Need a Christmas gift suggestion for the traveller in your life? Here are six choices that will keep your favourite road warrior smiling all year.
Picture by Sean Gallup/Getty Images
BEST CHOICES
Philips O’Neill Stretch Headphones
Cost: $129.95
Where to get it: Shop around online and offline
Why it’s a good choice: Lifehacker has been a big fan of the O’Neill Stretch headphones ever since we first got our hands on a pair, even though we can fairly claim to know absolutely nothing about the surf brand which gives them their name. The appeal for travellers? Apart from awesome sound quality, the cloth-covered cord doesn’t tangle in the fashion of regular earbuds, making them a much friendlier prospect to cram into your overnight bag.
Telstra 4G USB Dongle
Cost: Contract from $49.95 a month ($299 outright for business users)
Where to get it: Telstra
Why it’s a good choice: If you’re in an area where Telstra’s LTE-based 4G network operates, you can experience some very impressive speeds. In those parts of the country where the data-only 4G network doesn’t operate, you’ll still get good results from standard Next G.
Jabra Freeway
Cost: $149 (RRP; often cheaper with a little searching)
Where to get it: Shop around online and offline
Why it’s a good choice: There are dozens of Bluetooth-based hands free kits out there, so what makes the Jabra worth recommending? In our tests, the big selling point was the improved sound quality: you don’t appreciate how tinny many in-car systems sound until you test a quality alternative.
BUDGET CHOICES
iBottleOpener
Cost: From $24.95
Where to get it: iBottleopener
Why it’s a good choice: Travelling without a case for your iPhone is asking for trouble, as millions of people with smashed screens can attest. Travelling without a bottle opener is asking for trouble, but packing a normal bottle-opener doesn’t always work when you have to go through airport solution. So a case with a built-in opener is the ideal solution.
Binder Clips
Cost: Varies
Where to get it: Shop around (the pictured sample is from Officeworks)
Why it’s a good choice: It’s no secret around here that we love binder clips. On the road, they can help eliminate cable tangle, fix broken keyboard feet and mend broken bag straps. Oh, and they’re handing for keeping travel documents together.
Powerboard
Cost: $5 and up
Where to get it: Your local supermarket
Why it’s a good choice: Yes, we constantly recommend having an (Australian) powerboard, because it’s constantly useful. It saves you needing multiple adaptors overseas, lets you share power outlets at crowded conference venues, and can act as an impromptu extension cord in hotel rooms. Any basic model will do, though having a little more spacing between each outlet can be helpful if you travel with a lot of devices, and added surge protection can be worthwhile.
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