I’ve driven across five continents — here are 15 tech items I bring on road trips

Never lose your luggage, purse, car, keys — anything, really — again. Just attach one of these smart tags to the item you want to track, and you'll be alerted to its whereabouts via your phone. The deal on this four-pack brings each tag down to about $16 (they typically retail for $25 to $30 a pop). Grab a few for your, er, forgetful family members...

Tired of dealing with a menagerie of remotes every time you want to watch TV? Stop the insanity with this easy and intuitive top-seller (which happens to be the newest model) that can replace 'em all. You'll be able to effortlessly switch between the news, sports, live TV and your favorite streaming platforms for easy access to millions of shows and movies.

Make fighting with your family members over power outlets a thing of the past, courtesy of this electrifying gadget. It's equipped with five AC outlets and four USB ports, enough for everyone to charge their iPads, iPhones, MacBooks (you get the picture) all at once. Oh, and it's so much sleeker than having a power strip on your floor — and you won't have to worry about tripping over it.

No, it's not a massive discount, but this bestseller is within a dollar of its all-time low (and it's retailed for as much as $20 in the past).

For Apple fans, these No. 1 bestsellers are a must-have upgrade. They're dust, sweat and water resistant, so no worries about getting caught in a downpour during your morning run. Seamless connection with all your Apple devices makes switching between your iPhone, iPad and Mac a breeze. The battery gives you up to six hours of listening time per charge — and up to 30 hours with the charging case. 

Top-rated Sony wireless headphones for just $38? We're listening! At nearly 40% off, this is one of the best prices we've seen this year. 

Never lose your luggage, purse — anything, really — again. Just toss one of these smart tags inside the item you want to track, and you'll be alerted of its whereabouts via your phone. This pack is down to one of the best prices we've seen!

A sale before it goes on sale? Yep. Forget the 10th gen, snag this new model and get twice the storage for all of those photos, videos and games.

With two USB ports and a soft light that makes them easy to find, this is a stylish charger that adds modern convenience to an older vehicle.

Stop keeping your phone in your lap or center console. Keep it on the dash, where you can easily glance at it — but mostly, keep your eyes on the road.

Before you head off across the country, where there are barren stretches of highway with nothing but pavement in both directions for dozens if not hundreds of miles, you should ask yourself: Am I prepared if my car breaks down? Or if I get a flat tire?

The good news: If it's a flat tire you're worried about, Zgzuxo's Tire Inflator can save the day, and it's on sale for just $27. Yahoo's tech-savvy Rick Broida reviewed this gadget and said it "might be [his] favorite car accessory" of last year.

A portable power bank like the Iniu is nice, but if you need more juice (grunts in Tim the Tool Man Taylor), a portable power station is where it's at. At $90 off, this Jackery is a fantastic option, and the exact one I use. It can charge while you drive (it takes no more than four hours to charge from zero to 80% using the car adapter) and, at less than 8 pounds, it's incredibly portable.

One of my favorite family vacations growing up was a trip out west to Yellowstone National Park. When we got to the hotel, my sister and I were horrified to find there was no TV in the room (this was long before smartphones and tablets). That week, my family went to nighttime ranger talks, learned how to play euchre and stayed up late staring at the stars — all things we probably wouldn't have done if we were inside watching Cartoon Network every night.

That said, there are places — like the middle of Iowa or Nebraska — where you're just stopping to rest. In those spots, it's nice to have a streaming device. On a recent trip to Arches and Canyonlands with my daughter, we spent every morning eating breakfast and watching an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse together. It was perfection.

When I was car shopping a while back, I had my heart set on a Ford Flex — a turbocharged wagon that devours road trip miles like I devour waffles at breakfast. One of its standout features? An optional built-in refrigerator, perfect for keeping drinks cold on long drives. The problem? Finding one with that feature was nearly impossible, and when I did, it came at a hefty premium.

Thankfully, 12V fridges are way more common now than in the Flex's heyday. For a little over $250, you can get one that plugs right into the car, fits between the seats, skips the mess of melted ice and even comes with you into the hotel room.

Ever deal with a dead phone on a trip? Complete disaster. These days most cars have multiple charging options, but if you drive an older vehicle that night not be the case. For those who don't have third-row USB ports, consider a power bank like this one, which will keep phones going no matter how long the road stretches ahead.

One of the last longer road trips I took was up into the mountains in our little Subaru. As we started descending from a climb, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. It was Sunday, and we were in a small town and nowhere near an auto shop — let alone one that was open. So we cut the trip short and headed home before the car broke down completely and left us stranded.

The problem ended up being a common one that I could've easily waited to fix. If I'd had an OBD II scanner, we'd have been able to stay and enjoy the rest of our time in the mountains. This little device acts like a translator for your car's check engine light, letting you know whether it's a “pull over now” issue or something that can wait until you're back in civilization.

This powerful little number is both a jump starter AND a portable car power supply with high capacity. It uses dual USB 3.0 output ports, and the charging speed is 75% faster than ordinary mobile power.

I used to throw half a dozen or so paperbacks in the back of the car before every camping trip. There's nothing like lying in a hammock or tent at a campsite, flipping through a book. When the sun goes down, it can get a bit harder to read, even when using a headlamp, so now I just bring along my Kindle. It houses almost my entire library, and the battery has no problem lasting all trip.

I couldn't tell you the last time I had to use a standalone GPS device; these days, most of us just use our phones for navigation. That said, I have found myself lost in the middle of nowhere without a signal more than a handful of times, and a GPS device with pre-downloaded maps would have come in handy. So now I keep one in the car at all times, even if I still prefer to use Apple CarPlay.