1. Amazon Fire Kids
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Amazon Fire Kids. Courtesy of Amazon
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Amazon Fire Kids. Courtesy of Amazon
For the sanity of everyone on a long trip, sometimes screen-time rules have to go out the window, and a tablet is the only kids’ travel item that will do. This one can withstand being dropped; it lets you control what they’re reading, playing and watching via remote dashboard; and its battery lasts for around 10 hours of video playback. With any luck they’ll have fallen asleep before it runs out of juice.
amazon.com; US$139.99 Amazon Fire HD 10, US$189.99 Kids Pro
2. Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank With Travel Adapter
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Belkin BoostCharge. Courtesy of Belkin
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Belkin BoostCharge. Courtesy of Belkin
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Belkin BoostCharge. Courtesy of Belkin
Given how essential gadgets have become for travel, most family trip packing lists could use some extra power. Enter: this Belkin 5K power bank. Purpose built for travel, it’s also a wall charger with a variety of voltage plugs for international use, with two USB ports, so you can high-speed charge your device and your kids’ at the same time.
belkin.com; US$80
3. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
If you’re an adventuring family, here’s a handy “gadget” for your survival kit. The LifeStraw filters water on the go, removing 99% of bacteria, parasites and microplastics. It weighs only 46 grams and filters up to 4,000 litres before the filter needs replacing.
lifestraw.com; US$19.99
4. Bright Campaign Travel Mat and Towel
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Bright Campaign travel mat and towel. Courtesy of Bright Campaign
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Bright Campaign travel mat and towel. Courtesy of Bright Campaign
Pack light with a beach mat that does double duty as a towel. Singapore-based Bright Campaign is a local contender in the lightweight sand-free mat-towel category, and plants a tree for every item bought. Their beachy Boho mats come in XL and XXL sizes, and there are totes, coolers and travel pouches, too.
thebrightcampaign.sg or somerside.com.au; US$75 (free shipping in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand)
5. Passun Reef-Safe Sunscreen Lotion
Family travel packing for a tropical beach holiday? This one’s a must-have. It’s non-toxic to reefs and humans, comes in a durable aluminium bottle with a lockable pump, and is suitable for all skin types—the Thailand-made Passun Sunscreen ticks all the boxes. Bottles come in a range of different sizes, including the travel-friendly 100-gram pump pack.
passunlife.com; Reef-Safe Sunscreen Lotion SPF50 PA+++ (100g/3.5 oz) US$19.30
6. Infinity Pillow by BCXSY
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Infinity pillow by BCXSY. Courtesy of Infinity Pillow
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Infinity pillow by BCXSY. Courtesy of Infinity Pillow
While it can’t guarantee sleep, this Dutch-designed pillow can help keep you or your junior traveller comfy on long journeys. Its Möbius-strip shape makes for easy twisting and folding for use as neck and head support, an eye mask, a “window” pillow, and a noise-cancelling head cover.
infinitypillow.co; US$40
7. Dr Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap and Hand Sanitizer
Keeping little people clean can feel like a losing battle at the best of times, so when you’re traveling you need reliable go-tos. Dr Bronner’s products are all Fair Trade, organic and sustainable, and their natural soaps have had a cult-like following for decades. Their unscented baby soap is mild and non- drying, and the liquid version is concentrated, so you only need to pack a tiny amount. A family trip packing staple, their hand sanitizer is gentle enough for repeated use to keep tiny hands germ-free.
drbronner.com; bar soap (5 oz/148 ml) US$4.99, liquid soap (2 oz/59 ml) US$3.19 hand sanitiser (2 oz/59ml) US$4.99
Lede and hero image courtesy of The Bright Campaign.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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