Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. News

4 Must-have Travel Gadgets for Father’s Day

By

Modern Nomad is a weekly column dedicated to mobile gear, must-see world destinations, tips for life on the road, and traveling better through technology.

Recommended Videos

No matter how debonair and tech-forward your pop is, there’s always room to upgrade his travel game. This year, manufacturers are continuing to make electronics even more portable and gear essentials more lightweight and rugged. Here are four must-have gadgets every dad will love this Father’s Day:

#1: Tooletries Rugged Dopp Kit

The classic dopp kit hasn’t been updated since, well, never. The good folks at TheGrommet.com have just released Tooletries – a modern solution for travelers looking to pack their toiletries better. This hard-case dopp kit eschews the traditional, flimsy, soft-sided leather construction in favor of a rugged, toolbox-inspired design. The interior cleverly combines plastic, silicone netting, and waterproof neoprene to help contain leaks and better pad your electric shaving gear. It also just looks cool to boot.

Related: Outdoor Dads: Father’s Day Gift Guide

#2: Phiaton’s BT 220 NC Wireless, Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones are practically required kit for today’s traveler. Until recently, this has meant packing large, DJ-esque, over-ear cans that are cumbersome and bulky. Phiaton’s miniscule BT 220 NC wireless earbuds drown out 95% percent of ambient noise in a pint-sized, lightweight form factor. They’re also Bluetooth 4.0 equipped and the built-in extended life battery provides up to 17 hours of music-listening time and 300 hours of standby time.

#3: Bluesmart Connected Luggage

Bluesmart claims to be the world’s first “smart luggage”. With a built-in digital lock, battery charger, location tracking, scale, proximity alerts, and trip data app, we’re inclined to agree. The sleek Star Trek-esque design, complete with pulsing blue LED indicator bar, is an especially nice touch. It’s currently only available for pre-order, but we’re thinking that all this technology makes the wait and the $339 (USD) price tag seem entirely reasonable.

#4: BRAVEN BRV-BANK

No self-respecting modern traveler hits the road without a reliable backup battery these days. But it’s time to skip the $10, disposable offerings and invest in a real, rugged solution. BRAVEN’s BRV-BANK is a digital, ultra-durable, 6000mAh power bank that’s designed to take anything you can throw at it. A corresponding battery monitor app connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to alert you of the device’s charge status. It’s all encased in a lightweight, IPX5 rated water-resistant exterior to protect against the occasional rainstorm.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Topics
The Palouse: America’s Most Underrated Scenic Drive
Waterfalls, barns, and the wide open spaces the West is known for. All at the tip of your fingers in the Pacific Northwest
Field, Grassland, Nature

When Americans talk about spectacular landscapes, they usually mention the obvious headliners: the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Rocky Mountains, or the dramatic coastlines of California and Oregon. Far fewer people have heard of the Palouse, a remarkable agricultural region straddling eastern Washington and western Idaho.

That is a shame because the Palouse is one of the most visually distinctive landscapes in North America—and one of the most rewarding road trips you can take in the Pacific Northwest. I have visited this area several times, both as a destination in its own right and on my way through to the Idaho Panhandle.  

Read more
Inside Gordon Ramsay’s spectacular new London restaurant in the sky
From skyline views to Gordon's famous fried chicken, Lucky Cat delivers on every level
City, Urban, Metropolis

I'm not saying Gordon Ramsay is the reason I booked a dinner reservation in London.

But after my partner and I binged Being Gordon Ramsay on Netflix earlier this year, visiting Lucky Cat suddenly shot to the top of our list.

Read more
London has no shortage of rooftop bars. Florattica still stands out
This East London rooftop bar proves you don't need to be 50 floors up to impress
Bar, Person, Candle

London does not need another rooftop bar. The city has them stacked on top of skyscrapers, tucked behind hotel lobbies, and squeezed onto buildings where you'd swear there isn't room for a bar, let alone a view. So when a new one claims to be worth your evening, it has some convincing to do.

Florattica, perched on the 11th floor of Canopy by Hilton London City, did the convincing. It just recently picked up its first PIN from The Pinnacle Guide, and after a night spent working through its cocktail menu (slowly, responsibly, mostly), it's easy to see why.

Read more