Best Of Travel Tech And EDC: Sony Open-Ear Audio, Bellroy Packs, And Peak Design | Vol. 13

I've spent years trying to find headphones that don't make me feel like I'm underwater or, worse, being shouted at by my own heartbeat. The Sony LinkBuds Clip is our Hero today because it finally admits that some of us actually want to hear the bus that's about to hit us while we're listening to a 90s garage mix.

It's a peculiar little donut for your ear that stays out of the way, making it the ultimate tool for the "hyper-aware" commuter who still demands a soundtrack. It's the Hero because it manages to deliver decent audio without the sensory deprivation that usually comes with sticking silicone in your lugholes.

It's the perfect companion for the office when you need to pretend you're working but are actually just waiting for the inevitable "pub?" text.

Finding a bag that doesn't make you look like you're about to summit Everest or, conversely, like a lost schoolchild is a surprisingly tall order. This 26L Venture Ready Pack is the Supporting kit that actually balances "I have a career" with "I might go for a hike if it stops raining."

It's packed with more pockets than a magician's coat, yet it manages to look slim enough to not take out three people when you turn around on a crowded train. I've been using it to lug around a laptop, a gym kit, and my dwindling sense of self-worth with zero complaints from my shoulders.

It's the reliable workhorse for the person who demands their gear look as smart as their CV while surviving the chaos of a British commute.

We've all been that person trying to prop our phone against a pint glass only for it to slide into a puddle of spilled lager. This Peak Design Mobile Tripod is the Supporting act that saves us from such indignities by being a proper piece of engineering that fits in your pocket.

It's machined from aluminium with a precision that makes most phone accessories feel like cheap plastic crackers toys. I've been snapping it onto the back of my phone just to feel that satisfying MagSafe "thwack" and pretending I'm a professional filmmaker.

It's a tiny, elegant solution for the "how do I take a group photo without a selfie stick" dilemma, making it essential for the minimalist shutterbug.

There is no greater travel tragedy than opening your suitcase to find your expensive shampoo has staged a coup and covered your only clean shirt. This Matador case is the Supporting gear that ensures your toiletries stay in their lane, thanks to some "dry-through" wizardry.

It's made of a material that allows water to evaporate through the fabric while keeping liquids trapped inside, which sounds like witchcraft but is actually just clever science. I've put a soaking wet toothbrush in there and come back to find it dry, which is a minor miracle for anyone who hates a damp washbag.

It's for the traveller who values their sanity as much as their hygiene and refuses to carry their life in a Ziploc bag.

The LEGO Retro Radio is our Wildcard because it's a toy pretending to be an antique, or perhaps an antique made of plastic bricks-honestly, I'm not sure. It's for the person who wants the nostalgia of the 70s without the inconvenience of actual analogue electronics that catch fire if you look at them wrong.

It's the Wildcard because it actually works as a speaker for your phone, which is a bit like fitting a Tesla motor into a Penny Farthing. I've spent the weekend building this instead of doing my taxes, and the "click" of the frequency dial is more satisfying than it has any right to be.

It's a beautiful, useless, wonderful bit of plastic that serves no purpose other than making your shelf look 400% cooler while you listen to Spotify.