Gadgets are there to make life easier – solutions to little travel problems like lack of sleep or organisation. When it comes to train travel there are many travel gadgets that will make your railway experience even better, from light-weight binoculars and smart water bottles to Bluetooth eye masks and uber comfortable travel pillows.
Trtl Pillow
This may look like a scarf or hand towel, but the Trtl Pillow (pronounced turtle) is actually a very smart travel pillow for discreet train napping. The pillow has a strengthened inner rib that moulds to your neck, jaw and shoulder shape and is even machine washable.
£24.95, amazon.co.uk
Anker PowerCore 20100
The Anker PowerCore 20100 is the don of battery packs, a sleek, slim, pocket-friendly pack that weighs as little as a can of soup. Despite its size the charger can charge an iPhone 8 seven times, Galaxy S8 five times and iPad mini four times, giving you an endless supply of power if you find yourself without a socket on board (or an adaptor). Recharges only take 10 hours, too.
£29.99, amazon.co.uk
LARQ Bottle
When it comes to purifying smart water bottles, there’s few product better than the LARQ Bottle. The bottle is the world’s first self-cleaning and water purification system, eliminating 99.99999% of toxins. You can now fill up your bottle anywhere (even the train sink) and not have to worry about cleaning it. Okay, this is a bit of a splurge, but you can’t live without water so it sort of counts as a necessity.
£95, livelarq.com
Nikon Prostaff 3S 10×42
The best thing about travelling on a train is gazing out the windows and watching the world go by, especially on a fantastic tourist train travelling. Make sure you don’t miss any passing sights of wildlife with Nikon’s slick and travel-friendly Prostaff 3S binoculars. They come with top-quality optics, are waterproof and fog-free and have different light and humidity settings.
£139, johnlewis.com
Smart shirt packing cube
Overnight trains are fantastic, allowing you to wake up refreshed in a new city, but some overnight trains don’t have the best storage facilities. If you need to look your best upon arrival then invest in one of Stirling’s smart shirt packing cube. Its innovative design keeps two shirts folded neatly and is super lightweight.
£30, antler.co.uk
Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow
This one if for unashamed sleepers, travellers who need to rest and don’t care how they do it. Travelrest’s Ultimate Travel Pillow provides full lateral support and makes sleeping a doddle, inflating to your liking and comfortably moulding to your body. It can loop around train head rests and rolls up neatly for storage.
£19.95, amazon.co.uk
Lifeventure Travel Door Lock
This portable door lock is a must-have for budget or long-term traveller, allowing you to lock a door (or cabin door) even if there isn’t a lock. The durable reinforced nylonQuick and is super easy to install and release. Perfect for when you need some privacy and security.
£5.99, ellis-brigham.com
Bluetooth eye mask
Forget the freebie you got on the plane five years ago, it’s time to upgrade to the ultimate sleeping mask. Allowing you to switch off wherever you are – and however bright it is – this black-out eye mask also has wireless built-in Bluetooth speakers which work continuously for 10 hours and only take two hours to charge.
£16.69, amazon.co.uk
Chilly’s water bottle
It might not be a traditional gadget but it’s hella smart, keeping liquids either refreshingly chilly or piping hot for hours on end. The revolutionary Chilly’s water bottle keeps liquids cold for 24 hours, hot for 12 and is leak-proof and remains condensation free – so you don’t have to worry about your handbag getting wet. With a Chilly’s you can enjoy a relaxing hot drink on board even if there isn’t a bar car – and they come in a vast range of designs.
£20, chillysbottles.com
Wacaco Minipresso
Love your coffee? The this one’s for you. The Wacaco Minipresso is a portable coffee maker ideal for train trips, small and light and dishing out fresh, hot coffee. Simply add boiling water to the tank and the Minipresso will work its magic to inject water into the coffee. Simply push the top and you’ll get a fresh cup of espresso. The device is hand-operated so no need for power or batteries.
£52.99, amazon.co.uk
Selvim phone camera lens kit
Turn your phone into a professional camera with the help of this travel-friendly camera lens kit. The kit includes a 25x macro lense, 0.62x wide angle lens, a 235°fisheye lens, a 22x zoom to use it as if it were a telescope. Simply clip on to your phone (it works on most major brands) and go. Each lense comes with a cover and is easy to store. Perfect for multi-day adventure trips, tourist trains and trains with excursions.
£32.99, amazon.co.uk