Updated on November 29, 2024
Have a frequent traveler on your list? These tech items will be welcome additions for their next business trip or vacation. From items to take in the carry-on and use on the plane or in the car to gadgets for before, during, and after, they’ll appreciate every one of these items.
Anker Prime 6-Port 200W Charger
You can never have too many outlets when traveling, and the Anker Prime 6-port 200W charger solves an issue I run into often with portable charging bricks that tend to have too many USB-A ports and not enough USB-Cs. This one has two USB-As and a whopping four USB-Cs for recharging everything from your smartphone to your earbuds, smartwatch, and tablet all from a single power outlet. Each USB-C outlet supports 100W max, and you can use two at the same time at this speed, which means you could charge a MacBook Pro to 50% in 28 minutes, perfect when you’re rushing out the door to a meeting from the hotel. Everything is protected thanks to Anker’s MultiProtect and ActiveShield 3.0 system, which continuously monitors the charging temperatures to ensure safe charging. It comes with a five-foot cord to plug it into a power outlet. It sells for $100.
Jetpac eSIM
You may have heard about eSIMs but aren’t quite sure how they work. With an eSIM (electronic SIM), you basically load another phone data plan (no voice and text) onto your existing device to use exclusively when you are traveling. The Jetpac eSIM platform works in more than 150 countries so you don’t have to worry about shopping for a physical SIM or paying expensive roaming charges. There are different plans depending on where you’re traveling to, like a U.S. pack, one for Japan or Bali, or an EU or Global pack for multi-country connectivity. Considering the expensive roaming fees Canadian carriers charge (think $15/day to use your phone as is in Japan with Rogers’ Roam Like Home), you could save a bundle. A 20GB pack for Japan, for example, which can be used over a 30-day period once activated, is $26. Even if you’re only traveling for a week or two, you’re still coming out way ahead. Consider that with Roam Like Home, a week away at $15/day is $105, albeit also including voice and text. For frequent travelers, there are data-only subscriptions in three-, six-, and 12-month packages with more perks in each package like using the Jetpac Global app to use the airport lounge for free if there’s a flight delay, and a 30-day trial to ExpressVPN. When you check out, there’s an option that says “I am buying for someone else,” a perfect gift for the recent graduate who plans to spend a gap year traveling through Europe or the business owner who travels often. Keep in mind the eSIMs only work with unlocked eSIM devices, but all devices must be sold unlocked (or unlocked for free) as per Canadian rules. If you have an older phone that does not work with eSIMs, you may not be able to use it. But most phones from iPhone XR and up will work. You can check device compatibility on the website.
Wise Multicurrency Card
Don’t worry about exchanging cash for local currency before going to a different country. Load a Wise account up with U.S. funds, which likely yield the best exchange in most countries, then order the free Wise multi-currency card. Pay for items with the card as you would a credit or debit card at home and Wise will handle the rest in the background. You can see a history of purchases in the app, including the conversion rate for the local currency, which is typically more favourable than you’ll find at the banks. Need cash for something? Insert the Wise card into virtually any ATM to withdraw funds in the local currency, wherever you are. I used this card in Italy, both to pay for items and to withdraw cash, and it worked without a hitch. I used both the physical card and virtual version, which easily loads to Apple Wallet. I love the feature that allows you to lock (freeze) the card as well from the app, so you can limit the potential for fraudulent purchases. Simply unlock when you need to use it, then lock it again once you’re done. As a gift, you can order the card and leave it up to the recipient to set up their account, start transferring money and saving, and be ready for travel! It’s a great way to encourage savings as well: make a habit of putting money in the account every week or month, and voila! You have a nice chunk of change for travel by the end of the year. New Year’s Resolution, anyone?
Boka Restore Mouthwash Tablets
I recently received a container of these in a travel gift pack for an upcoming press trip, and I was thoroughly impressed. If you travel often on long-haul flights, the Boka Restore Mouthwash Tablets are a cool option to keep in your carry-on. Rather than pack your toothbrush and toothpaste, something that’s easy to forget to keep in your carry-on, pop these in your carry-on and leave them there. If you need a quick refresh on the plane or when you get to the airport before you head to the meeting or to your connecting flight, pop one of these in your mouth and chew. It mixes with your saliva to create a minty-fresh mouthwash that restores your oral microbiome, thus killing bacteria. Swirl it around for about 30 seconds, then spit it out. Since you don’t swallow this, you will need to bring it to the airplane bathroom or find a public restroom. But it’s great in a pinch versus looking for a shop with toothbrushes and toothpaste and paying a fortune to get an emergency set. The flavour has hints of mint, green tea, and lemongrass and the tablets are made of hydroxyapatite (read the full ingredient list online) and are gluten- and fluoride-free. Each pack comes with 90 tablets, long enough to last for your yearly trips. You can even keep it at your desk for a refresh after lunch each day at work. It’s US$20 per container.
Mark Levinson No 5909 Headphones
As Mark Levinson’s first-ever pair of headphones, the Mark Levinson No 5909 is a great option for travelers thanks to the lightweight and durable design as well as the adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC). Available in three finishes, they can sink into playlists, movies, TV shows, and podcasts while flying to the next destination. They work for crystal clear phone calls as well thanks to the four beam-forming mics. Smart Wind Adaption makes them great for chatting while outdoors, too. Use Ambient Aware mode when you need to chat with the person next to you, the flight attendant, or hear a PA announcement. They’re available for $1,399 through Erikson Consumer.
WanderFull HydroBag
Sure, holding your Stanley cup in hand while traveling is sort of a signature “mom” look nowadays. But there’s no denying these bags are kind of adorable. The Wanderfull HydroBag is designed to hold your water bottle with a strap so you can sling it over your shoulder, or wear it crossbody. It’s perfect for those who want to stay hydrated all day but dislike having to carry the bottle around. Plus, you don’t have to bring a bigger purse than you want to, just so the water bottle will fit inside. There’s also a separate pocket for accommodating items like your wallet, phone, boarding pass, passport, keys, and ID for quick and easy access. It can fit a water bottle that’s up to 32 ounces in size, or use it for a wine bottle, reusable coffee cup, or flask. Available for $99 each and in 15 different colours, HydroBag was named among Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2023.
BEIS Mini Weekender Bag
I bought the BEIS Mini Weekender Bag last year and have taken it on several trips since and love it. It’s bigger than you think but meets Air Canada specs for a carry-on item. Perfect for day or weekend trips, the oversized interior can hold essentials like a few outfits, chargers, toiletries, even your laptop in the padded compartment. The bottom compartment is the coolest part: unzip it and you can fit 2-3 pairs of shoes, depending on the type of shoe and your shoe size. You might even be able to throw in a few intimates, scarves, and other items as well. If you’re going on a short trip and find you don’t need the bottom compartment, it zips completely off. The bag is ultra-stylish and has a trolley pass-through strap to put it on top of your check-in or carry-on suitcase. I have taken it on every trip along with a small carry-on suitcase and it easily fits under the seat. (If you’re in an economy aisle seat with a smaller area for your bag, you may have to remove the laptop first). Does it meet Air Canada requirements for a “personal item?” Technically, no. But I toss my purse inside and try my luck with this bag and a carry-on suitcase and I have been fine every time. (You can also ask airport staff to tag it as having to go under the seat). At $98, it’s a steal, too. Choose from basic colours like black, beige, or navy, or choose a cool pattern like honey or maple stripe.
Satechi Vegan Leather Passport Cover
The Satechi Vegan Leather passport cover is more than just a basic protective cover for your passport. It also has built-in Find My technology so you never lose or misplace your passport again. Along with a passport, it can accommodate up to four cards and comes with built-in wireless charging capability with a five-month battery life. It offers Bluetooth 5.2 and RFID protection for ensuring your documents remain secure. Thanks to Find My technology, you can ping the cover (and thus your passport) using the Find My app. It will provide an audible sound to help you locate it (say, in your carry-on suitcase from the last trip, your other jacket pocket, or maybe accidentally packed inside your luggage). You will also receive a notification if the passport cover is left behind, which will ensure you don’t head to the airport without putting it in your bag. Recharge it wirelessly on any Qi, Qi2, or MagSafe wireless charger. Once it’s fully charged, the battery lasts up to five months, so you’ll only need to recharge this a couple times per year. I took this on a recent trip and love the prestige of carrying it around versus a loose passport. I did find, however, that it was tough to slide the passport inside the slots, the size of the cover not big enough to accommodate it. Nonetheless, the stylish material combined with the useful Find My technology makes it great for forgetful or scatterbrained travelers. It sells for US$60.
Sonos Ace Bluetooth Headphones
Another item I have been bringing along on the latest trips is the Sonos Ace headphones, which I reviewed earlier this year. With noise cancelling, wireless operation, and long battery life, they’re great for lengthy flights. Turn on ANC for the flight and use Aware Mode if you need to let in some ambient sounds. They run for an impressive 30 hours per charge and support ultra-fast charging. They also come with a 3.5mm cable for connecting to an in-flight entertainment system. Available in black and soft white for $599, they aren’t the most affordable wireless headphones around. The additional value comes when using them back at home since they pair nicely with compatible Sonos soundbars to use a feature called Audio Swap. A simple switch on the side allows you to switch back and forth between personal audio and audio from the speaker, perfect when you want to blast a late-night movie while everyone else in the family is in bed.
Solos AirGo 3 Smart Glasses
Travelers will love the Solos AirGo 3 smart glasses, which I reviewed last year. They offer conversational AI through ChatGPT. Smart Hinge technology allows for interchangeable frame styles, and they can be made with prescription lenses. Access the built-in voice assistant, listen to music, even enjoy guided fitness exercises and tracking. While traveling, ask questions about landmarks or areas, and even use live language translation. The best part? You can hear it all without buds plugging up your ears. Patented Whisper Technology offers superior speech recognition that removes ambient noise for the best sound quality even in the noisiest environments. The dual-direction speakers with an open-ear design allow for situational awareness when on the go to prioritize safety. The glasses also boast an IP67 waterproof rating, making them safe to wear in the rain and provide 10 hours of music or seven hours of call time on one charge, lasting all day. They come in Argon (US$249-US$299), Xeon (US$199), and Helium (US$199) styles for sports, the sun, or daily wear, and offered in a variety of colours. SolosChat, SolosTranslate, and Solos Fitness Coach are available with an upgraded Premium Subscription for US$10/mo. This includes enhanced text-to-speech services for more natural language AI, standalone use of the SolosChat without the glasses, enhanced AI performance, and more.
JBL Live 770NC Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
I reviewed these headphones earlier this year and would highly recommend them as your perfect plane-ready pair. The noise cancellation is fabulous, the sound wonderful, and you can customize the listening experience in the JBL Headphones app: there’s a dedicated Audio and Video mode. True adaptive noise cancelling combines with four noise-sensing mics and a smart ambient mode. At $300, they are a steal for the comfortable fit and fabulous audio. I wore them for an entire four-hour flight without issue. They last for up to 65 hours per charge, and if you forget to charge them before the flight, don’t sweat it: find an outlet and a quick five-minute boost will get you another four hours. With intuitive operation and great sound quality, they’re available in Canada from Erikson Consumer.
Travelpro Altitude Organization Kit
You’re probably familiar with Travelpro luggage, but the brand also offers useful accessories to go along with the suitcases and bags, like the Altitude Organization Kit. It’s a small bag designed to hook to the inside or outside of your bag to hold all your tech essentials, like your phone, charging cables, portable charger, and more.
It has a quick-access front zippered pocket and interior compartments for organizing charging blocks, cables, and more so you’re not fishing into the depths of your purse or carry-on bag.
Made from high-density ballistic ECOFAB material, there’s also a DuraGuard coating to resist stains and abrasions. At $77, it’s the perfect gift for a traveler on your list, and something they likely don’t have but will use.
Amazon Kindle Scribe Digital Notebook
The Amazon Kindle Scribe digital notebook is a great option to pack in a carry-on. Load up tons of book titles for reading. When inspiration strikes, use it to jot down notes, journal entries, even meeting notes if it’s a business trip. The newer version to the original Kindle Scribe I reviewed last year, this model has white borders on the screen and a smoother, paper-like texture. At 300 ppi, text looks crisp and clear while the Premium Pen is finely crafted to feel more like holding an actual pen. The new soft-tipped eraser feels like a pencil. It also includes Active Canvas where you can write your thoughts directly in the book when inspiration strikes. Your note becomes part of the page, and the book text dynamically flows around it. If you increase font size, change the font style, or the book layout changes, the note remains visible exactly where you want it so you never lose meaning or context. The Kindle Scribe will start shipping December 4 and is available now for pre-order starting at $500.
Targus 16-inch Transit Rolling Laptop Case
The Targus 16-inch Transit 4-Wheel rolling laptop case is good for travelers carrying heavier workloads, like small business owners traveling with work materials to meet with prospective partners and clients. It’s durable and lightweight with ample space for bringing along your laptop and other essentials while keeping all your gear sufficiently protected. The case is easy to maneuver thanks to the smooth, four-wheel rolling design. It features a large main compartment for garments, files, or books and a secondary compartment with a padded sleeve to store and protect a 15-16” laptop. Other travel-friendly features include a top quick-access pocket for small essentials, front pocket with organization panel, and hideaway telescopic handle. It measures 16.25 x 8 x17 inches (L x W x H), weighs less than 5.31 lbs., and is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. It’s available for $150.
JBL Clip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Use it for shared music on the go, like kids relaxing on the beach while on vacation. Clip it to a bicycle for music while riding. Or turn it into a Bluetooth speakerphone in the hotel room that will sound much better than your phone’s speakerphone. Selling for just $100 through Erikson Consumer, the JBL Clip 5 is ultra-tiny, water- and dust-proof with an IP67 rating, with a built-in carabiner for easily clipping it just about anywhere. You can even pair two for stereo sound.
It runs for up to 12 hours per charge plus an extra three with Playtime Boost. Customize audio using the JBL Portable app. With so many cool colours and patterns from plain white to camo, it’s a fun travel accessory to bring alone everywhere, from day trips to weeklong vacations.
Trip Chaser Card Game
Looking for a game to play with the family on the next trip? Trip Chaser is a new travel-themed card game that’s perfect for rainy days when you’re stuck in the hotel. Created by an expert travelling husband-and-wife team, it combines elements of real-life travel stories, humour, and friendly competition. Designed for kids aged 10+ and from two to six players, each game takes about an hour. It’s perfect for playing right before bed or on a train from Toronto to Montreal. It’s a great game to play to prepare for an upcoming trip as well, or perhaps even at home to encourage you to book that next vacation.
The goal is to visit as many destinations as possible to accumulate points, but along the way, you’ll face various travel mishaps. Buy insurance and it might just save you from them. For every game purchased, the makers will also plant one tree to help offset carbon emissions. The game is $45 with free shipping in Canada. You can even pay an extra $5 to get it already gift wrapped.
Raycon 5-in-1 Magic Power Bank For Laptops
The Raycon 5-in-1 Magic Power Bank for laptops is ideal for frequent travelers, with a 15,000 mAh battery capacity and support for fast charging up to 65W to accommodate everything from smartphones and tablets to full-sized laptops. It employs a travel-friendly design and has several charging options, including built-in Type-C cable with Lightning adapter for older iPhones and iPads, Type-C (input/output) USB-A (output), and a 15W magnetic wireless charging pad. The intuitive digital display keeps you informed about the battery level. Get it for US$120.
Bluetti Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station
Perfect for traveling by car, RV, trailer, even boat, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station is designed for back-up at home as well as use during outdoor adventures. It comes equipped with LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries with an impressive 6,000+ charge cycle lifespan, ensuring 17 years of use. The company says this is 12 times longer than typical lithium-ion batteries. It is also the first power station to pass 33 rigorous CNAS battery tests, providing reliability for both home and outdoor applications. For camping, RVing, and off-grid living, it powers devices such as microwaves, coffee makers, and water heaters. Additionally, Power Lifting mode boosts output to 3,900W for high-demand devices like hot plates and hair dryers. Measuring 13.7 x 9.8 x 12.6 inches, it’s perfect for RVs, tiny homes, and camping setups. The Elite 200 V2 charges to 80% in just 50 minutes with a dual AC and solar setup. The optional 560W car charger provides a full charge in under four hours, while the 1,000W solar input and built-in solar tracking allow for off-grid charging. Get it for $1,599.
Scosche 2000A Portable Car Jump Starter
Before heading out on that road trip, toss the Scosche 2000A portable car jump starter in the trunk. Selling for US$150, it will ensure you’re always prepared to jump start the car in case of a battery emergency. But with this device, you don’t need another car to pull over to help. It has 2,000 peak amps for starting gas engines up to 8 litres and diesel engines up to 7 litres. The lithium-ion battery provides over 1,000 full charges and there’s a Power Boost feature that can jump start a vehicle even if the battery is completely drained. The six-point spark-free safety system protects from overheating, overcurrent, overcharge, over discharge, short circuits, and reverse connection. It also has a built-in power bank with a 30W USB-C PD port for using it as a back-up charger for your phone, tablet, camera, laptop, and other devices. As if that weren’t enough, it has a built-in LED flashlight with strobe for emergencies and SOS modes.
Uber One Subscription
If they travel often, they’ll benefit from an Uber One subscription. This affords discounts off rides, which they might use to get to and from the airport at home and their destinations, as well as to get around in other cities, in the U.S., even other countries. With Uber One, they’ll benefit from discounts on take-out and grocery deliveries with $0 delivery free on eligible orders, plus exclusive perks and promotions. At $10/mo., you can get them a full year for $120.