Hey,

Welcome to this week’s Experiments in Progress (by Pete Matheson) issue!

After hundreds of flights and way too many gadgets tested in cramped airplane seats, I’ve finally figured out the travel tech that actually makes flying easier — the stuff that keeps me sane, entertained, and not searching for a power outlet at 3AM in Heathrow.

In this issue, I’m breaking down:

Let’s dive in👇

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After years of flights, airports, delays, and way too many long-haul trips, I’ve finally figured out the travel tech that actually matters.

These are the gadgets that make flying easier — whether I’m working, watching movies, gaming, or just trying to survive jet lag.

Here’s what always makes it into my bag 👇

I almost always travel with two phones:

Having two phones means I never worry about battery life, even if I’m watching movies, running maps, or using XR glasses mid-flight.

And then there’s the tablet — which one I pack depends on storage and what I’m testing at the moment:

Some of the tablets I review come with 512GB or 1TB of storage, which is perfect for downloading tons of movies and shows before a flight.

It depends on space — but I always pack one of these:

Best for switching seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad. Still one of the comfiest headsets for long flights.

If I’m traveling light, I take these instead. Compact, great ANC, and perfect for calls or watching downloaded content.

My current “fun” pick — excellent sound, brilliant noise cancellation, and seamless handoff if you’ve got a Sonos ecosystem at home.

My go-to for something different. Transparent design, tactile buttons, and very balanced sound.

These things turn an economy seat into a private cinema.

I plug them straight into my phone or tablet and suddenly I’m watching a massive virtual screen floating in front of me. Lean back, relax, and enjoy whatever you downloaded — without staring down at a tiny screen.

The experience is genuinely surreal.

Downside:
They drain my battery fast — but that’s where the next essential comes in…

I always pack my Anker power bank — the one with the built-in cables (one acts as a short carry loop, the other retracts magnetically).

It charges:

Why it matters:
If you’re using XR glasses or gaming, your devices will die fast. This power bank keeps everything alive.

My new obsession: ROG Ally X (Xbox version).

Perfect for:

It’s lightweight, powerful, and makes time fly — literally.

A standalone translator with a built-in SIM that works in tons of countries.
It handles live translation, reads text aloud, and can even mimic your voice in different languages. Ridiculously clever.

If it’s a sunny trip, these come with me.
I’m planning to switch to the new generation with transitions lenses so I can wear them even when it isn’t sunny.

My new camera. Incredible for both photos and video — and it syncs instantly with my phone, so I can post shots straight to Instagram or TikTok without messing around.

My everyday wallet, but smarter.

Not exactly tech… but essential for functioning on the road.

Purifies any water using UV + physical filtration. Perfect for international travel.

My secret weapon for focus when I’m tired, jet-lagged, or need to work on the go. Same brain-boosting ingredients as the drink, without the caffeine.

Depends on the trip. Both keep me moving, hydrated, and aware of my steps when I’ve been sitting too long.

I put in my flight times → it builds a jet lag plan so I don’t feel like a zombie when I land.

Helps me reset when I’m trying to fall asleep way earlier than my body wants to. Huge difference on West-to-East travel.

If you’ve got a travel tech essential I should test, hit reply — I love discovering new gear!

📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:

This week’s episode of Aspiring Creator goes deep into the real cost of running a creator business — the expenses you expect, the ones you don’t, and the mistakes that quietly snowball into thousands.

Inside this episode:

If you’ve ever wondered what it really costs to run a creator operation — the finances, the shoots, the processes, the mistakes, and the fixes — this episode pulls back the curtain.

🎧 New episodes every Wednesday

📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎧 Listen on Spotify | 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

After testing, breaking, returning, and obsessively comparing more than 100 gadgets, phones, and accessories this year… some patterns finally clicked.

In the next issue, you’ll get:

🗓️ See you Saturday.