The Indagare Team’s Top Travel Tech

The greatest joy I’ve found traveling is almost always far away from screens and devices. Catch me on a safari in Tanzania or on a trek in Bhutan, and I feel the most alive. As our attention spans worsen by the year and AI development accelerates at an alarming speed, the dance between technology and humanity feels more delicate by the day. However, the beauty of innovation is that humans have created tools to make our lives easier, including when we travel. A good travel gadget can make the transition to any country smoother, allowing for more presence once your feet touch the ground.

Our trip designers and editors traveled more than 365 times last year. Some of these journeys were planned far in advance, while others popped up weeks before. Having the right, trusted gear ready to go is essential for stress-free packing. I’ve gathered our team’s recommendations for the top travel tech—the road-tested apps, devices and tools Indagare uses on a regular basis. From headphone hacks on long flights to sleep machines for beating jet lag, portable scales, Kindles and more, discover Indagare’s 17 favorites below.

Our advice: Less is still more, but these high-quality gadgets create space for more intentionality, freedom and joy when traveling.

On multiple flights, I’ve experienced the dreaded moment my phone dies before landing. I’ve had to sit at baggage claim, charging my phone to a meager five percent in order to grab a taxi, find directions or notify my friends I’ve arrived. This is why a portable charger has become crucial. For reliability and power, many Indagare team members take the Portable Charger 50000mAh Power Bank, which has two built-in cables for charging phones, tablets and laptops at high speed. For something sleeker and smaller, a few take the Travelcard Plus, a credit-card-sized charger that fits in your wallet or pocket.

It wasn’t until I personally watched the carousel spin on without my suitcase—heading into three days of camping in Botswana with no additional clothes outside the extra outfit I packed in my carry-on—that I contemplated investing in Bluetooth luggage trackers.While AirTags can’t magically make your bag appear, they can at least alleviate the stress of not knowing where it is. Even if packing carry-on only, AirTags are highly helpful to tuck into totes and camera bags for easing the uncertainty if anything happens.

A few team favorites for this absolutely essential gadget are the Epicka Universal Travel Adapter and the TECSIX European Travel Plug, as both are adaptable to over 200 countries and save logistical headaches. This has become the easiest item on my packing list. I leave it in my carry-on tote ready for any upcoming travels.

Many of us know the struggle of bringing along three to four books for a trip—even for just a day at the beach—and not getting through them. While it took me years to convert, I’ve finally become a fan of the Kindle. They’re slim, light, don’t take up extra space—and you can carry an entire library. In Kenya, I was able to switch between books on the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to lighthearted novels to help me fall asleep at night. I’ll still throw in one physical book (nothing beats turning the pages), but the Kindle has significantly helped lighten my suitcase weight. Indagare COO Eliza Harris prefers to use Audible on her phone, where she has over 100 books downloaded and available for listening.

The sleek Oura Ring is a favorite of many at Indagare for its ability to track sleep, activity and stress, with a battery life lasting five to eight days. Katherine Hill shares: “I love traveling with my Oura Ring. Not only does it track my sleep (and hold a few days charge), it keeps me in tune with my daily movement. On travel days when I’m walking far more than usual, it’s motivating to see those steps add up and understand how it all impacts my body as a whole. Plus, I have the option to tag specific activities, so over time, I get a clearer picture of how I feel on the road compared to at home and can make smarter choices for future trips. Who knew numbers and graphs could be so fun?”

The fewer cords, the better when traveling, especially in airports or hotels with limited outlets. No one wants to spend time searching their bags for tangled, loose cords. Travel specialist Alex Arduino swears by this one—the single cord has adapters for Lightning, USB-C and USB. Senior editor Elizabeth Harvey also recommends throwing a few extra cord adapters into your tech pouch or purse as back-up: “These adapters are tiny and so easy to bring along; I always have a variety on-hand (USB to Lightning, Lighting to USB-C, etc.) to ensure my bases are covered for phones, cameras, laptops, charging banks and more.”

As a mom, I’ve witnessed the power of a portable noise machine. I’ve tried and liked the Hatch Go—it’s small, easy to travel with and has sounds like rain, white noise, a heartbeat and the ocean (this isn’t just for kids; it’s also great for adults struggling to adapt to a new time zone).

VP of operations Rose Taylor recommends the Nanit Baby Monitor and Nanit Travel Stand. She shares, “The Nanit requires a private WiFi connection in order to connect, but more and more luxury hotels are providing this to parents when asked. When they don’t, we’ve had to find work-arounds like hot-spotting from a smartphone. I know some people like to bring along an inexpensive old-fashioned monitor that doesn’t require a WiFi connection, but these may not allow for as long of a reach from the monitor itself.”

There’s something nostalgic about watching movies on planes—it takes me back to my first flights as a kid and the excitement of sitting in my own chair, watching a movie not yet available to rent. Sadly, headphones haven’t caught up with the high-tech in-seat entertainment systems many airlines offer today. The Airfly Dongle is beloved by many Indagare team members for avoiding using the headphones distributed by the airlines. It has a 20-plus-hour battery life, is lightweight and has an intuitive control for volume.

Many Indagare staff take a comfier set of noise-cancelling headphones in addition to their smaller ones (even though they’re a bit bulkier to pack). As a frequent traveler to New Zealand, one of the longest flight routes for a U.S. based traveler, Eliza Harris loves the Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Cancelling Headphones, which come in a variety of colors, last up to 24 hours when fully charged and create full silence even in a noisy cabin.

For television fans who catch up on shows while on the plane, trip designer Eric Hernandez always takes the universal hands-free phone mount. It’s small and easy to throw in your bag for a more enjoyable flight, allowing you to catch up on the latest series while avoiding “tech neck.”

Eric Hernandez also advises bringing this fan for any summer—or hot and humid—touring. He lived in Dubai for some time and has spent many months traveling in the Middle East, where temperatures often rise past 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The JISULIFE Portable Hand-Held Fan runs off battery, with a wind speed reaching nine meters per second, and it can last from two to 12 hours on a single charge; plus, it has a digital screen for displaying the battery life.

There’s a variety of apps for improving travel—from translating languages and analyzing bird songs to dining and mapping apps. Travel specialist Sarah Minges recommends using hotel apps, an often-overlooked benefit when staying with larger brands: “The Four Seasons app is amazing! By chatting through the app, you can order room service to be ready upon your arrival if you are coming in on a late flight. You can also use it to order extra amenities or make any additional concierge requests.”

The Indagare Mobile App is designed so members can access itineraries on the go and explore recommendations in different parts of the world. Members can use it to see Indagare recommended shops, restaurants and stops close to you in real time. Indagare ambassador Lisa Baker says: ”The Indagare app has been super useful in recent trips. I really love the “explore nearby” option. I’ve used it to locate restaurants and shopping for my recent travels to Charleston and Guatemala. It’s a game changer!”

Sleep can be tricky on planes. Some travelers fall asleep before takeoff, while others spend the entire flight uncomfortably awake (like me). I’ve been researching small ways to control the environment and sleep cues, including sleep masks for long-haul flights. Indagare’s VP of content Kathryn Nathanson recommends the Manta Sleep Mask. With 100-percent blackout for deeper sleep, removable C-shaped eye cups and breathable material, it definitely offers high-tech comfort. Some even have audio integrated, which Kathryn claims is the best feature: “It has headphones built in, which I love. When I am sleeping on planes, my ears always start to hurt from having headphones in for so long, so this has been a great upgrade.” Indagare founder Melissa Biggs Bradley’s favorite is now the Drowsy sleep mask, after an Insider Journey traveler, who is a sleep doctor, shared that ambient light affects your sleep. While not as high-tech, the adjustable, light-blocking design feels good on your skin due to the padded silk.

I find myself shopping more on a trip than I do at home, organically building my wardrobe from pieces sourced abroad. I love finding new lotions, clean products (almost anywhere outside of the U.S.) and don’t even get me started on ceramics. I’m not alone in this sentiment; our team has a passion for discovering boutiques around the world (see some of the one-of-a-kind stores worth traveling for here). Indagare editor Abby Sandman swears by the EL11 Luggage Scale to avoid stress at the check-in counter after a successful haul: “This is one of my must-haves, especially for any trip that involves strict weight limits, like safaris or hiking treks. It weighs next-to-nothing and gives you answers on whether you need to redistribute in seconds—without having to hunt down a standing scale. I use it just as much before leaving on a trip as I do on one (maybe more).” VP of content Kathryn Nathanson collects wine from all of her travels (she even just brought wine home from Denmark). She shares: ”I always travel with a portable scale and wine sleeves to be able to do this. My record is bringing home 15 bottles of wine from Chile.”

“I finally tried the Theragun muscle massager, and I can’t believe I waited this long to incorporate this game-changing device into my wellness regimen—on the road and at home,” says senior editor Elizabeth Harvey. “You can smooth out knots, loosen sore muscles and mimic the effects of electrical stimulation to soothe inflammation (through vibration)—a must for post-flight recovery and any active itineraries that involve hiking, horseback riding or even long days of city touring on your feet. There’s a mini model that’s ideal for travel (also great for in-flight use, if you suffer from joint and muscle pain when sitting for too long, like I do). It’s the closest gadget I’ve found yet to approximate a sports massage. There are also cheaper models available on Amazon (expect a corresponding downgrade in quality) that still get the job done, if you want to test it out first.”

While it seems counterintuitive for a list of tech tools, analog cameras have grown in popularity for many travelers. Dr. Arthur Brooks, professor of the practice of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, argues based on research that one lowers the meaning of a moment with a phone screen in front of one’s face. A phone screen, even just for photos, interferes with the beauty of the experience and your memory of it. I turn to my film cameras, which allow me to really tune into what’s happening without the instant gratification of capturing it perfectly. Travel specialist Ariana Agrios swears by disposable cameras and Fujifilm, which are small and easy to pack.