Simple Gadgets You Need When You Travel This Summer

Summer expects everyone to be armed when it arrives—definitely not with guns and ammunitions though, but with gadgets to pump up anyone’s summer travel. It is one of the most energetic and exciting times of the year, the season when people should be equipped with four simple gadgets when traveling: camera, music player, cell phone, and travel charger. These gadgets will enable the person to cruise through a summer trip with fun and ease, the right tools for the most basic needs.

People take pictures or videos for various reasons. Some people take selfies and put them on their social media accounts to let people know where they are or what they are doing. Others take landscape or portrait photographs, develop or print them, and place them in picture frames for future generations to see. Or maybe you’re the type who goes for a lot of action-packed activities? You might prefer video over photo then, since video replicates the experience better than stills.

Summer spans for months—and you surely want to keep an account of all the cool stuff that you experience, don’t you? Remember, your camera is your personal, pocket-sized biographer. One flick of the shutter and that perfect sunset on the beach will be in the Beautiful Sunsets chapter of your book of life. A video of your crazy dive down the 30-foot waterfall on your backpacking trip up the mountain will always be a reminder of what a brave person you are, this time to go to the Courageous Feats chapter to brag about when your grandchildren are around.

Don’t miss those moments. Bring your camera.

Summer will always have a soundtrack. To have one, you need to have a music player that can stand long playing hours in a single charge and store near limitless amounts of songs. But a 32GB player is useless without loads of music you love. Make sure it’s loaded enough if you don’t want to hear the same song twice on the same day, even on shuffle. And pick one that you can carry around and keep within reach so you’re armed when the “moment” arrives.

A music player is important because it gives flavor to your travel. Lulls and slow days still happen during summer, even if it’s full of energy, especially during the process of getting to a distant place. Music can remove sluggishness and replace it with vigor.

You can play your music through speakers if you are traveling in your car together with your friends. Nothing sets road trip better than loud and pounding music in the background. But if you are taking public transport or wading through public places, be considerate of others and listen to music through your headphones or ear buds. Purchase a good pair that is comfortable and will deliver the music experience you prefer.

Your mobile phone is the most important item you can’t afford to not have. Forget everything else but this one. It’s your primary communication tool during your travel—your way of letting your family and those who care about you that you’re safe and having fun. Make sure you always have it charged and with enough credits, if you’re on prepaid, before heading out on your journey.

Invest in a phone that is sturdy and weather-proof, especially if you like going to places where you’re bound to drop it in water or mud. Also, it’s always best to have a backup phone in case your main phone breaks down. Make sure that the contacts on your primary cell phone are also saved on your replacement phone, particularly major numbers like those of your family and emergency agencies. It is advisable to put the most important contacts on speed dial for better access.

Your gadgets require batteries to run. And they are only useful if they have juice in them; otherwise, they are just huge paperweights. Fortunately, most gadgets nowadays have built-in rechargeable batteries so you don’t have to pack boxes of spare double As or triple As. But the next challenge would be not having any available wall outlet for you to recharge your device with. Hence, a reliable power bank is very important.

Be sure to bring your power bank fully charged. If you are going to bring its charger with you, make sure that its voltage requirement matches the area you’re going to be in. You can purchase a power adapter to prevent your charger from shorting out.

Check that your power bank’s cables and batteries are in good working order. Your power bank should also be capable of charging all your devices with on one full charge should all of them run out of power at the same time. If you are unsure of which type of power bank you should bring, you can read product reviews online to help you decide which one to buy.

Remember, these gadgets are to help you maximize your summer travel. They have supporting roles in creating memorable experiences during your trip. Don’t let them disconnect you from other people around you or distract you from the main goal of your trip, which is of course to have unforgettable adventures!