What tech do you travel with?

Scott B.

Scott B.

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I travelled internationally a few weeks ago, which is immensely enjoyable.

One of the hardest parts of that, for me, is figuring out how to "unplug". I want gadgets during the travel time and delays, but I don't want to be annoyed by them when I reach my destination. Convenience over necessity.

This has always been a challenge, finding that balance. This time, I didn't carry a laptop (how liberating), just de-nutted my iphone and stowed an Android notepad in my carry on. It worked out pretty well, and I am working on a "Travel Trilogy" to pass along observations.

This is the first installment: http://scott-burt.com/pursuing-prodigiously-empty-mind/

How do you deal with tech while travelling and vacationing?
 
iPhone and iPad, generally will leave the iPad in hotel safe, but use to plan the next day and surfing at night.  If I am on vacation, I will turn the phone to silent as well. 

On those times when I had to bring laptop to do work, I would do an hour or so in the morning and the same later in the afternoon.
 
When travelling on business I've managed to cut my load down to a laptop + iphone 6 plus. This way I can get away with a single USB charger + laptop charger and not have to be embarrassed at the airport security check with a gazillion gizmos to put through the X-ray  [tongue]

On vacation I usually substitute the laptop for a DSLR camera and two lenses (nowadays a 24-70/f4L IS + 40/f2.8). I just wish Canon made a powerful and fully tiltable flash in a small package as I just can't get myself to carry my 580II on trips.

Or actually more correctly I'm hoping that Fuji or Sony would come out with some brilliant collapsing fast lenses in the 24-70 range that would make either a X-T1 or a A7R 'almost pocketable' to have as a travel camera instead of the bulky 5DM2 I currently lug around. I've given up hope that Canon would bring EF compatible mirrorless bodies out...  [doh] 

Prior to my iP6+ upgrade I used to carry an iPad or a Nexus 7 tablet as well as my iP5S.

Edit: Just realised after reading other comments that I would not fly anywhere without my noise canceling earphones
 
Workwise just my android phone. Holiday wise ,  absolutely nothing , I'm on vacation so for myself absolutely no tech allowed. Its so liberating . Even if I take my better half out for a meal the phone stays at home.
Dave
 
For business, my thinkpad yoga for work writing and note taking, plus a Nexus 6 tablet to read at the end of the day and while in a plane or airport.  I leave the yoga home when it is for fun.  Always have my cell phone.
 
Thanks for all the responses so far, guys.

Refreshing to see that I am not the only one who wrassles with this issue...
 
I never go ANYWHERE without my iPhone 6 Plus. It has become my go-to device for email, surfing, and anything 'quick and dirty' that I can do. I carry it in a 'quick-draw' holster on my belt.

When I travel I add a laptop. Because of what I used to do (IT work) I *live* on my laptop so I still use a 17" MacBook Pro. I would often admin admin a server in one window while I did something else in another, so I needed the real estate of the 17".

I keep being tempted by the MB Air, but so far I've resisted...
 
I always take my MacBook because I write. Very rarely, maybe never, use the internet on it when abroad.
I take my phone with in case a client needs to talk; outgoing message says I'm away. I'll listen to VM but not answering the phone or not checking email or screwing around on the innernet is not a problem. I don't miss it.
BTW, can't stand my stupid, huge iPhone 6 plus. Only got it because trusty old 5 finally died after a hard life and its the only thing the store had. To me the phone is business not pleasure so I derive no joy from some big screen. I want my Motorola Startac back.
Beam me up Scotty.

 
When I was making my weeklong trips for treatment I would carry way too much - iPhone 5s, iPad, macbook, and occasionally my 17" windows laptop.  I used all the Apple products regularly.
eter
 
When travelling it's usually as a family ( 3 of us ) so the tech can stack up a bit.

Generally we take:  11" Macbook Air, iPad Air, iPad Mini  Plus my wife an i take our phones which are mainly used for music.  All of that i have found simple to lug around, and we have good entertainment on our flights.
But the bit that gets me is our headphones.  I have Bose QuietComforts for each of us, Me and my Son have the larger on ear versions but the wife has in ear.  The larger ones always seem to take up more space than i want but the upside is the flight is more comfortable.
Charging is usually with one USB charger and Laptop Charger i can also plug into the USB on the laptop as well for the iDevices.
 
When traveling with the family or alone I have to have my Ipad, iphone and GoPro4 with me.
 
I always have the Android phone and Bose Bluetooth earpiece with me.  When I hit the road I take the newest laptop along unless I'm flying, in which case I take the oldest laptop and a backup memory stick.  All drives are fully encrypted so nobody can get into my business or personal data files, should any or all "go on walkabout". 

 
For international business travel, work iPhone 5 and HP laptop, personal iPhone 6 and iPad, carry a New Trent Battery pack to charge iPhones or iPad if needed.  The battery pack is very handy to have traveling overseas, will charge my iPhone up 6 or 7 times before it needs recharging... Got to have my Sennheiser noise canceling headphones! 

Same combo for domestic business travel.

For personal travel, still carry both phones and swap the work HP laptop out for my MacBook Pro. 
 
iPod
booster power pack for above
weatherman micra
menu glasses
pencil (buy newspaper and do crossword if batteries run out)

What else would I need?  :-)

(obviously, I meant 'leatherman'; textedit substituted 'weatherman' - appropriate for travel though, I guess!)
 
Ipad3 does most of what ever I need. Trading in a Galaxy S3 for a iphone 6+ soon. But by far the most indispensable piece of kit are the Bose noise cancelling headphones. Even if i am not listening to music, just the silence is great for long flights.
 
I used to carry my Macbook Pro w/ me, I'm trying to ditch it for this upcoming vacation and just go w/ the Nexus 7. I have a USB OTG cable to unload my pics from my Nikon.

I'll have my phone with me, maybe I'll get a SIM card for some Google Maps when I arrive, otherwise I don't have any real plans to use it.
 
Hi -

Ditto on the Bose Headphones - indispensable!

iPad3, Blackberry Z10.
In NA, I have US and Canada MiFi's (verizon, Bell) so internet access is not deveice dependant, and access can be shared.

Considered an iPhone - but Blackberry seems to roam less expensively than Apple products. Usually, I travel with someone who has an iPhone - so am covered that way too.

No longer travel with a computer, unless I'm driving. I have a cheap Dell for spreadsheets, and a Microsoft surface that interfaces with the engine and transmission on my RV (Virtual dash, Nav functions).

Cheers -

Rob
 
I read your (Scott B) little trip report and I have always tried what you said, to clear my mind of everything.  After, or during my reading of Reiska's list of electronic and other devices, I knew i have done the right thing by sticking a pocket sized camera which i have no idea of what model # it is into a shirt pocket and a very small cell phone, capable of only calling out and receiving calls from home (I do not give out the number to anybody but our daughter and our son) in another pocket, a charger for the phone in an other pocket that i never remember to charge up until too late, we are already in the limo on the way home from the airport. Or our son has already picked us up and almost home. My mind is totally empty except for the memories of the trip we have just been on.
Tinker

BTW: Scott, i am watching for your next installment
 
My trips are from the USA to Nigeria via a usual 6-hour layover in Paris. I go to work for six-weeks in Nigeria and then off for six.

My electronics are perhaps overkill, but this what I generally carry....

15" Retina Macbook Pro, iPad Air (Used primarily for reading books), iPhone 5 on AT&T Contract, iPhone 4s unlocked with Sim cards for France and Nigeria, Bose Earbuds, Bose Headphones, DashCam, Canon point and shoot, Electronic Cigarettes and chargers, multiple plugs for US, European, and Nigerian (UK Style) outlets. three external hard drives, three flash drives, my Helicopter headset, and multi outlet extension.

When you consider that I basically live 1/2 of the year in Nigeria, it is easy to understand why I want the electronic comforts of home!

I just wish I could take my Festools!!!

Cheers,

Frank
 
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