Photo credit: kodomut
I speak for a lot of travelers when I say, "We love gadgets." Anything that fits into my carry-on luggage and makes traveling easier or more enjoyable is fine by me. However, with so many gadgets on the market, ranging from ever-advancing tablets to budget-breaking headphones, it can be difficult to decipher which travel gadgets will be handy and which will be waste of money and space. These four gadgets are ones that are guaranteed to be appreciated by the intrepid travelers on your holiday shopping list.
Tile
Gift a Tile for your favorite traveler, and you won't have to hear them complain about lost or stolen luggage ever again. The Tile is a compact Bluetooth tracking device that can be attached to luggage, a passport, keys, or other items that can cause major hassles if misplaced while adventuring. Luggage equipped with a Tile can be tracked from the moment it's checked at the ticket counter to the time it's picked up at baggage claim. This tiny gadget provides the massive gift of peace of mind while traveling.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
While many avid readers enjoy the look, smell, and feel of having a paper- or hard-cover book in their hands while reading, travelers just can't spare the space. Those who spend a lot of time on the road often pack several books in their carry-ons and checked luggage, adding unnecessary weight and using valuable space. The Kindle Paperwhite by Amazon eliminates the need to bring any books at all. With a high-resolution display, single charge battery that lasts weeks, no screen glare, and unlimited access to thousands of titles, it's a no-brainer for travelers to forego bulky, traditional books, and you can gift one for right around $120.
Bose QuietComfort 20 In-Ear Headphones
I've had a pair of Bose QuietComfort over-ear headphones for nearly a decade, and they've canceled out countless cries of babies and arguments of overzealous businessmen. However, they require a lot of space in my travel backpack, and occasionally have to be left behind for that reason. Named the best headphones of 2016 by PCMag, the Bose QuietComfort 20 in-ear headphones are some of the most compact and effective noise canceling headphones on the market. They fit comfortably, require very little space, provide top-quality sound, and allow travelers to focus or snooze more easily without excessive noise from the plane's engine or fellow passengers.
Flux Portable Charger
Travelers who aren't exploring with a battery pack in their bag are missing out. These compact power sources can revive phones at those critical times when GPS is needed, a last-minute text needs to be sent, or a place to stay needs to be found. It's no secret that smartphone batteries tend to die at the worst times, and the Flux Portable Charger ensures that a dead smartphone never becomes an emergency again. Digital Trends named the Flux Portable Charger their favorite battery pack for its slim size, 3.1-ounce weight, 4,000mAh capacity, and its ability to fully recharge a smartphone at least once. For just $29.95, you can make a traveler very happy this holiday season.