Pack Light: Tech Travel Essentials For Your Next Trip

by Sofia Brontvein

Pack Light: Tech Travel Essentials For Your Next Trip

27 Jun 2025

Summer 2025 is shaping up to be a whirlwind. I barely have time to unpack my suitcase between business trips, and I find myself planning vacations during airport layovers just to try and restore some balance before the chaos of fall kicks in.

I have always loved travelling. It is the ultimate way to recharge, reset, and gain fresh perspective. For me, visiting a new city or country is like embarking on a field study — it expands the mind and teaches through experience.

In the past, though, I was glued to my devices even while on vacation — scrolling through chats or maps while walking down unfamiliar streets, watching series in the hotel room, FaceTiming colleagues during lunch, listening to music on the beach. I was physically in a new place, but mentally still stuck in my digital world. It took years of self-awareness and practice to realise that this habit wasn’t restoring me — it was draining me.

Of course, not everyone can unplug completely for five working days. A full-on digital detox may be unrealistic for most of us. But we can reduce the mental clutter and ease the pressure on our nervous systems.

The first step? Bring fewer gadgets. Cutting down on screens forces you to slow your pace, look up, and soak in your surroundings. I have come to believe that on your next trip, you only need three devices: an iPad Air, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and AirPods Max. Yes — you read that right. Leave your smartphone at home.

iPad Air

11-inch Liquid Retina display | M3 chip | Wi-Fi + Cellular option | Magic Keyboard + Apple Pencil compatibility

This device has replaced both my iPhone and MacBook Pro on several recent trips. Since my primary SIM is physical, I just pop it into the iPad and still have access to calls and texts. Honestly, roaming fees are a natural deterrent for constant communication — and not having a phone makes me pause and consider whether something really needs to be said right now… or whether it can wait until I am home.

Apple first tried to lure me off the MacBook and onto the iPad Pro about seven or eight years ago. Back then, the transition was bumpy — tabs, file management, workspace organisation all felt clunky. But after a few days, I adjusted. And yes, the iPad is genuinely faster than a laptop. It is also lighter and smaller, which makes airport dashes a lot easier when you are not hauling a bulky MacBook and charger.

iPad Air turned out to be a perfect travel company

This summer, I am travelling with the new iPad Air, which now runs on the M3 chip — the same chip as my MacBook Pro. For Adobe InDesign and Illustrator work, the MacBook is still essential (those apps aren’t yet on iPadOS), but I intentionally structure my travel workflow to avoid needing them. For Zoom meetings, writing, website updates, Notion, Figma, Google Drive, presentations, and data analysis, the iPad Air more than holds its own. Sure, massive Excel sheets are a bit easier on a laptop — but that's a matter of habit.

For watching films, reading books, messaging, music, and social media, the iPad is perfect. I try to complete anything requiring internet access while I am in my room, leaving my day free of screens. That is the secret to a successful digital detox: fewer screens, fewer temptations. You can’t stick an iPad in your back pocket — and that is the whole point.

This is what sleeping on plane with AirPods Max + sleeping mask looks like. All data is easily synchronised with iPad

Of course, in the age of “no post, no proof,” we all feel pressure to share travel content. And yes, you can shoot Instagram-worthy Stories and Reels using just the iPad Air. Its cameras are more than capable, and thanks to the M3 chip, it even handles video editing with ease. Editing on an 11-inch display is surprisingly more enjoyable than on a phone. Plus, carrying an iPad around makes you rethink whether you need to be filming at all. That, in itself, is liberating. The fewer photos you take, the more present you can be — silly, spontaneous, and entirely undocumented.

Photo taken with iPad

Apple Watch Ultra 2

49mm titanium case | S9 SiP chip | Dual-frequency GPS | Depth gauge + 100m water resistance | Cellular connectivity

Even on vacation, I stick to my wellness routines — sleep tracking, workouts, and stress monitoring. The Ultra 2 is my non-negotiable companion. I recently wrote about testing both the Apple Watch and Whoop, and why I ultimately chose the former. In travel, small things like listening to music or paying with your wrist become big conveniences.

Apple Watch is suitable for any activity even if it is just going out for dinner

I work out every day, and trips are a great excuse to try new sports — like diving or even just snorkeling. The Apple Watch handles open-water swimming and depth tracking flawlessly. It is water-resistant, easy to pause or resume workouts with a single button, and rugged enough to keep up with any activity.

You aren't going to carry an iPad to the café or shop with your credit card in your bikini, so syncing your Ultra 2 with a mobile plan and Apple Pay is essential. It effectively becomes your phone — but on your wrist. Especially during cardio-heavy activities like running or cycling, it is a game-changer.

This is how Apple Watch monitors your training sessions

AirPods Max

Up to 20 hours battery life | Active Noise Cancellation + Transparency Mode | Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking

I had eight flights in June alone, spending over 50 hours in the air — mostly on red-eye routes. Sleep is a chronic struggle for me even at home, and the idea of actually resting on a plane has always felt impossible.

But with the right tools, I have cracked the code: ultra-comfy sweats, an eye mask, and AirPods Max. First, the battery lasts the entire flight — you never worry about a charge. Second, and most importantly, their noise cancellation is simply the best. I don’t even play music. I just slip them on, activate the ANC, and float into silence. No earplugs can match the experience. Plus, they look chic and pair perfectly with the Emirates sleep mask. Because yes, style still matters mid-air. Welcome to airportcore.

Best travel set of 2025

AirPods Max also shines in noisy environments — great for online meetings or even podcasting. I recorded several episodes of my Watch the Icon series entirely on the go using these headphones.

That said, despite seeing it-girls jogging around in them, I don’t recommend using AirPods Max for workouts. And since my whole mission is to disconnect while travelling, I suggest this: walk the city, run the trails, nap on the beach, and lounge in bed without headphones. Let your soundtrack be the sounds of a new country. Films, albums, and podcasts can wait. Travel is the best playlist there is.

by Sofia Brontvein