For business travelers who treat the world like their office, the right travel tech isn’t just convenient, it’s non-negotiable. Work trips often mean meetings happen mid-transit, and deadlines don’t wait for time zones. Today’s professionals require gear that’s as agile and refined as they are. For your next trip—especially on business—every item in your travel arsenal should serve a purpose: keeping you connected, organized, and one step ahead.
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of WIRED and Condé Nast Traveler to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip.
Among the business travel essentials? A reliable staple: The Apple MacBook Air: powerful, lightweight, and designed for productivity anywhere. Not to mention, with the right universal converter or portable charger, you can plug it in to charge just about everywhere. Add a portable Wi-Fi hotspot or travel router, and your workspace expands to airport lounges, hotel lobbies, or high-speed trains. For presentation, compact travel steamers ensure you arrive looking polished, while smart luggage and digital tags streamline the journey from check-in to customs. Whether you’re a digital nomad taking a client call on the road or reviewing contracts over espresso in Milan, we’ve compiled the best tech for work trips built for motion. When business takes you everywhere, your gear should work like you do: seamlessly, stylishly, and without pause.
Updated October 2025: We’ve added the Sony WH-1000XM6, OnePlus Pad 3, and Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro.
Stylish and feature-packed, with excellent touch controls, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. Enjoy podcasts, music, or the sweet sound of silence when you fly, with unbeatable active noise cancellation. These cans also boast top-notch sound quality, with a multiband EQ to make the most of any audio source. The new folding design also makes it easier than ever to stow them away for travel.
Powerful and portable, the svelte Apple MacBook Air (M4, 2025) is the best of the best laptops, and perfect for business travelers looking to get some work done in the office or on the move. You can expect slick performance, long battery life, and a lovely bright display. Apple’s M4 chipset supports two 4K external monitors and on-device AI processing. There’s also a crystal clear 12-megapixel webcam that’s ideal for video conferencing.
Staying connected while you travel can be a challenge, but the Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro is a powerful 5G mobile hotspot that will keep you online wherever you go. Pop in a 5G SIM to enjoy a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router (2.4-, 5-, and 6-GHz). The design is durable, the 2.8-inch touchscreen is useful, there’s a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port, and the battery will last you all day (I got 11 hours before having to charge). You can connect up to 32 devices and expect a range of around 1,000 square feet.
Need to make a stellar first impression on that presentation you crossed an ocean to give? Keep those pearly whites gleaming with the Oral-B Pro 1000. Top of WIRED’s best electric toothbrushes guide, this is a reliable and effective way to clean your teeth. The Pro 1000 sports a circular oscillating brush head that can get in everywhere, and it buzzes every 30 seconds to prompt you to clean each quadrant of your mouth. You can also expect 10 days of battery life when fully charged.
Asus
RT-AX57 Go Travel Router
Connect all your gadgets to the Asus RT-AX57 Go travel router before you leave for a trip and you only have to worry about connecting one device at your destination. This dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router has gigabit WAN and LAN Ethernet ports to plug into a modem, port in your hotel, or any other internet source. It can connect to public Wi-Fi, and you can even connect your phone to the USB 3.2 port and use the RT-AX57 Go as a hotspot to magnify your cell connection. The Asus RT-AX57 Go also comes with security software and VPN support, making it one of the best Wi-Fi routers around.
Ceptics
GaN 70W Universal Travel Adapter
The best travel adapters enable globetrotters to plug in all their gadgets. The Ceptics GaN 70W Universal Travel Adapter is first in our bag for every trip because it covers more than 200 countries and has a secure locking slider design that pushes out EU, UK, and US plugs (you can rotate the pins for sockets in Australia and China). We love the retractable 25-inch USB-C cable that goes up to 70 watts, but you also get an additional USB-C port and two USB-A ports, making this the only charger you need to pack.
-
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
-
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
-
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
If you’re an Apple person, you probably have an iPad, but for everyone else, Android-powered slates have really improved in recent years, and this is the best Android tablet right now. OnePlus elevates the experience with software tweaks like Open Canvas, enabling you to multitask with three apps. When you’re done with work, the sharp and smooth 13.2-inch screen is perfect for kicking back with a movie. The Snapdragon 8 Elite inside ensures performance is fantastic for work or play.
Travel Inspira
Luggage Scale
No more surprise baggage fees—this compact scale slips neatly into your luggage and gives you peace of mind before check-in. Picked by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best luggage scales, its user-friendly strap and clear display take the stress out of weigh-ins, so you’re never left guessing. Built tough for globetrotting, it withstands knocks and rough handling. For business travelers, it’ll help keep your bag within weight limits and keep your trip on-budget.
Hatch
Rest Go Portable Sound Machine
This palm-sized sound machine delivers 10 soothing tracks—from ocean waves to white noise—without apps or Wi‑Fi, making it perfect for travel. With around 12 to 15 hours of battery life, it’ll last through long flights or busy days. Its simple button layout and clip-on ring allow quick setup anywhere, from airport lounges to hotel rooms. Funnily enough, the gadget is actually designed for babies, but can be used by travelers of all ages—and a must-have for Traveler editors. It’s affordable, tough, and sleek enough to blend into any travel toolkit.
Nesugar
Portable Handheld Steamer
A travel staple for sharp professionals, this handheld steamer tackles wrinkles in minutes—no ironing board needed. Just plug it in and press and glide to freshen suits, dresses, and linens. Lightweight enough for a carry-on bag yet effective enough to smooth creases effortlessly, it’s the secret weapon to looking polished on arrival. Ideal for impromptu meetings or last-minute evening events, it ensures you always step out wrinkle-free.
Slip an AirTag into your luggage or attach it to your bag and you can track it effortlessly via your iPhone—no more anxiety about lost bags or gear. The new U1 chip enables precision-finding, showing you the exact direction and distance to your missing item. It’s water- and dust-resistant, runs for about a year on a standard battery, and transmits location via the vast Find My network. Privacy protections like rotating IDs mean no unwanted tracking and solely, smart security.
iWalk
Small Portable Charger
Tiny yet mighty, the iWalk charger fits in any pocket and delivers a fast juice boost thanks to its 4,800 mAh capacity and 20W output. It’s ideal for those in-between moments—waiting at the gate or lounging before boarding. LED indicators keep you informed, and USB‑C recharge is quick and convenient. Stylish and available in multiple colors, it’s a sleek companion for busy days abroad—and not to mention, a Traveler favorite.
Calpak
Portable Charger Luggage Tag
Doubling as a luggage tag and power bank, this Calpak device blends functionality and finesse with its faux-leather exterior. It quietly powers up your phone mid-journey through USB‑C (or Lightning) connections when you need it most. Slim and lightweight, it slips neatly onto your bag and travels with ease. Backed by a one-year warranty, it’s a reliable (and chic) lifesaver for unexpected low-battery situations on the go.
