What's in My Travel Bag: The Gadgets I Actually Carry
I'm a tech enthusiast, and my gadget graveyard is quite large. I've been an early adopter on plenty of things that just weren't that good. But I also hate waiting for checked bags, so I travel carry-on only. I've gone to Turkey and Brazil with just a carry-on, which means the gadgets have to fit alongside everything else.
My Solgaard carry-on
The phone and the power bricks
Anything on my personal laptop, I can reach from my phone. On international trips, the phone is what I have with me instead of the laptop.
I also carry a power brick, sometimes a couple, because I don't know if I'll find a plug. I won't connect my phone to random USB ports, either. The battery packs cover both problems.
One thing to remember before you fly: power banks and other spare lithium batteries go in your carry-on, not checked luggage. If your carry-on gets checked at the gate, take the power banks out and keep them with you in the cabin. Protect their terminals from short circuits.
The usual limit is 100 watt-hours per battery. With airline approval, you can carry up to two larger spare batteries over 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh. Airlines can impose tighter restrictions, so check the carrier's rules too. Look for the Wh rating on the battery before you pack it.
Entertainment for the plane
My ASUS ROG Ally comes along for games and watching stuff on flights. The 2023 ROG Ally has a 40 Wh battery and weighs 608 grams, or about 1.34 pounds. That's before a charger or case, so it takes up a noticeable part of a carry-on's weight allowance. On a long flight it won't make it on battery alone, which is one more reason the power bricks come along.
I also use the XREAL One Pro glasses to watch Netflix and downloaded content or play games on the Ally. The glasses give the picture the appearance of a big screen.
Watching a show on the XREAL One Pro in Puerto Rico
The One Pro weighs 87 grams and has a 1080p Micro-OLED display with up to a 57-degree field of view. The glasses need a compatible USB-C video output; a USB-C port by itself doesn't guarantee it. The ROG Ally and compatible phones and laptops can connect directly. The connected device powers the glasses, so allow for that in your battery planning. Before a flight, download what you want to watch and test your setup offline.
My iPad has a simpler job: it's essentially my digital book. I use it for reading.
A detector and water testers
I bring a portable carbon monoxide detector and water testers.
Carbon monoxide has no color and no smell, and it shows up in rentals more than you'd think. At one Idaho vacation rental, 25 people ended up in the hospital. For anyone packing a detector, check its batteries, test it before the trip, and follow the manufacturer's placement instructions. If an alarm sounds, get outside and contact local emergency services; don't stay inside trying to diagnose it.
Water testers vary. For example, Hach's test strips include tests for things such as pH and chlorine, depending on the product. Read the package to see what a particular strip actually measures. A result on one parameter doesn't establish that water is safe to drink: water can look clean and still contain disease-causing germs. That link also covers treatment options and their limits.
When the laptop stays home
My current job is remote, but I can't work remotely from overseas. On international trips the laptop stays home. If I'm working remotely where my employer permits it, the laptop comes with me.
Working from another country can bring up tax, work authorization and data-security issues. A remote job doesn't automatically mean you can work from anywhere.
The bags themselves
My Solgaard carry-on is a hard shell with compression straps. I also have a WANDRD backpack and a Ghurka duffel. I travel carry-on only.
The Solgaard, packed and strapped down
My Solgaard carry-on
Solgaard sells several versions, so check the dimensions of the particular suitcase against your airline's allowance. Its Carry-On Closet, for example, has a polycarbonate shell and a removable shelving system that compresses inside the case.
My Ghurka duffel
WANDRD and Ghurka both sell different models as well. Compare the bag's packed dimensions with the airline's personal-item and cabin-bag limits, especially on a connecting flight with a different carrier.
Security away from home
I use a VPN where possible. When I lived in Dubai, I used one to call family and friends on WhatsApp. WhatsApp calling is restricted there, and I never ran into trouble.
In the UAE, voice and video calling services must be licensed or approved. The UAE's cybercrime law, Article 10, penalizes circumventing an IP address with intent to commit a crime or prevent its detection. Check the current rules before you go.
On hotel Wi-Fi, stick to HTTPS sites and actually read the browser warnings instead of clicking through them. HTTPS protects your connection to a site, but it doesn't prove the site itself is legitimate.
As for charging, compromised public USB ports can be used to access devices. Use your own charger and cable in an AC outlet, carry a battery pack, or use a charging-only cable from a trusted supplier.
I can't name a gadget purchase I regret, mostly because I return things when I regret buying them. The gadget graveyard is still large, though. The carry-on puts a useful limit on how much of it comes along.