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| Must-have travel tech and gear |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Hi everyone,
This week, I’ve asked Zach Griff to share his favorite travel tech with you all. I’m exploring Greenland on an amazing cruise — my first in many years — but I’ll be back soon! You can follow my Greenland adventure over on Instagram. Also, voting for the TPG Awards just opened yesterday, so make sure you vote for your favorite travel brands by Sept. 30.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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Here at The Points Guy, we write about all of the different ways to maximize your travel. From finding the right credit card to scoring last-minute award seats, there are plenty of ways to improve your trips.
But as a frequent flyer (and self-proclaimed “techie”), I’ve learned that your travel tech and gear can also make or break a trip. Over the years, there’ve been myriad innovations in the travel tech and gear space, and I’ll cover some of my personal favorites below.
IPhone and AirTags
There’s no better travel tech combo than an iPhone and AirTags. Starting with the former, Apple’s smartphone is an essential travel companion. Last year, the tech giant introduced the iPhone 14 family, and I’ve now been using the flagship 14 Pro Max for nearly a year.
I’m still capturing fantastic travel photos, enjoying a powerful battery and feeling reassured that the built-in safety features, such as Emergency SOS via Satellite, will help me in case I’m stranded without cell service. (The iPhone 14 family can connect to emergency services via satellite if you don’t have cell service.)
Apple’s annual iPhone unveiling is expected to happen in just a few days, and I’m looking forward to checking out this year’s devices once they’re announced.
Meanwhile, AirTags are perhaps the world’s best item and luggage trackers. I’ve been using AirTags since they were released, and they’ve saved the day multiple times — I once had an airline tell me that my bag was never loaded onto the plane. I pulled out my phone and showed that the bag was actually put on the wrong flight. After some back-and-forth, the agent was able to track down my bag within just a few hours.
Noise-canceling headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are a traveler’s best friend. Whether you want to immerse yourself in your music or just drown out the noise of your fellow passengers, there are a handful of top-notch noise-canceling headphones on the market.
I recently reviewed many of the top picks from Apple, Bose and Sony, among others.
Traditionally, over-ear headphones have provided the best possible noise-cancellation experience. Over the years, however, we’ve seen multiple companies introduce in-ear headphones with noise cancellation.
As for me, I swear by Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro. They boast an impressive amount of noise cancellation in a portable case that fits in my pocket — no need to lug around bulky over-ear headphones anymore.
Travel backpacks
No list of travel tech and gear would be complete without mentioning bags. Everyone has a preferred carry-on, and while I’ve been a fan of my Tumi rollaboard bag, I recently set out to find the best backpack for travelers.
I reviewed 10 of the best business travel backpacks for style and comfort and found some pretty impressive options from Aer, Nomatic, Tumi, Incase and more.
I know that Tumi has long been a favorite of many TPG readers, and I loved the company’s Navigation backpack, even if it can get a bit pricey.
However, there’s something for everyone’s budget, so be sure to check out my latest to find your new favorite backpack.
Other travel tech gear
I use a bunch of other technology to streamline the travel experience, ranging from a digital SIM card for international cellphone reception to Apple’s MacBook Air, which is the best travel laptop on the market right now.
In fact, I’ve even compiled a list of the nine tech devices I always pack with me — and one that‘s changing my routine at home. Be sure to check that out!
To follow along with all my travels, don’t forget to follow me @_zachgriff on Instagram and on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday weekend,
Zach
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| Photo Credit: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY. |
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