Travel Gear

Micha and the kids frequently comment at the amount of gear I carry in my bag.  They are convinced I am working some kind of magic with the minimal amount of “stuff” compared to how much we get out of it. While I try to minimize / downsize most every thing else in my bag, I don’t skimp on our electronics and devices that make our travels easier, more entertaining, and more secure. But even then, the whole of the electronic gear I do carry will all fit into a small packing cube.

Here is a list of some of the gear we use.  We will add reviews as time permits.

Camera

Olympus Tough TG-5

We bought the TG-5 to replace our Olympus Tough TG-4 that was last seen dropping to the bottom of the Lombok Strait off Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia. The TG-4 was fantastic and made for an easy decision to replace it with the newer model.

We have only been using the TG-5 about a month.  So far it has been a great camera.  We used it underwater for four straight days on the Kangaroo Express live aboard. The underwater photos and videos are every bit as good as the above water ones.

It produces great photos and videos and is incredibly easy to use.  It is a great camera for scuba diving, particularly if you are staying at a maximum of 15 meters.  We are considering upgrading to the Nikon W300 (at this time, it is not yet available) once it becomes available.  The W300 will allow us to take photographs down to 30 meters. It’s likely that we wouldn’t upgrade at all if we weren’t using the camera while diving.

Television, Video and Sound

AppleTV

We carry an AppleTV on every trip longer than a few days.  With access to Netflix, Hulu, and movies and TV shows on iTunes, we have virtually unlimited entertainment for the kids. When traveling to foreign language countries, having access to something as simple as an English-speaking TV show can be invaluable. And while we don’t spend a tremendous amount of time in front of the TV, it’s nice for the kids to be able to watch a show that provides them some link to home. Micha and I can also stay up to date on most of our favorite shows.  We subscribe to Showtime and HBO as part of our cable subscription. so we get Showtime Anytime and HBO Go on AppleTV for no additional charge.  Movies and our favorite series are available through the apps on the AppleTV.

The setup works great for domestic US travel.  We run into problems with streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Showtime and HBO once we leave the US.  See my discussion about VPNs below to see how we still access those services through iPads and computers.

Even when traveling internationally, iTunes is still available.  We can rent or buy movies and shows most any place we can get a reliable internet connection. Additionally, any movies we have previously purchased on iTunes are available for the kids. For that reason, the AppleTV is far superior to the Amazon Fire Stick on international trips.

On our extended trip to Asia, we didn’t have a home cable subscription, so we subscribed to both Showtime and HBO Now.  The subscriptions gave us the same access to HBO and Showtime we normally get from our cable subscription.  With our VPN connection, we were able to access both services throughout Asia, Australia/New Zealand and South America.

Note – We use the 3rd generation AppleTV for trips.  We like the smaller size compared to the 4th generation.  But, they are hard to find.  The slightly larger 4th generation Apple TVs are still a great option.

Amazon Fire Stick

For travel in the US, particularly when we trying to travel light, I love the Fire Stick.  It is a fraction of the size and weight of the AppleTV.  With Netlflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime movies, there are plenty of options.

 

JBL Flip 4

Our kids can generally go to sleep easier in a new place when they have familiar music playing at bedtime. Listening to music from the iPad or iPhone speaker is ok in a pinch.  Even using a bowl or mug to improve the sound works when there are no other options.  But, if you have a little extra room in your bag, a bluetooth speaker is a big improvement on sound quality.

We are trying out the JBL Flip 4 and hope to report our impressions after a few months.

Internet Access

D-Link AC750, DIR 510L Travel Router – Some hotels have internet portals that allow only one or two users.  The portal also prevents the AppleTV or Amazon Fire Stick from connecting to the internet.  If you have experienced the frustration of trying to connect a device that does not have a browser to a hotel wifi, you know why we use the DIR 510L.

The router is about the size of a deck of cards.  It allows you to share a wifi network with other devices.  Simply put, you connect the DIR 510L to a wireless network and create your own separate wireless network.  You can connect multiple devices, even if the hotel limits you to one device, and you can connect AppleTV, Amazon Fire Stick and other devices that do not have web browsers. Set up is straight forward and easy even for a non-techie.

Virtual Private Network –

Whether we need access to US websites, like Showtime or HBO, or are in a country that blocks internet access, like the Great Firewall of China, we use a virtual private network.  We also always use a VPN for accessing banking and credit card services to reduce the chance our financial information will be compromised.

We regularly use StrongVPN.  While there are several VPN services to choose from, we have had great success with StrongVPN.  The setup is simple, and their support is fast and helpful.

 

Power

Anker – PowerPort 6 Desktop Charger

As a family that travels with lots of electronics, we need lots of charging power,  With multiple iPads, phones, cameras and other electronic devices, this six port charger comes in handy.  Each charge port is capable of charging an iPad at 2 amps.  It’s bulkier than a small travel charger, but we need the ports and routinely use all six at one time.

 

Trianium Atomic Pro iPhone portable battery

When Micha got me this for Christmas, I thought it might come in handy, occasionally.  I was half right.  It comes in handy every few days.  While traveling, we use so much more phone battery.  Maps, searching for cell signals, and internet searches for places to eat, all use lots more battery than we use back home.

When one of us runs low, this charger has us running again immediately,  It charges an empty battery to full charge in less than 2 hours.

 

Security

PacSafe Portable Safe

We don’t trust hotel in-room safes. While traveling, we also frequently stay in AirBnb’s where security is never a certain. We store our passports, spare credit cards, and electronics in this portable safe.  It lays flat in my suitcase and takes up very little extra space.  It has plenty of room for iPads, a full size laptop, and passports.