There are numerous small aids that can make life much easier during a trip. What goes into the travel bag is mainly due to the holiday destination and individual preferences. Some don’t want to do without the luxury of moist toilet paper when they’re on the go, while others want to have their favourite book with them at all times and wherever they go. But these five things have their justification on almost every trip.
Gadget #1: Power Bank
Hardly anyone wants to do without their smartphone on holiday. However, the battery is put under a lot of strain. Because especially when traveling, the phone becomes a multifunctional tool.
To find the most beautiful sights and interesting places, the navigation system helps. Once they arrive at their destination, motifs such as the Eiffel Tower, BigBen or Central Park in New York are captured as photos and published on various social media channels.
It can happen that the charge level of the battery reaches the threatening zone as early as noon. In this case, a power bank makes it possible to recharge the smartphone quickly and easily.
This is especially recommended for longer excursions into nature, where the power supply is not guaranteed all the time. A power bank can be used to charge the tablet in addition to the phone or to operate a Bluetooth speaker for a longer period of time.
The crucial question, however, is: What capacity is needed for this? As a guideline, a power bank with an output of 20,000 milliampere hours (mAh) can fully charge a tablet about one to two times and a standard smartphone about two to four times.
Gadget #2: Swiss Army Knife
Many holidaymakers are of the opinion that the good old Swiss Army knife only has a nostalgic use. However, this depends entirely on the type of trip.
This gadget is not only of great importance when camping or in the wilderness. Anyone who has ever bought a bottle of wine for a romantic evening for two on the beach and failed to organize a corkscrew to open the bottle will appreciate this multifunctional tool.
Depending on the design and price range, the pocket knives are equipped with different functions. For a camping holiday, at least the following minimum equipment is recommended:
- Knife
- Scissors
- Bottle opener
- Can opener
- Saw
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
When choosing the right gadget, you should pay particular attention to quality. No-name products often look quite chic, but usually fail in an emergency. Among the most renowned manufacturers are Victorinox and Leatherman.
Gadget #3: FFP2 masks
Admittedly, the term gadget may be a little exaggerated for FFP2 masks. Nevertheless, it makes sense to always carry a few of them in your hand luggage. This means that it is possible to follow the corresponding local regulations at any time.
What many people don’t know is that there are also enormous differences in quality when it comes to FFP2 masks. Therefore, it is advisable to rely on a brand manufacturer such as Virshields. Because this goes hand in hand with the certainty that the masks were developed and sustainably manufactured in Germany .
In addition, there are also special products that can make life much easier for different target groups. For many spectacle wearers, for example, condensation when wearing the FFP2 mask is a major problem. Since the exhaled air has a higher temperature than the lenses of the glasses, they fog up constantly. The Fogfree mask from Virshields has an inlay incorporated that provides an additional sealing effect and thus effectively prevents the lenses from fogging up.
Gadget #4: Cable ties
Even if the mention of cable ties as a gadget initially triggers incredulous amazement in many people, these small plastic ribbons turn out to be a real miracle cure during a trip and can often be the last resort in many situations.
With a cable tie, for example, the travel trolley can be easily and securely secured against quick access if no lock is available for it. To do this, simply connect the sliders of the zipper with the help of the cable ties.
Even if the slider of a zipper on the jacket is lost, a cable tie can be used as a replacement. This means that it is still easy to open and close the shutter.
If the shoelaces break in the middle of the wilderness, cable ties will also help here. The eyelets of the shoes can be temporarily connected with a cable tie, providing enough stability to continue the hike comfortably.
But that’s not all. The cable ties can also be used to reseal packaging, clean drains or fix rolled-up garments to save space. The options are almost endless. There are numerous other possible applications on the Internet.
Gadget #5: Sleep Mask
What kind of complaining is it about hotel rooms that are too bright at night. Some people can sleep excellently in all conditions, but others need certain conditions to do so. And in addition to peace, darkness is part of it here.
But what to do if the curtains in the hotel room are too bright or the blinds simply let too much light through? Much easier than fixing the problem in the room is to counteract it with a simple gadget. A sleep mask is placed directly on the face and darkens any environment, no matter how bright, easily and quickly.
But here, too, there are considerable differences in quality between the different products. To avoid unsightly and painful rashes, it is advisable to pay particular attention to skin-friendly material when choosing the right sleep mask.
Cotton sleep masks are not only soft, but also breathable and absorbent. This enables them to absorb sweat and release moisture. If you want to spend a little more money, you can also go for models made of velvet or silk. These also have a slightly cooling effect and are particularly suitable for allergy sufferers.
Furthermore, care should be taken to ensure that the elastic band can be adjusted exactly to your own head size with the help of a strap or Velcro fastener. After each holiday, the sleep mask should be cleaned with some detergent and water.
