When you are going on a road trip, you need to be prepared for anything you might need. It might be very tempting to just pack everything you have, especially if you drive a big car. However, you don’t need to pack every item that you own. You just need to pack smart. Here are some top gadgets and travel accessories that you’ll want to get in your bag.
- GPS
Sure, you have your smartphone GPS, that’s a given; you can easily use that GPS when it is more convenient for you. However, there may be circumstances when you may not be able to use that GPS. You may be using the phone for music, talking, or just saving battery; regardless, you need a separate GPS device.
Bad Elf is popular for creating high-quality GPS units. You need a device that will work properly even if you are in an area with a low signal. Plus, if you are an overlander, the GPS unit will ensure that your online journal is updated.
- 12-Volt USB Charger
When you are on a road trip, you will not have access to electrical outlets. You may try to charge your phone at a coffee shop – still, not only would you have to stay there a long time, but finding one would also be challenging. Plus, not every coffee shop may have outlets for clients to use.
This is why you need to get a 12-volt USB charger. These can be connected to your car through their adapter, allowing you to charge your phone en-route. You may get a power bank while you are at it as well, but a USB charger will prove useful for overlanders as well.
- Car Games
Car trips are not always entertaining, especially when the route is not that scenic. Sometimes, this might happen. For example, before you reach some beautiful landscape, you have to pass 200 miles worth of boring fields. At some point, even counting cows may get boring.
This is why you may want to take some road trip card games with you. It will relieve the boredom of the passengers as you are driving from one point to another, making the time go by much easier.
- Pillow
You’ll be in the car for quite a long time. So, the chances are that you’ll eventually want to sleep at some point. If you’ve ever tried to sleep in a car, you’ll know how uncomfortable it can get to try and sleep on the edge. Not only is it uncomfortable for the neck, but the vibrations are terrible too.
This is why you may want to invest in a good pillow. A U-shaped pillow is often a good option for cars, as it gives you support on either side of your neck. It will also capture car vibrations, allowing you to sleep soundly.
- Headphones
If you like listening to music or watching videos, this one is probably a no-brainer for you. However, if you don’t always bring your headphones with you, then you probably should if you are going on a road trip. Whenever you get bored, all you have to do is pull out your headphones, and you can listen to anything without bothering the other passengers.
- Thermos
Imagine you are road tripping and want to drink a nice cup of coffee or tea that you made on your last camping stop. However, when you try to take a sip, you realize that it’s cold and without its warmth-induced taste.
Drinks that are supposed to be consumed warm cannot possibly be enjoyed if they go cold. Plus, when you are on a road trip, you don’t have immediate access to your microwave or stove. So, until you make your next camping stop, you have no way of warming up your drink.
This is why you need a thermos. A good thermos will keep your drinks warm for a good couple of hours, allowing you to savor the taste for longer.
- Flashlight
Nowadays, many people pass over the flashlight, thinking that they have the one on their phone. Everyone has a smartphone these days. However, think about it this way: the phone battery runs out fast. Depending on the length of your road trip, you might reach a point where you are low on your phone battery and do not want to use it needlessly.
With that in mind, this is where the flashlight comes in. Sure, you might use your phone flashlight, but it’s much easier to access your standard flashlight instead. Plus, by the time you get to your phone app, it might already be too late or unnerving (depending on what you want to see).
- Duct Tape
Duct tape is something you’ll definitely want to take with you. The beauty of duct tape is that it can be used to fix anything. So, whenever something gets broken, you can put it together with duct tape until you reach a place that can have it fixed.
The Bottom Line
A successful road trip is one where you are prepared. Sure, you’ll have your smartphone, food, clothes, snacks, maybe even a laptop if you work remotely. But the gadgets mentioned above are also useful and they can make your overlanding trip much better. They’ll definitely come in handy.
