The essential gear

Kit yourself out for fun and safety when it comes to hitting the tarmac

NINTENDO SWITCH

Nintendo’s latest release is kind of a big deal, because it makes the consolequality gaming experience portable in a compact and colourful design that will keep gamers entertained whether you’re in the living room, the back of a car, on a plane, or at a beach. $469, nintendo.com.au

TOMTOM GO 520

Location tech specialist TomTom brings us the Go 520, a state-of-the-art sat nav boasting worldwide mapping smarts, a built-in SIM card and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you’re always in the know about routes and traffic when you’re on the go. $299, tomtom.com

HUAWEI E5770 4G MOBILE WI-FI

If the thought of not having internet access to entertain the kids on your next road trip makes you feel queasy, you need the Huawei E5770. It offers 4G-powered Wi-Fi for 10 devices everywhere, so just add a SIM with good Euro roaming. $169.98, mwave.com.au

COMSOL 4 PORT CAR CHARGING HUB

No more arguing over who gets to charge their phone. This Comsol car charging hub boasts four USB ports, and for ultimate convenience, its extension provides twin ports in the front of the car and two in the back. $49, comsol.com.au

THINK WARE F800 PRO

If you’re driving abroad, it makes sense to be prepared for every eventuality, which is where Think ware’s latest dash cam comes in. Its CMOS image sensors let you constantly record what’s going on around your car in Full HD, with night vision and GPS to back it up. $878.85, ryda.com.au

NOCO GENIUS BOOST PRO GB150 4000

Breaking down is no fun, but in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, it can be a real nightmare. Go prepared with this powerful jump starter that’s safe and can provide 80 jump starts on just one charge. $479, no.co