Collapsible water bottle - my husband, Jeff, likes to carry water in a pouch in his backpack, but I don't and so I carry water in my backpack's side pockets. Regular water bottles take up a lot of room in luggage so I was thrilled to find this collapsible version. I tried it out and it works great!
Sleeping scarf for the plane/train - I don't like those half-donut pillows; they're not comfortable, they take up a lot of room, and the ones you inflate are even less comfortable for me. I found this online and got one and tried it out in a living room chair. I'm hopeful it will work, and it packs to a pretty compact size.
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| No, this isn't me, this is the model on Amazon! |
Waist pack - I have a couple of fanny packs already but they were too big for what I wanted, which was a handy pack to wear in front, containing passports, wallet, maps for the day, and phone--all of which I want easy access to. Plus the ones I already have were bigger than I needed and had water bottle holders, which I already have on my backpack. I found this little guy, and it's perfect.
Day pack - this Rick Steves day pack scrunches down to a very small size and will only come out for evening walks for dinner, or when we can drop our backpacks at a B&B early and then explore an area. I can fit a light sweatshirt or poncho inside, and it can carry water bottles, snacks, and a guide book or souvenir, should we be lucky enough to find a handy gift shop.
Go Pro - our one expensive gadget for the trip. Hadrian's Wall sites are focusing on the Roman Army this summer, and I am expecting to have opportunities to video-record reenactments and living history exhibitions. Plus, we'll be at Chesters Fort for a Roman Cavalry demonstration. It's tiny, compatible with my iPhone and iPad, and easily fits in the waist pack.
Wrist GPS - not a new gadget for the trip, but Jeff wears this on all our hikes and it will certainly be part of this journey.
Swiss Army Knife - don't leave home without it--though it has to go in checked luggage.
iPhone - even without a signal, it provides GPS, flashlight, stopwatch, alarm, clock, etc.
Multi-port USB to UK adapter charger - we can plug in two iPhones, a iPad, and my Garmin fitness tracker (so I can count my steps on the trek), all at one time!
What's your favorite travel gadget?
