Tech for a summer of adventure

If you’re ready to expand your horizons this summer, our tech suggestions can help you discover new destinations to head to, then make the most of your time once there.

There’s only one feeling better than the giddy anticipation of a summer getaway. And that’s the sweet feeling of turning on your work email’s Out of Office auto-reply and finally leaving.

If you need inspiration for where to go and are ready for somewhere different rather than your usual haunts, technology can help. And, with a little preparation, it can also help you make the most of your time in the sun.

Jack’s Flight Club

This weekly email newsletter provides choice offers on flights straight to your inbox. Along with all the usual suspects like Bali and Bilbao, more off-the-beaten-path destinations like Sao Tome, Ecuador and South Korea pop up regularly. Even if the specifics of the offers don’t suit you, Jack’s Flight Club will still provide you with enough inspiration for your next trip.

Although the UK has – at the time of writing – ended all COVID-19 testing, entry and tracing requirements for travellers, some other countries continue to have their own requirements. . SkyScanner (one of the sources for Jack’s Flight Club deals) has a handy tool tool on its website to check which pandemic-related conditions apply for a given destination, so you can prepare well in advance.

Much better adventures

If you really want to shake up your next trip, the active holidays offered by Much Better Adventures couldn’t be more different from the usual beach and city breaks. From biking in Morocco to rafting in Montenegro, hiking in Greenland and kayaking around the coast of Wales, these are trips that will blow the cobwebs and get your adrenaline pumping.

Premium OS Maps

If your adventures take you on one of the UK’s many walking routes, then a Premium OS Maps subscription can help you stay on the beaten track. The low monthly fee of £5, which you can waive at any time, gives you access to all of the highly detailed Ordnance Survey maps that cover the whole country. All National Trust routes are visibly marked in green and you can download maps for offline use on your iOS or Android device, so you don’t need an internet connection to pinpoint your position and stay on course .

Unusual activities of NotOnTheHighStreet.com

If you’re in the mood for a day trip or perhaps a long weekend, rather than a full-fledged vacation, the list of ‘Unusual Activities & Experiences‘ from online retailer NotOnTheHighStreet.com can help.

From skeet shooting to beekeeping and basic blacksmithing, they’re nothing if not far from supporting your local pub’s bar again. Plus, like Much Better Adventures, they work with small, local businesses whenever possible.

Ricoh Theta SC2

If you’re heading out into the great outdoors, it can sometimes be difficult to capture and convey the grandeur of your surroundings, even with your smartphone’s ultra-wide lens and panorama mode. It’s there that Ricoh Theta SC2 Between.

About the size of a whiteboard marker, this dedicated camera has two ultra-wide lenses, one on each side. This allows it to capture immersive 360-degree photos and videos. Although you can enjoy them using the accompanying smartphone app, these snaps and clips really come to life when viewed through a VR headset – even a basic budget model like the Google Cardboard will do. the case perfectly. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll get the best possible image quality from the Theta when shooting in bright light.

Anker PowerCore III and PowerPort III Wireless Power Bank

If you’re worried about your smartphone and other gadgets running out of juice when you go on an adventure, Anker’s PowerCore III power bank will give you plenty of peace of mind with its massive backup capacity.

It has both USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as wireless charging, so it’ll work with almost any device imaginable in your backpack. Also, just as importantly, it can recharge quickly using USB-C Power Delivery so you can quickly top up its charge without having to drag around.