Simplifying my travel world

Travel Gadget Organization

Now that I've re-joined the business travel world, I need to get re-acquainted with the ins and outs of being a proficient, efficient frequent flyer. Sure, I've still been flying at least a couple of times a year; at least once for vacation, and maybe one annual business trip. However, on my most recent flight, I managed to get tripped up at US customs (forgot to update my Nexus info - doh!), and while fishing out my passport from my messenger bag, I snagged a loose cable and it pulled out a bunch of little things onto the floor in the security screening area. I felt like such a rookie!

Recently, while waiting in line at Starbucks for my morning caffeination, I saw something shiny in the sale bin (turns out it was the zipper). I didn't know what the item was, but it had already found its way into my curious hands. Of all things, it turned out to be a travel office organizer - a place to keep your miscellaneous cables and items neatly stowed while you are dealing with the adversities of business travel. It has the elastic straps like the GRID-IT! systems, but it zips closed, keeping everything neat and tidy.

It holds virtually all the things I/we need when travelling abroad. I have another Cocoon GRID-IT! that has some other things that we don't use as often, and it slips into my larger suitcase if needed. Here are the essentials, that in my opinion, work well for two people that have two devices each.

• Bose SoundLink Micro bluetooth speaker
  A travel must for playing music from your iPhone or watching a movie on the iPad, the sound from this tiny speaker is nothing short of remarkable. Edit: When I need to save weight, this stays behind. If I'm not taking it, I put all the stuff in an even smaller little bag.

• USB power bank
  You use your iPhone lots more when travelling, whether taking pictures, using Maps to navigate, or searching for the next place to eat; don't end up stranded without power! I recently upgraded to a 5000 mAh one (flat red device pictured) as it will give at least one full charge for my iPhone 12 Pro. Get one that has more capacity than you need makes it heavy, and more likely that you won't bring it along every day.
• Multi-port USB charger
  Rather than bringing a charger for each device, get yourself a multi-port charger, like the Qualcomm triple port one, pictured. Newer ones are available with USB type C ports. Make sure it has enough oomph to support charging an iPad and iPhone simultaneously. 
• Short USB power cords
  
  
  These are easy to find at the dollar store, online or sometimes devices come with short versions; you don't need long cables for charging, so why bring them? I do bring one other longer Lightning cord, just in case you need to use your iPad/iPhone while replenishing the battery. Plus, I need two Lightning cords if I want to charge both my iPad and iPhone simultaneously. Edit: I found this 3-way USB charge cable, and have added this instead; it allows me to charge 3 devices off one port.
• Travel adapters
  Most places we go in Europe can be handled with these simple two-prong, round pin adapters. Since pretty much all chargers for electronics are already dual-voltage, you only need to convert the North American prongs to the local outlet style. I bring at least two, as sometimes you can use the shaver outlet directly for other devices.
• Right-angle headphone adapters
  I often use my own headphones on the airplane, but sometimes the 4-pole mini-plug (because there's a microphone pole) screws up the 3-pole connection in the armrest socket. These handy little things are only a dollar or two on eBay, and work to both prevent audio connection issues, and inadvertent bending or breaking your headphone connector (more on that in another post).

I usually tuck this organiser into my checked or overhead bin luggage, as I don't normally need these items (except the headphone adapter) on the flight. I reserve the space in my personal carry-on item for things like food/snack items, noise-cancelling headphones, and iPad; that way there's always space to stuff my (bulkier) jacket or sweater in once we've completed boarding.

Originally published Sept/2012