There are many wonderful traveler gifts for under $20 but what if you’re looking to splurge a bit on your loved ones or yourself? Use your money efficiently by considering some of these expensive (over $100) travel gadgets that are both useful and fun.
- iPod Touch ($199 refurbished 8GB) – This versatile tool does more than just play music, it’s has a feature set similar to the iPhone, except the phone part. You can download many more great free apps by jailbreaking your iPod touch and save 10-20% by buying Apple-certified refurbished.
- Victorinox Swiss Army CyberTool 41 (On Sale ~$75) – This Swiss army knife has a special tool set specifically for computers. A very handy Swiss army knife to have when you need to clean some dust out of your laptop or want to install a new hard drive on the road. It also has all the other common features like a knife (obviously), corkscrew, and pliers.
- Flip Video Camera ($150) – Record up to 120 minutes of digital video with this small camera about the size of a regular digital point and shoot. It records in high definition onto a 8GB built in memory and is rechargeable by USB. A great way to try and win one is to donate $10 to Passports with a Purpose.
A Long Range USB Antenna ($50) – There are two versions of these antenna that plug in to a USB slot on a laptop and can extend your wireless range 3-5 times. Snagging more wireless networks is important for travelers and digital nomads who often struggle to find good wi-fi. One added bonus with these antennas is that they can be used to hack wireless networks, another useful trick to know on the road.- An eBook Reader ($259) – Load up countless books and take them all over the world with you in a 10 ounce package. Both the Kindle and Nook make great gifts for travelers. If you’re having trouble deciding between them, here’s a comparison of the traveling eBook readers, the Kindle and Nook.
- Digital Camera (~$100) – We often assume that everyone already has a digital camera and forget to consider them as gifts, especially for travelers. I strongly recommend the Casio Exilim series for their reliability and great feature set for a small point and shoot. I’m offering one as a prize for Passports with a Purpose which you can enter to win with a $10 donation.
- Garmin Nuvi GPS Unit (~$130) – Not all who wander are lost but plenty of people get lost wandering. The price of these devices has really come down in the last 18 months. The Garmin Nuvi (like most others) lets you load North American, European, Asian and other maps, upload pictures, and talk on your mobile over Bluetooth. You can also make your GPS talk like Darth Vader although he might lead you to the Dark Side.
A Good Webcam (~$80) – The difference between a $30 and $100 webcam is very noticeable in both the video and audio quality. Unless a person happens to be traveling around with a Macbook, a good webcam is a useful asset for most digital nomads. Heavy Skype users will appreciate the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000.- The Dell Mini Laptop ($299-349) – These laptops are only 2.5lbs, 10 inches wide and an inch thick, and are well manufactured and reliable. One of the neat things is that the hardware is compatible with Mac’s Leopard OS X (aka. Hackintosh). So, with a few minor tweeks you can have your Mac Leopard laptop for about $800 less than buying an Apple.
Some Cheap Geek Accessories
Some of the items below are very useful, simple, and don’t cost much. They’re the opposite of expensive or glamorous, the cheaper digital nomad gifts that are much more useful than their price indicates.
- USB Flex Light ($10)- Great for reading or seeing your keyboard when it’s dark.
- Stereo Cable ($3) – Lets you plug in your iPod (or other audio device) into many stereos, rental cars, and TVs. It’s the one cable most travelers only think about when they don’t have one on them.
- USB Double AA Rechargable Batteries ($20) – Pop the cap off, plug in to your USB port to charge, and now you’ve got some double AA batteries.
- USB squid ($12) – Turns one USB port into 4.
- All-In-One Power Adapter ($5) – Coverts between a variety of outlet styles, including US, European, Indian, and several others.
This makes a pretty nice wish list for many travelers who can’t get enough of their technology and gadgets. These are the most useful gadgets for travelers in this price range in case you’re having trouble figuring out what to get for the holidays or that upcoming birthday.
[photos by: nathangibbs, mstephens7, Ho0n]
The Kindle and the Flip are wonderful presents and gadgets that we really love. I prefer plain old maps to GPS tools but we have seen a lot of travelers with GPS systems.
When I can use the GPS I do try to since I’m hopeless with directions. I get lost to places I’ve been countless times. If I can download a good set of maps I usually have one on me just in case. Even still though, I get lost because I try to out navigate the navigator :/
Thanks for linking to my post, 20 under $20 Gifts for the Traveler.
You’ve collected a good valuable list yourself. I can vouch for the Itouch and it’s usefulness. A Flip Video Camera and Kindle are on my wish list.
Donna, your list is a great resource, lots of great gift ideas that were new to me. I’ve seen a few people who use lots of video, including Heather on her Travels, recommend the Flip (including Akila above) a neat travel accessory. Personally though I’m leaning toward the Nook between the two but I’m torn since I really just like Amazon as a company.
Thanks for sharing this very useful, wonderful, yet expensive gift, better gift for all travelers this Christmas. Price is not a matter the most important is the one that receive, shall appreciate your gifts and fell the spirit of generosity.
I’ve found it’s sometime harder to find information about some of the pricier gifts. Glad you found this list useful.
There was many a time in my last trip when I could have done with GPS but looking back at it now, I would have missed out on experiences if I just went straight from A to B. As much as I like gadgets, maps and directions even asking locals is part of the travel experience.
My personal combination of always getting lost and never being on time often combine for some rather, well…altered plans. I use the GPS when I really need to be somewhere at a specific time in and around larger towns and cities.
I’ve been considering investing in a touch as I’m sick of my shuffle, but think it would just be another distraction and something else to worry about.
It’s pretty handy to have around. I’m also giving away a nano as part of my cheesy travel photo contest or $150. A free way to try and win one 🙂
Afraid I don’t have anything to compete with the photos from last time!
All I hear about is the Flip and it has me wanting one so bad!! I’m vying for one of the PwP ones 🙂 And in the likely event that I don’t win, I’m just going to have to suck it up and buy one. Do you have one Anil? Is it really that much better/good vid quality than a larger one?
I don’t own one but they are great little cameras. It depends on which specific models you compare them too but the HD flip generally has a slightly less quality picture compared to some higher-end miniDV camcorders, especially in low light situations. You also will have more features but a larger camera. For most casual video I think the Flip does an excellent job.
I was thinking about a Flip as well, and not because they’re being pretty heavily marketed at the moment, but because they’re so cool. So much handier and more discreet than your standard digi Handicam.
But like the other commenters have said, I’m afraid it’ll end up being one more thing to worry about on the road. Also, some of the newer model SLR cameras now shoot pretty great video.
Oh man, I can’t decide!
haha, I completely understand 🙂 It can be tough since the digital cameras now take pretty good video themselves.
Oh boy – now I’m in trouble Read your list and now I want two or three more things for Christmas, but we’re only doing a $30 Secret Santa exchange 🙁
The Nook is looking more tempting by the minute…I find reading this list difficult too!
Some great Christmas presents among this list.
Thanks Mark.
I love all of your techie ideas…I had never heard of a USB antenna before. I have this vision of rabbit ears on my laptop now!
haha, now I do too!!
That’s a great list – my wish list includes the Flip & the mini laptop. Although my laptop is small, if I was getting one now specifically to take travelling, I would get one of the small inexpensive netbooks for Web access & then buy a compact portable hard drive to go with.
I don’t currently have a Flip, even though I’m offering one in the Passports with Purpose Draw, so I’ve entered the draw doe the one on offer at Whatboundaries instead. See my post on all the camera gear on offer
http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/photogear-travellers-passports-with-purpose/
From what I’ve seen, the Flips take just as good quality video as much larger camcorders, but I think the great feature of them is their size and ease of use – it’s a great present for someone who wants to have fun but is just starting with video. I think Karen at http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/ uses one and it looks ideal to catch what’s going on around you. If I manage to win one, I think I’d use it on my blog for short video diaries and catching short clips on the spur of the moment, and then for longer videos, I might use a more expensive video camera.
Hi Heather, thanks for the link. I’m looking to do more video here on the site and will probably branch out from my digital camera. I think I’m just postponing it though, I don’t like seeing myself in pictures let alone video!
I love my itouch!!! It’s been all over the world with me. 🙂
Same here, one of my favorite and more versatile travel gadgets!