Trips ABROAD
1 SAMSONITE PROXIS
Samsonite reckons this will ‘unlock a new era of highperformance travelling’, which is probably a bit much. That said, the multi-layered outer skin holds this carry-on sized bag in perfect shape without being brittle, the wheels point wherever you want the Proxis to go, and the two inner compartments help keep your belongings sorted. £349, samsonite.co.uk
2 POCKETALK S
Whether it’s spoken word, currencies, units or even signs and written text, the Pocketalk S can translate it for you. It supports a list of 82 worldwide languages, with two powerful speakers and dual noisecancelling mics to ensure it hears what’s said clearly. Yes, your phone could do it with the right apps, but sometimes a dedicated device is the best choice. £209, pocketalk.com
3 TRTL TRAVEL PILLOW PLUS
The traditional inflatable travel pillow, with its flocked vinyl, uncomfortable seams and even more uncomfortable shape? In the bin. The Trtl Plus is mega-comfortable, packs away super-small, and offers an appropriately dreamy level of support when sleeping upright. It doubles as a neck pillow, too, if you’re looking to lean back. £55, uk.trtltravel.com
4 ZTE MU5001
Relying on patchy and potentially sketchy Wi-Fi doesn’t make for the most stress-free holiday, but with the right data plan and ZTE’s network-agnostic 5G router in your bag you won’t have to worry about it at all. It spits out Wi-Fi 6 for the fastest speeds, and its screen helps you keep tabs on your data usage while you browse.
£379, ztedevices.com
5 TECHNICS EAH-A800
Good noise cancelling turns a long, tedious journey into an opportunity to disappear into your favourite media. Technics’ stylish cans are comfortable enough for a long wear and have the battery to back it up, potentially lasting an impressive 50 hours on a single charge with ANC on. They’ll tackle transatlantic flights without breaking a sweat.
£299, technics.co.uk
6 KINDLE PAPERWHITE SIGNATURE EDITION
The Paperwhite is the best of the Kindle line – we’re not accepting counter arguments – and the Signature edition (which adds wireless charging, an ambiance-sensing front light and a big chunk of storage) is the best of the Paperwhites. Carrying a library’s worth of books in a tiny package is an excellent downtime antidote. £180, amazon.co.uk
7 TILE PRO
Given today’s technology there’s no sense in leaving your luggage untracked – and Tile’s latest Bluetooth module has the company’s longest range and loudest speaker yet. The fact that it goes both ways, causing your iOS or Android phone to scream if you press the Tile’s button, makes this an even more valuable investment. And it comes in four different colours. From £30, uk.tile.com
8 DJI POCKET 2
If you want to take in the sights with more than just your eyes, the DJI Pocket 2 is the camera companion to carry. It takes a sharp 4K video, sure, but it’s the gimbal that really makes this special – if you’d prefer not to come home to gigabytes of shaky handheld phone footage, you’ll be very grateful of its stability and special movement effects. £339, dji.com