🧳 Yes — Budget Travel Gear Can Be Worth It.

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here…

And today’s newsletter takes me a bit back to the roots.
Let’s talk about cheap travel alternatives, because lately, I’ve felt that most YouTubers (myself included, if I’m honest) keep showing their absolute favorite gear.
Sure, those products are great… but let’s be real, paying 80 $ for an Anker charger or 200 $ for a sling bag can be rough.
When I first started traveling, I never even thought about spending that much on gear.
So I went back through my old setups and picked 9 community-favorite gadgets and asked myself:
What did I use before I upgraded?
And in some cases, like gadget number 3, I still prefer the cheaper one to this day.

So, let’s dive in 👇

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here…

And today’s newsletter takes me a bit back to the roots.
Let’s talk about cheap travel alternatives — because lately, I’ve felt that most YouTubers (myself included, if I’m honest) keep showing their absolute favorite gear.
Sure, those products are great… but let’s be real — paying 80 $ for an Anker charger or 200 $ for a sling bag can be rough.
When I first started traveling, I never even thought about spending that much on gear.
So I went back through my old setups and picked 9 community-favorite gadgets — and asked myself:
What did I use before I upgraded?
And in some cases, like gadget number 3, I still prefer the cheaper one to this day.

So, let’s dive in 👇

💡 Affordable Travel Gear That Actually Works

1️⃣ Anker MagGo → POWERADD Slim 2 ($25)
The Anker MagGo is still one of my favorite power banks, but at 80 bucks it’s far from cheap.
The POWERADD Slim 2 does almost the same job, tiny, fast-charging, and built like a tank.
It won’t win any design awards, but it’s reliable, light, and easily fits in any sling or pocket.

2️⃣ Sony XM5 → Soundcore Q30 ($59)
If you’ve ever read the newsletter you know i love my Sony XM5 and if you ever flown with real noise cancellation, you know the difference.
The Soundcore Q30 costs about a quarter of the price of Sony’s XM5 but still blocks out plane engines, crying babies, and most café noise.
The comfort is great, the battery lasts forever, and for 59 $, it’s a total steal.

3️⃣ Apple AirTag → Tile Mate ($15)
Okay, I’ve said it before, I actually still use the Tile.
Even after testing every tracker out there, I love how simple it is.
It connects instantly, works on Android and iPhone, and has saved my sling bag more than once.
If you’re deep in the Apple world, the AirTag is great, but for everyone else, Tile is hands-down the better deal. ( and i love the different colorways, just a bit cooler 😅)

4️⃣ Anker 3-in-1 Cable → Idison 3-in-1 Cable ($9)
You’ve heard me say this before — cheap cables usually die faster than budget flights get delayed.
But this one’s different.
The Idison 3-in-1 Cable costs under 10 $, feels durable, and charges literally everything: iPhone, earbuds, Kindle, power bank, all from one cable.
It’s my go-to backup on every trip.

5️⃣ Twelve South AirFly → UGREEN Bluetooth Adapter ($20)
If you’ve ever wanted to connect your AirPods to a plane’s entertainment system, you know how overpriced some adapters can be.
The UGREEN version works just as well as the famous AirFly — same connection quality, smaller size, and half the price.
Plug in, pair, done. Perfect for flights.
( Only Disclaimer: i had a bit of a problem to connect it the first Time, but now it works perfect 👍 )

6️⃣ Orbitkey Cable Clips → Amazon Multipack ($8)
Orbitkey makes beautiful organizers, no question.
But unless your cables are going to be in a museum, the Amazon multipack does the job.
Ten clips for the price of one, and they stick anywhere, desk, wall, or travel pouch.
Not elegant, but 100 % effective.

7️⃣ Anker Nano → Epicka Universal Adapter ($25)
Now, this one’s not really a downgrade — the Epicka adapter is the travel adapter I’ve used for years.
Works in 150+ countries, charges multiple devices at once, and the USB-C ports are strong enough for laptops.
If I could only bring one charging tool, this would be it.

8️⃣ Aer Sling → Bagsmart Crossbody Sling ($20)
The Aer is iconic, but 150 $ for a sling hurts.
The Bagsmart Crossbody gives you 80 % of that design, 100 % of the functionality, and costs less than dinner at the airport.
It fits your phone, wallet, and small tech gear perfectly, and it even looks premium in black or beige.

9️⃣ Loop Earplugs → Muji Foam Earplugs ($4)
This one’s simple: both block noise, one costs coffee money.
If you just want peace and quiet on flights or in hostels, the Muji foams are unbeatable for the price.
They’re soft, comfortable, and come in a 6-pack, so you can lose a few without crying.

Bonus: Samsung T7 SSD → Crucial X8 ($90)
Okay, technically not “under $50,” but if you’re storing footage or travel photos, this one deserves a mention.
Same transfer speed, same reliability, almost half the price.
I’ve used both for years ,and I’d challenge anyone to tell the difference in real life.

So, these are the 10 cheap alternatives that I’d say come pretty close to the hyped travel gadgets, and in some cases, might even be better.
And quick update: the website finally goes live this Sunday, featuring a full article with 25 Travel Gadgets Under $10 ,it’s packed with new finds and budget steals you’ll actually want to use.

The TRTL Giveaway is finally live! 🎉
You can now win my favorite travel pillow of the year — just head over to my latest Instagram post and comment “Giveaway” to join.

“CLICK HERE”

Thanks So much for the Support THE LAST WEEKS !
Safe Travels

Johannes

PS: The website I’ve been talking about for so long finally goes live this Sunday, together with an amazing new video.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, check out my first EDC video [here].