Are you looking for inspiration on some of the best travel essentials and holiday gadgets for your trips? We’ve put together an extensive list of holiday items, equipment, electronics and other handy items to help you make the most out of your holiday. They’re the perfect gifts for frequent travellers and can make your travel life easier too! We personally use all of the items featured on the list and would be lost without them.
Read on for the 30 best holiday gadgets and accessories.
Backpacks:
1. Osprey Momentum Backpack
Starting with our favourite and most essential travel companion, a good quality backpack with back support and plenty of pockets is a must! We use it to transport important documents, valuables such as cameras, chargers and other electronics, as well as plenty of snacks and drinks! It’s the perfect airport transit bag and can also be used when you’re out and about on holiday hikes, daytrips and a visit to the beach! The Osprey Momentum (or any Osprey bag for that matter) is one of the best backpack’s money can buy. In our opinion, it’s well worth splashing out the extra cash for it and it’ll last you years!
2. Decathlon Quechua miniature backpack
On the complete opposite scale of price, a small and compact Decathlon Quechua backpack costs only a few pounds! Available in a variety of colours, this super light and miniature backpack is an easy way to carry your water bottle, sun cream, sunglasses and other small holiday accessories day-to-day. We love to take ours to the beach or pack it with snacks and water for short excursions.
Gadgets
3. FREETOO Digital Travel Scales
Cheap and a life saver for making sure your check-in luggage isn’t overweight, a set of digital travel scales will make sure you’re ready for the airport and will save the embarrassment of re-packing your suitcase in the terminal building. Simple but necessary.
4. JYDMIX All In One Universal USB Travel Power Adapter
Googling the electric outlet type for a country before arrival and then rummaging around for the correct adaptor is always a hassle! Save time and be prepared for anywhere you go with a top-notch worldwide compatible travel adaptor. Extra USB slots and a higher amp rating allow you to charge multiple devices at once.
5. G4Free Packing Cubes
These hidden gems of a packing accessory are not to be overlooked and all of the full-time world travellers use them! Pack your case into different box compartments, making unpacking easier and giving you better organisation to find items. You’ll also fit more into your suitcase.
6. Homchen Document Wallet
Most documents are digital these days and we love that fact; however, you can’t save your passport onto your phone unfortunately…Use a handy travel wallet to keep passports, travel money, credit cards and any paper documents safe and in one place.
7. Spigen Waterproof Phone Case
Standing at the beach locker always throws up the dilemma of whether you should take your phone with you or leave it safely packed away. Packing your phone, credit cards and cash into a transparent, water-proof bag keeps them safely in your possession and means you can capture all of those beach and swimming pool photos without damaging your smartphone!
8. HydroFuel™ Sports Water Bottle
More and more countries now have safe tap water to drink. Carrying a high capacity water bottle with you is good for the environment and ensures you stay hydrated when you’re out and about or on a trek. Pack some emergency water purification tablets if you’re going off-the-beaten-track, just in case you find yourself in a situation with no water.
9. STAINLESS STEEL TRAVEL COFFEE CUP
This handy steel, insulated cup is a travel gadget for coffee lovers on the go. It keeps tea and coffee hot and is good for the environment, avoiding those disposable cups at Starbucks. It also keeps drinks ice cold and can be used for beer, water or anything other refreshing drink. We personally use ours all of the time, even when we’re touring the coffee shops of London and aren’t travelling.
10. OUSPT Sand-free Beach Mat
If you’re beach lovers like us, you’ll want plenty of seaside relaxation on holiday. Don’t let the sand ruin your picnic and get into all of your belongings with an amazing sand-resistant beach mat. It uses military technology to resist sand, leaving you to lie comfortably by the sea. No doubt one of the coolest holiday gadgets on our list!
11. Duronic Mini Steam Travel Iron
Want to look sharp and tidy for your evening out? Sometimes hotel irons destroy your clothes and not all hotel rooms have irons. Having your own mini travel iron on hand to steam your clothes is a holiday essential that shouldn’t be overlooked. The Duronic Mini Steam Iron is one of the smallest travel irons available and it does a great job.
12. Trespass Foldable Water-Proof Jacket
Never get caught out in the rain again with a foldable water-proof jacket that can fit in your pocket! You don’t want to be carrying coats around in a hot holiday destination but you want to be prepared when it rains and an umbrella is too bulky. We swear by our Trespass Packup Rain Jackets and fit them in our backpack or pocket everywhere we go.
13. FITFORT Ultrasonic Mosquito Repeller
It’s always a nasty feeling waking up covered in bites and it can happen even in the nicest 5-star hotels in tropical countries. Plug an ultrasonic mosquito repellent plug into the socket of your hotel room and wake up bite-free every morning. It’s a cheap and effective way to deal with the mozzies!
14. Luxury memory foam travel cushion
This one is a no-brainer, however it’s surprising how many people haven’t invested in a good quality memory foam travel cushion for long flights, coach journeys and even road trips. It supports your head and neck so you can comfortably fall asleep without facing that awful neck jerk you get when trying to sleep sitting upright. Although they come in lots of shapes and sizes, this ergonomic luxury pillow is a dream to sleep on. One of the best holiday gadgets for those that spend a lot of time on planes, trains and buses.
Electronics:
THE BEST TRAVEL Cameras & photography equipment
Without a doubt, a camera will already be top of your packing list to capture those amazing holiday moments but do you have the right camera for the job? Most smartphone cameras will do completely fine for most people, however if you really want to take your travel photography to the next level, here are our camera recommendations.
15. Top quality MIrrorless camera for photos and video – fujifilm xt3
If you’re really looking to get into photography and take some amazing pictures, Fujifilm’s X-range of mirror-less cameras are some of the best out there. The prices for mirror-less cameras from a few hundred up to a few thousand pounds and plenty of mid-range options in between! For aspiring photographers and those that know how to use a camera and want to up their picture-taking game, the Fujifilm XT3 is the way to go and is our personal camera of choice.
16. AFFORDABLE MIRROR-LESS CAMERA FOR TRAVEL – FUJIFILM X-A5
Sticking to the Fujifilm brand as it’s so fun to use and the colours are brilliant, our recommendation for a beginner travel camera is the fantastic Fujifilm X-A5. Also a mirrorless digital camera with in-built lens stabilisation, the X-A5 will give you the same top-quality of a DSLR but at a much lower weight. It’s portable, easy to use and settings can be set to both manual and auto. A top camera for a budding travel photographer and the price is very affordable.
17. Vlogging camera – Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
If you want to include yourself in your travel videos and start a career or hobby in travel vlogging, you’ll need a decent compact camera with a front facing screen. Our favourite vlogging camera has to be the Canon PowerShot G7. It shoots in 1080p HD with 60 FPS and it’s light and easy to use. The camera is also great for shooting standard non-vlog style video and photos so it’s a great all-rounder!
18. Action cam – Go-Pro Hero 8
Go-Pro has long been the go-to brand for capturing excellent footage on the go, whether you’re kayaking, skydiving or just want a handy camera to document your trip. The latest action-cam in their range, the Go Pro Hero 8, does that excellently! We prefer to use a full-size digital camera to shoot scenery and static shots and then use our Go Pro Hero 8 for anything involving lots of action or movement! The Hero 8 shoots 4K underwater shots brilliantly! If you’re on a budget, check out the Go Pro Hero Session. It’s a smaller camera that shoots in 1080p HD.
19. Best Smartphone camera in 2020 – SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 PLUS
Prefer to stick with a top-notch smartphone camera for ease-of-use and portability? The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is our top pick for best camera phone in 2020, though it was a tough competition as there are some great phones out there! The S20+ is the latest Samsung flagship and it boasts 3 lenses and a 30X zoom alongside other features such as 5G, a high-resolution display and fast processor. Read the reviews for yourself on Trusted Reviews. An all-in-one holiday gadget with an excellent camera. If you’re looking for a more affordable but excellent camera phone, check out our top pick for 2019, the Huawei P30 Pro.
Camera tripods
Ever wondered how some YouTubers or Instagram photographers seem to capture perfectly stable shots and selfies at the perfect angle without a long arm in the lens? They all use tripods! Tripods come in all shapes and sizes and are available for different types of cameras.
Here are our 3 recommendations for camera options. You want a light and compact option for travel; after all, you’re not filming the next Hollywood Blockbuster!
20. Action cam tripod – Joby Gorillapod
This tripod is small and versatile. It can be used for your action cam or a small compact camera. Position the camera on edges, the ground and even on awkward raised angles to capture unique perspectives. It’s small and easy to use.
21. Smartphone tripod – Joby Gorillapod
The Joby Gorillapod also comes in a version with a smartphone fitting so you can capture the same great shots and make use of your phone’s auto-timer feature.
22. TCYKA Lightweight Tripod for digital cameras
As DSLR’s and bridge camera are larger and heavier than the other cameras in our list, you’ll need a sturdy, multi-height tripod to support the weight and capture stable, stunning shots. This TYCKA tripod is cheap and lightweight, making it perfect for travel. It also comes with a carry case. Learn to pan using the tripod handle for the best video footage.
23. professional Photography drone – DJI Mavic Pro 2
Drone photography allows you to capture some amazing shots to combine with your hand-held shots and will truly evolve the quality of your videos! The DJI Mavic Pro 2 is currently one of the best drones on the market for filming video and taking aerial pictures. The piloting curve may be a little steep but once you get the hang of it and fly within the aviation rules, you’ll have a great time capturing your holiday scenery. Check out this review for why this drone is the best money can buy. We recommend this photography drone for those with some existing flying experience.
24. STARTER TRAVEL Photography drone – DJI Mavic mini
The introduction of the DJI Mavic Mini to the drone market at the end of 2019 truly opened up the aerial photography market for everyone! With a price that’s roughly half of the top-of-the-range drones and a small and portable form, the Mavic Mini is the go-to choice for new drone pilots looking to get some cool aerial shots. Many travellers, ourselves included, opt for the Mavic Mini over other drones as it’s so small and portable. It’s simply a great drone! We recommend getting the ‘Fly More Combo’ option as it’s better value. You’ll need the extra batteries and accessories.
25. Zhiyun Smooth 4 Smartphone Gimbal
If you want super stable video footage for YouTube, social media or to create your own video memories, you don’t want shaky footage. Sure, it can be corrected in post-production if you’re a skilled editor, but it’s much better to capture stable footage when shooting. We use the Zhiyun Smooth 4 smartphone Gimbal. It’s affordable and effective for stabilisation on the go, whilst also being really easy to use. Simply pop in your smartphone, adjust the settings and you’re good to go. One of the best holiday gadgets for aspiring video producers!
26. DIGITAL COMPACT & MIRRORLESS CAMERA GIMBAL – ZHIYUN WEEBIL S
If you already have a digital compact or mirror-less camera and you want to improve the stability of your footage, the compact Zhiyun Weebil S Gimbal is the way to go for silky smooth video footage. It’s currently our Gimbal of choice for travel videos. Attach your camera to the Gimbal to take the shakiness out of moving shots and capture shots from cool angles that wouldn’t be achievable by hand. The Zhiyun Weebil S is the portable answer to a Gimbal and is far more convenient that carrying around a huge camera rig.
27. Anker PowerCore 20100 USB Power Bank
You may already have a USB power bank, but do you have a high capacity, fast charging and compact power bank? The Anker PowerCore 20100 is a relatively lightweight charger that fast charges devices and can give up to 3 full charges. These latest power banks are well worth investing in. They’re a fraction of the weight of older models.
28. AFFORDABLE Noise Cancelling Headphones – ANKER SOUNDCORE life Q20
Noise cancelling headphones are costing less and less these days and they’re one of the holiday gadgets that we couldn’t do without. The top of the range samsung variety will still cost you upwards of £200, however there are some great budget Bluetooth headphones like these Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Headphones that also do a great job. Listen to your favourite music on the flight and cut out all of that sleep depriving background noise…
29. THE BEST Noise Cancelling Headphones – SAMSUNG WH-1000XM3
To take your noise cancelling headphones to the next level, the Samsung WH-1000XM3 are truly the best that money can buy and they’re rated number #1 for being able to drown out background sounds. If you’re a frequent flyer that wants to drift away to sleep to the sound of your music, these are brilliant. We personally take ours on every journey – they really take the hassle out of travelling through a noisy airport or train station. See the reviews for yourself on Trusted Reviews. A travel gadget that’s essential for absolutely everyone and one of our top picks on our list!
30. Anker SoundCore Boost Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Super cheap and excellent for getting you into party or holiday mode, a portable USB speaker will brighten the mood of any hotel room, beach or private pool. It’s compact so it can fit nicely into your luggage and holds a good level of battery power. Listen to your favourite Spotify tunes whilst getting ready in your room or relaxing on the beach. We like the Anker Soundcore 2 Boost as it’s powerful, light and water proof so there’s no worry of splashing pool water or drinks nearby.
Our holiday gadgets and travel essentials list ended up a lot longer than we expected! Being prepared for your holiday with the above gadgets will make your life easier in some shape or form. Browse the list and get inspired for your own trip or find a gift for a family member that loves to travel! If you have any questions about any of the items we’ve featured, get in touch! We personally use all of the items we featured.
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. We only recommend products that we personally use and would recommend.
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