These life-saving travel gadgets will keep you both on the road and on track Some digital nomads might claim that all you need to succeed at remote working is your laptop, phone, and general genius. And, essentially, it’s true. However, when the world is your office, you may have easy access to exotic cuisine and gorgeous views, but what about secure hard drives and stable Wi-Fi? This is not just a question of missing the office stationery cupboard. There are some devices that can make a substantial difference in how well you perform and transform a dingy coffee shop into a fully functioning workstation. We compiled a list of the top six:
Mobile Hotspot
As astonishing as it might seem, there are still places in the world where Wi-Fi is shaky, if not non-existent. This is delightful if you are trying to switch off, unplug and escape. It’s less charming if you have an imminent deadline. The solution? A mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device, also known as Mi-Fi it is the ultimate travel gadget.
Here are 3 that we recommend:
1 – The TP-Link M7350
The TP-Link M7350 is compatible with both micro and nano SIMs, so you probably already own one you can use. It can be accessed by up to 10 devices at once and has a superb battery life – 10 hours of 4G connectivity. It’s exceptionally fast too. The only downside is that it’s a little bulky to carry around.
2 – ZTE MF65
If money’s tight, this is the option for you – a budget-friendly hotspot that can provide a connection for up to 5 devices simultaneously. Its battery life isn’t bad either, permitting 6 hours’ worth of browsing time. The catch? It only supports 3G and large SIM cards.
3 – The E5770 Mobile Wi-Fi Pro by Huawei
The ideal choice for power-hungry users, this device has one of the biggest batteries around lasting 20 hours on a single charge, and can even charge another device at the same time. Plus, it’s also rather stylish to look at. The downside is, unsurprisingly, the price.
Portable Charger
If your definition of being on the road is quite literally being on the road, without access to power sources, then a portable charger is an essential investment. Travel-time is no downtime for a digital nomad and a portable charger will allow you to log the necessary hours. And it’s extra useful if you are in an area that suffers from power outages. We recommend:
1 – Tech Armor ActivePower USB Power Bank
Effective and efficient with a friendly price tag too, this is a great choice for any digital nomad. It’s compact and weighs very little – plus, it can provide most phones with two full charges. It also has a built-in torch – always a bonus.
2 – Anker PowerCore+ mini
If you’re worried about space in your rucksack, look no further. This charger is the size of a lipstick, but about a million times more useful. It can supply six hours of phone charge.
3 – Goal Zero Flip 30
Again, very tiny – but here, at least, size doesn’t matter. Around the same size as a deck of cards, the Goal Zero Flip can power your smartphone up to 3 times and a tablet once. There’s also a version that comes with solar panels – so you can literally channel the sun’s energy into your work.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
When working in a crowded café, airport, or even a centrally-located Bangkok hotel, tuning out distractions is essential. Our top picks:
1 – Sony WH- 1000XM2
These do exactly what they claim: cancel out background sounds while providing superb audio playback. They also have a 30-hour battery life, as well as two other additional nifty details. Firstly, an Ambient Noise mode that only lets in mid-to-high frequency tones – so you don’t miss the loudspeaker call for your flight. Secondly, a Quick Attention mode, allowing you to temporarily let in outside noise without removing the headphones.
2 – Philips Fidelio NC1
These stylish and elegant headphones aren’t wireless but still have plenty to boast about. They come with a storage case, a rechargeable battery that lasts 30 hours, plus exceptionally high-quality sound performance.
External Hard-drive
The importance of an external hard drive is no great secret. The question is, how big and fast a hard drive do you need? We’ve selected a range, all of which are portable, reliable, and robust.
1 – Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC
No eye-brow-raising price tag here. An affordable option that is compatible with both Mac and Windows devices, the Buffalo MiniStation is also very durable with a water and dust resistant case.
2 – The Adata SD700
Perfect for those looking for a budget-friendly option that still provides plenty of storage and speedy file transfer.
3 – WD My Book Duo 4TB
If it’s storage you’re after, it’s storage you’ll get with the WD My Book Duo. It offers 4TB – which is enormous. It’s expensive – yes – but it also comes with 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption with WD Security software, which helps keep private content secure with a personalized password.
Privacy filter for monitors
When you’re dealing with some complicated bank transactions or similar, the last thing you want is a nosy waiter lingering behind you with a full view of your screen.
What you need is a privacy filter: a special screen filter that fits directly onto your monitor screen, providing privacy from prying eyes.
The options on the market are all much of a muchness. But the Privox Privacy Screen Filter is a good choice for laptops as its 15.6-inch size is standard for many monitors. How does it work? Well, up to a 60-degree viewing angle, you are able to see the information on your monitor but anyone outside of that angle will see only a black screen. This is also a reversible model so you can choose between a glossy and matte filter, the former providing the best privacy, but also some glare. Plus, this filter can reduce blue-light transmission, which causes eye strain and keeps you awake at night.
Wireless mobile mouse
Wireless mice are no longer the infuriating devices of years gone by, which consistently lagged behind and had next to no battery life. They are versatile, reliable and extremely useful. We’ve picked out two possible options:
1 – Logitech MX Master 2S
In the tech world, this is considered the best mouse on the market. It connects with devices without any problem, it works on any surface – including glass – its battery lasts 70 days on a single charge, and it’s designed to fit your hand for maximum comfort. The catch? The cost.
2 – The VicTsing 2.4G
This is the mouse option for the money-conscious. It too is designed with ergonomics in mind and is also sweat-resistant and skin-friendly so you can use it all day with no problem. There is even a tiny rest position for your little finger. It takes a single AA battery that lasts up to 15 months.
3 – Logitech Marathon Mouse, M705
If 15 months isn’t enough battery life for you, then this one will tick the box. It lasts up to 3 years!
So that’s our list of gadgets that will transform your digital nomad experience into a smooth and slick operation. Even investing in just a few of the above will make your nomadic 9-5 a lot less stressful. Because, when you’ve got these gizmos, who needs an office?
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