With our pick of this year’s best and most inventive https://www.so-nerdy.com/ gadgets and gizmos for adventure travel, you can get a taste of the future of outdoor and adventure technology.
Who thought we’d be trapped beneath the heavy shadow of coronavirus for the majority of 2020 and 2021, but if all goes well, we’ll be able to go exploring again in 2022. And when we do, we’ll be equipped with tents that pack into a litre bottle of water, cameras that dive into the ocean to investigate the wonders of the deep, bike computers that deter thieves, and, finally, a solution to the age-old dilemma of where did my carry luggage end up.
Whether you’re planning a series of fastpacking hikes, long-distance cycle tours, or aquatic excursions to make the most of the summer, these cutting-edge pieces of kit are well worth the cost to help you go further.
The sound is rich and powerful without relying on phony enhanced bass that drowns out the rest of the audible spectrum. In a nutshell, the Emberton speaker provides superb clarity all the way up to room-filling levels without clipping.
The Emberton is perfect for traveling because it has a 20-hour battery life and a tiny form factor. With an IPX7 waterproof rating and a thick plastic shell that protects it in transportation, it’s also incredibly tough and durable.
A simple multi-directional control knob at the top lets you to swiftly and effortlessly play, pause, skip, and adjust volume. Because the speaker is Bluetooth, you can control it with your phone.
We like the Emberton’s style; Marshall couldn’t resist the desire to imitate their legendary amps; it’s a risky move, but it paid off, with a quirky design that most people like.
Waterproof Socks for Showers
Of course, waterproof boots are an option, but many people prefer the versatility of non-waterproof footwear with a pair of waterproof socks to slide into when the going turns squelchy underfoot.
There aren’t many choices out there, but ones from Showers Pass have been tried and true in the Pacific Northwest rain forests. They’re made with a breathable membrane that’s been precisely sculpted in a 3D mold to fit over your feet and feel like a normal pair of socks, and they’re pleasant to wear and waterproof so far.
Bottle of Primus Klunken
The Klunken is designed to match the timeless style of Fjallraven’s Kanken backpack. The simple double walled construction ensures that your bilberry cordial keeps chilled and your rosehip soup stays hot till you reach your destination, and the stainless steel and cork lid has a cute tiny webbing strap handle – a tribute to the Kanken. Even if you don’t have a Kanken, the eight custom colors are intelligently selected to complement your Kanken bag, and even if you don’t have a Kanken, this is still a superb liquid transporter and dispenser.
Tri-Fold Wallet by Craghoppers
This little wallet is created from SmartDry Eco recycled materials and has a denim/cotton look and feel, as well as a trendy charcoal grey color. The wallet closes with an elastic strap, and there are 7 card slots, an RFID card pocket that protects your card from scanners, and a document sleeve inside. There’s a little connection loop on the outside as well as a zipped coin pocket if you wish to attach your wallet to a purse or pocket.
Water Filter Bottle by LifeStraw
With this lifesaving water bottle, you can filter any water to make it safe to drink. Simply fill the Lifestraw’s primary chamber. The fibres integrated into the cap will filter any bacteria away, leaving water clean, safe, and ready to drink at a lake or a river (but be advised – it can’t filter salt water). We think this bottle is great for long-distance walking when you don’t want to bring a lot of water with you, and for filtering water when you’re traveling and aren’t sure if the tap water is safe. This bottle could save your life in an emergency, and every Lifestraw purchased provides a year of safe drinking water to a school child in a developing community.
Voice and camera translator Pocketalk ‘S’
Who’d have guessed that you could carry 74 different languages in your pocket? This ingenious tiny device recognizes and translates conversations, printed material, and signs in real time, making it much easier to converse in a foreign nation. The Pocketalk ‘S’ translator can store up to 10,000 previous translations, allowing you to practice a new language while on the go. If you’re traveling or working alone in a far-flung corner of the globe, having this Tower of Babel with you will make your experience much more pleasant. Noise-canceling headphones and a currency converter are included, and the Pocketalk can be charged by USB.
All-in-one coffee machine Cafflano Klassic
With this ingenious, light, and very portable ceramic coffee maker, you can get your caffeine dose even when you’re camping or traveling in the backcountry. When you’re traveling into the great outdoors or planning a few months of van adventures, the entire kit stacks into a little tumbler, making it easy to stash in your bag. Boiling water on the stove allows you to grind fresh beans, filter the coffee on the spot, and prepare a powerful brew worthy of your neighborhood hipster café. If you’re a true foodie, these are the greatest travel accessories for you.
Scrubba is a laundry bag made by Scrubba.
This bag, which is small enough to fit in your pocket, is actually a traveling washing machine, believe it or not. Place clothes, detergent, and hot water into the clever, lightweight Scrubba and give it a good shake for a minute for adequately clean clothes with no mess. If you’re planning a lot of camping and camper van trips this summer, this handy piece of gear will come in handy. When not in use, the clever Scrubba doubles as a dry bag, making it well worth the small amount of space it takes up in your backpack.
With 17 tool possibilities, including pliers, wire cutters, numerous knives, a saw, scissors, a screwdriver, and, of course, the necessity for the finest sorts of travel – a bottle opener, tackle any work with Leatherman’s little but strong Wave multi tool. If you’re starting into foraging and bushcraft, this is a great tool to have in your pocket when you’re out in the woods exploring the natural world in the UK and beyond. Just make sure to double-check airline laws before packing your Leatherman for your next foreign travel, as guidelines on where and how to carry knives vary by country.
Micro towel from Dock & Bay
A backpacker’s must-have is a compact, quick-drying travel towel, but not all micro towels are created equal. Dock & Bay’s cheerful striped joys dry quickly, don’t stink when moist, and take up little room in your knapsack, yet are still absorbent and large enough to use for swimming and bathing, and available in a rainbow of colors. Keep one in your rucksack wrapped up in its storage bag for impromptu wild swims, or bring one for your next backpacking trip. If you want to go all out, you may even personalize your towel.
Ultralight 3 first aid kit from Adventure Medical Kits
The Ultralight Kit 3 blends in seamlessly with practically every activity we engage in.
It includes minor injury supplies including plasters, antiseptic wipes, a sting relief wipe, varied plasters, and small bandages, as well as more serious injuries such safety pins for forming a sling, fabric tape, and butterfly closures for deeper incisions.
To increase usefulness, we toss in a few painkillers and a tick-removing tool, but the totally waterproof bag is big enough to swallow all of this and more, with the waterproof zip simply reclosing over everything.
This kit will not save your life, but it will make the end of your day a little more pleasant.
Nomad 7 Power Pack with Goal Zero Venture 30 Solar Panel
Longer journeys into the woods may include the use of a GPS, a camera, a phone, and other devices, all of which require a significant amount of electricity.
The 7-watt Nomad panel, which folds down to roughly 230x160mm by 25mm thick and can be stowed down the back of a hydration pack or pannier or deployed onto a pack using the paracord loops on each corner, is one answer.
In full sun, 7 watts is enough to charge a current smartphone at a reasonable rate – not fast, but enough to get the battery fully charged in a few hours.
A power pack can be used to store any extra juice. Of course, you could use any USB-based battery pack with the Nomad 7, but the Venture 30 is admirably ruggedized for road use. With a capacity of 7800mAh @3.7V, it can charge power-hungry smartphones twice. Dust and wetness won’t ruin your day, thanks to IPX6 weatherproofing.
Chipolo One Ocean Edition is a limited-edition Chipolo design.
The Chipolo One is the most handy tracker of items we’ve come across, and it’s much more than just a key finder. Every purchase of this small disc, which is constructed from recycled fishing nets, provides a $1 to the non-profit Oceanic Global, which works to clean up the ocean.
It’s small and light, with simple circuitry and a replaceable CR2032 battery, but it’s a powerhouse in terms of pure gadgetry. You can monitor your Chipolo on a map and contact it from your phone within a 60-meter radius using the Chipolo app (available for Android and iOS). You may also call your phone by double pressing your Chipolo disc, which is a brilliant twist.
If you’re concerned about range, the Chipolo will notify you via your phone when it moves out of range and display the device’s last known location as well as whatever it’s attached to on a map, which is especially useful for travel luggage and backpacks.
The Chipolo also serves as a remote shutter release for your phone’s camera – albeit this only appears to work with a slimmed-down version of your camera software, oh, and it also works with Siri, Google, and Alexa voice commands.
Tent Vango F10 Hydrogen Air Vango F10 Hydrogen Air Vango F10 Hydrogen Air
It’s finally here: the world’s lightest inflatable tent. Vango’s new Project Hydrogen tent is designed for quick and light outdoor activities where space is limited, weighing just 700 grams and inflating quickly and easily with a tiny bike pump thanks to Vango’s unique Airbeam technology. If you want a light-as-a-feather tent for fastpacking, orienteering, or bike packing adventures, this sturdy and weatherproof tent, which packs down to a one-litre cube, will be your ideal companion in adventure – get one when they go on sale in summer 2020.
Powervision’s underwater drone, the PowerRay
With Powervision’s incredible underwater drone, you can capture the world beneath the waves. The fully waterproof and streamlined PowerRay can film and capture images in 4k UHD while submerged for up to four hours without needing to be recharged. This underwater camera descends to a depth of 98 feet, allowing you to explore the depths from the safety of the shore or a boat. To control the drone and see what it sees, use the drone’s console in conjunction with an app on your phone. It’s no surprise that the PowerRay has already won a slew of design accolades.
