Essential Gadgetry

You might not need five pairs of shoes, but you can’t make it far without a charger or power adapter. Tech stuff isn’t the most important thing, but it can help the rest of the trip go smoothly. Having the right gear can make your journey less stressful, which enhances the overall experience.  

I work in fashion and write a newsletter, which means I have to travel a lot (I just crossed a million miles with United and I also have a million on Delta metal)—though maybe less often than my super-globetrotting friends. Typically I do two to four Europe trips per year, one big jump to South America or Asia, and probably eight CA->NY transcons. I think a lot about what I bring, what it weighs, and how I approach need versus comfort. I love tech and gadgets, but I try to find the fine line between embracing tech as a way to enhance my life versus having it optimize it to death—there still needs to be room to wander and get lost. 

I’m writing this from Paris and have recently returned from a work trip to Japan—and I was happy to have a lot of the following gadgets with me, all of which have become essential. 

Heat It — I truly despise mosquitoes, and my friend Rosecrans introduced me to this small device that plugs into your phone and eliminates the itch and irritation of bug bites. It’s almost too weird to believe, but it really works. 

Ridge Powerbank — This battery pack is different from the one you already own. It has built-in lightning and USB-C cables. It can charge an Apple Watch and has MagSafe charging. So this plus one USB-C charging cable could be all you need to bring on an entire trip, saving a lot of space and weight. 

Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector — People actually die in hotel rooms in foreign countries because of carbon monoxide. These portable detectors are a simple solution to know you are safe when away from home. 

Anker Travel Adapter — I made the mistake of bringing just this one charger to Iceland last summer, and it actually worked perfectly all on its own.

Ultralight Cubes — I am entirely captivated by Ultralight hiking gear and have discovered that these bags are perfect for regular travel. I use one for my wash bag and one for my tech stuff or my camera bits and bobs. They are, of course, light and easy to clean. 

Nitecore NB Air — (Use this cable) As a backup battery on the go, I always bring this thing with me in my pocket or bag. It’s so light you don’t even know you have it until you need it. 

Braun Travel Alarm Clock — Your phone has an alarm, but it’s nice to always use something analog. What could be better than an iconic piece of design from Braun to wake you up?

Bonus: Air Conditioned Vest — I was in Japan a few weeks ago, and it was 94 degrees with 90% humidity. All of the people working outside were wearing these air-conditioned vests. They look silly, but everyone said they actually work!