Packing for a trip used to mean throwing a charger, headphones, power bank, and whatever else felt essential into a bag the night before departure. Over time, the tech I carry has become far more intentional, once I realized that a few carefully chosen gadgets can make travel dramatically smoother.
Every gadget that survived the cuts earned its place in my bag through repeated use and one of those “I’m glad I have this” moments mid-trip.
6
Sony ZV-E10 II
A compact camera that punches above its weight
The Sony ZV-E10 II sits in a sweet spot between portability and image quality. It is primarily a vlog-focused camera, but it’s equally reliable for capturing sharp images. The ZV-E10 II is a step below a serious mirrorless, although in practice, it can shoot comparable 4K videos at 60fps and packs a 26MP EXMOR sensor with 759 phase detection points. The camera offers interchangeable lens flexibility when you want to get serious. I’ve made photographs and videos of street scenes, architecture, portraits, and scenic landscapes with this one.
What makes the Sony ZV-E10 II ideal for travel is that it doesn’t feel intimidating. It becomes useful in situations where smartphones can still struggle despite how far they have come in terms of camera specifics and features.
5
Canon Selphy QX20
Instant prints still feel special
There’s a certain joy in printing photos and holding them in your hands instead of letting them disappear into cloud storage forever. The Canon Selphy QX20 is one surprising and unexpected gadget I pack on my travels that people often question. It is a palm-sized photo printer that allows me to print my favorite moments mid-trip. If I’m shooting candid portraits, meeting a long-distance friend, or making friends with strangers, I love to take a quick picture and hand them a hard copy as a physical keepsake they can hold onto.
The Selphy QX20 connects wirelessly to your smartphone and the prints are dye-sublimation, so they’re resistant to smudging and fading. The companion app makes selecting and editing photos before printing straightforward.
It’s a memory-making gadget—and that’s exactly why I keep packing it.
- Connectivity
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Wireless
- Brand
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Canon
The Canon Selphy QX20 is a compact wireless photo printer that turns smartphone pictures into vibrant, long-lasting prints in seconds.
4
DJI Osmo Mobile 8
Making phone footage look smooth
When I’m traveling over shorter distances, I use my phone to capture a lot of b-roll. Shooting handheld means shaky footage with no smoother transitions. The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 solved this problem completely with its excellent stabilization system, keeping subjects locked in frame using intelligent tracking. I end up using the gesture control more than expected while traveling solo because I can start recording and trigger tracking without running back to the phone. The built-in multifunctional module adds fill lighting, which makes it genuinely useful when shooting in unpredictable lighting conditions.
The Osmo Mobile 8’s foldable design also matters a lot during travel because it slips neatly into smaller bags.
3
Tomtoc Navigator T13
Keeping my tech setup sane
Though not a gadget, every item on the list requires a proper organizer. Without it, travel becomes chaotic if things are scattered everywhere. The Tomtoc Navigator T13 has been the answer that keeps my entire tech setup manageable. Charger, SSD, earphones, and many other things get a dedicated place instead of becoming a tangled mess. I particularly like the internal layout with divided sections, anti-slip elastic bands, and mesh pockets. The icing on the cake is a removable card holder that fits SD cards, two CF cards, and two TF/SIM cards, which is invaluable if you’re capturing photos and videos on multiple cards.
The Navigator T13 is slim, lightweight, and uses water-resistant materials with durable zippers. It’s the least glamorous item on the list and probably the most consistently useful.
2
Anker Charger 140W
One brick to rule them all
Smartphones, laptops, cameras, earphones, tablets, smartwatches—the list of devices that need charging keeps growing. The real problem isn’t charging one device; it’s charging all of them simultaneously without a wall full of bricks. Instead of packing separate chargers, I now travel with just one, and it handles everything better.
The Anker Charger 140W has three USB-C ports and a USB-A port, which covers multiple devices. It is built on GaN technology that keeps it compact and cool despite the 140W power output. There’s a smart display that shows power draw, port status, and temperature, which is useful for refueling devices and troubleshooting why something isn’t charging at the expected rate.
- Output
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140W
- Charging Ports
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4
Anker’s 140W wall charger delivers three USB-C fast-charging ports and one USB-A port, capable of charging all of your devices. Plus, the bottom-mounted ports will help ensure all that cable weight won’t pull it out of the wall.
1
Theragun Mini Plus
The recovery gadget that’s my favorite
Short and longer trips alike can be brutal on the neck, shoulders, and lower back. By the time I reach the destination, I’m usually carrying tension I won’t shake for days.
The Theragun Mini Plus is one of those gadgets I didn’t think I needed until I started traveling with it regularly. I love how compact it is and how it fits into a small pocket without taking up too much space in the bag. What makes this massage gun worth carrying is the combination of percussive therapy and built-in heat, which helps loosen tight muscles surprisingly quickly. The difference is immediate after running it over my shoulders for five minutes.
For anyone who carries a backpack all day, does a lot of hiking and walking on trips, or finds hotel beds uncomfortable, this one pays for itself quickly.
- Speed settings
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3 speeds up to 2400 PPMs
- Weight
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0.40 kg
The Theragun Mini Plus is a compact deep-tissue massage gun designed for people on the go. It offers 150 minutes of battery life and comes with two attachments sold separately.
The items listed above have earned their spot through actual use rather than wishful thinking. I’ve realized that the best gadgets are the ones that quietly improve the experience without demanding attention. These six do exactly that.
Don’t fight hotel Wi-Fi: How a travel router secures and connects all your devices at once
This tiny router is the first thing I will set up in every hotel room
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
