• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechDiscovering Luxury

These Are 7 Must-Have Travel Gadgets Right Now

By
John Patrick Pullen
John Patrick Pullen
and
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Patrick Pullen
John Patrick Pullen
and
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 3, 2016, 12:51 PM ET

Whether the busy holiday travel season is upon you, an important business trip is looming, or you’re about to embark on a relaxing vacation, one thing is true: You—and your stuff—are going places.

Luckily, the latest and greatest gear makes it easy for you to live and travel comfortably. These seven devices (and a bonus bag) can help you minimize stress, reduce your load, and travel smarter.

1. Airscale ($49)

Luggage scales are a necessary evil. You need one before your flight to avoid an overweight baggage fee, but for the rest of your trip, it’s dead weight. Airscale extends the scale’s usefulness by slipping a 6,500mAh battery into the handle, allowing it to double as a power bank when not weighing your luggage. As a bonus, the digital display used to tell your bag’s weight converts into a percentage meter when it’s in battery mode. Most batteries use four-or-so LED lights to do this, which means Airscale is much more accurate. Buy here

2. Amazon Fire TV Stick ($39)

If you don’t think of streaming media devices as travel gear, you probably don’t spend much time in a hotel room watching whatever shows are currently airing on basic cable. Plugging Amazon’s (AMZN) new Fire TV Stick into your hotel television’s HDMI port can let you take your favorite streaming shows from Amazon Video, Netflix (NFLX), HBO Now (TWX), and others wherever you go, as long as there’s Wi-Fi.

Using video streaming devices in hotels can be dicey, with a “captive portal access” feature, Amazon’s works with many public systems. The newest version of the Fire TV Stick comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, so you can talk to Amazon’s virtual assistant if you get lonely on the road. Buy here

3. Apple Watch ($269 and up)

It’s a given that Apple’s (AAPL) wearable device is great at making sure you don’t miss notifications from your iPhone. But it’s as a travel device where Apple Watch shines. For instance, the paranoia of leaving your wallet in a cab disappears once you start using Apple Pay on your Watch to pay for your ride. Each airline app is different, but they provide a myriad of alerts on the fly, including gate-change information. Getting stressed waiting for your bag? The Breathe app can help you relax during these frantic moments at the luggage carousel. Buy from Apple or Best Buy

Bluesmart Luggage's connected bag
Bluesmart Luggage’s connected bagCourtesy of Bluesmart Inc.
Courtesy of Bluesmart Inc.

4. Bluesmart Black Edition ($599)

When you’re on the road, your only company might be your suitcase — so better make it a smart one. Bluesmart’s Black Edition connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth to power a range of functions, like location tracking, remote locking, and an integrated digital scale. The hardshell roller has some new wheel technology as well, letting it zip in and out of security lines with ease. Then, when you’re waiting at the gate, you can use the embedded battery charger to top off your gear — the carry-on bag has enough juice for six phone charges, in case you’re headed on an overseas adventure. Buy here

5. Samsung Galaxy TabPro S ($799)

If you’re traveling on business, hopefully there’s some pleasure included. The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S is the perfect travel computer because it lets you get both done with minimal bulk. Packing a mobile-optimized Intel (INTC) Core M processor, the quarter-inch thin, 1.53-pound, bright, high-resolution 12-inch AMOLED display has a 10-plus-hour battery life, 128GB of storage, and runs on Windows 10. 30 minutes of charging while on your layover will give you more than two hours of battery for your connecting flight. And best yet, when you fold it down with the included keyboard, the TabPro looks like a presentation folder (and not at all like that other Samsung Galaxy (SSNLF) product currently banned from airplanes, meaning you shouldn’t get any trouble from the flight crew.) Buy here

6. Honor 5X ($199)

The jet set knows the best way to stay connected both home and abroad is to use a dual-SIM smartphone. Packing two SIM cards, phones like the Honor 5X can get you local voice and data service wherever you roll your luggage without missing a call. This unlocked Android handset has a slick aluminum body with a fingerprint reader and a 13 megapixel camera on the back, a Qualcomm (QCOM) octa-core processor on the inside, and a 5.5-inch high definition display on the front. And while the 16GB of internal storage is lacking, an additional storage slot makes up for that, allowing for an additional 128GB of space. Accepting nano-SIM, micro-SIM, and a microSD card, the Honor 5X is a truly accommodating travel companion. Buy from Amazon or Best Buy

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

7. UE Roll 2 ($86)

Will the hotel have an iPhone-compatible alarm clock? How will I listen to my morning news podcasts in the shower? What if we want to enjoy some music down on the beach? These questions are irrelevant if you pack the travel-friendly UE Roll 2 in your suitcase. Compact and nearly flat for packing, and sporting a handy bungie cord, this waterproof speaker can go almost anywhere you can. It’s got nine hours of battery life, and it can link up with two phones simultaneously in case you want to share it with a sidekick. Or connect two Roll 2s to your handset simultaneously, and make its big sound even bigger. Buy from Amazon or Best Buy

Bonus: Airpocket ($75)

Airpocket is a great place to put your devices while on a plane. Designed to fit in the seatback pocket, Airpocket was initially conceived of as a carryall that rounds up all your in-flight must-haves (phone, magazine, tablet, headphones, makeup, snacks), so you don’t have to pull out your carry-on bag repeatedly to access them. But there’s an ancillary benefit to using Airpocket instead of the seatback pouch: The airline’s storage option is filthy, and avoiding shoving gear like your smartphone in it is a smart way to fend of germs.

We’ve included affiliate links in this article. Click here to learn what those are.
This article originally appeared on Time.com.

About the Authors
By John Patrick Pullen
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By TIME
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Meta’s threat to quit New Mexico ‘is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,’ AG says
LawMeta
Meta’s threat to quit New Mexico ‘is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,’ AG says
By Catherina GioinoApril 30, 2026
19 minutes ago
Meta's Hyperion data-center site in Northeastern Louisiana.
NewslettersEye on AI
Big Tech will spend nearly $700 billion on AI this year. No one knows where the buildout ends
By Sharon GoldmanApril 30, 2026
4 hours ago
Financial analyst working at a computer
Personal FinancePersonal Finance Evergreen
AI’s entry-level hiring nightmare is another gift to boomers’ retirement plans
By Catherina GioinoApril 30, 2026
5 hours ago
TOPSHOT - Alphabet Inc. and Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during the inauguration of a Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Paris on February 15, 2024. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP via Getty Images)
AIGoogle
Google and Amazon’s biggest profit driver last quarter was their Anthropic stakes—which they haven’t sold
By Eva RoytburgApril 30, 2026
5 hours ago
Elon Musk arrives at the courthouse during his trial against OpenAI
CryptoElon Musk
Elon Musk likes Bitcoin—but he just told a jury most crypto coins are scams
By Jack KubinecApril 30, 2026
7 hours ago
Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., at the Norges Bank Investment Management annual investment conference in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
EconomyJamie Dimon
For years, the risk Jamie Dimon was most concerned about was geopolitics. His answer has shifted
By Eleanor PringleApril 30, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
3 days ago
‘They left me no choice’: Powell isn’t going anywhere—blocking Trump from another Fed appointee
Banking
‘They left me no choice’: Powell isn’t going anywhere—blocking Trump from another Fed appointee
By Eva RoytburgApril 29, 2026
1 day ago
Google Cloud revenue is now 18% of Alphabet's business. Is this the beginning of the end of Google's search identity?
Big Tech
Google Cloud revenue is now 18% of Alphabet's business. Is this the beginning of the end of Google's search identity?
By Alexei OreskovicApril 29, 2026
21 hours ago
Jamie Dimon gets candid about national debt: ‘There will be a bond crisis, and then we’ll have to deal with it’
Economy
Jamie Dimon gets candid about national debt: ‘There will be a bond crisis, and then we’ll have to deal with it’
By Eleanor PringleApril 29, 2026
1 day ago
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
AI
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
By Sasha RogelbergApril 28, 2026
3 days ago
Elon Musk says saving for retirement is irrelevant because AI is going to create a world of abundance: 'It won't matter'
Future of Work
Elon Musk says saving for retirement is irrelevant because AI is going to create a world of abundance: 'It won't matter'
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 26, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.