Sit in front of the television for 10 minutes and you’ll be inundated with ads for smartphones, smart cars and smart speakers — especially during the holiday shopping season. The irony of all the tech talk, however, is that consumers tend to overheat from an information overload. Luckily, our Forbes Travel Guide editors have flipped through the catalogs and marched down the gadget aisles to find gifts for five types of plugged-in travelers who might be on your list.
For The Adventure Traveler
With all the scientific advancements we’ve made, it’s amazing we still have to put so much thought into our cellphone and tablet’s well-being. When our batteries fall under the 20 percent marker, we panic — and that’s inside our house. We can only imagine the fright if we’re out on a hike somewhere. Thanks to BirkSun’s solar backpacks, though, the outdoorsy person on your Christmas list won’t have to stress about packing chargers because the bag will do all of the worrying. With patented Maxeon technology using powerful, triple-layered solar cells, these two styles of bags — Levels (standard-looking backpack) and Atlas (messenger-style bag) — go with you to the beach, ski slopes or wherever else is on the itinerary, ensuring your devices are powered up enough for you to send all of the tweets you need to once you get there. $150-$160
For The Health-Conscious Traveler
One of the biggest gripes people have about traveling — well, besides flight delays, of course — is the strain that trips put on any nutritional or fitness plans you had going while at home. With the Basis B1 Band, you can now keep a digital eye on your fitness without it feeling like a chore. The watch is a simple, sleek black or white timepiece (colored straps can be purchased separately); but because of sensitive sensors underneath the base, the B1 Band can monitor your heart rate, gauge your caloric intake and count your steps on the two-hour walking tour. For an even more granular look at your health, Basis has introduced Body IQ, an added technology aiming to recognize your activities and sleep patterns in real time. $199
For The Male Business Traveler
Corporate America has afforded the white-collar traveler with an array of gadgets to help him eat, sleep and put together Powerpoint presentations on the go. And while there are certainly a bevy of tools out there to assist in grooming on the run as well, few are as fulfilling as the ShaveTech electric travel razor. What separates this instrument from those on the store shelves is the fact that it’s USB powered, meaning you don’t have to stress over locating an outlet or have to lug around bulky converters when traveling internationally. If you’re in the business of buying gifts that are simple, compact and smart, this is your stocking-stuffing answer. $29.99
For The Fashionable Traveler
Go to Amazon.com looking for an iPad case and you’ll be bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands, of options. And while a number of companies do a great job of balancing posh and practicality, Alexander Wang’s Black Prisma iPad case in pebbled black with rose gold struts with an added sense of panache. We’re enamored by the 100 percent black leather exterior and signature gold metal corners; but the fact that the case also unzips to reveal a tablet compartment, two flat pockets and six slots for credit cards makes us want to get our hands on one — OK, OK, two — even more. $375
For The Traveler With Everything
Every phone tells time. And these days, most can tell you the morning headlines, too. Sure, a host of brands do amazing things in packages weighing less than 4.5 ounces; but there’s only one line that truly tells a story — Vertu. Though the U.K.-based company that was founded by Nokia is known as the world’s most expensive phone manufacturer, the meticulousness of its products should not be overlooked. The company’s latest handcrafted wonder, Constellation, keeps with the brand’s history of refined styling, only upping the ante of extravagance with a 4.3-inch screen of sapphire glass, a body framed in grade-five titanium alloy and high-quality calf leather wrapping available in colors such as orange, mocha and raspberry. As for the phone’s dimensions, the Android 4.2-running tool dazzles with a dual core 1.7 GHz CPU, 32 GB of memory and best-in-class security technology. With regard to other perks that come with the hefty price tag, those come as exclusive ringtones from the London Symphony Orchestra, VIP invites to private functions around the globe and priceless views from gawkers sitting across from you at the café. Around $6,665
Photos Courtesy of BirkSun, Basis, ShaveTech and Vertu
