Navigating the vast array of technology available to travelers can be daunting. Which phone is best? Do I need a laptop or e-reader, and if so, which one? How do I keep my photos safe?
These questions and dozens of others like them are what we try to answer around here. For those who don’t have time to search through hundreds of articles, however, we’ve gathered together our recommendations across several categories.
In each case we’ve chosen a few of the best products on the market, and explain why they’re better than anything else out there right now.
What does that mean? In our opinion, recommended products do the job better, faster, cheaper or easier (or, likely, many of those things) than the competition for most travelers. It’s as simple as that.
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Smartphones
Their small size and many functions make smartphones one of the most useful travel gadgets around.
They’re definitely not all created equal, however, and picking the wrong one could end up being a frustrating and expensive mistake.
See our smartphone picks -
Laptops
While many travelers have switched to tablets or smartphones, there’s still nothing better than a laptop to get real work done on the road.
If you want maximum performance and flexibility with minimum size and weight, here’s what to buy.
See our laptop picks Storage & Backup
Whether you’re backing up your files, sharing photos with friends, or just adding a little extra capacity to your camera, storage matters more than ever.
Here are our recommendations for all the options that matter to travelers: hard drives, flash, wireless, and up in the cloud.
See our storage and backup picksAccessories
It’s easy to get carried away with the number of gadgets and accessories you take on a trip, and most of them are unnecessary.
There are a few, though, that are definitely useful enough to justify their cost and weight, from chargers to e-readers, batteries to Wi-Fi boosters and more.
See our accessory picksTablets
For many travelers, tablets are replacing laptops as their main way of staying in touch from the road.
The best are light, well-made, and can do everything you need, and the worst are none of those things. Which is which?
Whether you’re looking for something to get serious work done, update social media, or entertain the kids, we’ve got you covered.
See our tablet picksSound
From screaming kids on a longhaul flight to blaring music videos on an overnight bus in Laos, sometimes decent earphones are all that stands between you and a miserable few hours.
Other times, it’s all about sharing your music with those around you: a day on the beach, or a hotel room party.
Here are our recommendations for better sound, no matter your travel style.
See our sound picks-
Tools & Services
Need to know which company has the best travel insurance, or makes the best VPN for travelers?
Which site gives the best hotel deals, or how to get into airport lounges without airline status or business-class tickets?
These are the tools and services we use.
See our tools and services picks -
Solar Power
Just because you’re in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean you can’t charge your phone or run your electrical gear.
With the right equipment, you can power everything from your phone to your fridge with nothing more than the sun’s rays.
These are our picks.
See our solar picks -
Desks
With many more of us working from home these days, creating a comfortable and effective work environment is more important than ever.
That’s why we’ve found the best desks on the market at the moment, whether you prefer to stand, sit, or lie down while you work!
See our desk picks -
Remote Work
Remote work is on the rise, whether you’re doing your job from a home office, the local coffee shop, or a beachside bar thousands of miles away.
From portable monitors and printers to laptop stands and virtual mailboxes, here’s the gear and services you need to do it well.
See our remote work picks -
Vehicle Tech
Vehicle tech has come a long way in recent years, and we also expect to be able to do basic things like mounting and charging our mobile devices when we’re driving.
We’ve covered everything from stands and car chargers to dash cams and GPS trackers.
See our vehicle tech picks
