For weeks, travel “experts” have been inundating us with top ten gift lists of gadgets and gizmos. Since I wouldn’t consider buying most of the items myself, I decided to create my own list — for your consideration. (Hmm, I wonder if my wife is reading this.)
I have “big ticket” items to “stocking stuffers,” for you. I own, or have successfully used every gift on the list. They’re in no particular order. While I consider smart cell phones, and digital cameras travel essentials, I think they’re best purchased by their user, so they’re not on my gift list.
- Apple iPod: This is one of the greatest travel gadgets ever invented. For long-distance travel, the entertainment value of this product is amazing. I consider the iPod, coupled with iTunes and other iPod compatible software, significantly superior to its competition. I have more than 100 cds, 40 episodes of The Closer and Monk, and 30 movies stored on my 4.1″x2.4″x0.4″ 5oz, iPod Classic.
- Bose Quiet Comfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones: Whether you have an iPod, or any other device for playing music or movies, this product can dramatically enhance your listening pleasure. It’s amazing how much the noise of the engines and the drone of cabin conversation is abated by these headsets. When inflight, they’re better than earplugs if you want to sleep. I consider them superior to the more expensive Quiet Comfort 3 headset.
- MYVU Wearable Video Display: You wear MYVU like glasses connected to the iPod to watch movies, video podcasts and TV shows. Using the MYVU, it’s like watching a movie on a 15″ TV from 4 feet. I have enjoyed my MYVU for more than a year traveling and at the gym. The new MYVU Crystal has an improved picture and sound quality. It’s shorter on battery life than ideal, but the company assures me they will have axillary battery packs for sale soon, like I have for my original MYVU. If you don’t have 20/20 vision, MYVU has a clip-on with two focus adjustment options, and a blank template for a custom prescription.
- Eagle Creek Pack-It Compressor Bag: It’s easy to stuff lots of clean, ironed clothes into your luggage, but dirty clothes take up more room, and have an “aroma.” If you fold your clothes neatly, place them in this bag, then compress the air out of it, they will all fit in your luggage again and protect your other belongings from that “aroma.”
- 3G (AT&T) or EVDO (Verizon) Air Card: Either Air Card will provide a broadband Internet connection for your laptop, via your choice of cellular network, in most metropolitan areas and along interstate highways in the US, for a monthly fee. Recently, traveling from Philadelphia to Richmond, Va., via Amtrak, I was able to continuously work on the Internet at broadband speeds. At hotels which charge for Internet access, I just pop in my Air Card instead. As a frequent traveler, I really get value from this device.
- Seiko Global Atomic Travel Alarm Clock: In countries like the US which send out “R Waves” this clock automatically resets itself to your time zone. In other countries you set the time zone manually. This clock has a big digital face which is easy to view, keeps accurate time, has a reliable alarm loud enough to wake you, a snooze button, and displays the time, date, and day of the week.
- Mini Maglite Flashlight: A rugged, water and shock resistant flashlight with an adjustable light beam is a must on a trip in case of emergencies, or just to help you find that earring or ring you dropped on the floor of your hotel room. This flashlight even has a candle mode, in case of power failure.
- Garmin Nüvi 760 portable GPS: As high quality portable dedicated GPS units have come down in price, I’ve been looking to replace mine for travel. This well priced, great GPS has a 4.3″ 480 X 272 pixel, wqvga touch screen, but what sold me on it, was its viewability, even while wearing polarized sunglasses. The 760 has an integrated FM traffic receiver to receive alerts from TMC Clear Channel about traffic tie-ups and road construction in major metropolitan areas. GPS units are invaluable when driving, away from your home area.
- Gorillapod: You knew I had to get at least one photography product in the list. This is the lightest and most versatile camera “tripod” available. It has over two dozen flexible leg joints that bend and rotate. The Gorillapod will firmly secure your camera to virtually any surface almost anywhere.
- Travel Duct Tape: Duct tape is the most versatile “fix-it” product which has ever been invented. I think everyone has their own duct tape story. These rolls are 8 feet long and therefore easy to take on a trip. “I never leave home without two.”
Disclosure: I haven’t been given any sample or gift products from any of the above companies, nor have I received any endorsement compensation from them.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
