Best Travel Gadgets 2026: 13 Things Actually Worth Packing

We have spent years travelling and living abroad, from Australia and Bali to the Philippines, Canada and Portugal. Our first version of this list was written back in 2016, and a lot has changed since then: USB-C everywhere, eSIMs, luggage trackers and new airline rules on power banks.

So we have rewritten it from scratch. These are the travel gadgets that are actually worth packing in 2026, with no pointless filler.

Jump to:

• 1. A power bank (and the new airline rules)
• 2. A GaN USB-C charger
• 3. A universal travel adapter with USB-C
• 4. A small extension lead or travel power strip
• 5. An eSIM for mobile data
• 6. A luggage tracker (AirTag or similar)
• 7. Noise-cancelling headphones
• 8. A Bluetooth transmitter for plane screens
• 9. A portable SSD for backups
• 10. Memory cards and a USB-C card reader
• 11. A camera: mirrorless is the new DSLR
• 12. An action camera
• 13. A waterproof phone pouch

1. A power bank (and the new airline rules)

There is nothing worse than arriving somewhere new and your phone dying just as you need your map, boarding pass or booking confirmation.

It happened to us more than once in Bali, and luckily Sabina always kept a little power bank on her. Thank you, Sabina!

What size? A 10,000 mAh power bank will typically recharge a modern smartphone about twice. A 20,000 mAh one gives roughly four to five charges, but it is heavier. For most trips, a slim 10,000 mAh with a built-in USB-C cable is the sweet spot, for example the Anker Nano Power Bank. If you are travelling as a couple or carrying a laptop, look at a 20,000 mAh model such as the Anker Zolo 20K or Ugreen Nexode 20,000 mAh.

Power bank rules on planes in 2026

• Power banks must go in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.
• Under 100 Wh (that covers almost every phone power bank, including 20,000 mAh models) is generally allowed. Between 100 and 160 Wh usually needs airline approval. Over 160 Wh is not allowed.
• Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia banned using or charging power banks on board from December 2025. You can carry a maximum of two per person, and they must be kept with you (seat pocket, under the seat or on you), not in the overhead locker.
• Other airlines, including Emirates, have brought in similar limits, so check your airline’s rules before you fly.

2. A GaN USB-C charger

Instead of a tangle of separate chargers, one small GaN (gallium nitride) charger with two or three USB-C ports can charge a laptop, phone and camera at the same time.

Look for at least 65 W if you want to charge a laptop. Anker, Ugreen and Belkin all make good compact ones. Pair it with two good USB-C cables and you have replaced half your old charging bag.

3. A universal travel adapter with USB-C

We moved from Ireland to Australia: new plugs. Went to Indonesia for three months: new plugs. Then the Philippines: new plugs again!

A worldwide adapter is essential. Our old LOOP adapter worked everywhere we went, and the extra USB slots were a lifesaver. Today, look for one that covers AU, UK, EU and US plugs and has USB-C ports built in, such as the EPICKA universal adapter or the Anker Nano Travel Adapter.

Please do not buy one at the airport. They are far more expensive, and the first one we bought at an airport broke after about two weeks.

If you are travelling as a couple, get two. One person always ends up charging in the café while the other is calling home from the apartment.

4. A small extension lead or travel power strip

The most underrated travel gadget of all. One adapter, but two laptops, two phones, a GoPro and a camera battery to charge? Exactly.

Bring a small extension lead with your home country’s plug (we went with Irish plugs, as most of our chargers were Irish) and plug it into your travel adapter. A compact travel power strip with built-in USB ports works too. Just do not plug high-power items like hair dryers into it.

5. An eSIM for mobile data

This is the biggest change since our first list. Instead of hunting for a SIM card shop when you land, you can buy an eSIM data plan before you go and switch it on when you arrive.

Airalo sells eSIM data plans for over 200 countries and regions, including regional plans for Europe and Asia. Most plans are data only, so you keep your home number for texts and calls on WhatsApp.

Your phone needs to support eSIM and be unlocked, so check that before you buy.

6. A luggage tracker (AirTag or similar)

Pop a tracker in your checked bag and you will always know whether it made the connection with you. If your bag goes missing, you can show the airline exactly where it is.

• iPhone users: Apple AirTag.
• Samsung users: Galaxy SmartTag2.
• Other Android phones: a tracker that works with Google’s Find Hub network, such as Chipolo.

7. Noise-cancelling headphones

Steve was wearing his headphones while writing the first version of this article. Once you have travelled with a good pair, you will never go back to cheap earbuds.

We use them on flights, buses, boat trips and by the pool. On long-haul flights, noise cancelling makes a huge difference to how tired you feel when you land.

Current favourites are the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra. If you prefer earbuds, Apple AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM5 are very good.

8. A Bluetooth transmitter for plane screens

Most in-flight entertainment still only has a headphone socket, so your wireless headphones are useless. A small Bluetooth transmitter such as the Twelve South AirFly plugs into the seat socket and connects to your wireless headphones.

Some older planes still use the two-pin headphone socket, so a cheap two-pin airline adapter is worth keeping in your bag too.

9. A portable SSD for backups

You have to back up your backups, especially on a big trip.

We learned this the hard way. Sabina’s external hard drive, which was about three years old, broke after only a small bit of water damage. Luckily we both had backups on our laptops, but we still lost a few hundred photos.

Today, a portable SSD such as the Samsung T7 or T9 is the way to go. It is smaller, much faster and far more shock-resistant than the old spinning hard drives.

Our backup routine is: camera or phone, then laptop, then cloud (when the wifi is good enough), then the portable SSD. Bear in mind that Google now gives you 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos, so for a big photo library you will probably need a paid plan.

10. Memory cards and a USB-C card reader

Most current phones, including iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S models, no longer have a microSD slot. But your camera and action camera still need cards, so bring a spare.

We were in Uluwatu, Bali at one stage and could not take any more photos because we had lost our microSD adapter. We had to ride 30 minutes on our little scooter just to buy one, so it is worth carrying a spare. These days a small USB-C card reader that takes both SD and microSD cards is the handiest option, as it lets you offload photos straight to a phone or laptop.

Two smaller cards are often better than one big one: if one fails or gets lost, you do not lose everything.

11. A camera: mirrorless is the new DSLR

When we first wrote this list, we said phones were no comparison to a good DSLR. That is no longer really true. Flagship phones now take brilliant travel photos, and for many people a phone is enough.

If you want better zoom, low-light shots and the fun of a “proper” camera, look at a mirrorless camera rather than a DSLR. Canon has stopped making most of its entry-level DSLRs. The Canon EOS R50 is a small, beginner-friendly mirrorless camera that is a great travel option, and the EOS R100 is a cheaper alternative.

12. An action camera

Snorkelling in the Philippines and Indonesia was amazing, and Steve’s GoPro HERO3 Silver captured it all. It was a fantastic camera in its day.

If you are buying one now, the GoPro HERO13 Black is the current flagship. It is waterproof without a case, has much better stabilisation and battery life, and is ideal for snorkelling, surfing, hiking and road trips.

13. A waterproof phone pouch

Many phones are now rated water-resistant, but that does not mean they are built for snorkelling, salt water or being dropped off a boat.

A cheap waterproof pouch with a lanyard (look for an IPX8 rating, such as the JOTO pouch) protects your phone and lets you hang it around your neck or wrist. It came in so handy for us on boat trips in Boracay and island hopping in El Nido.

Simple to pack, cheap, and very useful if you are travelling for a while.

What we dropped from our old list

• USB key and HDMI cable: we used to bring films on a USB key and plug a laptop into the TV. Now most accommodation has a smart TV or streaming. If you still want to use a TV, bring a USB-C to HDMI adapter, as most modern laptops do not have an HDMI port.
• Bluetooth speaker: still nice for the beach, but no longer essential. If you want one, a small waterproof speaker like the JBL Go or JBL Flip does the job.
• Neck pillow: not a gadget, but still worth it. We used to laugh at people with neck pillows until we bought them at an airport. Game changer. Go for a mid-range one, not the cheapest.

Our 2026 travel gadget checklist

• Power bank (10,000 to 20,000 mAh, carry-on only)
• GaN USB-C charger and two good cables
• Universal adapter with USB-C (get two if you are a couple)
• Small extension lead with your home plug
• eSIM data plan
• Luggage tracker
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Bluetooth transmitter and two-pin airline adapter
• Portable SSD for backups
• Spare memory cards and a USB-C card reader
• Mirrorless camera (optional if your phone is good)
• Action camera
• Waterproof phone pouch

How many of these do you already pack? Let us know in the comments.

Steve and Sabina

Some links are affiliate links. If you use them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Flying long-haul? Don’t miss the 11 things you must do before any long-haul flight.