Managing your electronics while travelling

[Gigi]

Does anyone have any advice regarding managing electronic devices while travelling? I'm planning to bring my DSLR, P&S, cell phone, photobank, GPS and mini laptop (Asus eee) on an upcoming overseas trip and need a better way to figure out how to minimize all the bulk, especially from the chargers and adapters. I've been thinking of getting the IonHub (http://www.ionhub.com/), a multi-travel charger but I was wondering if any of you have other suggestions or solutions. Thanks.

[jerryhung]

I am curious too

but I don't think there is an easy way, I've always had to bring those with me as well
- P&S + charger
- DSLR + bag + tripod + flash + memory cards
- AA & AA Charger

- laptop + charger + USB Keys
- cell phone (mini USB charging off laptop would save you the charger)

I try to squeeze some into the same bags

[Kasakato]

I neatly roll up the cords/adapters and toss them into a large zip lock. If security wants to see something I simply take out the bag.

[mic2074]

well - if all your electronics can be charged through USB (I assume they should be able to)... then buy a USB hub for the lappie, and charge everything through that at night time all at once. That way you don't need to carry a charger for each toy, and just carry the usb cables and the lappy charger.

[Gigi]

well - if all your electronics can be charged through USB (I assume they should be able to)... then buy a USB hub for the lappie, and charge everything through that at night time all at once. That way you don't need to carry a charger for each toy, and just carry the usb cables and the lappy charger.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Only my cell phone would be able to charge via USB.

[GangStarr]

Well I suppose the following opinion wouldn't count if your travelling on business or driving but imo...

You don't need a laptop when travelling, even if it is tiny. Cut that...

Do you really need your photobank? Why not just buy some extra memory cards. They are pretty cheap and I think you'd have to be going on a pretty long trip to require a photobank.

GPS? Where are you going? Are you driving? A small free tourist map should do the trick for exploring cities.

[YLSF]

Consider also the iGO addapters.. THey had some on clearance at The Source CC a while ago (still may be some in different stores)... they have dual tip max though....

I use disposable batteries while traveling (i.e. aa/ aaa)... and a cheap MP3 player (2 gig philips from Costco) that uses aaa batteries.

[gmark2000]

If you take your EEEpc then you don't need your Photobank. It's either/or.

[GangStarr]

If you take your EEEpc then you don't need your Photobank. It's either/or.

Doesn't the EEE have like a 4 or 8 gig solid state HD?

I say cut both and buy extra memory cards or a portable HD.

[SENSEI]

Does anyone have any advice regarding managing electronic devices while travelling? I'm planning to bring my DSLR, P&S, cell phone, photobank, GPS and mini laptop (Asus eee) on an upcoming overseas trip and need a better way to figure out how to minimize all the bulk, especially from the chargers and adapters. I've been thinking of getting the IonHub (http://www.ionhub.com/), a multi-travel charger but I was wondering if any of you have other suggestions or solutions. Thanks.

I just cram it all into a photography backpack.
The only time you will have EVERYTHING with you, is on the way there and on the way back.

Other than that, the chargers will be left in the hotel, unless you're backpacking.

I've used both a Crumpler Whickey and Cox and a Lowepro Computrekker to carry much more than what you are describing.

Because it's a Asus EEE, you can get away with even something like a Nature Trekker AW and throwing the laptop into the front pocket.

I always carry a backpack onto the plane with all my electronics with on top of your list includes a PSP, 3-4 lenses, charger for AA....I just keep the camera in a toploading bag around my shoulder. As camera bag/purse doesn't count as a carry-on.

[dark169]

... As camera bag/purse doesn't count as a carry-on.

yes it does. Typical carry on rules are one bag and one personal item such as a purse,camera bag or brief case. Not two carry one items plus a purse.

I would question the need for the photobank, with the eee why not just upload pictures somewhere? Email them home or to your gmail account.

Get a P&S that uses the same battery as your DSLR.

Make suer you have the maps for your GPS, not all units come with the whole world loaded. I would question the need for the GPS but to each their own.

[SENSEI]

yes it does. Typical carry on rules are one bag and one personal item such as a purse,camera bag or brief case. Not two carry one items plus a purse.

I would question the need for the photobank, with the eee why not just upload pictures somewhere? Email them home or to your gmail account.

Get a P&S that uses the same battery as your DSLR.

Make suer you have the maps for your GPS, not all units come with the whole world loaded. I would question the need for the GPS but to each their own.

You are correct, what I meant to say was that your purse/camera dosen't count as your carry-on, but as a personal item. Thus you can bring a seperate camera bag (as long as it's shoulder slung in addition to a back pack or carry-on luggage)

[Gigi]

Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I'm questioning the need to bring everything...sigh...I always tend to overpack, and it's not just clothing! Based on my shooting habits and the length of time I'll be away (over a month), however, I do think I need to bring some sort of photo storage, whether it be the photobank or the eee plus portable hard drive. The GPS will be for 2 weeks of travel, which I suppose, will not be as critical.

[CoffeeAddict]

actually to me it doesn't sound like all that much bulk :P
I love carry ing gadgets around with me as long as they don't hinder me at all. Last time I was on vacation I took, one laptop, one creative zen:w, one P&S cam, one cellphone, and an ipod. I don't think it ended up being that much baggage overall actually.

I have an external pocket on my luggage that is pretty square so all the cables and chargers and what not go in there quite nicely. And all the gadgets I put into my bag.

Something like this could carry all your gadgets quite comfortably and they'd be protected as well:
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Stealth-Reporter-D550-AW,2048,20.htm

The only problem I see with carrying a laptop/camera bag is it screams "STEAL ME"

[GangStarr]

Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I'm questioning the need to bring everything...sigh...I always tend to overpack, and it's not just clothing! Based on my shooting habits and the length of time I'll be away (over a month), however, I do think I need to bring some sort of photo storage, whether it be the photobank or the eee plus portable hard drive. The GPS will be for 2 weeks of travel, which I suppose, will not be as critical.

I still say you don't need the photobank or the laptop. If your going to Europe you DON'T NEED A LAPTOP! I imagine its the same for most of Asia. There are internet cafes everywhere.

Just carry some extra memory cards...

[bilyth]

i 2nd iGo charger. Works well, reliable, very good customer service.

check out TSCC. might need to order some tips online.

The only risk is if one crucial part goes missing or stops working...you can't charge any of your devices.

[Gigi]

i 2nd iGo charger. Works well, reliable, very good customer service.

check out TSCC. might need to order some tips online.

The only risk is if one crucial part goes missing or stops working...you can't charge any of your devices.

How heavy and bulky are these iGo kits?

[HighFlyer]

Just carry some extra memory cards...

:arrowu:

and if you happen to run out of space, just get them transferred onto CD/DVD.

[bilyth]

How heavy and bulky are these iGo kits?

It depends because there are different models. If you get the one that is able to charge your laptop...it will be fairly bulky & heavy (i believe).

My suggestion is to get one of the lighter ones for all your portable electronics & then bring your laptop cable.

I have the 3500 & love it. It's almost equivalent to carrying a single charger/cable in terms of weight/bulk, it also comes with a car charger/airplane port charger which if you don't thin you need, you can leave at home.

http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=iGo-HO&product=2739008
$19 is a killer price (i paid $60 on sale) & there's still stock in stores online.

there's a newer version that's really light & compact:
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=iGo-HO&product=2739103
even at $40 is decent but i don't think it has airplane port (if that's important).

Double check you items at the igo site or call them...ideally you could charge everything with this & then carry the extra laptop charger.

Expect tips to cost you $10 (cheaper on ebay)..you might have to order online from US some harder to get tips.

One major plus (aside from less to carry) is you grab the igo bag & you've got all your chargers right away (no fumbling around your apartment picking up chargers from different outlets & it's so easy to forget one somewhere). The downside i said before, is if something goes wrong or you lose a part..nothing gets charged. But their customer service is really good & i wouldn't be surprised if they could UPS something to you overseas asap.

With the 3500 you can only charge 2 things at once (enough for me).

[mcbg1]

Is there a wall charger I can use to charge my iPod Touch in Italy? The old charger I got with my old 4G iPod isn't compatible with the Touch.

[bilyth]

Is there a wall charger I can use to charge my iPod Touch in Italy? The old charger I got with my old 4G iPod isn't compatible with the Touch.
can't you just use an adapter to fit the outlets in italy..same as in any country. then you can use any charger you want??

[canabiz]

Well I suppose the following opinion wouldn't count if your travelling on business or driving but imo...

You don't need a laptop when travelling, even if it is tiny. Cut that...

Do you really need your photobank? Why not just buy some extra memory cards. They are pretty cheap and I think you'd have to be going on a pretty long trip to require a photobank.

GPS? Where are you going? Are you driving? A small free tourist map should do the trick for exploring cities.

GangStarr (or anyone else)...we are going to London and Paris in the fall and although we are not planning to drive there, I would like to bring my GPS (Garmin Nuvi 350) with me to help with the exploration and points of interest i.e. restaurants, landmarks and places of attractions. Do you think it's necessary/recommended?

I will obviously have to load Paris/London/European maps on the Garmin. It's pretty light and can fit in my pocket, that's why I prefer to bring it, as opposed to the paper maps but if you guys got other ideas, I am all ears.

[mpsrent]

I used my Garmin with City Navigator 2008 in the U.K. and Ireland. It worked great and sure beats carrying paper maps. It was helpful for locating services, something a paper map doesn't do.

[fritzzz25]

I still say you don't need the photobank or the laptop. If your going to Europe you DON'T NEED A LAPTOP! I imagine its the same for most of Asia. There are internet cafes everywhere.

Just carry some extra memory cards...

Having traveled Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam I took my own laptop. Reason being, I had to do online banking, booking of flights/hotels. I do not trust public terminals for using any of my sensitive information. MANY internet computers in Asia use keyloggers, packet sniffers etc.

I have the Acer Aspire One. Nice and compact. I also have VPN software installed to secure my data as well. You don't need to be wasting time on your vacation calling home to banks due to your credit card/bank account being hacked.

The Aspire One is small and lightweight. A Kensington cable lock is also a great investment.

[bob_blah]

Two seperate responses here:

GangStarr (or anyone else)...we are going to London and Paris in the fall and although we are not planning to drive there, I would like to bring my GPS (Garmin Nuvi 350) with me to help with the exploration and points of interest i.e. restaurants, landmarks and places of attractions. Do you think it's necessary/recommended?


But what happens when the battery runs down? My advice: leave the Garmin, pick up the free tourist map at the hotel reception which will show you the attractions, and ask the concierge/reception staff for recommendations of places to eat/drink.

As regards the OP, as a nerd who's has been living out of a backpack for the past 6 years, I've refined the art of gadget powering on the go to it's purest essence :cheesygri

So here is my solution:

* Multi-region adapter with USB socket (see here: http://www.swisstravelproducts.com/index.php?site=productview&product_id=100)

* Proporta USB Travel Charger with interchangable connectors - I have: USB, mini-USB, DC 4.0, Ipaq adapters. This is the same as the iGo one but connectors are USD$1.50 rather than USD$10 - see here for the bundle with usb socket adapter, they used to sell just the cable by itself, they might still do if you contact them: http://www.proporta.com/F02/PPF02P05.php?t_id=2913&t_mode=des)

* Uniross Globetrotter Compact AA/AAA battery charger - smallest, best value travel charger (see here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uniross-Trotter-Compact-Travel-Charger/dp/B0008EI9W4)

* Sanyo Eneloop batteries - AA/AAA. They don't drain out over time like normal NiMH rechargeable batteries, so you can use them just like normal alkaline batteries, you charge them and store them for months and they will be ready when you need them (see here: http://www.eneloop.info/)

* PPC Techs USB Mobile Power Pack - highest rated portable battery pack currently available. For emergency recharges via USB cables above (see here: http://www.ppctechs.com/HP-Compaq-iPAQ-hx4700_265/accessories/Lil-Sync-USB-Mobile-Power-Pack_1053-440.htm)

All this gets packed into one of these: https://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoLowepro/219231/rolling/Compare.aspx

The other important thing is to make sure any new gadgets you buy follow the standards. Over the past few years I've replaced my camera (AA batteries), MP3 player (AAA battery), cell phone (USB) and GPS (USB) so that rather than having to bring an adapter for each, they can all be charged using the above.

Happy gadget travelling.

[mgbdragon]

If you're not driving, I wouldn't worry to much about GPS. Depending on how much you intend on using it each day, it can run out of charge pretty quick during the day. Maps still work best when not driving IMHO. It also allows you to better understand the city.

I don't travel anywhere (except maybe camping) w/o my laptop. Would trust banking or any credit cards over internet cafes. Probably better off relying of CD/DVD burning photos so you don't lose them if something happens to photobook or even external hardrive. I'm not sure how well they travel.

my 1.5 cents

[canabiz]

What about bringing a wall charger (with the appropriate adapter and converter for Europe) with the GPS and charge it overnight before heading for some sight-seeing?

Does any of you here bring your GPS along for walking tours and if so, how long does it hold the charge? Mine is a Garmin nuvi 350. But having a paper map is also nice, I guess we can always do it the old school way.

[bob_blah]

What about bringing a wall charger (with the appropriate adapter and converter for Europe) with the GPS and charge it overnight before heading for some sight-seeing?

Does any of you here bring your GPS along for walking tours and if so, how long does it hold the charge? Mine is a Garmin nuvi 350. But having a paper map is also nice, I guess we can always do it the old school way.

The question I would put to you then is this: are you happy to have your walking tour dictated by the battery life of your GPS? Because following that model of travel, you can only reliably walk around for half the battery life of the unit, cause then you've got to use it to get you back to your hotel.

For my money, getting lost in a city is the best way to travel, because you come across the most interesting stuff to see/people to meet. But you need to know which areas to avoid, and only a local can tell you that. Like the guy/girl behind the counter at your hotel/hostel. You're GPS doesn't know which areas of town you're likely to have your GPS snatched out of your hands.

[SpillOnAisle9]

GangStarr (or anyone else)...we are going to London and Paris in the fall and although we are not planning to drive there, I would like to bring my GPS (Garmin Nuvi 350) with me to help with the exploration and points of interest i.e. restaurants, landmarks and places of attractions. Do you think it's necessary/recommended?

I will obviously have to load Paris/London/European maps on the Garmin. It's pretty light and can fit in my pocket, that's why I prefer to bring it, as opposed to the paper maps but if you guys got other ideas, I am all ears.

You do know that the European map SD card for the Nuvi will cost about $300
right?

I took mine to Italy for 2 weeks but I was driving all over the place. It was
great in most places but the maps were out-of-date along the Italian-Austrian
border for some reason.

I used the walking mode of my Nuvi 360 to find the market in Siena.....don't
forget to switch the mode from walkng to driving when you're done though or
your ETA's will be waaaaay off ;)

[sexpuppet6000]

I agree with Gangster. You don't need all that junk.

EDIT: You don't need a GPS for walking around. Just grab a map, and bring a compass.

[canabiz]

You do know that the European map SD card for the Nuvi will cost about $300
right?

I took mine to Italy for 2 weeks but I was driving all over the place. It was
great in most places but the maps were out-of-date along the Italian-Austrian
border for some reason.

I used the walking mode of my Nuvi 360 to find the market in Siena.....don't
forget to switch the mode from walkng to driving when you're done though or
your ETA's will be waaaaay off ;)

Your points are all well taken, i just want to point out that if you know where to look (cough *torrent* cough), you can use the $300 for something else on your trip

:cheesygri

[bob_blah]

Your points are all well taken, i just want to point out that if you know where to look (cough *torrent* cough), you can use the $300 for something else on your trip

:cheesygri

If you're that desperate to use a GPS rather than the free and legal map provided by the local tourist information, then you should at least pay for the privilage shouldn't you?

[canabiz]

If you're that desperate to use a GPS rather than the free and legal map provided by the local tourist information, then you should at least pay for the privilage shouldn't you?

I suppose I should but this is RFD after all, the intended audience doesn't want to pay for things that they can get for free.

[bob_blah]

I suppose I should but this is RFD after all, the intended audience doesn't want to pay for things that they can get for free.

But would you suggest to people on RFD that they should walk into Futureshop and take a copy of the map update packs off the shelf and walk out? Because that's effectively what you're saying.

The point is this: there are free and legal alternatives to stealing the work of the company that produces the maps for your GPS.

[Mom4]

OK, maybe not a solution & is definitely low-tech, but --
we used to use the ziplocs for our electronics at Airport Security until I found large clear with a zipper pencil cases at Dollarama. Works very nicely. I keep them in our carry-on. They've held up well & everything is a little more neat & secure than the large ziploc.