These days there’s a lot more to travel gadgets than a money belt and luggage tags. Travelling, keeping in touch and capturing your adventures has never been more convenient or enjoyable. Make the most of your time away with these hi-tech travel gadgets capable of inducing envy in James Bond himself.
Lily
Lily is the ultimate travel photography buddy. With the ability to automatically track you from the air by following a small waterproof controller on your wrist, Lily can capture your adventures from above and provide a whole new perspective your camera simply can’t.
Lily is ready to rock and roll and works by simply being thrown into the air, but there is a take-off button for those not ready to throw her off a bridge until you get to know her a little better. As long as you travel less than 25 miles per hour, Lily will keep up, providing 12 megapixel still shots, 1080p high definition video, or 720p slow-motion captures.
Lily works within a range of 10-30 feet, but if you somehow get too far away, will hover in the last place you left her until you return. You can also monitor what Lily is seeing and adjust her flight path on your smartphone.
All these features cannot work forever without a recharge – Lily’s battery will last about 20 minutes.
Sony Bluetooth and Digital Headphones
If you can’t travel without music (who can?) or prefer your tunes over babies struggling with altitude, these noise cancelling headphones are the ideal travel accessory.
With the ability to operate on Bluetooth mode or with a cord for when restrictions on electronics kick in on a flight, the Sony Bluetooth and Digital Headphones promise to cancel 98% of noise. The headphones come with three different noise cancelling capabilities: aeroplane, train and office – so they can also keep you company when you inevitably return to reality and your desk.
Offering up to 24 hours of battery free operation, these headphones come in a handy travel pack with a portable charger, an aeroplane jack and a pouch.
Leatherman Tread
The Leatherman Tread is the ultimate travel tool for your inner Bear Grylls. The Leatherman Tread incorporates 29 tools into one stylish, chunky stainless steel bracelet and is adjustable to fit any-sized wrist. Tools include screwdrivers, Allen wrenches and one of the most important tools to keep with you when travelling: a bottle opener.
Kobo Aura H20
The Kobo Aura H20 is the first water and dust-proof e-reader. This lifesaver for those that love to laze by the pool or in the bath with a good book features a 6.8 inch screen and can survive for up to 30 minutes in one metre of water. It’s not made for you to take scuba diving, but now you can bathe with Daenerys Targaryen worry free.
With two months of battery life you can make a serious dent in the 3000 books the built-in memory is capable of holding before you need to recharge. The e-reader also comes with a drying cloth.
Accell D080B-011K Travel Surge Protector
Struggle no more with the decision of whether it’s more important to charge your smartphone, iPod or camera first with this portable power strip incorporating three transformer space outlets, two USB charging outlets and 612 joules of absorption capacity surge protection. The power plug even folds down when not in use to make for easy storage, and its impact-resistant design means it will survive public transport or being unlovingly thrown in storage underneath a bus or a plane.
Stay tuned for Part Two of the best travel gadgets of this year!
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC.
