Flights are great, but when you’re flying unprepared, flights feel longer than they need to. Fortunately, there are great gifts for travellers.
If the person you’re buying for is planning a trip, be it a holiday or just something more work-related, they’ve probably told you. Repeatedly. That’s cool, because it gives you something to buy for.
At the holiday season, consider gifting them something that’ll make their next trip a bit more of a breeze: a gadget designed to make a travel a little bit more comfortable.
From power to tracking to better listening skills, we’re checking out the little things that’ll make in-flight easier for all.
Tracking
Apple AirTag
Price: $49
We’ll start with the basic things travellers might want to consider: knowing where their luggage is.
Hopefully it’s not a major issue, but it could be one, so planning for needing to find their luggage can be done with an Apple AirTag, one of the crowd-sourcing trackers that relies on the power of the iPhone network to get it done. It can even be used to find a car.
The person you’re buying for does need an iPhone to make an AirTag work, though, so be aware before you grab one.
Tile Pro
Price: $59
If they don’t have an iPhone, consider the Tile Pro, a platform agnostic approach to tracking technology.
Tile has been around for longer than most in this category, and the Tile Pro is one of the most advanced non-Apple trackers in the line-up, including an anti-theft mode and a range of up to 150 metres.
Power
Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger
Price: $120
Next up is the need for power, particularly on a journey. Belkin’s BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger is one of those gadgets that makes you think “how has nobody thought of this sooner”, providing a charging bank inside of a power pack for the wall.
The idea has clear merit and makes sense, particularly if you’re just travelling with phone and tablet. It even comes with the international plugs, making it just about as easy as a power pack should be.
Anker MagGo 10K Qi2 Power Bank
Price: $150
Another portable power bank, the Anker MagGo uses the combination of Qi2 and MagSafe to charge quickly and includes a little power metre to let you know how much charge it has left.
That’s handy, sure, but the in-flight superpower Anker’s MagGo has going for it is a stand.
Flip the stand out the back and attach an iPhone magnetically, and all of a sudden, you have little screen that’ll stand up all by itself while being charged. It’s handy, for sure.
Journey Glyde 4-in-1
Price: $230
Alternatively, if you’re buying for someone who’s totally immersed in the world of the Apple ecosystem — iPhone, Apple Watch, and maybe even some wirelessly charged earphones like the AirPods or AirPods Pro — you may want to consider what Australia’s Journey has devised.
The Glyde 4-in-1 is one of those intriguing little gadgets no Apple owner should be caught without, particularly if they plan on travelling.
The special charge pack includes a 10,000mAh battery with support for Qi2 and MagSafe for the current and recent iPhone range, a spot for wireless earphones, and a hidden charger for the Apple Watch, too. The USB port for charging can even be used to charge a fourth device.
Entertainment
Sony WH-CH720
Price: $249
Looking for a pair of noise cancelling headphones that could change the way someone flies but equally won’t break the bank? Check out Sony’s WH-CH720N.
They definitely don’t have a name that rolls off the tongue — not like the Sonos Ace — but they do come with an appetising price for folks buying presents. Technically, Sony’s WH-CH720N comes in at a recommended retail price of $249, but you can typically find them for much lower if you look around, and they’re worth the price either way.
The sound is great, the comfort is solid, the cancellation works well, and about the only issues they have is that the controls are a little on the basic side, plus there’s no case. Frankly, if you found a plush pouch or just stored them in your hand luggage, you wouldn’t need to worry about the latter at all.
Apple AirPods Pro
Price: $399
It’s been a couple of years since the AirPods Pro first rocked up, but Apple is updating the tech and keeping the hardware going, handy for folks who live in the Apple ecosystem.
Know someone with an iPhone who doesn’t want a lot of bulk in earphones when they travel? The AirPods Pro are ideal, providing some of the best noise cancellation, complete with support for head-tracking sound in movies typically regardless of the platform.
It’s like having a portable Dolby Atmos surround sound system in your earbuds, allowing you to move your head and have the sound follow the way it would in a larger setup.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Price: $649
Our favourite over-ear noise cancelling headphones for everyone could make a trip that much easier for all: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
These have been out for a little over a year, and are easily one of the best noise cancellation headphones pairs across the entire space.
Built for both Android and iPhone, they include head-tracking that works for either device, even if Dolby Atmos isn’t supported by the phone itself. The sound is great for everything and the cancellation easily one of the best in the business, hardly surprising since Bose practically invented the category.
Plus they’re as comfortable as a pair of over-ear cans gets and come with a case, plus a clever design making them just that little bit more portable than other pairs. They are highly recommended for travelling, whether it’s on train to work or taking a flight somewhere else.
Steam Deck OLED
Price: from $899
Easily the next gadget we’ll be packing, Valve’s Steam Deck has finally arrived in Australia, bringing with it one of the most intriguing portable gaming systems of all time.
If the person you’re buying for finds they get bored in flight all the time, consider a Steam Deck. A PC made especially to go, the Steam Deck can handle quite a few games, many of which are regularly on sale thanks to the sheer number of sales run on the Steam store.
It’s not the perfect PC, but it’s one of the coolest mobile gaming systems ideal for easing boredom mid-flight. It even comes in a case to keep it protected.
