5 gadgets I carried on my trip as a solo female traveller, and here’s why you should too

They say if it scares you, it’s probably a good thing to try. At least, that’s what I tried telling myself the night before my first-ever solo trip abroad. But there’s no denying that I was, for lack of a better word, terrified. And no matter how far in advance you’ve planned or executed your itinerary to perfection, you will second-guess your agenda at least a few more times before D-Day with a flurry of nervous jitters.

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I was flying to Vietnam and had planned to spend the next 10 days in and about the country. But travelling to a new country feels slightly different when you’re all by yourself. For one, there’s the regular uncertainty of not knowing what to expect, but there’s also a fear of not having the right essentials for your time there.

Thankfully, with the climate not being very different from where we are, there’s little to no scope of going wrong with your wardrobe. But it was only when I began packing my electronics I realised that there’s more to the activity than just carrying the right clothes.

Packing your electronics right: What's there to know?

Travelling alone often strips you of the liberty of borrowing something from your co-traveller. Whether it is a pair of earphones or a charging cable, having a separate travel checklist for your trip is always a must. This, however, might vary based on the number of days and the places you’re planning to visit.

For instance, a weekend trip might not require you to carry a lot, and some of your gadgets may even outlive their charge cycle. But anything longer than a couple of days might need you to put some thought into it. Asking yourself these questions can help you get started:

1) How many pieces of luggage can you carry on your flight?
2) Are there electronics you can completely do without?
3) What do you plan to do on your trip?

Once you have your answers in place, you’re all set to pack.

However, there is nothing more anxiety-inducing than standing with a tray full of some of the most expensive items on you, only to leave them on a conveyor belt unattended for a good 10 minutes. Yes, that’s right, the unpleasant chaos at the security is no one’s favourite part.

And while you could be the most careful person in the queue, it’s only human to err. Which is why, it is recommended to have a travel organiser that can help you keep you keep your gadgets in one place.

5 gadgets I carried as a solo female traveller

I’ve always been a light-packer and never really had any trouble knowing what not to carry. However, as someone who loves to document every single detail of her trip, I anticipated a fair amount of equipment weight in my luggage. I booked my tickets keeping in mind a 23kg + 7kg allowance on my flight. But it’s important to differentiate what is allowed and isn’t allowed on your checked-in luggage.

ALSO READ: What electronics and accessories can you carry in your cabin bag?

A good way to remember this is to know that anything with a battery capacity of more than 25,000mAh automatically moves into your cabin baggage. Smaller items, such as an electric toothbrush, trimmer or earphones, on the other hand, shouldn’t be an issue. On the flip side, ensuring nothing of value goes into your checked-in luggage is also beneficial for times when the airline misplaces or loses your bag.

Typically, I ensure my trolley bag has nothing except an electric toothbrush, an epilator or earphones. That said, here’s what I carried in my cabin backpack.

1. Croma 20,000mAh 22.5W power bank

The airline crew is probably tired of repeating how you should always have a power bank in your bag, and there’s a good reason for that. Powerbanks usually contain lithium-ion batteries, which have high-energy density if handled incorrectly. Owing to this, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) prohibits carrying them unattended in a bag.

But if you’re travelling alone and in a foreign land, the last thing you want is to be stranded with a discharged phone. I carried the Croma 20,000mAh 22.5W power bank in my cabin bag, which gave me two entire charge cycles for my Android and iOS smartphones. Despite having a travel organiser, I made sure to keep it visible for the security screeners to avoid any confusion.

2. Apple Watch

I might leave home without my phone, but you will rarely see me without a smartwatch. In Vietnam, I spent a lot of time traversing on foot to explore places. Having an Apple Watch helped me keep track of my steps and daily activity. It even helped me carry out quick conversions and keep a tab on my notifications without having to drain out my mobile battery.

And there’s no denying how it could instantly transform into a trendy accessory for the times I needed to pair it with an outfit. Whether it was switching from a leather band to a Milanese loop, I had no complaints while pairing an Apple Watch with my #OOTD.

3. DJI Osmo Mobile Gimbal

If you’ve dismissed the idea of solo travel because you might not have anyone to click you those exotic vacation pictures, you’re not the only one. While I didn’t originally purchase the DJI Osmo Mobile Gimbal for selfies, there were a lot of ways I could experiment with it to get great photos on my trip. For one, it comes with an Osmo Grip Tripod extension to transform it into one when needed. With a great grip and a convenient magnetic clasp, it was a cakewalk to get smooth, blur-free footage for a short travelogue.

The DJI Mimo app made turning my footage into quick reels a breeze. And if you’re on a weekend trip, you may not even be required to charge your gimbal more than once. Lastly, it can be folded and is ultra-portable, so popping it into my day bag and setting off on an excursion turned into a hassle-free routine for me.

4. GoPro Hero 11

A gimbal is great for taking handheld shots or even slightly faster-moving clips if you’re in a vehicle. However, for anything else, there’s the GoPro. My trip was far from an adventure trip, but I did plan to rent a cycle in the Lantern City of Hoi An. The GoPro Hero 11 gave me a flawless, ultra-wide timelapse of the city and its streets. What makes the GoPro a versatile camera to carry is definitely its size but also the ability to switch accessories with ease depending on the day.

The GoPro was also great for capturing an alpine roller coaster ride in Da Nang, and all I had to do was switch from the chest mount to a short, extendable monopod. Lastly, I ended up on an impromptu parasailing trip, but I had little to worry about as the camera did all the justice to the footage without letting the seawater damage it.

5. Croma 4 Plugs Universal Travel Adapter

Last but perhaps the most important travel accessory in my bag were two Croma 4 Plugs Universal Travel Adapters. Even if you have all the cables and extensions you need, if you’re travelling to a new country, there’s a reasonable chance your plug extension might be incompatible with the wall socket. The idea of having to struggle for a compatible wall socket sent shivers down my spine, more so since I was travelling alone.

Whether you’re using a mobile or a laptop, the device will secure them from any power surges and also give you dual USB charging options. I carried two owing to my history of misplacing knick-knacks, but you might just as well carry one to save some space in that travel organiser.

While I’m not big on carrying a laptop or tablet on my travels, it might not be such a bad idea to have a larger screen accessible for times you might need to tackle work or manage bookings. However, it is advisable to pack light, even when you’re well within the weight check, so as to minimise the risk of damage to the gadgets you’re carrying.

Of course, I’m not sure if travelling alone will ever get any less unnerving, keeping a list of essentials handy well in advance could certainly be a good first step at it.