I do not know for you, but I’ve traveled a lot this year. In fact, I’m back to my travel levels for 2019, which have been a breath of fresh air after a pandemic for a few years.
I love coming back to this list every time TechCrunch does a giveaway guide. It’s a good opportunity for me to assess whether I’m packing as efficiently as I could. I’d like to think I have it down to a science, but the beauty of being a hardware developer is that there are always new things to try.
If you’ve got a frequent flyer in your life, here’s a list of travel gifts ranging from less than $20 to more than $1,000, many of which are now available at a discount for holiday deals and Black Friday. There’s something here for every kind of tech-obsessed traveler.
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Tom Bihn Synik 30 Backpack
Price: $330 at Tom Bihn
Image Credits: Tom Bean
If you’ve seen me in the past few years, chances are the Timbuk2 backpack was nearby. I still love the thing (expandable interior volume is a must), but it seemed like a good time to shake things up and try something new.
Tom Bihn is one of those companies I’ve heard about over the years but never tried their products. The 51-year-old company seems to have cultivated just as devoted a following as fellow Seattleite Filson (if you ever see Devin Coldewey in person, ask him his thoughts on the waxed canvas). Neither are exactly household names outside of the PNW, but those who know them seem to love them.
When I said CEO Cindy Guan that I was working on a travel update, he suggested the Synik 30 and I think this is the right call for my needs. For starters, it can fit laptops up to 16 inches — perfect for the 15-inch MacBook Air that’s been my travel companion for the past two years.
Other than that, it’s just a very well thought out and beautiful product (digging the deep ballistic Wilderness green color) with plenty of room, lots of pockets, and removable/customizable elements. It’s not cheap though. The company offers some more affordable options, but the Synik is durable enough for both travel and commuting, so you’ll get plenty of mileage out of the bag. It’s easily one of the best backpacks I’ve ever tried.
Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe
Price: $150 at Anker
Image Credits: Anchor
Anker products are generally a safe bet. It’s high quality, without the same premium tax as a company like Mophie. The brand has also innovated several form elements. This 3-in-1 charger is extremely compact and suitable for suitcases. It ships as a cube that folds up to simultaneously charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and MagSafe-compatible AirPods.
The system supports 15-watt fast charging, while the MagSafe pad has an adjustable angle so it can double its function in standby mode. You don’t have to rely on the hotel alarm clock with this one sitting next to your bed.
At $150, it’s a lot more than buying a USB cable and wall adapter, but you’re actually getting three chargers in one portable factor that will free up a lot of travel space.
Apple MacBook Air 15 inch
Price: $1,049 on Amazon
Image Credits: Brian Heater
The M1 and M2 chips were such huge game changers for travel. When I’m feeling particularly nostalgic about my earlier struggles, I’ll think back to my days of live blogging for Engadget, when I had to bring a huge power bank with me to make sure my laptop survived the whole thing.
These days, however, I fly cross country regardless of charging my Air. Let’s be honest, Delta’s under-seat exits are a real bummer anyway. This is the laptop we always wanted the Air to be, but limitations in processing power and battery life always fell short.
As gifts go, it’s expensive. But more than any other item on this list, this is an investment. If you can’t sleep on planes, at least you can finally do some real work.
Ozlo Sleepbuds
Price: $229 on Indiegogo
Image Credits: Brian Heater
I’m going to do something I don’t usually do and recommend a product I haven’t had a chance to try yet. I have some faith in the team behind the Ozlo Sleepbuds, given their pedigrees that played a crucial role in the creation of Bose’s version. The company is also determined to fix some of the original ‘buds’ biggest problems, including their inability to stream music.
I’ve always felt that Bose’s two swings at the product fell short of greatness. This is terrible as I am historically a terrible sleeper and I really wanted to like things. Trying to sleep with regular headphones and over-ear headphones is a bit of a nightmare scenario, so I really strive for the product to be as good as it sounds.
We’ll keep you posted on the inevitable revision. In the meantime, you can pre-order a pair on Indiegogo for $229 — that’s $20 less than the Bose Sleepbuds II. How much are you willing to pay for a better night’s sleep?
Nintendo Switch Lite
Price: $199 on Amazon
Image Credits: Brian Heater
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild probably saved me from losing my mind during the first few months of the pandemic. Basil’s tears had a similar effect on me earlier this year. The Switch Lite is a great little portable system that’s perfect for long plane rides and hotel stays.
The biggest differences between the Lite and the regular Switch are size, weight, and lack of TV connectivity. Because of the latter, the Joycons are not removable. If you expect the console to spend a lot of time on the road, these sacrifices are more than worth it – not to mention the lower price.
The Switch is getting a little old, six years after its launch, but Nintendo has built a fantastic library of games in that time — not to mention access to older content via Switch Online. My biggest gripe remains the battery life, so definitely remember to pack that USB-C cable and turn on airplane mode when you can.
Apple AirTags 4-pack
Price: $79.99 on Amazon
Image Credits: apple
My advice; Buy the four pack. I regret not doing it in the beginning. I have since added AirTags to my keychain, wallet and luggage tag. As an almost comically absent person with a lot of anxiety (great combination!), these things are worth the price for the peace of mind alone. Heck, I used the notification sound to find my keys inside my messy apartment about an hour ago.
If you’re an Android user, there are also some great alternatives from Tile, Chipolo and Samsung. They’re all great, relatively low-cost gifts that almost anyone can use — especially for frequent travelers.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
Price: $239 on Amazon
Image Credits: Brian Heater
The original Kindle DX was a bit of a dud. I suspect that tying a product’s successes to people’s desire to read newspapers in their original form via slow-loading e-ink didn’t capture the public’s imagination as Amazon had hoped. Since then, there is very little deviation from the standard six-inch screen.
The 10.2-inch screen was reason enough to get me to check out the Scribe. I really like the larger shape and the large Kindle has been a staple in my backpack ever since. The whole experience has opened up quite a bit with the arrival of Send-to-Kindle, a browser-based feature that lets you drag and drop content that will be sent to your device the next time you turn it on.
Of course, the real selling point – as the name suggests – is the ability to scribble notes on the device. It is the first Kindle to feature this functionality. I was reminded the hard way that my typing is much smoother than my script, but the handwriting detection on the device is mercifully forgiving.
One year clean
Price: $189
Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images
It turns out that air travel can actually be pretty cool — if you’re willing to pay. If you’re in a lot of airports a year, this is an upgrade that can definitely justify the cost. A Clear pass will help you avoid the often hellish security lines at airports. It even gives you a leg up on the TSA Pre-Check folks.
It’s a great gift idea because it’s the kind of thing that many people would never think of buying for themselves. Once you have it, though, it’s hard to know how you lived so long without it.
Beshon flat socket outlet
Price: $18 on Amazon
Image Credits: Beshon
Several years ago, I started packing a tiny power strip and it changed the game. While it’s true that more and more hotels are including in-room ports, you never know what you’ll find until you open that door. Save yourself the grief of changing plugs all night with one of these.
There are many options out there — mostly at very good prices. I like this one, because it’s nice and compact, while packing in three outlets, a pair of USB-C ports and a USB-A, because you never know. It’s also a bonus for international travel because you only need one adapter.
Belkin iPhone Camera Mount
Price: $30 on Amazon
Apple Belkin Continuity Camera macOS. Image Credits: Brian Heater
My most recent addition to the list was another game changer for me. While it’s true that Apple improved its laptop cameras two years ago, video quality still leaves a lot to be desired. If you have a Mac and an iPhone, the Continuity Camera mode completely opens up the game.
I’ve used the iPhone 15 Pro Max for work calls on the road, and nothing short of hooking up a DSLR to your computer comes close. This MagSafe accessory is an inexpensive addition to your arsenal that you can keep in your backpack and forget about until you need it.
This post was originally published on November 3rd and has been updated to reflect updated prices and offers.
