How do I determine which items are important to my trip?
A good rule of thumb, especially with gadgets, is that if you don’t name two-thirds of the buttons on your device, you probably aren’t using it (or at least to its full potential). Take only what you need and use.
I am new to road tripping. Are all these gadgets scary?
Some gadgets like a DJI drone can have relatively long learning curves. We recommend testing your gadgets at home to familiarize yourself with their features and controls. Apps are a necessity for some gadgets, so pre-loading them on your phone can save time and hassle.
Can I buy things on the street?
A lot of stuff can be cumbersome to keep track of, so sometimes it’s more efficient to leave some of the less important pieces and only pick them up when you need them. Rechargeable electronics are a great solution—they keep working and relieve the need to carry or buy extra batteries.
Why Trust Good Housekeeping?
the Good Housekeeping Institute tests products and provides expert reviews and advice on all types of travel gear in their labs, from luggage trackers and noise-cancelling headphones to drones and mobile hotspots. The gadgets selected for this list were reviewed by product testing analyst Selina Tedesco and updated by media and tech analyst Olivia Lipski.
Why Trust Hearst Autos?
Hearst Autos combines the talent, resources, and expertise of three of the world’s largest, most influential automotive publications. We got our hands on every product we tried. Most are bought; others are provided by manufacturers. When we cannot test a product or category ourselves, we sometimes turn to famous experts such as Good Housekeeping Institute.
Hearst Autos doesn’t need to game SEO algorithms for traffic or promote bad products to make a buck. We are more concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and the trust our readers have Car week, Car and Driverand Road and Track to provide honest opinions and expert evaluations. Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here.