The Traveler's Toolbox Part 7

David J. Danto

Travel thoughts in my own, personal opinion

eMail: ddanto@IMCCA.org Follow Industry News: @NJDavidD on

The Traveler’s Toolbox – Update #7

“What do you have in this thing?” is what colleagues often ask me when they attempt to lift up my flight carry-on bag (my “personal item” as it were.) Over the last few years I’ve published a series of blogs ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) that listed a number of devices and tools that I keep with me when I travel. Things change rapidly in technology, and my bag will always have a bunch of new items, so here is the latest update. Click the links in each section to see some examples of where to get these cool travel tools.

· The New Open Ear Headphones – For travelers and professionals looking for a fresh take on audio gear, the Cleer ARC3 headphones offer a compelling alternative to both traditional earbuds and the classic one-ear monaural headset. Where single-ear designs were once the standard to allow users to stay aware of their surroundings, the newer earbuds take that concept further by using an open-ear, two-ear design that delivers rich audio while keeping environmental sounds accessible. These over-ear headphones rest comfortably around the ear without sealing the ear canal, making them ideal for running, office use, a trade-show floor, or casual listening. Impressively, the ARC3 delivers deep bass, an unexpected feat for an open-ear design. A USB dongle (only included in the set meant for gaming) enables computer connectivity, while the charging case doubles as a feature-rich hub, offering Dolby Atmos support, step tracking, hearing care adjustments, and even UVC cleaning to sanitize the earbuds after use. While they won’t replace noise-canceling headphones on a plane, their ability to deliver immersive sound while maintaining situational awareness makes them a strong contender for anyone’s travel or work toolkit. You can hear me demonstrating them for calls in this video.

· Portable Projector – For travelers seeking an ultra-portable, all-in-one projection solution, the Aurzen Zip Tri-Fold projector redefines versatility in a very tiny package. Unlike traditional projectors that require fixed setups, this innovative device features a tri-fold design that allows for flexible projection angles – eliminating the need for a tripod or something to prop it on, while enabling quick adjustments. With a built-in 1080p resolution and support for 4K input, the ZIP delivers crisp visuals, while its integrated speakers provide decent sound without requiring external audio gear. Compact and self-contained, it unfolds into a sturdy base with automatic keystone correction, ensuring an optimal viewing experience. Mind you, the image is not super bright or super big, but when the option is either showing a video with everyone having to look at the screen on your mobile device, or projecting it for a small group, the Aurzen Zip is the far better option – especially for traveling. It’s still available on Kickstarter for a very limited time. Here is a video of when I first saw it at CES 2025.

· Super Portable Flosser – I’m blessed with having great teeth. Many people (including my wife) are not as lucky. They need to use a water-flossing device at least once a day – even when traveling. These devices have been super unwieldy for traveling – until now. The Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser is less than half the size of the Waterpik device my wife has had to travel with for years (as you can see in the picture.) The ability to carry such a small device makes cleaning one’s teeth much easier while on the road. Is it as powerful as the larger device? The best answer there is “almost.” If you need the most powerful water jets you can get, then this is not for you. However, if you want a device that is much easier to pack and keep with you, and does 90% of the job very well while traveling, this tiny format is a godsend.

· That’s A Good Place For A (Sound) Stick-up – I’ve reviewed many Bluetooth portable speakers before, and most of them are excellent, but this new one caught my eyes instead of my ears. The Altec Lansing HydraTrek 2.0 is plenty loud and sounds great, but it stands-out because it has a powerful magnet built-into the unit that can be used to just stick it anywhere. My office at home is in my basement and has metal ductwork on the ceiling. I keep hooks there to have tools and other devices I might need handy, and now I have a Bluetooth speaker stuck there in case I need to use one. It has all the features you’d expect – clear, loud sound, rich base, a microphone for calls, etc. It might make me worry a bit about the magnet erasing any cards or disks I might throw into my bag, but I’m working through that fear in exchange for the super convenience of having a sound stick-up around if needed at all times. It’s available in many colors for under $20. The one I got was red because…why not. You can see it pictured in my hand for a sense of how portable it is.

I’m always on the look-out for convenient or cool things to carry with me on my various travels. If you see anything I should include in a future Traveler’s Toolbox blog please drop me a note and let me know. Also let me know if you’ve had any problems with any of the items I’ve included as I’ll want to tell everyone about them. And just to answer the question that one of the manufacturers asked me recently, no, I don’t make any money or commissions from the links or the devices’ purchase. The most I’ll ever get is a free sample because I won’t recommend something I haven’t tried. It’s too complicated remembering stories that are not true. Telling the truth about something makes it easy to remember.

This article was written by David Danto and contains solely his own, personal opinions.

All image and links provided above as reference under prevailing fair use statutes.

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As always, feel free to write and comment, question or disagree. Hearing from the traveling community is always a highlight for me. Thanks!