Tech Gear for the intrepid summer traveler (photos)
The Fenix E05 R2 LED Flashlight provides a high intensity beam of light that reaches up to 80 feet away. It is water resistant, small enough to fit on a keychain and powered by a single AAA battery. http://www.fenixlight.com
If you're going to be out in the hot sun, you should protect yourself from the UV rays. Do what I did and get a Tilley LTM5 AIRFLO Nylamtium Hat. It's hand washable, comfortable, and has a lifetime guarantee from Tilley. They'll even replace it for half price if you lose it. Just make sure you get it one size larger than your normal headgear; Tilley hats are meant to be worn slightly loose. http://www.tilley.com
The Solio Classic Hybrid Solar Charger provides internal power storage capacity of 1650mAh, capable of recharging your smartphone or iPod no matter where you are. It has 7 different adapter tips for various devices. http://www.solio.com/chargers/
A must-have for any international traveler, the All-in-One International Travel Power Plug Adapter provides plug adapter capabilities for over 150 countries. http://www.bargaincell.com/allinone-international-travel-power-plug-adapter-p-500600.html?Ref=CJ
If you leave your laptop at home when you travel, you can probably put all of your gear into one bag that also serves as a day pack/guide bag, like this Eagle Creek Guide Pro. Basically you want a bag that can hold a tablet, your charger, a couple of cables, bottle of water, guide book and a few other essentials. http://www.eaglecreek.com/
The Monster MP OTG400 BK Outlets To Go 4 Outlet Travel Power Strip provides four power outlets in a compact package, yet widely spaced so you can use it with practically any size power brick. http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=3842
They're expensive, but the Sennheiser PXC 310 BT Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones are worth it. They have incredible sound range, noise reduction, are compact and comfortable, and can switch between bluetooth and wired connection to your devices. http://www.sennheiserusa.com/bluetooth-stereo-headphones-wireless-headphones-502384
If you find that you always need some sort of multitool in your travel kit, why not get a Leatherman Style PS Multitool? Not only is it a great little tool that fits in your pocket, it's also TSA-compliant so you don't have to put it in checked baggage. http://www.leatherman.com/product/Style_PS
For those people venturing out into the trackless wastes, or just visiting areas where clean drinking water may not be available, the SteriPen Classic Water Purifier can help. This compact battery-powered device can kill practically all viruses and bacteria in drinking water. http://www.steripen.com
The Duracell Instant USB Charger is a must-have for anyone needing an emergency smartphone recharge. The best part is that this device itself can charge from the USB port of a laptop. http://www.duracell.com
If you need a lot of battery recharging power for long-haul flights, or simply won't be near available power outlets for extended periods, consider getting the iSound Portable Power Max battery pack. At 16,000mAh, it has the capability to fully recharge two tablets and two smartphones with some juice left over. http://www.isound.net
Need to carry your netbook or 12-inch laptop as well as your tablet? The Timbuk2 Freestyle Messenger Bag has you covered. And it can also handle a lot of your other gear as well. If you don't like the colors available on Amazon, build your own at http://www.timbuk2.com.