10 (ish) Must-Pack Travel Accessories
Google ‘best travel gadgets’ when you’re planning your trip to Australia and you’ll be led to a list of all the newest techy travel gizmos. But what you really want to know is which are the most useful. We’ve chatted to a whole bunch of adventurous travellers and this is their list – along with a few ideas of our own.
Pocket Tools
Alistair Humphries swears by his Leatherman, a handy pocket-sized tool with 14 functions and a 25 year guarantee. They’re not cheap but they’re the must have gadget if you’re off on a cycle around the world. Anyone who is dazzled by multi-tasking tools need look no further than these guys!
Torches
A head torch was the choice of Andy Torbet, the all-round adventurer and television presenter, author and film maker. It was also the best bit of kit for Charlie McGrath, the safety specialist.
There’s a dazzling array to choose from, so it’s just a matter of budget and uses for the torch. Cotswold Outdoor cover all bases.
And Charlie also sells a few useful bits of kit too: www.objectivegapyear.com/kit
Sleeping bag liners
Film producer Russ Malkin favours a silk sleeping bag liner – bed bugs can’t get through silk! You can find a liner on Charlie’s site (above link). We got ours from Intelligent Pelican, but you could also try terrevistatrails.
Biking
Josie Drew couldn’t have managed without her bike, but that figures, as she’s a cyclist, whilst fellow cyclist Phillip Young couldn’t have managed without his puncture repair kit. You’ll find a generous selection at Chain Reaction Cycles.
Dental floss (no, really)
Hiker and biker Neil Henderson would have been lost without his multi-function dental floss (and no, it ain’t just for cleaning your teeth). Read about the alternative uses for dental floss.
Electronics
The iPhone (other smartphones are available) is such a useful tool for anyone travelling Australia. As well as the essential social media, Skype etc you can find information about the local area, book flights and accommodation, Trip Advisor your next restaurant and check your bank account. Sean Conway (who swam the length of Britain), would have been lost without his.
James Ketchell used his Apple MacBook Air with him when he cycled around the world, and used Google Maps to show him where to go.
Cameras are the favoured gadgets of Paul Goldstein (who is a photographer, after all), and Dave Gill, who cycled around North America in a ‘Vague Direction’, swore by his Canon5D Mark II for its versatility taking both stills and movies.
Climber and adventurer Leo Houlding couldn’t manage without his Berghaus Asgard hybrid jacket, as it’s smart, light and warm. Like all the best bits of kit it’s multi-functional, doubling as a pillow when needs be.
Global Grapevine’s top picks
When we’re travelling Australia one of the first items in the pack is the gadget that helps you keep all the other ones charged. The battery pack and multi-socket adaptor from Intelligent Pelican was endlessly useful – you can read our review here.
You’ll find the kit (and all the items in it available separately) here.
And our very favourite Australian travel accessory? A big stretchy scarf. Use it as a pillow, a blanket, a towel a cushion or to hide your modesty (and anything else that needs hiding) when you’re in your swimwear. If you want to be really adventurous you can even wrap it round your neck.
If you have any suggestions for the must-have gadgets to take on your Australian travels, please leave them here – we’d love to share them!
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