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    • Author name: Philippe Laiza

    Phillippe rides trains daily—it's actually his day job. He shares his wisdom as a side gig for the sheer joy of it.

    Our Reviewers’ Picks of Underrated, Useful Travel Gear

    Can You Plug All Your Devices into a Single Foreign Socket?
    Can You Plug All Your Devices into a Single Foreign Socket?
    Want enough juice for a USB-C laptop without its charging brick? Want to charge a phone and tablet too? Plus plug in any other electrical device? And use all the weirdly shaped electro-holes in any wall in the world or under a train seat? A universal charger is the answer; we've tried tons and this is our favorite. It can fast-charge phones and laptops with 3 USB-C and 2 USB-A charging ports and it comes with a spare fuse.
    Our Review Check on Amazon
    Do You Shake, Bump, and Jiggle Everywhere You Roam?
    Do You Shake, Bump, and Jiggle Everywhere You Roam?
    We use our favorite road speaker to animate small parties, indoors or outdoors, anywhere in the world. At just the size of a tall beer can, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 sounds impressive and has solid bass, especially when placed on a hard surface in the center of the room. We have smaller, even more portable picks (though not as loud) in our review.
    Our Review Check on Amazon
    Shouldn't You Be Able to Squish Your Water Bottle into a Pocket-Sized Disc?
    Shouldn't You Be Able to Squish Your Water Bottle into a Pocket-Sized Disc?
    Having a water bottle that I can fold up flat makes me more motivated to actually use it everywhere I go and to stay hydrated. Hydaway makes the only durable, food-grade silicone (non-BPA, non-plastic) ones we've found.
    Our Review Check on Amazon
    Can You Roll Your Backpack?
    Can You Roll Your Backpack?
    Rolling luggage is great except when you hit trails, metro stairs, or cobblestone streets. Backpacks are fine but who wants to carry them for long? We currently recommend this Osprey model that's a bit pricey but extremely sturdy, full-featured, and has been at my side for years on the road.
    Our Review Check on Amazon
    Don't Take Up Table Space! Don't Dump Your Stuff on the Floor!
    Don't Take Up Table Space! Don't Dump Your Stuff on the Floor!
    Hang a bag at any café table. Don't take up your hosts' shelf space in the bathroom. Keep your pack off of the floor in a busy hostel. If you have a Heroclip on the strap of a pack, suitcase, carry-on, or purse, you'll use it all the freaking time for all sorts of things.
    Our Review Check on Amazon
    A Discrete, Portable, Not-at-All-Messy Way to Have Good Lube on Hand?
    A Discrete, Portable, Not-at-All-Messy Way to Have Good Lube on Hand?
    Good lube can be essential for safer sex, but unfortunately most lube packaging is not road-worthy. One of our sexpert's favorite silicone-based and ultra-body-safe lubes comes in an excellent travel version. In our guide we also detail a few other travel and daily-carry water-based options, as well as how to discuss lube across cultures.
    Our Guide Check on Amazon

  • Ready to Ride the Rails?

  • Trains often have outlets but can your device plug in? Check out our recommendations for universal travel adapters.

    Epicka 75W Universal Travel Adapter Epicka 75W Universal Travel Adapter

    Hang any bag anywhere with a carabiner/travel hook.

    Heroclip Small Heroclip Small

    Using e-tickets? Carry a backup phone battery in a wallet to ensure you can access them.

    Anker Power Bank Compact Travel-Ready Anker Power Bank Compact Travel-Ready

    Using train WiFi? We strongly recommend a good, travel-ready VPN.

    Our Top Pick: Nord VPN

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