My tech secrets to stress-free travel: 9 essential gadgets and how I track everything

Leaving, on a jet plane… don’t know if I’ll see my luggage again! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Unless you’re particularly chilled, or spend most of your time on planes, trains, and automobiles crossing borders, travel has its stressful moments. And for many people, the main pinch point is getting to a port — whether by air or sea — and boarding their chosen mode of transport. There are passports and paper or digital boarding passes to juggle.
I’ve been working on streamlining this process as much as possible. And — based on how my last handful of trips went — my approach seems to work well. Here’s the kit I use and how I pack it.
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I divide the kit I carry into two categories:
The essentials I don’t want to lose
Everything else
Let’s dive into these two categories.
The essentials
These are things I must have on me when traveling — passport, smartphone (lots of tickets and boarding passes are now digital, not to mention credit/debit cards), my essential keys (I thin down my keys as much as possible before travel so there’s less to carry and lose), wallet, earbuds, any medications I need, a power bank (I generally find that I have space for a 5,000mAh magnetic wireless charging power bank for charging on the go and a backup 10,000mAh power bank in case of delays), charge cables (for my phone and Apple Watch), and a universal adapter.
If I’m traveling with a laptop or drone, these devices also come with me, along with any specific chargers.
Keep tech as simple as possible. Remember, you’ll get your kit out for X-ray trays at security points. The less your stuff looks suspicious, the quicker you’ll be through security and on your way.
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If I have space, I’ll throw in a folding toothbrush and a couple of those magic compressed washcloths — just in case.
I also attach (hidden, if possible) an AirTag to the bag I’m carrying my stuff in, and I have a modified AirTag in my wallet, just in case I get separated from my stuff.
When it comes to carrying my stuff, I recently switched over to those chest/shoulder sling bags that you can find on Amazon and other online retailers.
These sling bags are roomy and comfortable to wear. Waterfly
These bags are comfortable, have several pockets to keep things organized, and are water-resistant against showers. I have no idea about the origin of these bags as the market is filled with companies selling the same thing. I went with a bag from a company called Waterfly because the reviews were good, and the bag has lived up to those reviews. I did modify the bag by cutting off the pullers on the zips because they rattled. I replaced the zips with cords with glow tags on the ends. Other than that modification, the bag was great.
My Waterfly chest/shoulder sling bag. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The idea with this bag is that I’ll be OK if I end up in a foreign country with only the clothes I’m standing in and the bag I can take on board. I’ll have my phone and can keep it charged to make plans.
Everything else
This category covers literally everything else — clothes, toiletries, and more. It’s all the stuff made in factories every day that is easily purchased and isn’t essential to my travels. I don’t want to lose this stuff, but once it’s been handed over to staff to be put in hold, it’s out of my control.
All my toiletries are in tough Dyneema bags (these bags are super thin, feel like paper, and are tougher than kevlar), and I have a spare one for dirty laundry.
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I have AirTags in my luggage to keep track of things.
As for luggage, I have replaced my bags and suitcases with Peli Air cases. I have the smaller Peli Air 1535 for short trips, and break out the bigger, beefier Peli Air 1615 for longer trips. Both cases are watertight, dustproof, and crushproof, are kitted out with wheels and comfortable retractable handles, have locking points with stainless steel protectors, and tough double-throw latches.
My trusty Peli Air 1535 case. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Both my 1535 and 1615 are bright orange and are plastered with reflective tape and stickers. They’re easy to spot among all the drab black and brown cases at collection points. Their distinctiveness eliminates misidentification and puts thieves off grabbing them.
I’ve also modified my cases by replacing the original latches with TSA-compliant lockable latches (less to do with security, because all TSA-compliant locks are garbage, and more about preventing accidental opening), hiding an AirTag inside the retractable handle, and swapping out the stock wheels for smooth-glide versions from a company called ColorCase.
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Each case has a removable card holder. In there I have a Trace Me tag that should help me be reunited with my bag if it goes missing.
These cases are about as tough as luggage gets. Yes, there’s a weight penalty (the Peli Air 1535 and 1615 weigh 8.7 and 14.1 pounds, respectively), but this is an acceptable tradeoff for me.
Final thoughts
Remember, these are personal recommendations based on my experience and preferences. It’s important to customize your travel essentials based on your own needs and destination.
Additionally, have a good think about what you can leave at home. Sure, it’s comforting to think that you have everything packed and ready, but I’m amazed at how often I return from a trip and find a load of stuff I didn’t touch.
Then there are the things you should leave behind — knives, fireworks, and more that should stay home.
Also, every time you travel there’s a risk of something being lost, stolen, or damaged, and if you have to travel with expensive stuff, it’s a good idea to ensure it’s insured.