Whatever religion you practice or don’t, it’s likely you’ll be shopping for someone between now and the end of 2012. And, knowing you, some of those people are probably the cool, traveling type who can be hard to shop for since they like gadgets but don’t like carrying a lot of stuff. Fortunately though I’ve got you covered, with the best gifts, gadgets, and accessories for your vagabonding buddies, family members, and of course you sitting right there.
Laps And Tabs – The Best Computing Devices
As for tablets, you’re in a good time to go shopping for them, as there are great options and prices on the market right now. There are basically two varieties of tablets; the difference being drawn between smaller 7-inch and larger 9-inch screen sizes. Some of my favorite models on the available right now from both categories:
Nook HD (7 and 9-inch versions available) – In my opinion, the most underrated eReader/tablet competitor. It’s got powerful hardware (1.3GHz OMAP 4470) and excellent screen resolution (1440×900 at 243ppi) – those specs only improve on the 9-inch version of the Nook HD. Especially if you’re on the market for an eReader or deciding between a Kindle (or iPad mini for that matter), and aren’t tied to any one online store, the Nook HD is the one I would go with.
You can also take a look inside of my own backpack to see all of the tech gear and gadgets I travel with for some ideas. They’re road tested and traveler-approved.
Luggage That Moves With You (How To Pick The Right Backpack)
Finally, the last backpack I carry actually sits inside of my bags, tightly packed into a ball as it’s designed to. The REI Stuff Travel Pack makes a wonderfully portable daypack, holding about 22 liters of your exploring essentials, like your camera when you’re out and about trekking around the mud volcanoes of Gobustan.
Boom, Snap, And Shot
For all of your traveling music lovers, help turn noise into sound, without the humming engine background.
Your travel memories are only as good as your travel photos and if you disagree with me now, just wait until you’re 80 years old. Arm your loved ones with the best digital cameras to get the job done.
xShot Camera Extender – This is easily one of the most useful and used items I carry in my backpack. The xShot not only lets you get photo angles you couldn’t otherwise without growing an extra meter in height, but makes it simple to get group or self photos without having to stretch your shoulder clean from its socket. The xShot fits standard on most camera types and is one of the best ways to take better travel photos without getting a better camera.
Save Money By Gifting Your Frequent Flyer Miles Directly
eBooks – The Best Is Now On Sale
I read often and a few good books I’ve recently enjoyed – that blend travel and tech – to add to this list are: The Pirates Of Somalia, A Little History Of The World, and The Signal and The Noise: Why Some Predictions Fail But Others Don’t.
Giving The Gift Of Geek
Please excuse me while I turn the geek dial all other way to its highest setting for the combined enjoyment of those nerdy travelers you’re shopping for right now. Ka’plah!
Tickets To Geek Events – There are all kinds of conventions, fairs, and festivals for your nomadic geek buddies to attend. First though you’ll have to narrow down what kind of nerd you’re shopping for by checking out my list of the best places for nerds to travel.
Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger – Much like bandwidth, you can never have too many good electrical outlets. A sight that’s not incredibly common in many parts of the world or cafes either, so a Belkin Mini Surge Protector can help you make the most of an outlet when you find one.
High-Resistance Workout Cables – Your friends are probably not burning as many calories as they think sightseeing but these cables can help tip the scales in their favor. I travel with them for the days here and there I can’t make it to the gym, and turn any hotel into a gym with these quick 50 calorie killers.
And Finally, Gifts For Your Travel Blogging Friends
We’ve covered pretty much all kinds of techy travelers here but it would be a bit ironic for me to neglect the many other travel bloggers out there sharing their adventures with family and friends. They’re likely to appreciate a few new additions to their digital worlds and you can do that by gifting a SmugMug subscription for your photographic friends, purchasing some of their online hosting costs for the upcoming year on Media Temple, or surprising them with Aweber’s newsletter service for their fans. Additionally you can check out the blogging services I use on foXnoMad and consider one or some part of them for your travel blogging buddies, or self, as you shop into 2013.