The 3 Travel Gadgets I Won't Leave Home Without

Before you come at me, that headline is grammatically sound; it’s now acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition. I say this as a college graduate with a degree in English and a die-hard grammar nerd. (Proof: I own this shirt and many others like it.)

Anyway, travel. It’s pretty stressful these days, which is why I’m always looking for ways to make it easier. Tech to the rescue! With a few simple gadgets, you can hit the road with a bit less stress. Maybe a lot less.

The following items have earned permanent homes in my carry-on and/or suitcase; they’re my non-negotiable, must-have travel companions.

Bluetooth trackers (no more lost luggage)

You went to Las Vegas but your luggage went somewhere else. Or maybe you just got delayed getting to baggage claim and your suitcase is nowhere to be found at the carousel. Now what?

Now pull out your phone and track that bag. As long as you stuck a Bluetooth tracker in there, you should be able to locate it.

Apple AirTags are the best-known example, but there are plenty of other options — including some that are compatible with Android. They all work roughly the same way: If your phone is within Bluetooth range of the tracker (usually anywhere from 30-45 feet), it should be able to detect it. But outside that range, now you’re looking to leverage the Apple Find My or Google Find Hub network.

Basically, as long as someone’s phone is within Bluetooth range of your tracker, you can get a fix on its location. And that’ll at least help you figure out whether your suitcase is in the same airport or halfway across the country.

The best Bluetooth tracker overall, in my humble opinion, is the Pebblebee Clip 5, which works with iPhones and Android phones alike. But it’s a little pricey at $35.

If you’re an iPhone user, consider grabbing a 4-pack of AirTags ($89), because they’re easy to toss into a bag or suitcase and have the added advantage of Precision Finding (which helps you pinpoint their location right down to the last foot).

A great budget alternative is the UGreen FineTrack Duo Bluetooth Tracker 4-pack, which leverages either Apple Find My or Google Find Hub (your choice) but costs only $34. That’s less than $9 per tracker!

Noise-cancelling sleep earbuds

It’s challenging enough to sleep in a new place, but when you factor in the inevitable noise from city streets, raucous nature (crickets are loud), your Airbnb’s neighbors, or whatever, now you’re staring down the barrel of a sleep-deprived vacation. Not good.

Foam earplugs will get you only so far; that’s why I always pack the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds, which provide active noise-cancellation (ANC) and — if you want — white noise or other sleep-sounds to help you slumber.

I’ve used these on and off for the past year, and while they can’t combat every noise, they’ve definitely helped me sleep better while traveling (and sometimes at home as well, because I have a partner who snores).

They’re remarkably compact, meaning they’re able to slip into your ear canals without protruding — great news for side-sleepers like me. And they’re comfortable enough that I can wear them all night.

Two caveats to consider: The Sleepbuds are on the pricey side at $200, and the companion app used to choose sounds, adjust settings, etc., is a little confusing in places. But the latter can be overcome with a little learning and practice, and can you really put a price tag on good sleep?

One charger to rule them all

Phones, laptops, tablets, headphones — all your mobile devices need charging when you travel, and that means you’ll need an AC adapter to plug them into. (Yep, I ended another sentence with a preposition. I promise you, it’s fine!)

My charger of choice is the UGreen Nexode 65W Retractable Charger Block, which packs several useful features while remaining relatively lightweight and compact.

Typically priced at $40, this little plug can produce up to 65 watts from its USB-C port — enough to power up a MacBook or similar laptop. Alternately, you can pull 60 watts from its built-in retractable USB-C cord, which is one of the things I love most about it.

There’s also a high-speed (22.5W) USB Type-A port available for legacy devices. And the icing on the cake: folding AC outlet prongs.

So, yeah, you could spend $20-30 on a basic 65-watt charging block, but for a few bucks more, this one adds some worthwhile conveniences.