I started out writing this blog post on Tuesday, at an altitude of 39,061 feet blogging from a Southwest Airlines flight that was 700 miles from Chicago. Isn’t technology awesome! I try to use my time on the plane to get work done, thanks to WiFi on board. Makes a world of difference in the life of a busy blogger.
Because I travel so often, I’ve had to become a bit choosy about what comes with me. I can’t be bringing every device I have on the plane. This is why I wind up with a suitcase that’s inevitably right around 50 lbs. every time. I tend to over pack clothes, makeup and shoes. So when it comes to technology, I try to be more judicious. I’ve been lucky enough to review some really cool tech items along the way. Here are my travel technology must-haves, in case you need a new phone charger, portable speakers, headphones, or anything else.
Afrobella’s Top Technology Travel Essentials!
Phone Charger FTW
I used to be the person who went places and had their phone die and then had to deal with sadness and regret. NO LONGER. Now I am a person who is absolutely lost without a backup phone charger on my person. Halo chargers rock my world, and I got both of mine via QVC. The prices on phone chargers range widely depending on their capabilities. For girls on the go that just need to keep their phones charged up, check out the HALO 2800mAh Pocket Power charger – it’s slim, small, and comes in amazing patterns and colors (mine is brown leopard)!
For those with more substantial recharging-on-the-go needs, consider the HALO 550mAh - it also comes in cool colors, and it’ll recharge your phone and your iPad. They’re both awesome.
My Fave Phone
Team Samsung stand up! I haven’t ever had an iPhone (even though I’ve totally wanted one). I wanted an iPhone for the cool factor and the apps, but being a lifelong T-Mobile customer, when the time was right for me to get one, that wasn’t an available option (note – now it is). I’m in a PC/Android family, married to an anti-Apple husband who’s in IT (why are IT guys always anti-Apple?) – therefore we both have Droid phones. My husband has the Samsung Note and I have the Galaxy III. We both LOVE our phones. The Galaxy III is fast, smart, slender and sleek. It includes apps that enhance my life and improve my work capabilities, and I’d be lost without it. But now, of course I want the Galaxy IV…
Portable Speaker
I don’t understand folks who don’t listen to music. I NEED music. Every day and in every phase of my life. I’ve been listening to music in the shower since I was a teen. I used to use my sister’s old tape recorder back in the day. And now, thanks to modern technology all I need are my phone, and a portable speaker. I recently was sent the Divoom Bluetune speaker for review. At first I thought it had been damaged in transit, but my husband quickly figured it out – this is a Bluetooth speaker! DUH. Once I got it all synced up, I was so impressed by the volume and the BASS. I tested this thing out thoroughly using my Spotify reggae playlist, so trust and know it’s doing my music justice. So small and easy to slip into a travel bag. Can’t wait to take it with me to the beach!
My Top Tablet Tool
So confession time – in my downtime, for fun, I draw. I design clothes and accessories, I draw whatever’s in my head, it’s a form of release I enjoy. I’m not very good, but it’s something I’ve done for years (I was an art minor in college)! Thanks to my iPad, I’m able to draw on the go – I love the Paper app by 53, it’s so intuitive and beautiful. I used to use Paper and draw with just my fingers, but for precision and skill, nothing beats the Sensu artist stylus. It’s part pen/traditional stylus, and it opens to reveal a delicate high tech paintbrush that works with all of these apps. If you use your tablet to create art or design, you’d love it.
Plug In And Listen
I’m all about form, function and fashion and I love headphones as fashion statements. I’ve been rocking my urbanears headphones for like over a year now. They are awesome! They deliver great sound quality, they fold up smaller for easy transport, and they look totally cool. I use them on a daily basis, and the quality is consistent. I have the Plattan headphones in grape and I have a backup pair in tomato red because, fashion. And I totally want a pair in pumpkin. And ocean. And…
Yeah. That’s about it – those are the items I pack for each trip, along with my iPad and my trusty Dell XPS.
See anything you need in your life? What are your top travel tech items?
All I have is Blackberry Z10 and perhaps for me that is all that I need. Love the gadgets above and colours though.
I love this! I am a gadget geek so to see some of your staples is great! I too have the Halo (the larger for multiple devices) and it is truly a device I highly recommend. It has kept me connected on more than one occasion. We are a diehard apple household, however, I needed a larger phone – my iphone was killing my eyes. This being the case I jumped ship and got a Galaxy Note and I am in love – OMG – it has changed my life – no regrets.
Thanks for sharing your techie toys!
Great post! I’m going to order the Halo charger ASAP because even though my Galaxy III (itching for the IV too!) has a good battery life I need a bit more. What kind of apps do you use?
My Samsung SIII, Galaxy Tab2 10.1, Macbook, PowerGen 2800mAh portable charger. I hardly ever take my iPod, once I get to my work destination, I may listen to it for one day and not for the rest of the trip.
I am very interested in Phone Charger on the first photo. I will definitely buy this glamorous device… All I need in trip is Samsung Galaxy.
I’m a gadget geek as well! I have an iPhone 5 so that always is with me wherever I go – although I’ve been eyeing the Samsung GS4…
Headphones are also a must but I’ve just been using the basic Apple ones. I used to have a pair of Bose earphones but they died after a long, full life.
Oh, and I can’t forget my iPad mini. Love that thing. The size is really convenient for me.
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