Once a year, I try to get away to the mountains of Altai. Where there’s almost no internet. Cell service works intermittently, and on mountain passes it disappears entirely. For me, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature. That’s how I give myself and my family a real detox. You’d think you could safely leave all tech at home. But before every trip, I go shopping on AliExpress. The logic is simple: gadgets aren’t for staring at a screen — they’re for making the journey comfortable. So everything charges in the car, there’s something to do in the tent in the evening, and my beloved iPhone makes it home in one piece.
I prepare for vacation harder than for work
This year I gathered ten items. Some are tech, some are simple hiking essentials. I bought each one not randomly, but for a specific situation during the trip. Sharing my list — maybe it’ll come in handy before your vacation too.
What Smart Watch to Take to the Mountains Instead of Apple Watch
With a watch like this, there’s nothing to worry about
I don’t take Apple Watch to the mountains. It would break my heart. Rocks, branches, icy water in a mountain river — scratching or breaking a smart watch is all too easy. And repairs would cost a fortune afterward. That’s why I got a separate watch for hiking. Toss it in the backpack and forget about it until the end of the trip. Fell on the trail, snagged it on a snag, dunked my hand in a stream for water — it doesn’t care at all. Sturdy case, thick glass. And I don’t need anything more: time, steps, route, and battery that lasts more than one day. I come home and put my Apple Watch back on.
Price: 14,240 rubles
A Pocket Console with Retro Games for Travel
You can enjoy gaming in the evenings
Night falls, the campfire dies down, but it’s too early to sleep. What do you do in the tent? No signal, can’t start a show, can’t scroll the feed. I used to just toss and turn in moments like these. Now I pull out a pocket console. I loaded it with old childhood games — the same ones I used to play at a friend’s house on his console. And the evening instantly becomes fun. The kids are thrilled, passing the controller back and forth. And honestly, I get just as hooked as they do. It takes up barely more space than a smartphone, and the charge lasts several evenings. Perfect for when there’s not a cell tower or Wi-Fi in sight.
Price: 1,930 rubles (via combo cart)
A Portable Speaker for Outdoor Recreation
The speaker is as portable as it gets
During the day at a rest stop or by the campfire, you want music. The smartphone speaker is no help here: it crackles, gets lost in the open air, and drains the battery. That’s why I bring a small speaker with me. I toss it in the side pocket of my backpack, clip it to a loop, and my hands are free. It’s not afraid of water, and in Altai the weather changes in a minute: sun, then rain, then river spray. Once I dropped it right in a puddle, wiped it off, and it kept playing. The sound is surprisingly loud — more than enough for our group.
Price: 1,570 rubles (with coupon)
The Best Power Bank for Hikes and Long Road Trips
The power bank even shows remaining charge
There are no outlets in the mountains. But you still need your phone: for photos, offline maps, and an emergency call if you happen to get a signal. A dead battery leaves you helpless. That’s why I never hit the road without a good power bank. I got a compact one with a cable built right into the body, so I don’t have to search for or carry a separate cable that always goes missing. The capacity is enough to charge the iPhone, the hiking watch, and the speaker. It sits in the backpack, and it gives me peace of mind: I definitely won’t be stuck with a dead phone somewhere in the middle of a mountain pass.
Price: 2,630 rubles
A Convenient Cable for Charging Your Phone in the Car
The cable is neatly coiled and doesn’t dangle all over the car
It’s a long drive from our place to Altai. And the entire way, phones, the tablet, and the GPS navigator all need charging. A regular long cable is pure pain: it gets tangled underfoot, hangs off the dashboard, gets caught under the gear lever. But this coiled cable stretches to exactly the length you need and retracts back into a neat spiral on its own. The car stays tidy, nothing dangles around. Plug in your phone, charge it, unplug it, and the cable is compact again. It’s a small thing, but on a long road trip it saves a ton of nerves.
