The Basic Tech You’ll Want Every Step of the Journey

As you’re trekking across multiple countries in multiple continents, you’ll need one main thing to make you a modern traveler: technology. Even for those whom prefer to go off the grid for a while, these gadgets listed below can help you document your trip so you can relive it later, or make your navigation easier and your transiting more enjoyable without overpowering the experience.

Smartphone (with International SIM Card)

Phone technology has made extreme advances within the past decade alone, and this singular device can now do so many things, especially doubling as your GPS/navigator, personal assistant and local informant. Plus, if you don’t want to pay for international calls, you can turn off your cell carrier and just use the device as a WiFi syphon without ever having to pay for any connection.

Laptop/Tablet

If you’re traveling for business, working from a smaller device can become cumbersome and counterproductive. So, think thin and light, but also durable, and be sure to buy an accompanying case/cover to keep it safe from the inevitable road bumps.

Digital Camera/GoPro Video Camera

Today, there are many amateur photographers abound with the rampant availability of affordable, professional-quality cameras. If that’s your passion; then go for it — and be sure to bring all your gear — but capturing the memories with slightly-higher-than-phone quality is perfectly fine as well. Also, the GoPro camera is almost literally a requirement these days for every adventure traveler, going every day where no camera has gone before.

External Hard-Drive/Cloud Account

With all those photos and all that video you’ll be capturing, you’ll need someplace to offload it to make room for all the new ones coming from tomorrow’s planned trip. Store it elsewhere and get back out there; you can review every one once you return home and are longing to get back out there.

Digital Music Player and Good Headphones

Running into a crying baby on a plane flight or a chatty couple on a train ride is nearly inevitable, but it doesn’t need to be intolerable. Load your favorite MP3 player with your favorite jams, crank it up high and drown out the distractions for a while.

FitBit

If you’re a fan of the quantified self movement and want to know just how many modern steps you took in that centuries-old city earlier today, slap one of these on your wrist. The FitBit tracks all of your movement throughout a day, and then gives you a report at the end of it so you can justify eating that third, decadent croissant for breakfast.

And one more vital, final note: don’t forget your power chargers and international plug adapters! Remember to feed your electronics, folks; they get hungry on the road, too.