THE GEAR • June 2016
Six of the best gadgets for adventurers
Planning your summer expedition? New York-based Jonathan Looi of The Travel Gear Reviews has the niftiest kit for your trip
1. Light the way
Whether you’re out hiking in the mountains or fumbling through your backpack in a dark hostel, you’ll need a reliable light source. The Black Diamond ReVolt headlamp (£40) is exactly that. It’s rechargeable via micro USB (the cable used to charge most phones and electronic accessories) and the adjustable elastic head strap is comfortable enough for every adventure.
2. Pocket protector
Channel your inner Jason Bourne with the Swiss+Tech pocket multi-tool (£10). It fits in the palm of your hand and has 19 functions. Ever found yourself needing a screwdriver while travelling? This multi-tool has six unique screw heads. Need a ruler on the fly? You have that too. It’s also less than two inches long, so it won’t take up much room in your bag.
3. Power to go
If you’re an adventurer who needs to be plugged in, a power source is a must-have. Made by Goal Zero, a company mainly known for solar panels, the Venture 30 Recharger (£70) is a rugged battery pack for your phone, camera and personal electronics. It can recharge an iPhone 6s around three times over, and allows you to charge two devices at once via USB. Plus it can withstand dust and heavy rainstorms.
4. The short straw
Click the image to see the LifeStraw in action.
Getting sick abroad is a nightmare for any traveller, with unsanitary water a common cause of upset stomachs. The LifeStraw personal water filter (£15) is proven to remove 99.9 per cent of waterborne bacteria and protozoan parasites. Use it like you would any normal straw – put the filter into your dodgy water source, whether a pond or cup of tap water, and start drinking. It weighs two ounces and easily fits in a daypack.
5. Bag tag
Don’t want to splurge on a new ‘smart’ suitcase? You can make your existing luggage, duffel or backpack smart with the Trakdot luggage tracker (£55). In tandem with its free app, available on iOS and Android, the Trakdot sends notifications to your phone, letting you know where your luggage is and if it’s nearby. Now you can be sure your precious gear arrives safely at the airport when you do.
6. Lost in space
Too much stuff and not enough space? Instead of sitting on your suitcase to close it, try the compression pack cube from Grand Trunk (from £40). Using durable zippers and compression straps, the packing cube maximises space by compacting bulky items such as jackets, travel towels and sweaters. Choose either the Weekender (small), Getaway (medium) or Explorer (large), depending on your trip’s duration.
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This article has been tagged Adventure, Technology