The 5 tech travel essentials I can’t live without

Let’s face it: travelling is stressful. So, whether you’re going a few miles down the road or to the other side of the planet, it’s crucial to prepare effectively.  

I don’t need to tell you to pack suitable clothes, sun protection or a passport if you’re going abroad. And by reading this article, I’m going to assume you already have a reliable smartphone and travel adapters to charge your tech while you’re away. 

(If not, see our round-ups of the best smartphones and best travel adapters for inspiration.) 

However, the focus of this article is on four items that I personally use almost every time I spend a night away from home. While a lot of my travel is for work, these gadgets have near-universal appeal. 

Portable laptop charger

If you plan on taking your laptop with you while travelling, a portable charger is a must. 

The problem is, the portable phone charger you already own probably isn’t powerful enough to charge your laptop, so you need one specifically designed for the job. 

There are plenty of options out there, but the one I use is the Anker 737 PowerCore 24K, which combines a compact design with large 24,000mAh capacity. For context, that’s enough to fully charge the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra almost five times over. 

However, the important thing here is that it can fully charge almost any laptop and have capacity to spare. And with Power Delivery 3.1 support, it can reach speeds of 140W for both input and output. 

My work laptop has terrible battery life, so this has saved me on more than one occasion. Without it, I simply couldn’t have done my job. 

Noise-cancelling headphones

If you’ve ever been on a noisy train or plane, you’ll know the value of noise-cancelling headphones. 

Being able to suppress the sound around me has been a godsend on multiple occasions. It’s allowed me to focus on work when necessary, or get some much-needed rest.  

I often wear them without any music playing, but noise cancelling helps deliver more immersive audio. You can connect via Bluetooth of course, but the 3.5mm jack means they’re compatible with almost all in-flight entertainment systems. 

Personally, I use the PuroPro headphones that I reviewed a few years ago. They combine decent sound quality with solid noise cancellation, superb comfort and decent battery life. 

However, for the best noise-cancelling experience, I’d recommend the Sony WH-1000XM5. 

An eSIM

Embedded SIM cards (aka eSIMs) are becoming very popular, especially for travelling and it’s easy to see why. They are completely digital, most modern phones support eSIM and it can be set up before you even leave your house, avoiding the stress and time wasted looking round an airport for a local SIM card.

While major networks can offer you an eSIM, numerous dedicated providers have popped up, meaning there is plenty of choice for plan lengths, amount of data and competitive pricing without roaming fees or other extra charges for things like 5G speed and tethering.

I’ve used Airalo on a number of trips to the US and I’m likely to get an eSIM for any international travel now, whether it’s a short work trip or a long holiday. Airalo even offers 1GB of free data for your first day.

E-reader

An e-reader is a useful gadget for any book lover, allowing you to store thousands of volumes on a single device. 

But its effects are magnified while travelling, where you don’t have access to your bookshelves or local library for physical books. 

I find reading to be a useful way to unwind before bed, but it can also help pass the time during long flights or any time you want a break from colour screens. The e-ink technology used on e-readers is known to be easier on your eyes. 

My current e-reader of choice is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which lasts for ages and supports audiobooks via Audible. 

However, a Kobo might be a better pick for you, especially if you want to access e-books from your local library. 

Alarm clock

If you’ve read my article on my favourite piece of tech from the last few years, you’ll know I’m a fan of a physical alarm clock. 

That remains the case while travelling, partly because I’m paranoid my phone will run out of battery and not wake me up.  But of course, a mains-powered light alarm isn’t suitable, so I use a small portable one instead. 

This Tisaika model is cheap, fairly durable and powered by a single AA battery. Its hands glow in the dark, and crucially for me, it doesn’t disturb me with a ticking sound. 

With these four items in my bag, my travel experience is more enjoyable and less stressful than it otherwise would be.