NationalGeographicTravellerUKMayJune2020

Often, one of the first things I notice

about a hotel room is how few plug

sockets there are — and I’ve got lots

of devices. Here are some tips on

charging on the go

TIP 1

A universal power adaptor,as the

name suggests, can connect to most

sockets. Look for one with multiple

USB and even USB-C sockets,

allowing you to charge several

devices at the same time even when

limited outlets are provided.

TIP 2

Charge your phone more quickly

with 2.4V USB sockets. For even

speedier charging, look for a

universal plug that has Quick Charge

3.0 (QC 3.0) technology.

TIP 3

If you’re travelling outside the EU,

you might need to check what

voltage your devices run at. Not

all adaptors transform voltage, but

‘travel voltage transformers’ are

inexpensive and widely available.

Everyone hates having to untangle

a nest of cables and peripherals

when opening up a suitcase or

travel bag, so why not invest in

a cable organiser to keep things

neat and easily accessible?

Bellroy has a great range of

protective cases with internal

IMAGES: GETTY

DON’T GET IN A TANGLE

Kate Russell is the technology reporter

for @BBCClick

@katerussell^

katerussell.co.uk

The Adata SD600Q 240GB is a

rugged and compact solid-state

drive (SSD) that has plenty of

capacity for both backing up and

storing content to watch while

you’re away. An SSD will give

you the fastest transfer speeds

possible and will stand up to the

rigours of travel much better than

a mechanical drive (HDD). The

pocket-sized SD600Q comes at

a great budget price, but you’ll

GET THE GADGET

TOP TIPS FOR...

powering up

on the go

Adata SD600Q 240GB

THERE’S PLENTY OF KIT TO OFFER A HELPING HAND ON THE ROAD, WHETHER

IT’S UNTANGLING YOUR CABLES OR KEEPING THINGS SAFE AND DRY

cable pockets, catering to

laptops, tablets and phones. I love

the Tech Kit at £49, with space to

store cables, headphones, mouse

and charger in a neat zip-up

pouch. It’s made from recycled

woven fabric, so is better for the

environment too.

need to check you have the right

cables as it doesn’t ship with the

most current USB-C cable or

transformer in the box. However,

these can be picked up cheaply

from any good electronics

retailer. RRP: £55. adata.com

With so many things

needing to be charged, sort

your cables with Fuse Reel’s

range of cleverly designed

plug and headphone winders

for Apple tech. These neat

cable organisers attach to your

existing chargers and power

cables so you can ‘reel’ them

up for storage. The MacBook

power supply is particularly

annoying as it has two cables

with a transformer in the

middle and the Side Winder

does a great job of storing it

neatly for travel.

Technology doesn’t like to

get wet, so when planning a

snow or beach trip, make sure

you pack plenty of protection

for your delicate devices. This

could be as simple as a roll of

zip-lock bags to seal things up

in between uses. LifeProof.

co.uk sells a range of cases

and backpacks that will keep

your gadgets safe and dry in

style. Starting at £80.99, the

waterproof backpacks aren’t

cheap, but if you’re going to be

hiking through wet weather,

it’s worth remembering that a

regular backpack won’t keep

your technology safe in a

sustained downpour.

TECH TRAVELLER

TRAVEL GEEKS

May/Jun 2020 145