The Traveler's Toolbox Part 8

David J. Danto

Travel thoughts in my own, personal opinion

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

The Traveler’s Toolbox – Update #8

“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, 6 and 7) 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.

· Earbuds For Recording Conversations –The Viaim RecDot AI Conference Earbuds is one of those tools you don’t realize you need until it quietly saves your bacon. The Viaim RecDot is a pair of wireless earbuds designed not just for listening, but for capturing, transcribing, and organizing your conversations. With one simple press on the earbud, you can start recording – whether it’s a formal Zoom meeting, a Teams call, or a spontaneous conversation in a hallway. No need to unlock your phone, launch an app, or fumble through menus.

Where RecDot really shines is that it’s not locked into any one ecosystem. It captures voice from virtually any platform or source and can convert that into a transcript afterward – complete with a built-in AI assistant that summarizes what was said and even generates follow-ups and action items. That can be a real timesaver when you're trying to recall decisions made mid-flight or halfway through a jetlagged briefing.

Audio performance for calls is excellent, with beamforming microphones and active noise cancellation that hold up even in noisy environments. As earbuds, they’re comfortable and secure, and music playback is solid – not audiophile-grade, but definitely good enough for travel playlists and podcasts. Some of what RecDot does could be managed with your phone alone, but not with this level of ease and integration.

If you’re a frequent traveler juggling multiple devices and meetings, or someone who just wants a smarter way to take notes on the go, this little headset might just earn a permanent spot in your carry-on.

· Night table All In One Charger – If your nightstand setup on the road usually looks like a rat’s nest of cables, adapters, and half-charged gadgets, this one’s for you. The Scosche MagicMount Base Pro is a 3-in-1 wireless charger that does a remarkable job of turning chaos into calm. The magnetic mount holds your phone firmly in either portrait or landscape mode – no more sliding off the bedside table in the middle of the night – and there's an optional arm on the left to charge your smartwatch if you need it.

But here’s the kicker: it includes a removable mag-safe power bank that charges while docked. In the morning, just slide it off and toss it into your bag for on-the-go power without needing to pack a separate brick. And the charging arm has a small, touch-activated light that gently illuminates the base – perfect for helping you find anything on or around the night table in a dark hotel room. It’s well built, and feels solid and durable – but yes, that also means it’s a bit on the heavy side. This isn’t the lightest thing to throw in a backpack, so you’ll want to save it for longer trips or when you have room to spare. Still, it replaces at least three separate accessories with one smart unit, and that’s a trade-off most road warriors will take any day.

· Magnetic Rear-Camera Mirror Display – A number of no-name manufacturers make these little mirrored screens that magnetically attach to the back of your iPhone, and most of them work just fine. The concept is simple: use the much better rear camera on your phone for selfies, interviews, or content recording – while still being able to see yourself and frame the shot. Here’s the one I bought despite the misspelling of whatever word that is in the title.

Apple’s rear-facing cameras are the best on the device. Unfortunately, you usually can’t see what you’re doing when using them for self-facing video. That’s where this accessory steps in. It lets you record with the better camera and still monitor your shot, whether you’re creating content, recording an interview, or just trying to look your best on camera.

The unit is thin, packs flat, and takes up barely any room in your bag. Most versions come with a magnetic sticker for phones or cases that don’t have MagSafe built in, so you’re not limited to the latest iPhone models. The build quality? Let’s call it “adequate.” It’s not going to survive a fall off a third-floor balcony. Definitely shop around for one with the best price, because as far as I can tell, they’re all the same. Just don’t buy it through a Facebook link.

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!