Best Travel Tech Gifts: Gadgets for the Journey and the Destination

The addition of USB and USB-C ports to travel adapters is one of the nicer upgrades in recent years. We’ve personally tested and used this model, and it works just about anywhere in the world, and it includes a passthrough plug so you can also plug in a laptop or other standard device. (Note: this doesn’t convert voltage, but that means it will still work with just about any device except hair dryers and curling irons.)

The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe (USB-C) are nearly identical to their Lightning predecessors, delivering the same excellent sound and voice call performance. And that also means they’re among the best headphones for flying, thanks to their superior noise-cancelling capabilities. Pop these on during a flight and let the cabin noise melt away. Read our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review.

There are plenty of magnetic snap-on battery packs for iPhones (and Android phones) available these days, but the Anker MagGo 622 stands out thanks to a nice combination of features. In addition to being lightweight, it has a foldable kickstand that fits perfectly on an airplane or train table, so you can watch a video on your phone while it charges (it supports passthrough charging over USB-C). Look for a retail price of $40 for this one (sometimes closer to $50 on Amazon).

You couldn’t ask for a better travel companion than the JBL Go 3. It sounds great for its (small) size, is waterproof, and charges via USB-C. The Go 3 also comes in a variety of fun colors. It’s a great way to enjoy music in your hotel room, on a picnic, or anywhere else. Pro tip: It’s worth waiting for this model to drop to $30, which happens during frequent online sales.

I have two of these chargers: one next to my desk and one permanently in my travel bag. With two USB-C ports and one USB-A port and a max output of 65 watts, I can charge everything I own, from my laptop to my headphones and everything in between. Yes, the output and charge time varies when you plug in multiple devices, but it’s still a single mini power adapter instead of the two or three I used to travel with.

A good backpack with lots of pockets is a must. Pockets keep your tech stuff organized, among other things. We’re fans of the Solgaard Lifepack here at CNET. It comes with the usual stuff you’d expect — a padded laptop compartment, handy pockets for your phone and sunglasses — but it also has a couple of secret pockets for valuables and an anti-theft lock on the inside. One of the most useful features is the built-in power bank with a Bluetooth speaker. You can charge it from a regular wall outlet, and there’s also a solar panel on the front, so it can slowly charge while you’re on the go. Skip the speaker for a thinner power bank and you’ll save some money.

This 2022 GoPro packs a new image sensor that captures video in a square 8:7 native aspect ratio, allowing it to be cropped into standard widescreen or vertical-friendly versions — perfect for anyone capturing video to do double duty on YouTube and TikTok, for example. Better image stabilization and color depth are on board, too. You can drop the price by $100 if you opt for the subscription option through GoPro.com (which includes automatic cloud uploads). And while the GoPro Hero 12 is available now, the 11 offers many of the same features at a slightly more affordable price.

Whether you’re watching a movie on a plane, trying to keep the kids busy on a long road trip, or just curled up on the couch, the iPad is a great travel-friendly gadget. This 2021 model is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Smart Keyboard, so it can even serve as a decent makeshift laptop in a pinch. (If you want USB-C compatibility to match your new iPhone 15, you’ll have to splurge on a 10th-gen iPad or an iPad Mini.)

For something a little different to the standard action cam, check out the Insta360 One X2 . This nifty little camera lets you shoot cool 360-degree videos that you can easily edit on your phone. It has an “invisible selfie stick” and great image stabilization, so you can create drone-style shots without the drone. There’s also a cool bullet-time mode that lets you swing it around your head for awesome aerial pan videos. Adults and kids alike will have a blast with this.