One of the upsides of business travel is getting the chance to visit a lot of different places and see new things. But one of the big downsides is that you often have to decide what to take, not only to do your job, but also to stay sane while traveling.
Here are a few options for those who plan to travel with an Android device as a companion.
Tom Bihn Synapse 25
I’ve had a few Tom Bihn bags now, and they’re incredibly sturdy – they’re designed to last through years of heavy use without coming apart. The Synapse 25 is a checkpoint-friendly backpack with five water-resistant pockets along the front that can handle everything from keys and camera to a one-litre water bottle. Inside, you can add the foam-padded Cache with Rails accessory to add easy slide-out access to a notebook computer or a larger Android tablet. Add the small Snake Charmer pocketed pouch to store your power cords and cables, to keep them from getting tangled up inside the backpack. Even with this gear inside (and a bit more besides) there’s still room left over for a change of clothes, making it a perfect choice for a day trip…or for cycling/commuting to work (there’s even a little built-in strap designed for a bike light accessory).
Cambridge Audio Minx Go
Listening to your music on your Android phone or tablet is kind of an underwhelming experience, and generally speaking your notebook isn’t much better. Trying to use internal audio for a presentation in a boardroom … forget about it! The Minx Go is a compact Bluetooth speaker that connects wirelessly with your mobile device, and provides high-quality audio with a bit of bass boom belied by its small size. On the back is a 1/8-inch input for devices that don’t have Bluetooth onboard, and inside is a battery that will give you up to 18 hours of playback when you’re away from an outlet. There’s even a USB port on the back that will help you charge your mobile devices!
GoalZero Switch 8 kit
When you’re traveling, you can never be guaranteed of finding an outlet to recharge your Android phone or tablet. With the Switch 8 kit, you get a solar panel and a battery pack, allowing you to store some electrons wherever you happen to be (as long as there’s light, of course). The panel comes with little loops around the outside, allowing you to hang it up for best charging orientation, or even for hanging off a backpack (with the proper clips). Sure, solar charging can be a bit slow, and the battery pack will only give a full-sized Android tablet a partial charge…but when you can’t plug in, any little power boost is welcome.
Coming soon: Travel accessories that you leave at home.
