Stepping Outdoors with the Best Travel Tech Gadgets in 2024

Some of the best travel tech gadgets of 2024 are devices that you may have heard about before but skipped when it came down to preparing for a trip. We’ve all done this a time or two, only to regret it later when the need for them arises. Traveling is an enjoyable activity for most people but when you don’t have the tools you need to execute the trip to perfection, it can sour the experience entirely.

That’s why we’re looking at five top tech gadgets for stress-free travel, making sure to include some alternatives if the recommended devices aren’t available. These essential travel gadgets stood out to us in 2024, and are some of the best tech for travelers to invest in for their first journey in the new year.

Giving You Our Picks for the Best Travel Tech Gadgets of 2024

The best tech for travelers often includes the tools that enhance your experience or eliminate some degree of stress from the journey. A top-end smartphone or a fancy camera may be just what you need to record your trip for Instagram or the memories, but these serve as more auxiliary priorities that don’t necessarily help you when traveling. 

While it’s a great idea to invest in a selfie stick or a Bluetooth speaker, for our picks of the best travel tech gadgets for 2024, we’re recommending some devices that will save you in a pinch or help you avoid getting stuck in a tricky situation. Let’s dive straight in.

1. Hicober 3-in-1 Charging Station

When we travel, we travel with all of our technology in tow, and charging so many gadgets can feel like a lot of work. Many hotels have a limited number of charging outlets and when you want to go to bed and wake up with a full set of charged devices, this can be hard to do. A charging station with multiple charging options can be a lifesaver under such circumstances. The Hicober 3-in-1 Charging Station eliminates cable clutter and provides enough space to charge your smartphone, smartwatch, and a pair of earpods that support wireless charging. 

The charging station also folds up nicely into a compact form and can easily fit in your handbag. If you want to charge your phone but continue to watch something, you can fold it in a way that allows you to prop up your device so you can continue to look at the screen. It’s no fast charger to be sure, but it does allow you to charge multiple devices, which is a fair compromise. 

If you want a good alternative to this, the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is a little more expensive but still worth your money. Logitech and Anker also have some good options to consider.

Image: Anker 733 Power Bank (GaNPrime PowerCore 65W)

2. Anker 733 Power Bank (GaNPrime PowerCore 65W)

Speaking of charging and reliable Anker devices, a good power bank is helpful to have around. If you expect to be outdoors for extended periods of time, it’s best to ensure your smartphone never runs out of power. A dead phone can cause interruptions in many unexpected ways, from making it hard to book a taxi back to a safe place to preventing you from listening to sad music on your train journey to your next destination. 

If you’re looking for tech gadgets designed for stress-free travel, then this power bank is one of the most reliable ones out there and can be plugged directly into a wall outlet to charge. The 10,000 mAh battery is extremely powerful and what’s interesting is that it’s also capable of briefly powering a small laptop. For even more power, the Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) works better, although it can be really bulky and over-the-top for someone who doesn’t need that kind of power.

Anker is one of the top choices for power banks so you can’t go wrong with picking one of their other models, but if you want to try a new brand, there are other options. The Iniu B61 10000mAh, the Ugreen 5000mAh magnetic power bank, and the Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini are good choices. 

3. Apple AirTag

Traveling is considerably more fun when you can relax and put your fears about misplaced luggage and stolen purses to rest. The Apple AirTag has been around for a long time but its usefulness has never faded with time. The device makes it easy to keep track of your luggage and ensure you know where everything is at all times. 

With eventual iOS updates, the technology has upgraded quite nicely, although the major disadvantage is that it’s only meant for iPhone users. If that kind of exclusivity is not your style, then the Tile Pro and Tile Mate are good alternatives. 

Eufy and Chipolo also have products you can consider, but the unfortunate truth is that none of them are as good as the Apple device. Google is rumored to have its own version of the tagger in the pipeline, but we do not have a release date yet. Once it becomes available, it’s sure to be a game-changer.

4. She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

Personal safety should be a bigger priority than the safety of your keys and bags, especially when traveling and in unknown locations. Another one of the best travel tech gadgets for 2024, She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm helps ensure you have a way to signal for help wherever you are.

Pulling the pin when you feel unsafe releases a 130-decibel siren and a flashing strobe light that can pay attention to your location when you need it most. In an emergency, this can be enough to scare a threat away. The Birdie+ is a more advanced version of the device, but you are required to pay a subscription fee for all of its services.

For another option, consider the Sabre 2-in-1 Clip-On Personal Alarm with its LED safety lights. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is another perfect safety tool for someone who goes camping or hiking and wants a way to be able to access emergency services no matter how poor the signal.

5. Simo Solis Lite Wi-Fi Hotspot

Having a good Wi-Fi connection on the go is always helpful, and a portable model is the best way to guarantee it. The Simo Solis Lite is said to connect to a 4G network in 135 countries and provides 1GB of free data per month. If you need more data, you can set up a day pass or a monthly subscription. 

The GlocalMe G4 Pro 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot offers a similar service and so does the RoamWiFi 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Router. 

Image: Kindle Scribe

Other Cool Travel Gadgets to Keep in Mind

The five devices and their competitors make up our list of the top essential travel gadgets of 2024, but we also have some special mentions to offer. The Amazon Kindle Scribe 2024 is a great travel companion to have by your side, but if you don’t care about annotating your documents, a cheaper Kindle works just as well. 

If you have trouble falling asleep in new places, the Lightimetunnel Sleep Headphones can be very useful in bringing some peace and quiet to your travels. The Sound Plus Sleep SE also serves a similar function but it isn’t ideal for long flights like the sleep headphones are.

A self-driving car is all the rage right now but we don’t see the need for one just yet. However, a self-driving suitcase is right up our alley. The Forward X Ovis Auto-follow Suitcase is an interesting AI-powered device that allows you to have a more hands-free experience as you travel around. The ability to charge your device using the suitcase is also interesting, but remember to check airport regulations and pack light if you want to use it.

Whether you’re an avid traveler or want a tech gadget that’s ideal for gifting, these are some of our suggestions for what you can spend your money on next time.