When planning a trip, one of the most important things to figure out is how you are going to keep your phone and other devices such as your wireless headphones charged. 

The best options depend on where you are going and how you’ll be getting there. A camping trip will require different charging options from a trip to a European city. Here are all the ways you can keep your devices and gadgets charged when traveling. 

1. Charge Before You Leave Home 

Never leave home with half charged devices, whether it’s your camera, Kindle, earbuds or our new Flight Flute 3.0 bluetooth travel adapter. You may be expecting to recharge them at the airport or when you board, but unexpected delays happen and your phone can die on you. 

You also don't want your headphones or smartphone dying on you when you need them most. 

The night before you leave, plug in your gadgets and make sure they are fully charged. This includes your power bank.  

2. Always Pack A Power Bank

Talking of power banks, always carry one no matter where you are going. Sure, you can usually charge your devices in the airport, on the plane and at your hotel. But it’s a good idea to always have a backup option. 

Some airlines may not have USB chargers, or they may not be working. You could be delayed somewhere without any way to charge your phone. Or maybe you’ve gone to explore the city and you cannot recharge your phone until you get back to your hotel. 

Having a power bank keeps your devices charged up no matter where you are. 

Most airlines allow power banks with a capacity up to 100Wh or 27,000 mAh. That’s big enough for your phone and a couple other gadgets. So you can carry a power bank in your carry-on. 

3. Charge Your Devices Enroute

If you have a way to charge your devices on the way, do so and save your power bank for when you need it most. Carry USB chargers for your devices so you can easily plug them in at available charging points. 

If you are flying, most airports have charging stations and you’ll also find chargers in many airplanes. Most trains also have chargers. 

If you are traveling by car, make sure you have a 12V car charger if your vehicle doesn't have USB ports. 

4. Charge At Your Accommodation 

When you get to your hotel or rental, charge your devices whenever you get a chance. 

Carry your own USB cables so you can easily plug in your devices. If you are traveling abroad, we also recommend carrying a travel adapter that lets you use any kind of power outlet.  

5. Get a Portable Solar Charger 

If you are going on an extended trip outdoors, whether it’s camping, fishing, cross country cycling or backpacking, we recommend getting a portable solar charger. 

These are foldable solar panels that you can attach to your backpack, hang on your tent, lay on a rock and place on other surfaces. Portable solar chargers don't generate much power but they can fully recharge your phone when hiking for several hours. 

The best way to use a portable solar charger is with a power bank. During the day, the foldable solar panel slowly recharges the power bank. At night, you can then use the power bank to recharge your devices. 

Portable solar chargers are particularly useful for extended trips lasting more than 2-3 days. For shorter trips, a large power bank is enough to keep your phone and other gadgets charged. 

6. Get a Portable Power Station

A portable power station is another excellent option for charging your devices during outdoor trips. It is useful if you have a lot of devices or larger gadgets (e.g. camera, drone, laptop etc.) that have big batteries. 

You can think of a power station as a really big power bank. Power stations have multiple outlets including USB, AC and DC. So not only can you recharge devices, you can also power small appliances and electronics like an air pump, lights, mini fridge and others. 

Portable power stations are particularly useful for camping trips, RV boondocking and road trips.