10 Incredible Techy Gifts That Fit In Your Carry-On Bag

December 12, 2014
fisheye lens attached to cell phone

1. MOMENT LENS: Know any Instagram addicts? Tell them to bid adieu to Hudson and Amaro with the Moment Lens; they won't need a filter with this guy. A nifty little lens that mounts onto your phone's camera (and that's compatible with 10 different devices), it draws in lots of light without distortion – and makes for razor-sharp, professional-quality shots. $$

Photo courtesy of Moment Lens

Bitlock hand-held device in person's hand with bike in background

2. BITLOCK: For the road warrior on your list – who's as likely to bike share as car share – the Bitlock will be something of a revelation. Smart and key-free, Bitlock connects to your phone and offers digital control over a durable bike lock. The device makes its debut in late December 2014, hopefully just in time to be stuffed into a stocking. $$$

Photo courtesy of Bitlock

watch activity tracker

3. MISFIT FLASH FITNESS: Would-be fitness junkies are all about activity trackers – and we bet they'll love Misfit's neon model. Measuring calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken, and even quality of sleep, it's an ergonomic beaut that also happens to be beautifully affordable. $

Photo courtesy of Misfit

Doodler being held in person's hand

4. 3DOODLER: The 3Doodler is one of those top tech gifts that's as entertaining for eighteen-year-olds as it is octogenarians. Like a mash-up of a hot glue gun and a marker (but way cooler), the portable 3D printer lets you literally draw designs and create objects out of thin air. You magician. $$

Photo courtesy of 3Doodler

gold ring with large purple cut gemstone

5. RINGLY: The last time we thought about interactive jewelry was when slap bracelets were in, but that was a simpler, pre-smartphone time. Now, we're all subject to a steady stream of calls, texts, emails, and push notifications. Manage them with Ringly. At once a statement ring, but also a personal assistant on the go, it subtly vibrates to alert you to your phone's various notifications. Pre-order now and surprise giftees later. $$$$

Photo courtesy of Ringly

phone charger shaped like R2-D2 sitting in car cup holder

6. R2-D2 USB CAR CHARGER: Have any friends who watched the new Star Wars trailer 50 times in a row – and also love to zip? We've got just the thing. ThinkGeek's R2-D2 USB Car Charger keeps your phone juiced as you drive and slots right into your cup holder...and it just so happens to be modeled on half of everyone's favorite robot tag-team. $

Photo courtesy of ThinkGeek

wireless sports headphones

7. POWERBEATS2 WIRELESS: No, this isn't the future: Wireless headphones now, magically, exist. Leave it to Beats by Dre to craft a colorful and coveted version of the technology. Powerbeats2 are Bluetooth-enabled up to 30 feet, and sweat-resistant – making them a worthy workout partner to Misfit's Flash Fitness (hint, hint). $$$$

Photo courtesy of Beats by Dre

rectangular device projecting text in the air

8. HUD BY GARMIN: If you ask us, the only thing better than a tech gift is a car tech gift. Designed to assist the directionally challenged, the HUD (Head-Up Display) by Garmin projects navigation information onto your windshield without distracting your gaze. It's also portable enough to be toted from Zipcar to Zipcar. $$$

Photo courtesy of Garmin

four small, rectangular chargers

9. TRAVELCARD CHARGER: It's only slightly thicker than a credit card and is bound to be your new best friend. The TravelCard charger may be svelte enough to slot into your wallet, but still has enough power to zap your phone with five additional hours of talk time. Unfortunately, that means you won't be able to claim a dead battery as an excuse for why it took you so long to text back...but it seems like a fair trade. $

Photo courtesy of TravelCard

small, square, black Roku device

10. ROKU 3: Winter is coming...and also, winter is coming. Appreciate the outside version from within your cozy living room, where, thanks to the Roku 3, you can hole up with Game of Thrones – and whatever else is playing on more than 1,800 other channels – for the duration of the snowy season. $$

Photo courtesy of Roku

fisheye lens attached to cell phone

1. MOMENT LENS: Know any Instagram addicts? Tell them to bid adieu to Hudson and Amaro with the Moment Lens; they won't need a filter with this guy. A nifty little lens that mounts onto your phone's camera (and that's compatible with 10 different devices), it draws in lots of light without distortion – and makes for razor-sharp, professional-quality shots. $$

Photo courtesy of Moment Lens

Bitlock hand-held device in person's hand with bike in background

2. BITLOCK: For the road warrior on your list – who's as likely to bike share as car share – the Bitlock will be something of a revelation. Smart and key-free, Bitlock connects to your phone and offers digital control over a durable bike lock. The device makes its debut in late December 2014, hopefully just in time to be stuffed into a stocking. $$$

Photo courtesy of Bitlock

watch activity tracker

3. MISFIT FLASH FITNESS: Would-be fitness junkies are all about activity trackers – and we bet they'll love Misfit's neon model. Measuring calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken, and even quality of sleep, it's an ergonomic beaut that also happens to be beautifully affordable. $

Photo courtesy of Misfit

Doodler being held in person's hand

4. 3DOODLER: The 3Doodler is one of those top tech gifts that's as entertaining for eighteen-year-olds as it is octogenarians. Like a mash-up of a hot glue gun and a marker (but way cooler), the portable 3D printer lets you literally draw designs and create objects out of thin air. You magician. $$

Photo courtesy of 3Doodler

gold ring with large purple cut gemstone

5. RINGLY: The last time we thought about interactive jewelry was when slap bracelets were in, but that was a simpler, pre-smartphone time. Now, we're all subject to a steady stream of calls, texts, emails, and push notifications. Manage them with Ringly. At once a statement ring, but also a personal assistant on the go, it subtly vibrates to alert you to your phone's various notifications. Pre-order now and surprise giftees later. $$$$

Photo courtesy of Ringly

phone charger shaped like R2-D2 sitting in car cup holder

6. R2-D2 USB CAR CHARGER: Have any friends who watched the new Star Wars trailer 50 times in a row – and also love to zip? We've got just the thing. ThinkGeek's R2-D2 USB Car Charger keeps your phone juiced as you drive and slots right into your cup holder...and it just so happens to be modeled on half of everyone's favorite robot tag-team. $

Photo courtesy of ThinkGeek

wireless sports headphones

7. POWERBEATS2 WIRELESS: No, this isn't the future: Wireless headphones now, magically, exist. Leave it to Beats by Dre to craft a colorful and coveted version of the technology. Powerbeats2 are Bluetooth-enabled up to 30 feet, and sweat-resistant – making them a worthy workout partner to Misfit's Flash Fitness (hint, hint). $$$$

Photo courtesy of Beats by Dre

rectangular device projecting text in the air

8. HUD BY GARMIN: If you ask us, the only thing better than a tech gift is a car tech gift. Designed to assist the directionally challenged, the HUD (Head-Up Display) by Garmin projects navigation information onto your windshield without distracting your gaze. It's also portable enough to be toted from Zipcar to Zipcar. $$$

Photo courtesy of Garmin

four small, rectangular chargers

9. TRAVELCARD CHARGER: It's only slightly thicker than a credit card and is bound to be your new best friend. The TravelCard charger may be svelte enough to slot into your wallet, but still has enough power to zap your phone with five additional hours of talk time. Unfortunately, that means you won't be able to claim a dead battery as an excuse for why it took you so long to text back...but it seems like a fair trade. $

Photo courtesy of TravelCard

small, square, black Roku device

10. ROKU 3: Winter is coming...and also, winter is coming. Appreciate the outside version from within your cozy living room, where, thanks to the Roku 3, you can hole up with Game of Thrones – and whatever else is playing on more than 1,800 other channels – for the duration of the snowy season. $$

Photo courtesy of Roku