Veteran gadget reviewer shares his summer travel tech kit
The Verge’s Andrew Liszewski detailed the devices, bags and accessories he plans to bring on a connected family vacation.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
The Verge senior reporter Andrew Liszewski has laid out the technology and travel accessories he plans to pack for a summer family trip built around hiking and outdoor exploring. Liszewski, who The Verge says has covered and reviewed gadgets since 2006, said his priority on the road is convenience, comfort and peace of mind rather than disconnecting from devices.
Liszewski wrote that more than two decades of work and personal travel have turned his packing habits from last-minute gadget collecting into a tested checklist. He said the right kit can reduce errands for forgotten gear and leave more time for the trip itself.
Audio, phone and tablet gear
For flights longer than an hour, Liszewski said he packs Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones. He described them as older than Sony’s newest models but still among the most comfortable headphones he has used, with strong enough noise reduction for airplane cabins.
Liszewski said he has replaced AirPods Pro in his backpack with Shokz OpenFit 2 headphones for exploring. He wrote that their open design lets him hear surrounding sounds while listening to music or audiobooks, and that he finds them easier to wear for long stretches because they do not sit inside the ear canal.
His phone is an iPhone 16 Pro, which he said he bought in late 2024 after the battery in his iPhone 12 Pro had declined. Liszewski said MagSafe helps with accessories such as a PopSockets Kick-Out Grip used as a stand for family photos, and he cited Emergency SOS via Satellite as reassurance when outside cellular coverage.
Liszewski said he still takes a MacBook Air on work trips, but now brings an older iPad Pro with Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio and a compact Logitech wireless mouse on vacations. He said iPadOS 26 made the tablet a better laptop substitute for travel, and he uses it to back up camera photos, share images with family, plan outings, stream to hotel TVs and play digital board games including Ticket to Ride.
Bags, tracking and comfort items
For carrying gear, Liszewski said he relies on an older version of The North Face Surge backpack, citing its pockets, roomy interior, comfort and two exterior bottle holders. When he wants a smaller bag, he said he switches among Alpaka’s Flight Sling, the 2-liter Flow Satchel and the 4-liter Flow Satchel, depending on whether he needs room for a water bottle or camera.
Liszewski said he places Apple AirTags in luggage, bags and backpacks to help track them during travel. For a passport wallet, he said he uses a Nomad Tracking Card because it fits into a credit card slot.
For hydration, Liszewski picked the 24-ounce Owala FreeSip bottle, saying it fits the cup holders and backpack pockets he uses and has a cap that allows both sipping and chugging. For hot-weather waits and patio meals, he said he packs the Nitecore izzCool 10 Pro fan, which uses a refillable reservoir to create a mist and can accept a larger plastic bottle for longer misting.
Entertainment for downtime
The Verge’s product list also included several entertainment devices in Liszewski’s travel kit: a Kindle Paperwhite, a Kobo Clara BW and a Nintendo Switch 2. The Verge listed the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Clara BW at $160 each, while the Nintendo Switch 2 was listed at $449 at Amazon and $450 at Nintendo.
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This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.