by Travel gadgets that make your (travel) life a little easier, we love them. Anything that saves space or time or is just plain fun is welcome with us, whether during packing or while on vacation. And we also get very excited about technical gadgets. Have you tried these travel gadgets yet?
Packing Cubes
It’s clear that we’re fans of packing cubes. Over the years, we’ve shared a lot about them and still travel with them, whether it’s for a weekend getaway or a longer trip. For those who aren’t familiar: packing cubes are handy organizers that help you arrange your luggage. You can use different colors for different types of clothing, like pants in a green cube and shirts in an orange cube. This way, you always know where to find what.
Of course, you can also achieve this with plastic bags, but packing cubes are more durable, don’t crinkle, are very compact, and much more organized. Packing cubes are especially useful if you’re traveling a lot, as they allow you to quickly find what you need in your bag or suitcase. No more mess in your luggage, yay! Guaranteed: once you’ve traveled with packing cubes, you’ll never want to be without them again.
Smart Travel Clothesline
The Sea to Summit clothesline is a handy clothesline for travel or camping. With this travel clothesline, you can easily hang your (hand)wash to dry anywhere. What’s ideal about this clothesline is that you no longer need clothespins to hang your laundry. With the clip system featuring adjustable clips, you can quickly and easily clamp the ends of your laundry between the lines. This prevents your laundry from falling off the line.
The clothesline is easy to hang between two objects like trees, tent poles, or even a bunk bed. It also reflects in the dark when you shine a flashlight on it, so you won’t trip over it when going to the bathroom at night. This makes the Sea to Summit clothesline the perfect clothesline for camping and travel! And it weighs only 22 grams.
Sunflake Cool Backpack
A handy vacation gadget for road trips or camping in the summer. With this cool backpack, you can keep all your food and drinks chilled on the go! The 30-liter backpack not only provides enough space for food and drinks but also for plates, utensils, and a picnic blanket. Ideal for a day at the beach, a boat trip, or a picnic, as well as a long car ride. The cool backpack keeps your food and drinks cool for up to 16 hours. Additionally, the bag has a waterproof liner to prevent leaks. The backpack has a total capacity of 28 liters. Plenty of space for a long summer day!
Foldable Coffee Filter or Other Coffee Gadgets
Need a good cup of coffee to start your day? When traveling, it’s always a bit of a gamble with the coffee available. This super handy foldable coffee filter is perfect for coffee lovers. With the filter, you can brew your own cup of drip coffee in no time. Place the filter over a cup, add some coffee, and pour hot water over it. After use, simply rinse the filter under the tap. So you don’t need paper coffee filters. The coffee filter takes up virtually no space and weighs only 11 grams(!). A perfect travel gadget for the traveler where every gram counts.
Invi Bracelet with Self-Defense Function
The Invi Self-Defense Bracelet may initially seem like just a beautiful, stylish bracelet, but it hides a secret function. In an emergency, you can activate the bracelet to release an extremely unpleasant odor. This odor is so strong that it deters attackers and can alert bystanders. This makes this bracelet a powerful self-defense tool!
The Invi bracelet is lightweight and waterproof, so you can wear it at all times. The self-defense function is non-violent and legal, unlike pepper spray, which is prohibited to carry in many countries (including the Netherlands).
These travel gadgets add convenience, safety, and fun to your travels, making them indispensable for any traveler.
Bottle Light
This is one of those things that make you think: what a clever idea! With the compact bottle light, you can turn an empty bottle into a mood lamp. You can also use it as a small flashlight or night light by plugging it into a USB charger in the socket! After 2.5 hours of use, you can recharge it via the USB connection or power bank, and it fully charges in just an hour. These lights are truly super handy travel gadgets! Also nice: the candle light version of the bottle light!
Pocket Blanket
The Matador Pocket Blanket 2.0 is a gadget that comes in handy more often than you might think. This waterproof picnic blanket is super lightweight and extremely compact, fitting even in your pocket! With the corner pegs, you can easily anchor it to the ground, preventing it from blowing away. Also handy, the blanket can double as a ground cover for your tent. Truly multifunctional!
Ikgaopavontuur Travel Bracelet
Asking for the nearest toilet or ATM in China? That can be quite a challenge! And not just in China, but in many countries where language barriers are difficult, this bracelet with symbols comes in handy. It’s more convenient than a “point it” book because you don’t need to fish it out of your bag and find the right page. Simply point to your bracelet, and you can easily find the Wi-Fi code, money exchange office, or police station! Also great as a gift for someone going backpacking.
Rubytec Solar Keychain Flashlight
With this ingenious little flashlight on your keychain, you’ll always have light at hand. The flashlight is rechargeable via a solar panel or by cranking the handle. No more worries about dead batteries!
Koffiemaatje Mini Espresso Machine
The Koffiemaatje espresso machine is a fantastic travel gadget for coffee lovers. The device is travel-proof and ideal for brewing really good coffee on the go. What sets Koffiemaatje apart is that it works with both Nespresso pods and ground coffee. Unlike many other portable espresso machines, this device can also heat water. Ideal for times when you can’t boil water in your hotel room, camping, or on the road. The coffee machine has a 125 ml water reservoir and can brew espresso, ristretto, and lungo. We’ve been using Koffiemaatje for a long time now and are very enthusiastic about it! It’s currently Annemarie’s favorite travel gadget!
Packtowl Travel Towel
Do you often travel with just carry-on luggage or prefer traveling light? Then a travel towel is ideal. We’ve compared all available travel towels, and the Packtowl travel towel is truly the lightest of them all. With this super small package, you always have a full-size travel towel at hand! Drying off might feel a bit different with this travel towel, but it does its job superbly and dries in no time. An ideal vacation gadget.
Lightweight Dry Sack
In the category of practical travel gadgets, the lightweight dry sack is a must-have. Not only is the dry sack great for keeping your belongings sand-free and dry at the beach, but it’s also super handy to have one to keep your stuff dry during unexpected tropical rain showers. Also useful is the slightly sturdier dry bag with a carrying strap.
Flexible Travel Bottles & Soap Case
These flexible travel bottles are a brilliant invention. The refillable liquid bags are strong, extremely lightweight, and leak-proof! They weigh only 13 grams and have a capacity of 90 ml. This is enough shampoo/shower gel/conditioner for about 2 weeks of vacation. The bottles are suitable for liquids, creams, and gels, and are easy to clean. You can easily hang them up by the loops, and you can write on the loop what’s inside. And when they’re empty at the end of your vacation, they take up no space. Handy travel gadgets, right?
In the same series, there’s also a case for a bar of soap or shampoo bar. This soap case breathes, allowing your bar of soap to dry unlike in a plastic bag, preventing it from becoming a soggy mess and eliminating the need for an awkward soap dish.
Travel Immersion Heater
Want to make a cup of coffee or tea, boil water for your backpack meal, or heat up some soup? Not every hotel room comes with a kettle. How convenient it is to have a handy travel gadget for this purpose! The travel immersion heater is placed in water, heating it until it boils. Operating at 230 volts and 350 watts, it’s a practical solution.
Foldable Carry-On Bag
Whether you tend to return from trips with too much stuff or simply need a bag for your carry-on without carrying an extra one, this handy foldable carry-on bag from Matador is perfect. It folds up into a super small package, is super strong, and waterproof, making it ideal for groceries or daily use!
Sunscreen Stick
Do you dislike having sticky hands when quickly applying sunscreen to your face? Then a sunscreen stick is an ideal travel gadget! Easily fit it into your (hand)bag or pocket for quick application to your face. Plus, because it’s not classified as a liquid, you can take it (extra) in your carry-on baggage.
BioLite Solar Outdoor Lamp
The BioLite sunlight is a solar lamp for outdoor trips, including backpacking. It charges easily via solar energy or USB and features a foldable stand for placing or hanging. Compact and weighing only 95 grams, the lamp is dimmable with various color settings, allowing you to adjust the atmosphere to your liking. It lasts up to 50 hours when fully charged (at low light levels), serving as an alternative to candlelight for reading or creating soft, yellow ambiance!
Foldable Lightweight Backpack
Sea to Summit’s lightweight backpack folds down incredibly small, no bigger than a chicken egg when packed! A foldable backpack is always handy for day trips.
Prefer one with compartments? Then Osprey’s foldable backpack is also recommended. We personally use the Matador Freefly 16-liter, a super comfortable, strong foldable backpack with side pockets!
Strong Suction Cup with Hook
You might recognize those hotel rooms or bathroom stalls without enough hooks, or the hooks not being in the right place. This strong suction cup hook solves that problem forever. Easily clamp this handy travel gadget onto a smooth surface, holding up to 2 kg! Ideal for your towel and clothes!
Bluetooth Tracker
Are you someone who constantly misplaces keys or wallets? Or do you occasionally get a small panic attack on your travels, thinking you left your passport somewhere? Then a Bluetooth tracker is a handy (travel) gadget! There are Bluetooth trackers shaped like keychains (like the Chipolo One), making it easy to attach to your keychain or slip into a wallet pocket. When you misplace something, easily find it again through a dedicated app. You can also make the tracker emit a loud sound, useful when the item is nearby but you’re not sure exactly where. Another handy feature: receive an “out of range” notification on your phone if you leave something behind, preventing you from forgetting it in the first place!
Travel tips, often simple yet invaluable, can significantly enhance both the convenience and safety of your journey. Whether it’s smart packing strategies, essential travel gear, or insights into local cultures and customs, these tips can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Remember, traveling is not just about exploring new places but also about savoring every detail and experience along the way. May these tips add some helpful insights and inspiration to your next adventure! Here’s to journeys filled with surprises and wonderful memories!
