From little to large, these nifty inventions make all kinds of travelling a breeze
Over the years, countless technological innovations have made it possible for us mere mortals to accomplish tasks in virtually no time. Advances in tech have also afforded us with certain conveniences that we didn’t think we needed. These innovations are especially useful to travellers, as the jet-setting lifestyle can sometimes leave a lot of things undone. We at Philippine Tatler understand this frustration, so we’ve compiled 9 gadgets that will provide the much-needed assistance to adventure, business, and leisure travellers.
For adventure travellers
Watch: Garmin fēnix 3 Sapphire
This multi-sport, multipurpose smartwatch is perfect for the adventurer who enjoys the advantages of modern technology. With a variety of features for fitness training and a number of outdoor navigation, the fÄ“nix 3 Sapphire is ready for any activity. This is further supported by access to Garmin’s Connect IQ platform. The watch also provides comprehensive navigation and tracking functionalities—GPS plus altimetre, barometre, and compass. For those who can’t stay disconnected for long, the watch also enables the wearer to receive email and text notifications. It doesn’t hurt that fÄ“nix 3 Sapphire looks very cool, too!
Tent: Inflatable bubble tent
This may look like a hoax, but we swear it’s real! Adventurers who love to gaze at the stars at night can now throw out the old tents and opt for the inflatable transparent bubble tent that has enough room for four. The set comes with a repair kit, glue, and blower for easy DIY set-up.
Light: luminAID PackLite Max USB
Serious campers / hikers will want to watch out for this. This inflatable lantern has a solar panel attached to it and recharges in 12 to 14 hours of sun, but it can also be recharged through USB in 1 to 2 hours. In turn, it provides 50 hours max of light, with 5 brightness settings that covers 200 square feet of lighting area. Rainy or overcast weather is no match for the PackLite Max because it’s waterproof and it floats nicely on moving water.
For business travellers
Tablet: iPad Pro
When a laptop is just too bulky to lug around, a tablet is the next best thing. The iPad Pro's 64-bit A9X chip allows it to take on tasks once reserved for workstations and PCs. Even complex actions like editing 4K video happen immediately. This capability doesn’t take away from its battery performance as the iPad Pro can last for up to 10 hours on one charge. Meanwhile, its stunning display is the most vivid Apple has ever made, and its colours are even more engaging that before. Fancy a movie break? Skip the headphones and enjoy the immersive four-speaker audio system.
Luggage: Bluesmart Black Edition
A trusty luggage is hard to come by, especially when it’s always at risk of getting lost in the labyrinth of airport conveyor belts or being mistaken for someone else’s. Fortunately, technology has finally found away to prevent these things from happening as some suitcases are now outfitted with a location tracker which can be accessed via mobile phone. Bluesmart takes it to the next level by incorporating a battery charger that can charge devices up to six times, a digital scale, and a remote lock function that automatically lock the luggage.
Padlock: eGeeTouch Travel Lock
Can’t find that ridiculously small key? Forgot the combination? Padlock woes are a thing of the past thanks to the eGeeTouch, which springs open and closed through an iPhone app. It also tells its exact location at all times, and sends a message any time someone tries to tamper with it.
For leisure travellers
Drone: DJI Mavic Pro
Been having the loveliest time on holiday? Spread envy across Instagram with the DJI Mavic Pro, a drone that takes high-definition images but also folds up to the size of a hand-held camera for stowing away.
Camera: Olloclip
Want high-quality snaps but can’t be bothered with a bulky DSLR camera? Then try the Olloclip. It can be attached to an iPhone and offers a variety of different lens settings, including fisheye, super-wide, and macro.
Earphone: Bragi
To be truly mobile, one has to be untethered—free from wires, able to move openly. Bragi’s wireless earphones provide this kind of freedom, as it connects to any smartphone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth. It’s also functional for taking calls, as it’s outfitted with left and right external auditory microphones and EarBone microphone. It can keep going for up to 6 hours on playtime, and 250 hours on standby.