Useful travel gadgets: what we’re using in 2022

From practical solutions for everyday problems to highbrow electronics for luxury on the road, here are our favoured useful travel gadgets of 2022

The modern traveller rarely leaves home without a range of gadgets and accessories. Despite years of travel and streamlining my gear, I still pack a healthy number of gadgets.

Unless I’m going completely off-grid, there are certain (usually electronic) luxuries I don’t want to be without. I want to take thousands of photographs, listen to music, watch a movie, stay in touch with my family and most importantly of all, keep track of England’s latest batting collapse (a form of self-harm I’m sure).

Therefore, the following useful travel gadgets are a mix of what I won’t travel without and what’s on my wish list for 2020.

1. World travel adapter kit

Nearly everything on this list of useful travel gadgets requires a power source, be it mains or USB. The Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit is the perfect solution to the problem of packing seemingly boundless numbers of cables and adaptors.

The kit works in over 200 countries and territories and can charge up to five devices using only one outlet. It is surge protected and includes two US plugs, two USB ports, a fixed USB cable and six country-specific connectors.

The kit also features a smart LED voltage indicator which shows whether a 110V or 220V is present. This ensures you know which devices are compatible and can be safely connected.

2. Noise-cancelling earbuds

These are ideal for long journeys where other passengers might not always be as considerate as one might hope. I am not the most tolerant of people (I prefer animals), so these Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling earbuds sound ideal (excuse the pun).

You can turn the noise-cancelling feature up or down according to preference or, at a touch, activate a mode to hear what’s happening around you. The buds have an inline microphone and remote control to switch to calls and control other functions and come in two versions: Apple or Samsung/Android.

3. Power bank + solar charger

I carry a fair amount of electronics on treks and climbs including two cameras and a smartphone. All of these need juice, so a reliable power bank and solar charger make life easier. I use a Powergorilla charger and a Falcon 21 foldable solar charger from PowerTraveller.