Whether video games are your job or just a hobby, when you travel out of the country you need to make preparations. Whilst others can subsist on a diet of books and podcasts, long-haul flights also make for some mean gaming time, especially if you’re trying to catch-up on your RPG backlog. Even so, when you get there you’re going to need a few essential items to ensure you can traverse conventions and play at a moment’s notice, without your electronics kicking the proverbial bucket. Here are five items that should be in every game-loving globetrotter’s luggage.
Portable SSD
A compact data solution that transfers at a lightning pace, you may not know you need a portable SSD until crisis strikes. If you’re travelling far away and want to keep your precious titles and their corresponding data in check, you should seek out one of these mini machines. Perhaps you’d like to capture video at a convention or a friend’s house when you make some money moves in PUBG or Overwatch? The portable SSD has your back. Due to the solid-state architecture, you won’t be waiting around like you would with a USB or portable hard drive. Samsung’s T5 Range is reliable and my personal choice, but there are plenty of options out there.
Power Bank
Now that Nintendo has up and changed the game with its portable powerhouse the Nintendo Switch, you’ll no doubt be taking that, a PS Vita if you’re old school, or your phone or tablet on holiday with you to game on the journey or when you get some downtime. Don’t miss a trick and forget a power bank! And make sure you get one that churns out enough power to make it worthwhile weight in your travel luggage. Look for the wattage and mAh when you’re shopping (the higher output the better) and ensure it has a variety of connections, from USB-C to A and Lightning if you’re using iOS devices. I use Anker’s range of power bank’s, which are nice and sturdy and always reliable.
Noise-cancelling headphones
One of the worst feelings in the world is sitting down on a transatlantic flight, plugging in your bog-standard headphones to your Switch or Vita, and realising you can hear absolutely everything around you, pulling you out of the game world’s immersive grip. The only way to fight this scourge is to pick up a pair of noise-cancelling cans that let you soak in the ambience and stay focused. It’ll ensure that the time flies if you’ve got a big RPG to power through, which is good for those of us who hate flying, or just want to tune out from all the overwhelming noise. Sony and Bose provide the high-end pricy offerings, but personally, I use the Soundcore Life 2. For less than £70 they are unbeatable price-wise and offer fantastic noise-cancelling and comfy cups.
Backpack
Alright, now you’ve got all that, you need something to store them all in. Don’t undermine your kit by slinging it in a sub-par rucksack! There are plenty of cheap and cheerful backpack options that offer up a wealth of zips and pockets for your kit, regardless of size. Think about how it’s going to store your items. If you’re using a gaming laptop or a big tablet on the go, you want a safely separated compartment that keeps them upright so they don’t get crushed by other items. It also needs to be able to keep clothes and other items away from your tech for when you’re passing through security checkpoints or travelling light, to make things easy for you. There are plenty of options out there, including Berghaus’ 30L range and even Amazon’s own laptop bags, my personal favourite being Solo New York’s ‘Elite’ backpack, that has a ridiculous amount of pockets and a perfect separator for big tech items.
So what are your gaming travel accessories you can’t leave the house without? Comment below or drop by the Green Man Gaming Community pages to see what our other gamers think.
