens and extended battery life, they’re much more user-friendly than reflecting the sun directly into your face. Otherwise, you can always download your favorite books to your iPad or a smartphone.
3. Smartphones
The chances are that you already have a smartphone, but you may not be using it to its full potential when you are on the road. Have you downloaded the airline apps to speed through check-in? Are you still lugging around an average quality SLR camera when your iPhone takes photos which are almost as good but weighs only a fraction? Are you lost in a cave and scared of the dark and forgetting your phone most likely doubles up as a flashlight? There are applications for everything and dedicated sections in the application stores aimed directly at travelers and nomads, and your phone can do everything for you such as booking your flights, taking notes, organizing your life and even ordering your coffee before you turn up at the cafe. Go on, have a browse through the travel category on the Apple App store and find your new favorite go-to things that will add even more ease and fun to your adventures.
4. Laptops
Probably more important to a digital nomad than oxygen, laptops are getting smaller, lighter and more powerful every year. At the time of writing this article, Apple haven’t updated their MacBook Pro or MacBook Air in a while, and while the MacBook Air is very light and versatile, for those needing more power and processing capabilities, the Pro is the way to go and should save you a bit of money as well, although it does way a little more. If you prefer Windows products, there are a whole plethora of laptops and devices that you can work from. One highly recommended product is the ASUS ZenBook which packs a lot of power and won’t require a mortgage from the bank to purchase.
5. Powerbanks
Sometimes there is just not enough battery left on your smartphone by sunset to capture that beautiful sunrise, and how tragic it will be that none of your friends will be able to know that your life is just better than theirs. Powerbanks are nifty little things that used to cost a lot of money but now can cost as low as $10USD for a single charge unit. The Mazzo Powerdrive is an excellent piece of kit that can charge up an iPhone 6 around three times and, not only that, but it works as an external storage unit for your phone, so you can take as many photos of the sunset as you want without worrying about the internal memory of your phone. They are designed for IOS but also function with Android devices.
6. Lifestraw Go
Plastic is, without a doubt, a massive threat to our delicate ecosystems, and future generations depend on us cutting down on waste. As travelers, we tend to be nature lovers and should be the first to recognize and act on this. When one goes rural, clean drinking water can also be a problem, which is where the LifeStraw Go has killed two birds with one stone. You can fill the bottle with any freshwater, and the straw will clean and purify the water until it is safe to drink, while eliminating the need to buy plastic bottles of water everywhere you go and to have to carry them all too. Originally designed for people in developing countries without access to safe drinking water, its introduction into a drinking bottle has made rural travel a hell of a lot easier and is having a positive effect on the environment.