Best iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch accessories for frequent travelers

I travel frequently, both for work and for pleasure. Over the past few years I’ve found certain accessories I just can’t live without. Whether I’m walking out the door to a coffee shop or I am getting on a plane and need to pack more serious gear, these are the travel accessories I couldn’t live without when it comes to iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

EasyAcc 6000 mAh external battery

One of the biggest things we fear when traveling is running out of battery before we get to our destination. If you want to prevent that from happening, you’ll want to make sure you pack a trustworthy external battery.

The EasyAcc 6000 mAh is typically my power bank of choice. Mainly because it’s small, portable enough, and let’s me charge via any USB cable and has a micro-USB built right in. I use this to charge my Bose headphones while on the go.

I use an iPhone 6s Plus which has just over a 2700 mAh battery. The EasyAcc 6000 can top it off almost two times without being charged itself. Of all the battery packs I’ve used, that’s pretty good.

It also doesn’t lose its charge quickly if you leave it sitting in a drawer, which is a problem I’ve run into with many other brands.

The EasyAcc is currently the best compromise of form and function at a price point no one has to gawk at. And I’m happy with that.

• $17 – Buy

PlugBug World by Twelve South

Traveling internationally can be tricky business when it comes to charging devices. Use the wrong kind of adapter and your iPhone may not fare so well. This is why I let PlugBug World do all the extra lifting for me, not only for my iOS devices, but for my Mac too. Even better, it can charge your Mac and an iOS device simultaneously on one outlet.

Just choose the plug type you need for the country you’re in and attach it to the main adapter. That’s it. PlugBug will adjust the voltage and charge your devices properly.

Whenever I know I’m doing any kind of foreign traveling, PlugBug and the proper attachments are the first thing I pack. PlugBug currently supports the UK, North America, continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan – all in one box.

• $45 – Buy

Bose QuietComfort 20 noise cancelling headphones

About two years ago I made one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I forced myself to spend $300 on a pair of headphones, the QuietComfort series by Bose. (I prefer the in-ear version because of their small size, but I’d imagine the over the ear option is just as great).

I’ve always liked the design of Bose’s in-ear headphones because they actually stay in my ears, unlike Apple EarPods and many other brands. Not to mention, a lot of in-ear styles just aren’t comfortable.

For a long time Bose only carried the QuietComforts as an over the ear option. The minute they released noise cancelling in-ear headphones, I knew I had to have them, no matter what the cost.

On planes, in noisy coffee shops, or busy streets, these headphones will blow you away. And while I haven’t done any scientific tests, the battery lasts for a month or two between charges, and I use them quite often.

I also have a pair of the SoundSports for the gym, which are also great, and much more reasonably priced for anyone on a budget (they’re sweat resistant but you won’t get the noise cancellation).

• $299 – Buy

Inateck iPad Pro and MacBook sleeve

I recently went on a hunt for a more versatile sleeve type case for my iPad Pro (since I’m working on traveling lighter when I can). I was able to do one better and I found a sleeve that not only fits my iPad Pro wonderfully, it also accommodates my 13" MacBook Pro.

Inateck makes many different sleeves but this particular one has Velcro on the insides in specific positions so you can use it to prop up your MacBook or iPad Pro.

While this works well with the iPad Pro, I’m not 100% sure I would trust it to be strong enough to hold anything past a 13" Air.

Either way, it’s a great little slim case that can stow any iPad or small Mac and a few choice items such as headphones, an Apple Pencil, or any other small accessory.

It isn’t the fanciest case you’ll find but for the cost, I’m happy with it.

• $22 – Buy

Olloclip for iPhone

Whenever I’m traveling I always make sure my Olloclip is tucked inside one of my bags. Even if I’m traveling for work, I always try and make some time to explore an area I’ve never been to before.

For me that typically means lots of opportunities for Instagram photos! The Olloclip is tiny and can be tucked into almost any pocket (all models also come with a lanyard and/or carrying case as well).

For those that don’t already know, the Olloclip itself functions as a 4-in–1 lens system. You get a wide angle, fish eye, and two different macro strengths all in one.

As the iPhone camera gets progressively better, the opportunity to snap amazing photos on a whim comes along more often. Having an Olloclip on me helps guarantee I don’t miss anything I may regret later.

• $80 – iPhone 6/6 Plus/6s/6s Plus – Buy
• $70 – iPhone 5/5s – Buy

Anker PowerPort wall chargers

One thing you can never seem to get enough of while traveling is wall outlets. This is especially true if multiple people are traveling together and sharing rooms.

Accessories like Anker PowerPorts solve this problem by giving you more places to charge off a single wall outlet. This way no one is fighting over charging iPhones and iPads in a pinch. And you don’t have to pack as many bricks, only cables.

I personally travel with a two outlet version when I’m alone on a business trip. This allows me to charge my iPhone and Apple Watch at night and my iPad random times when it may be running low, or before heading back to the airport. When I’m traveling with just my partner, I just bring two of these along.

If more people are involved, I’d recommend picking up a few different combinations. A 4 USB is always a solid bet and a few of the 2 USB which I mentioned above. All are fairly small profile and won’t take up much room in a carry on or checked bag.

• $12 and up – Buy

Simple AUX cable

Part of traveling for work means getting in and out of many different rental cars. Most of the time this happens in strange places I’m not familiar with. That means I need directions and I’d love to have them over the speakers of a rental car.

Every car configuration is different and while some may have USB ports or support for Bluetooth, all of them don’t. However, one thing you can almost always bet on any car having these days is an AUX jack.

These cables are super cheap but worth their weight in gold when it comes to playing the game of rental car musical chairs. I always have one in my laptop bag, which is always with me. And that little cable has saved my ass more times than I can count.

• $6 – Buy

This post was syndicated via The App Factor.