It smells like summer vacation, finally! Except that, for many, if it’s not on Instagram, it doesn’t exist… So, here are some gadgets that will ensure that your vacation is unforgettable, for you and your friends, wherever they are on the planet.
GoPro Hero 10
If your phone’s camera isn’t enough, GoPro has a small action camera that will do the job. In fact, it has a few versions, but the Hero 10 is perhaps the one that offers the best compromise between quality and versatility, even if its price remains relatively high. One thing is for sure, it avoids headaches since it is practically indestructible and the images it produces, whether photos or videos, are of a good enough resolution — and perfectly sharp, thanks to the stabilizer — to be cropped later in an ideal format. And there is no shortage of accessories to make it a little more robust or versatile…
ShiftCam SnapGrip/ProGrip
ShiftCam offers a range of MagSafe-style magnetic grips that attach to the back of an iPhone and do three things: the most obvious is that they turn the phone into a camera, with a shutter button to trigger the capture of photos or videos. The next is that you can rotate its grip 90 degrees to transform it into a kickstand that allows the device to stand upright on any flat surface. The third is that it charges the phone’s battery thanks to the MagSafe connection, precisely. And for those who want more, the SnapLight is a small LED light ring that attaches to the back of the grip of your choice to have lighting that is both softer and more powerful than the phone’s built-in flash. Ingenious!
FujiFilm QuickSnap
The equivalent of a vinyl record for music, FujiFilm’s QuickSnap 24-exposure disposable camera has the advantage of being submersible, which means that anyone—young children included—can take it out to play with it in the water and bring back pictures that are likely to be hilarious, poorly framed, and perhaps impossible to decipher, but always surprisingly bright and clear. Of course, this will all depend on the water conditions, but for a trip back to the days when taking a photo required a great deal of judgment to avoid wasting a precious exposure on your film, and a good deal of patience while waiting for it to be developed, there’s nothing quite like a disposable camera.
Anker PowerCore
There’s nothing worse than running out of juice when you’re in the mountains or on the river. Of course, you can avoid the worst with a portable battery, and in this game, the Anker range is perhaps the best solution. Its PowerCore is a good example: its battery has a capacity of 24,000 milliamp-hours, good for at least four full recharges of a smartphone. A total power of 140 watts ensures accelerated charging, and its three USB ports, two of which are USB-C, give it universal connectivity no matter what gadget you need to re-energize along the way… including a laptop.
Goal Zero Nomad 10
The Nomad 10 is a pair of small, foldable solar panels that can be deployed in your backpack while hiking and that will charge the small pocket device of your choice. This can range from a phone to a camera, including a backup battery, at a maximum power of 10 watts, almost equivalent to that of a wireless charger for the home. The accessory also has a small stand that allows you to place it on a flat surface to let it soak up even more optimal sun. Obviously, these panels do not store any energy; they only transform the sun’s rays into energy that must be stored elsewhere. And, even if their power is not mind-blowing, rest assured that it is more than welcome where Hydro-Québec’s pylons have not yet set foot.
Perilogics Airplane Phone Holder
A little travel accessory that you wouldn’t know you’d need until you tried it, this phone holder attaches to the back of an airplane seat, on top of the little retractable tray table, and holds your phone of choice directly in front of your eyes… or those of a child, who only needs a few minutes of their favorite cartoon before falling asleep. There’s no scientific evidence that such an accessory saves families from imminent breakup, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s on the wish list of parents who would like to take a family vacation and come back more rested than when they left.
Tablet holder for car
Along the same lines, there is no shortage of obscure and little-known brands offering tablet car mounts online or in person. These come in two forms: you can attach a small tablet to an air vent, which makes it a navigation system comparable to the huge screens in more modern cars, but with a better interface, or you can attach it to the back of a headrest to entertain the occupants in the back seat. Here again, a few precious moments of quiet time allow you to take a break, between two road games, whether it’s counting the yellow cars or making puns based on the registration codes of the vehicles in front of you.
Thule EnRoute 30L
And here you are wondering: how do you fit all that into a backpack? Easy, we do the same as for the roof box and opt for a Thule… The EnRoute 30L backpack is one that we highly recommend. Its 30-liter volume is well divided, and it can hold these electronic accessories, including a small laptop, in addition to some clothes and even a pair of shoes. A perfect bag for a one-day urban exploration where we don’t yet know where it will take us…