Whether it’s for business or you simply love traveling, you probably have a bunch of things you never leave home without. Some people travel a lot, and we mean a lot. Data projects that Americans will make 1.97 billion leisure trips and over 450 million business trips in 2024. With so much domestic travel happening, there’s a lot that you can do to make things go smoother.
In this article, let us look at some essential accessories that you might want to add to your must-have list of travel equipment.
1. A Roof Top Cargo Carrier
Even if you do most of your traveling by plane, you still likely use your car quite a lot. Unless you happen to drive around in a large SUV, odds are, you aren’t satisfied with how much space your trunk has to offer. If you take a lot of luggage with you each time you travel, you might have to shove extra cargo onto your back seats.
Thankfully, there’s a very simple piece of equipment that solves this problem- a car top carrier bag. As the name suggests, this refers to one of those cargo containers that you can attach to the roof of your car. It almost doubles the amount of cargo space you have, thereby opening up several new travel options.
You can pack more clothes and other essentials, allowing you to enjoy longer trips. According to RoofPax, you can find such cargo boxes in a variety of sizes. Anywhere from 15 to 23 cubic feet. That should be more than enough for most people.
2. Multiple Heavy-Duty Power Banks
Technology is very much an integral part of our lives, and we carry it with us everywhere we go. With smartphones in our pockets and laptops in our backpacks, we really can’t go without them anymore. However, since we don’t have portable fusion power yet, we have to keep topping up the batteries in our devices.
Yes, you can find charging ports out and about, but besides hotels and cafes, it’s not comfortable to wait an hour or so while you charge up each of your devices.
Power banks aren’t a secret, but people don’t use them as much as they should. These portable battery packs allow you to top up your phone several times. Laptops are a little trickier because they need beefier options. That said, several brands like Anker offer great power banks, even for laptops.
The peace of mind you get from never having to worry about your phone running out of battery is worth the investment. Rather than getting just one power bank, we would recommend you get a minimum of two. This way, if you use one up and forget to recharge it, you still have a backup ready to go.
You also double the longevity of power banks by using more than one because two banks split the charge cycles. This is a particularly useful tip if you decide to buy cheaper models.
3. A Well Insulated Thermos Flask
There are few things as enjoyable as a hot beverage when out and about. However, if your travel takes you through places where cafes aren’t all that common, getting your caffeine fix can be tough. This is why a thermos is something you always want to carry with you.
It doesn’t even have to be a large one. Even small to medium-sized flasks that can keep your beverages cold or hot can be amazing to have. (The reason for avoiding large flasks is that they can get heavy and cumbersome to take with you.)
As you already know, travel becomes far more annoying when you have to lug around a heavy backpack or multiple suitcases. As far as possible, you want to keep things light and portable.
4. Noise Canceling Headphones
If you are going to be spending multiple hours on a flight, this is one of the best pieces of equipment you need to get. Sure, Apple AirPods will work in a pinch, but to really feel like you are shutting out the world around you, invest a little more. There are several great offerings from brands like Bose and Sony.
Audiophiles will debate endlessly on which one is best, but honestly, any of the flagship models should be a great pick. From Bose, you have the QuietComfort 45, while Sony has the WH-1000XM5. Both brands offer excellent noise-cancellation capabilities.
If you have the chance, see if you can try them out before you buy. Pro tip: If you are thinking of going the Sony route, many people choose the XM4 instead of the latest XM5. This is because the previous gen offering has a foldable design that makes it great for travel, Additionally, the noise cancellation sensitivity can be manually adjusted, unlike the XM5 which does it automatically.
5. A Luggage Tracker
One of the most frustrating experiences that all travelers have had at least once in their lives, is missing luggage. Perhaps you left it in a cab or it got lost in the airport; it’s happened to us all. Travel is already stressful, and losing a piece of luggage that might have important items on it is extremely annoying.
Thankfully, tech comes to the rescue once again in the form of luggage trackers. These are tiny devices that you can leave inside a suitcase or bag. They allow you to track, within a few feet, where your luggage currently is.
No more worrying. All you do is open up a finder app on your phone and follow the directions to your lost possessions.
In conclusion, traveling, whether for business or pleasure, can be a fun experience when you are well-prepared. These are just some of the many useful travel accessories that you can invest in.
Remember that there are hundreds of solutions to virtually every travel problem. So, the next time you hit the road, try taking some of these solutions along. You won’t regret it!
