Many people do not mind going hiking with a wrinkled t-shirt, especially while being on vacation. However the situation changes if one is travelling for a conference, business travel or a wedding. In such cases, having a wrinkle free dress shirt is essential. It is fairly easy for shirts to get wrinkled in luggage and the thing is that many hotels do not provide ironing facilities. In such cases, a travel iron becomes very handy.

Most travel irons are fairly inexpensive and one can easily find a few models for sale on Amazon:

Swan SI3070N Travel Iron – Having an average customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, the Swan SI3070N is the highest rated travel iron on Amazon.com.uk. More than one reviewer wrote that this is a “great little iron” and one user even wrote that she prefers to use this small iron than with her standard size one.

The Swan travel iron includes features available in the larger models as it has a variable temperature control, stainless steel soleplate, warm up indicator light and a steam button. This iron has a capacity of 100ml and comes complete with pouch. The SI3070N supports dual voltages of 110/120V and 220/240V, which means that is can be used practically anywhere in the world. This iron has a power rating of 900W or 1100W, depending on the voltage.

The water tank on the SI37070N can hold up to 100ml (3.4oz) of water, which is pretty good when considering the small size. Currently sold at £14.33, which includes free delivery to the UK, the Swan SI3070N is a really cheap travel iron when considering the features it includes and the high user rating.

Russell Hobbs 14033 Travel Iron – This small iron is another good seller on Amazon.co.uk. Costing £11.40 as of today, it is slightly cheaper than the Swan SI3070N. However the water container is a bit smaller at 80ml. Having said this, one reviewer wrote that it is possible to iron 6 pieces of garment before having to refill the iron.

The 14033 comes with a 1.8m (70.9in) cable, a measuring jug and supports dual voltages. On the negative side is the fact that it does not include a cover for the water sprout and according to one customer, this causes water to splash on the clothes while ironing.

SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron – The SF-717 has a high number of positive reviews on Amazon.com. The water tank can hold up to 1.4oz (41ml of water), which is not that great but still enough to iron 2 or 3 items before refilling. On the positive side is the fact that it only heats up in 15 seconds and the fact that it includes a pretty long cable.

The temperature on the SF-717 is variable. This steam iron comes with a measuring cup and a heat-resistance travel bag. The SF-717 supports dual voltages but on the negative side is the fact that it is only sold in the USA. Also on the minus side is the fact that it only has a power rating of 420W and thus the steam is not very powerful. The SteamFast SF-717 Mini Steam Iron has a selling price of $26.29, which includes free shipping to anywhere in the US.

Sunbeam GCSBTR-100 Travel Iron – Weighing less than 1lb (0.45kg) and measuring only 6.5 inches (16.5cm) from front to rear, the Sunbeam GCSBTR-100 is a great compact iron for people who travel. Reviewers on Amazon.com were particularly impressed with the speed at which this little iron heats up. One particular reviewer wrote that he tried this iron on a heavily wrinkled piece of canvas and he was very satisfied with the result.

Another Amazon customer wrote that he owned four traveller irons in the past but the GCSBTR-100 is the first traveller iron that does not leak water. This small iron has a dual voltage capability and a power rating of 800W. The Sunbeam GCSBTR-100 is incredibly cheap at $10.04, which includes free shipping in the US. However it not shipped outside of the States.

While I do not consider myself as being a coffee addict, I need my fair share of caffeine on a daily basis. While some of the hotels I have been to during my travels provided a small kettle and single serving coffee bags, these hotels have been an exception rather than the norm. As a matter of fact, a few of the hotels I have been to in recent times did not even provide any kind of coffee facilities anywhere in the hotel. It is in situations like this that a portable immersion water heater becomes useful.

Most immersion heaters contain an element which is simply a bent piece of metal rod. Fixed to the element is a plastic handle, a wire and a power plug for connection to the electrical supply. Using it is simply a question of putting the element into a cup or mug that is filled with water and plugging the heater into the electrical supply. The metal rod will then get hot and the water will get warm in the process. While immersion heaters can be used to warm other liquids like milk and soups, it is important to rinse it well after use. Otherwise the liquid may stick to the element and it will be very difficult to scrub it off, rendering the heater pretty useless.

The majority of immersion heaters come very cheap. The top seller on Amazon.com is the 300W NoPro Instant Immersion Heater, only costing $8.25 at the time of writing. While most of the user reviews for this heater are positive, some user comments suggest that the NoPro is not a very durable product.

One of the best-selling immersion heaters on Amazon.co.uk is the Go Travel Cup Boiler. This boiler has a UK type 3 pin plug and is also rated at 300W. Unlike the NoPro this heater has a safety protective cover so that no metal piece is exposed. Being sold at £14.65, the Go Travel boiler is more heavy duty than the NoPro.

Having said this, the Cup Boiler from Go Travel does have a few disadvantages as well. One drawback is the fact that it fairly big and heavy at 200g (7 oz). In view of this it may easily topple any glass that is not a big ceramic mug. Alternatively the heater has to be wedged to another object so that the glass does not fall over with the weight of the heater. Being big also means that it will take a lot of space in a small cup; another good reason for using a big mug. One reviewer also complained that the water tastes of plastic the first few times of usage.

To conclude this article, below is a set of important points one should remember when using any kind of immersion heater:

1. The element should not be touched while the heater is in operation. In the same way one should not put his hand in the water while the heater is in use.
2. It is important to ensure that only the element is placed in the liquid. The wire should not touch the liquid at any time, especially when it is switched on.
3. An immersion heater should only be switched on when the element is in a cup that is filled with liquid. Switching the heater when the element is not in contact with any water or other type of liquid may damage it.
4. The heater should be switched off after the water has been warmed. It only takes about 3 minutes to heat the water and leaving the heater switched on for a much longer period may eventually damage it due to the excessive heat.
5. An immersion heater should not be placed in any luggage when it is still hot. Having said this, cooling the heater is simply a question of rinsing the element under running water.

Travelling with cabin baggage certainly has its advantages as one travels lighter and saves on the cost of having to check-in the luggage. However I have learnt from experience of the problems of not being able to carry a backpack while travelling. I am one who likes to go hiking in rural areas far away from the city chaos. Having a backpack allows me to carry two or three small bottles of water, some food, one or more portable battery chargers, a raincoat, a pullover or sweatshirt and possibly a jacket in winter.

Carrying a normal backpack in a small cabin luggage is normally not possible. However if the backpack is packable then this will not really be an issue. The advantages of carrying a packable rucksack are the following:

• Most packable rucksacks can be folded into a very small carry bag and in doing so they take very little space. I never realized how small a packable backpack can get until I got one myself.
• Packable rucksacks are very light. As a matter of fact, such backpacks normally weight between 8oz (230g) and 10oz (285g).
• Once unfolded, most packable backpacks are fairly large and a capacity of 20L to 25L can be expected.
• Some packable rucksacks have multiple zipped compartments while allows one to keep things organized.
• Most packable rucksacks are relatively inexpensive and can be bought for less than $25, £16 or €20.

Packable rucksacks do have their drawbacks however. While there are some quality and durable ones on the market, some packable backpacks are not suitable for carrying heavy loads. Ending with a ripped backpack with things falling out of the bag in the middle of nowhere is not a very nice experience.

The main drawback in my opinion is the lack of padding in the straps. Having little or no padding means that even if the backpack is capable of carrying a 10kg load without tearing apart; carrying such a heavy load for hours on end will stress and possibly hurt the shoulders. However the truth is that no packable backpack is designed with the idea of carrying heavy objects; there are other types of backpacks for such kinds of tasks.

While I understand that maps can be useful for travelling, I prefer to use a GPS most of the time. There are several reasons why I would choose a GPS unit or smartphone running a navigation application over a map:

• Not knowing the current location on the map – One thing I hate about maps is the time it takes to determine the current position on the map. The larger the map the greater the issue.
• Not knowing the correct orientation – If one is unable to determine which way is the north and south it is quite easy to walk or drive in the wrong direction. The thing is that not everybody is capable of determining the correct orientation by using the sun’s current position as reference.
• Requires the use of a compass – The sun only comes useful in orienting oneself when the weather is fine – in cloudy and dark conditions one would need to use a compass.
• Not very useful in the dark – Obviously the darker it gets, the less useful a map will become. While a torch can be useful in the dark, it is rather difficult to manage with a torch on one hand and the map with the other hand. Having somebody else hold the torch in place will help but this would not be possible if one is travelling alone.
• Only useful when the weather is fine – In windy and rainy conditions it is impossible to use a map and a map can get torn very easily in bad weather conditions.
• Not detailed enough – Most maps are not detailed enough and usually only contain the main attractions and roads. Getting lost in a small alley that is not listed on the map is not a very nice experience. It is also quite easy to walk past the area covered in the map and get lost in the process.

On the other hand, most GPS devices do not have any of the issues mentioned above:

• The prime function of a GPS receiver is to provide you with the present location. Having said this, not all GPS receivers are built the same. Buildings and trees may deflect the GPS signals and make it difficult for a GPS unit to find the position. Clouds and stormy weather may also interfere with the GPS signal. It is for this reason that I always carry my Qstarx BT-818XT Bluetooth GPS receiver with me (more about this in a later article).
• Apart from providing the current location, GPS units determine the direction that one needs to follow in order to travel from one point to another.
• Having an LCD, LED or any other type of display means that a GPS device is actually easier to read as it gets darker.
• Some GPS units are weather resistant as do some smartphones with a GPS receiver. Having said this, it is possible to buy a special cover for a GPS unit or smartphone to protect it against the elements.
• While the level of detail provided depends on the GPS unit and GPS software used, commercial navigation applications usually include more detail than any map can provide. Having said this, not all GPS software is the same and most free navigation applications do not usually contain enough detail.

GPS units do however have some disadvantages over conventional maps:

• Sunlight legibility – This is perhaps the biggest issue with GPS devices. While maps are easier to read when the sun is shining during the day, some GPS units and smartphones can be almost impossible to read in direct sunlight. Having said this, some of the higher end GPS units, like the Garmin Montana 650t (available from various retailers including Amazon.om and Amazon.co.uk), do possess displays that are supposed to be legible in direct sunlight.
• Battery lifetime – High usage of a GPS unit can drain the batteries fairly quickly. This is especially true in smartphones as well as vehicle GPS systems. Having said this, portable GPS units are designed in such a way so that they last much longer before the batteries get drained. As a matter of fact Garmin claims that the Montana 650t can provide up to 16 hours of battery life.