4 travel tech essentials you have been missing out in your packing list all along

Smartphones, tablets and the Internet. Just some of the things in life we can no longer do without these days. Our devices are so ingrained in our daily lives that some #firstworldproblems when travelling will include no data roaming access or low battery woes.

Everyone has their list of travel essentials, but when it comes to travel tech, what is on your list? We take a look at some travel tech essentials (apart from laptops, tablets and smartphones) you ought to consider taking with you when wandering the globe.

1. Personal portable Wi-Fi router

D-Link Portable Wifi Router and Charger (DIR-510L)
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Most people will be familiar with a portable Wi-Fi router that allows you to run a hotspot when travelling. One benefit of this is that you can customise and connect all your devices to any public network via one single point, in particular hotels, which sometimes have a limit on the number of devices you can add to their network.

Some tech companies have now gone one step further and now offer new routers that can be used as a portable hotspot, double up as a storage device, and charge your devices at the same time.

In this category, we would recommend D-Link’s WiFi AC750 Portable Router and Charger. Voted as one of PCMAG.com’s editor choice products, the portable 140.0 x 59.0 x 16.0 mm device is simple enough for first-time users to have no trouble figuring out its features and functions. If there is one portable Wi-Fi router that you are thinking of getting, this has to be it.

Get the D-Link WiFi AC750 Portable Router and Charger online on Lazada

2. Extension cord

Bluelounge Portiko
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One of the biggest issues travellers face is the chance to conveniently charge more than one device at a time. And as we will have it, most places tend to have the most unstrategically-located sockets, and this is where an extension cord will be your saving grace.

Unsightly as these cords may be at home, a range made for travellers have hit the market in recent times, making them nifty in size, and easy to take on the go, and Bluelounge’s Portiko is a great example. This tiny extension cord allows travellers to charge two laptops and two mobile devices at the same time.

thecoopidea Jelly
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Another option to consider is thecoopidea. The 5.1A Jelly not only saves socket space, it allows you to charge 3 smartphones and 1 tablet at maximum speed – talk about efficiency!

3. HidrateSpark Smart Water Bottle

If you wondering why a water bottle is featured on a list of tech essentials, do hear us out. HidrateSpark is a one of a kind smartphone-linked bottle, and the latest to successfully ‘graduate’ from a Kickstarter-backed campaign.

Bringing your own water bottle while travelling is always a great idea. Not only will it help you stay hydrated, you will also be doing a small part in being environmentally friendly by cutting down on plastic bottles usage.

Touted as “the water bottle of the future”, the HidrateSpark bottle is paired using Bluetooth with the app on your smartphone. The sensor in the bottle will track how much water you have consumed and sync with the app, and at the end of the day, tells you if you have met your goal in drinking what your body needs.

The HidrateSpark Smart Water Bottle retails for US$54.95. Visit the website for more details on how you can get one.

4. Power banks

Power banks
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Don’t underestimate the importance of the humble power bank – after all, your high tech devices are essentially useless without battery power.

We would strongly suggest getting one with a capacity that matches your phone or tablet battery capacity – any brand will do.

For example, a 5,200 mAh power bank can fully charge an iPhone 6S (1,175 mAh battery capacity) approximately 4 times, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 (3,000 mAh battery capacity), approximately 1.7 times, before you need to juice the bank up all over again.

So choose a power bank with a good balance of capacity and weight (the higher the capacity, the heavier it will be) that caters best to your lifestyle – you wouldn’t want to have to recharge your power bank all that often, nor would you want to lug a brick everywhere you go.

What are some travel tech essentials you absolutely cannot live without? Do share it in the comments below!