Our 10 Favorite Items for Adventure Travel

With all the traveling we do we’ve tried many different products to help us both enjoy and remember our trips better.  We budget for everything we do, so finding the least expensive way to accomplish this is important.  From trying a lot of different products over the years we’ve found out that inexpensive doesn’t necessarily mean “cheap”, as the list below contains items we use all of the time, nine for under $50.  So let’s get to it, our 10 favorite adventure travel items:

1. Brigands Dry-Bag

We’ve used this bag on everything from a local canoe trip (thankfully, due to a slight miscalculation leading to filling the boat with water!) to an international trip to Turks and Caicos.  It far exceeded our expectations in the durability and ease of opening/closing.  Obviously, it has kept everything totally safe from water even with being submerged.  One specific benefit is that it also keeps sand completely out, so for a trip to the beach, it is especially helpful.  Wash it under the ocean water before leaving, and everything inside stays sand free.  We were able to safely transport phones, dry towels, our drone, snacks, and more on a kayak trip in the ocean with no fear of water damage.

2. Power Charger

We specifically like this charger, because it has a small light, 2 USB ports, and holds a lot of power.  One full charge to the powerpad allows us to completely charge our smartphones five times.  We no longer have to cram next to people at airport charging stations or worry about adapters during international travel.  When you are on the go, a dead phone can be a huge hassle, especially when you use it for directions or airport boarding passes.

3. Akaso 1080p Go-Pro style camera

Since purchasing this camera the 4K models are now more abundant, but for under $50, this camera with the waterproof case and initial accessory kit is great for traveling.  It is lightweight and compact, has a built-in LCD screen for viewing on the go, and takes wonderful under water video.  Almost all of our underwater footage in our videos are shot on this camera.  The shorter battery life and poor quality in dimly lit areas are a few minor issues to keep in mind.  Also, once the case gets wet, it’s difficult to get clear pictures and video above water.  A two pack of extended life batteries cost around $15 and allows several hours of usage.

4. Action camera accessory kit

We enjoy using the camera enough that getting a $20 accessory kit was a no-brainer, especially for the floating water handle, the flexible tripod, and the ability to do first-person videos via the helmet/head mount.  These accessories help easily film all sorts of outside adventure sports and activities.

5. Oontz Bluetooth speaker

This seems too cheap to be any good, but it is awesome!  The battery life is great, it is water-resistant, and we’ve had no connectivity issues with the Bluetooth.  It auto-connects upon powering up, and we can set it by the pool without fear of water splashes.  During our recent trip to Turks and Caicos, it was wonderful to have fun music playing while we relaxed by the pool and beach.

6. Phone waterproof case

These are very inexpensive, but work great.   It is a little nerve-racking to put a $500 phone into a $5 protective pouch.  However, before every trip we take or when we use this at the pool/lake/waterpark, we put some Kleenex inside, clamp it up, and submerge it in the sink for an hour to confirm it’s still good to go.  These cases allow us to take our phones in a canoe/kayak/boat or even protects them from the rain.  There is usually room for a driver’s license, debit card, and cash as well.

7. Yuneec Breeze Drone

There’s a ton that could be said about this product, but there are already lots of reviews and You-Tube tutorials out to talk about the drone itself.  However, from our perspective and for our specific needs, this is the best travel drone you can buy.  We were able to buy this here for $150, with a controller included.  We also bought two extra batteries (about 8-10 minutes of flight time per battery).  Here are a few reasons we have loved this drone for traveling:

• It is small and comes with a sturdy travel case for easy transport in a backpack.
• This drone is very inexpensive compared to similar drones.  So if you are learning to fly for the first time, it’s not a disaster if it breaks.
• The built-in auto-pilot modes provide great hands-free video, specifically the orbit and journey mode (utilized in our Turks and Caicos video).
• It shoots in 4K unstabilized or internally stabilized 1080p video and takes high-quality pictures to remember your trip.
• It can be controlled by any smartphone with the Breeze app.  It is also quick and easy to move your videos from the drone to your computer/phone after each flight.

8. Lithium-Ion battery travel pouch

Traveling with a drone has not been a problem for us, in part because of these pouches.  Lithium-ion batteries cannot be put into checked bags per TSA guidelines, but you can carry on two (plus one in the drone).  Extra laptop and phone batteries can also be stored here, and we have had no problems flying internationally with these.

9. Needbo Water Shoes

Many places we travel involve beaches, boats, water parks, or various adventures climbing on waterfalls or rocks along the water.  These are a solid, inexpensive pair of shoes that can get wet and dry almost immediately.  The only downside is that sand and small rocks sometimes get through the sole of the shoe.

10. Snorkel equipment

We prefer to travel with our own snorkel equipment so that we can go wherever, whenever, for as long as we want.  During a recent trip, our kids also tried these Frogglez straps.  It definitely made it easier for our kids to get their snorkel gear off and on without help.

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What are your favorite products to have while traveling?