If traveling is a reformative experience, then solo traveling can take things up a notch. There is something about enjoying your own company, taking awkward selfies, and making Google Maps your best friend.
But given the rising global tensions, it is smart to hit the brakes on international travel. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend your summers sitting alone in your apartment. Good thing the US is huge and has endlessly diverse landscapes. Beaches, mountains, urban cafes, forests – you name it and we have it.
But traveling alone is not easy. It comes with its fair share of challenges. This is where tech comes in to save the day – again.
I have compiled some tried-and-tested tech gadgets that have helped me immensely in my solo adventures around the world. While I have tried some of these personally, others come highly recommended by my travel friends.
So, without further ado, here are the top travel gadgets that you should buy to make your solo adventure a little more enjoyable:
1. Personal Locator Beacons
Personal safety is a top priority for travelers, and it should be. Especially when you are traveling alone. When I was traveling to Haiti alone in 2019, I was very skeptical and scared for my safety. That was, until a friend of mine gave me a personal security beacon.
A personal locator beacon, also informally referred to as a PLB among the traveler community, sends an SOS signal to rescue authorities. It syncs with a satellite and sends your location coordinates as well. If you find yourself in trouble in a new place, a PLB can literally save your life.
It is small, handheld, and will easily fit in your pocket. The best part? It works even in remote areas, so you do not have to worry about having a network signal.
2. Solar Chargers
If you are traveling to a remote area, then keeping your devices charged is often a big problem. Especially if you are someone like me who uses a camera and their phone to record anything and everything.
Power banks are a limited power source that need to be charged, too. And finding a socket in the wild is like finding a needle in a haystack.
This is why I am going to recommend carrying a solar charger. It comes with a small solar panel that converts sunlight into electricity that will charge your devices. I use the Nomad 20 solar charger. It is compact and foldable, which means it can easily fit inside a backpack. Its compact size is a great plus if you like traveling light.
Just make sure you have charging cables for each device, and voilà! You can enjoy unlimited charging without worrying about it running out of power.
3. GPS Trackers
Most travelers carry their world on their shoulders, i.e., their backpacks. Not only do these backpacks contain their clothes and other essentials, but they also have important stuff like passports and cash. So, protecting backpacks is an important feat for travelers.
You must know about AirTags. Well, a GPS tracker is the same thing. The only difference is that it is compatible with non-iOS phones too. You can put a GPS tracker on your bag or hide it inside. It will allow you to monitor the location of your bag, in case it gets lost or snatched.
It connects via the internet to an application on your phone, which you can use to track its location.
If you are worried about losing internet connectivity when traveling, you can use Spectrum’s Wi-Fi access points all around the US. Both Spectrum Internet and Spectrum Mobile customers can easily access them. If you’re already a customer, Spectrum customer service can guide you through it!
GPS trackers also put your mind at ease if you are unable to carry it along and have to leave it somewhere. Knowing my belongings are safe lets me enjoy my travel experiences more.
4. Universal Travel Adapter
Gone are the days when people would carry only mobile phones. Now it is impossible to imagine traveling without our phones, smart watches, earbuds, etc. After all, something has got to keep us solo travelers company.
But the downside of owning so many devices is having to carry different chargers. Plus, it becomes impossible to keep everything charged when you barely have access to one dingy socket. Not to mention the pain of forgetting chargers at hotels and hostels.
I used to struggle with it too, until a dear friend pointed out that a universal travel adapter can make my life so easy. All you have to do is carry charging wires and one universal travel adapter, and your charging woes will easily be sorted throughout your vacation. You can charge multiple devices at once and save a great deal of time.
That is it, for my personal favorite tech gadgets that can make a solo travel experience easier. Happy traveling!
