The hi-fi traveler

by Ed Biado

No matter how some people may try, no one can really travel like a caveman anymore. You need to stay connected, you need to get directions, you need to drink safe potable water. In short, you need all the comforts that only technology can provide even if you?re going into the woods. Here are some of the things you have to have in your luggage:

1. Tumi ultra slim universal power adapter kit?With your cell phone, laptop, iPod and other electronics in tow, it?s easy to forget a charger. Why not forget them all and bring this adapter kit instead that?s almost a true universal charger? For super ease and not worry about the 110-or-200 dilemma, use it with the Hammacher Schlemmer 150-Country Auto-Detecting Travel Adapter and Converter.

2. Reef stash sandals?These flip-flops from Reef offers a space in the sole for you to keep a key, a credit card and a few loose bills. This will come handy when you get mugged (hopefully not) or forget your stuff at the hotel. You can rest assured that you?re left with something even if the worst happens (that is, if you don?t lose your sandals too!).

3. Franklin 12-language global translator?Although it doesn?t exactly have the most advanced-looking interface, this speaking translator is gonna be your best friend in cross-continental places where no one speaks English.

4. Wenger giant Swiss Army knife?Sure, you?re probably not gonna be able to sneak it into a plane, but you gotta admire what this baby?erm, giant?has to offer. It has 141 functions in 87 implements. You?ll never need anything else when camping or backpacking.

5. SteriPen ultraviolet bacteria and pathogen killing water wand?No place name-dropping here, but you know the areas you need to use this. And it?s pretty cool too. You just dip it in the water and it kills everything that needs to be killed.

6. Asus R300 handheld personal navigator?This multi-functional device takes care of all your GPS needs when in a car, when walking and even when on a bus. You can also feed it with images, audio and video files locally and on a MicroSD.

7. Sony GPS unit kit for still cameras?What this does is it records the time, date and location when you take a picture. So for roaming around, you don?t have to remember the whens and the wheres. You can just focus on enjoying the vacation.

8. Travel valet service (Trackstick II)?If you wanna trace your steps to go back to your starting point when you?re lost, or you simply wanna know all those location details, this one?s for you. The Trackstick can keep track of weeks worth of trips. When you go home and see the results, you?ll be presented with an accurate mapping of your every step. Pretty freaky, but so geek-cool!

9. Kensington mini battery pack?If you?re gonna go somewhere without electricity and you can?t live without music, you gotta have this. It?s an iPod battery pack that uses six AAA batteries. So when you run out of juice, plug this in and you?re good to go again.

10. Voltaic backpack solar charger?For the true backpacker who can get lost in the middle of nowhere for weeks or for the eco-friendly, this solar-powered charger-in-a-backpack has 11 standard adapters for easy connection to cell phones, iPods and cameras. When indoors, any AC/DC source can recharge it.