10 Perfect Gifts for Your Favorite Long-Haul Traveler
Make their big journey home more fun, memorable, and comfortable.
So that special person in your life moved across the country or over the pond. Bummer, because seeing them means someone is braving a hellish flight or epic drive. Never fear. We've got 10 suggestions for making those journeys more fun and memorable—or at least more bearable.
WaylensWaylens Dash Cam
Crazy things happen, and it's nice having evidence that you did indeed have the green light when that meteor hit. [Waylens](https://www.waylens.com/) offers that and loads more. The OBD-II port connector taps your car's computer, and its built-in motion sensor, barometer, and GPS let you augment 1080p video with data like g-forces and speed. Just the thing for chronicling your track day hot laps. A big ol' button that attaches to your steering wheel lets you highlight and save the 15 seconds of video before and after your best attempt at [channeling Max Verstappen](https://www.wired.com/2015/11/the-grueling-highly-trained-grueling-life-of-an-f1-rookie/). $450.
MophieMophie Powerstation Plus XL
A long haul will strain the battery on any gadget, and the last thing you want is a layover in Newark without your smartphone or Kindle. Keep the juice flowing with a $100 [Powerstation Plus XL](http://www.mophie.com/shop/iphone-7/powerstation-plus-xl?a92=178). This battery pack is thinner than an airline pillow, weighs just 10 ounces, and offers lightning cable and micro USB connections. Two USB ports means you don't have to choose between your iPad and your Bluetooth headphones, and the 12,000mAh battery provides 48 hours of power (for a smartphone, at least)—more than enough to binge watch any show.
BuckyBucky 40 Blinks Sleep Mask
Technology offers no end of ways to entertain yourself while you're crammed into a center seat eating crappy food from a box, but the best way to get through a long-haul flight is conking out. This clever $15 [sleep mask](http://bucky.com/collections/40-blinks-sleep-mask/products/40-blinks-sleep-masks-black) blocks out light, and a velcro strap ensure a comfy fit, as do the inset eye cups. Try not to snore. Or drool.
NavdyNavdy Head-Up Display
Driving a car that was new when Bill Clinton was president shouldn't deny you the benefits of modern technology. This 5.1-inch head-up display from [Navdy](https://www.navdy.com/#discover) mounts on your dashboard, connects wirelessly to your smartphone, and uses your car's OBD-II port to draw data from your car's computer. It projects navigation directions, Spotify info, speed, fuel economy, and more into your line of sight. Yes, it's pricey at $800, but you can finance it at $33 a month for two years.
BoseBose QC35 Bluetooth eadphones
Board any flight and you'll notice the hardcore road warriors clamp a pair of Bose headphones over their ears. The company is renowned for its noise canceling tech, which mitigates engine drone and crying babies. The problem is, the sound quality was, uh, lacking until now. The [QC35 headphones](https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/over_ear_headphones/quietcomfort-35-wireless.html) [sound amazing](https://www.wired.com/2016/08/review-bose-qc35-headphones/). No, really. They're legitimately great cans for $350. Plus, a wired connection lets you plug into the plane's in-flight entertainment system.
Valentine OneValentine One V1 Radar Detector
Western Nebraska is a slog. The road just goes on. And on. And on. Put the hammer down and make quick work of it, knowing the [Valentine One](http://www.valentine1.com/) will protect you from Johnny Law. The V1 may look like something you'd see in an episode of *Knight Rider*, but it packs the latest in fuzz-busting tech. It detects all of the most common radar bands and LIDAR, while effectively tuning out false alarms from automatic doors and other harmless radar signals. $400.
Russell Glenister/Getty ImagesPriority Pass
Frequent fliers pretty quickly unlock the barred doors of those swanky airline lounges while everyone else goes numb in those hard, plastic seats. But now you too can join the elite with Priority Pass, which lets plebeians kick back in more than 1,000 airport lounges around the world. If $400 is a bit much, you can pay $99 per year plus 27 bucks per visit. Just be sure to read the fine print—some of those airline day spas limit you to off-peak hours.
Chris Hoover/AirhookAirhook
Airline seats are cramped enough without swallowing precious real estate with a tray table for your Jack and Coke. The $25 [Airhook](http://www.theairhook.com/) serves double duty as a cupholder and adjustable phone/tablet mount that affixes to that slab of plastic. Added bonus? No more neck ache from peering down at your Netflix shows. Your flight just got better.
BluesmartBluesmart One Suitcase
Any bag that barely holds your stuff and grudgingly wedges into the overhead bin isn't doing enough for you. This brilliant carry-on easily fits into those minuscule spaces yet features a built-in battery with enough juice for six phones and a weight sensor that'll tell you if the airline's gonna sock you with yet another damned fee. If you decide to check it, a TSA-approved digital lock safeguards your stuff and tracks its location with your phone. The bag even connects to your itinerary so it can remind you when it's time to pack or hail an Uber to the airport. $450.
The FJ CompanyFJ Company Land Cruiser
If you're itching adventure but don't have the right ride, consider splurging on a restored Land Cruiser from the [FJ Company](https://www.fj.co/). These FJ fanatics scour the Earth for the old Toyotas, then lovingly rebuild them at their shop in Bogota, Colombia, before shipping them off to Miami for the last details. The trucks are as beautiful as they are rugged, offering the charm of the originals with a few modern amenities. [Restorations start at $55,000](https://www.wired.com/2016/11/art-perfectly-reviving-decades-old-land-cruisers/), but start ticking boxes on the order sheet and you'll push the price well into six figures.
Alex Davies is the former editor of WIRED’s transportation section, where he specialized in covering autonomous and electric vehicles. He is also the author of Driven, a book chronicling the race to create the self-driving car. ... Read More
