Manual Espresso Maker
If coffee and morning are synonymous for you, don’t give up on your pleasant habit just because you can’t find a good café in a new city. Take the Handpresso manual espresso machine with you. This capsule gadget is slightly larger than a glasses case and brews coffee like a pro barista. And the best part — it does this without electricity! Pour hot water into the device — for example, from a thermos, pump the handle, press the button — and it’s ready. Now, even in a tent or at a picnic, you can treat yourself to aromatic espresso.
For drivers, there is a compact espresso machine that works from the car's cigarette lighter and brews coffee not only from capsules but also from regular ground beans.
Travel Iron
If your trip doesn’t include hotels where you can iron your clothes, and you can’t stand walking around in wrinkled attire, take a compact travel iron with you. The smallest ones, like the SteamFast SF-717 or Smile SI 1802, fit in the palm of your hand and weigh half a kilogram. Just like “regular” irons, they can iron dry or with steam and, despite their miniature size, they perform their duties excellently. So feel free to pack linen trousers and silk shirts — no one will notice they survived a flight across half the Earth.
Tip: You won’t need an iron if you pack your clothes properly. To avoid wrinkling, roll your trousers into a tight roll. For shirts, t-shirts, dresses, skirts, and jackets, fold them vertically in half before rolling.
Selfie Stick
People can be divided into two types: some can’t leave home without a selfie stick, while others lose their minds at the mere sight of one. If you belong to the former and also think that photos from a monopod look cool, then it’s already in your backpack.
The first selfie drone is now available for pre-order. The Airselfie can be launched 20 meters up, so all your friends can finally fit in the frame during a barbecue.
Selfie sticks are not just for “selfies.” With a monopod, you don’t have to lie on the grass to capture flowers or a fountain from an unusual angle. You can easily peek into a birdhouse, into the eyes of an ancient statue, or into a cozy corner under the corals while snorkeling — just don’t forget a waterproof case.
GorillaPod: Tripod with Flexible Legs
If you love photography and can’t stand heavy luggage, your choice is a lightweight tripod with flexible legs. The basic Joby GorillaPod Original weighs as much as a biometric passport and can hold not only a smartphone but also a camera weighing up to 325 grams. And if you want to pair the tripod with a professional camera, choose between the SLR-Zoom and Focus models. Secure the acrobat on a rock, branch, fence, or even on the leg of a table in a street café and see the world from a new angle.
Smart Earplugs
Falling asleep on a plane to the sound of a crying child or in a hotel to the snoring of a neighbor is a reality. Stock up on Hush smart earplugs. They reduce noise by 30 decibels, and if you play bird songs or the sound of a waterfall through a special app, they reduce it by up to 70. This means the earplugs will drown out the conversations of fellow travelers, your mother-in-law's favorite talk show, and the noise of cars. They won’t protect against sirens and fireworks, but maybe that’s for the best: you don’t want to sleep through New Year’s Eve. And to avoid waking up half the hotel at five in the morning, set a personal alarm in the smart earplugs that no one else will hear.
Solar Battery
A solar battery is useful for long journeys and outdoor adventures, especially for trekking. Lay it out on the grass, attach it to your backpack, or hang it on a bus window. Then connect an external battery or any gadget directly — and you can be sure you’ll stay connected.
Keep in mind that the size of the battery should be no smaller than an A5 sheet, preferably A4: smaller panels look impressive but charge poorly. Also, check the weather before your trip. In sunny Mongolia, smartphones and tablets charge non-stop, while in autumn in Russia, it’s easier to stock up on external batteries.
Electronic Dictionary-Translator
A talking communicator and electronic translator with a scanner can translate almost everything. Additionally, this device allows you to easily communicate with locals and learn a new language. An electronic tutor and translator in your pocket. The device has over 2 million entries, including words from 26 languages, with the option to download 23 more language packs.
It runs on two batteries, has a built-in speaker and microphone, and in addition to language resources, the gadget can help you quickly adapt to life in new conditions. For example, it has a clock that shows local time and time in major cities around the world. There’s a calculator to help with currency and metric conversions (yards to meters, for example) and even fun language games. The perfect companion for overseas trips.
Best Gadgets for Travelers. Part - 2
