ShortList is supported by you, our amazing readers. When you click through the links on our site and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Learn more

Top five gadgets to take travelling

If you’re planning on taking a trip abroad and want to know what gadgets to take on your trip, then read on…

30 October 2013

Even when you’re getting away from it all, the thought of being away from some kind of technical device or even worse, being off the grid for more than a couple of hours is enough to induce a mild heart attack.

Thankfully, there are a host of travel-friendly gadgets from hacker-proof luggage to the do-everything camera, that are perfect for enhancing and making your holiday even better. Much like the user-friendly Seiko Astron GPS, the world’s first GPS Solar watch. Whether it’s pinpointing your location via GPS or adjusting to the correct date and time zone – giving you accurate time, anywhere on earth, the Astron GPS is the ultimate travelling companion.

The solar powered charger

Keen travellers who want to stay connected will love the Freeloader Pro, the ultimate solar charging system capable of charging practically any electrical device. The weather resistant unit which can easily be attached to your rucksack, travel bag or bike panniers uses the sun to power up all your electrical devices from your mobile to your portable DVD player so you never have to worry about seeing that annoying low battery sign. Using a USB cable, it works by charging the internal battery that then connects to your electrical device. The downside is that it takes up to nine hours to charge, but once done it’s capable of giving up to 70 hours mobile phone standby time, 5000 turns on an eBook or 100% charge on a digital camera battery.

Freeloader Pro, £69.99

The e-Reader

Being alone in on a secluded island with nothing but the birds to keep you company may be your idea of bliss, but for bibliophiles who enjoy losing themselves in a good book, but don’t have the luggage space, the Kindle Paperwhite is the ideal holiday companion. The lightweight e-Reader is like your favourite book or should we say library – it holds 1100 books – but better. With a front light that illuminates the page so you don’t strain your eyes and an anti-glare screen, you can enjoy your favourite literary treats while relaxing in the sunshine. For travellers on the go, the Paperwhite has a battery life that lasts for weeks so no worrying about running out of juice.

Kindle Paperwhite, £109

The hacker-proof suitcase

The last thing you want is to travel halfway across the world, get to your destination and find that your personal information has been stolen whilst travelling between countries. Thankfully, Tumi have come up with an innovative luggage system that’s perfect for stylish global jetsetters with security on their mind. The new TICON collection from Tumi is not only practical, it has enough compartments to store practically anything, but it also has a clever system called the ID Lock. Cards and valuables with the RFID chip can be stored in the red pocket which is lined with a unique material to block hackers from stealing your personal information so you can enjoy your holiday knowing your personal information stays, well, personal.

Tumi TICON International leather zipper carry-on, £1495

The do-everything-camera

Travelling without taking pics or shooting the odd video is like Christmas dinner without all the trimmings, it's just boring. With the GoPro HERO3+ camera it’s nothing short of an adventure at your fingertips. The ultra-compact camera lets you capture every still or every motion in perfect HD quality and because it’s so good (and we mean really good), you won't want to stop. Its super sharp lens gives superior image quality and the massive SuperView gives the most immersive wide-angle video meaning you’ll be able to capture even the most obscure shots. Whether you’re speeding through the desert, scuba diving thanks to its waterproof case or even jumping out of parachute, the GoPro HERO3+ will be the one of the best thing you’ll bring on your travels.

GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition, £359.99

The small-but-mighty-speakers

For the good time traveller who loves their ‘choons’, the Franklin Roadie Unplugged SRT Mobile Amped Audio System is the answer to your prayers. Even though its small enough to fit in your hand luggage, don’t be fooled by its size as it’s more than capable cranking out sounds worthy of a beach party or for the more private traveller, as a backup to your air guitar solo. Think 360 surround sound and you’ll get the gist. The Roadie Unplugged works via Bluetooth technology so you can pair up your mobile or tablet and play DJ at your local beach party. And because it has more than eight hours rechargeable battery life you don’t have to worry about ending the party any time soon.

Franklin Roadie Unplugged SRT Mobile Amped Audio System, £99