My Favorite Gadgets and Tools for a Smoother Commute

It can be daunting to wake up to a new day, then immediately remember that in under an hour, you’ll be squashed up against a stranger on a bus or train—or stuck in traffic, or maybe sweating it out on a long bike ride to the office. The commute can be a downer because so much can go wrong or simply bother you before your real day has even begun. Let’s improve it with a few gadgets.

The right bag

No matter how you’re traveling, you need the right bag with you to make the commute—and the rest of your day—seamless. We have a list of bags we recommend here, but if you’re looking for something spacious and capable, try the SLOTRA lunch backpack ($46.99), which is roomy enough for your laptop, has a USB charging port, and even has a removable lunch bag, meaning you’ll keep everything you need close to your body while you make moves on your way to work.

The right water bottle

You want to keep your water bottle handy during sweaty morning slogs, but you also don’t want to keep one hand totally occupied for the duration of your journey. Try the WATERH insulated smart water bottle ($54.99), which has a foldable straw that prevents leaks (if you want to stash it in your bag) and a handy clip on the outside (if you want to secure it to your bag). If you want one you can chug and then store for later, try the Special Made collapsible water bottle ($11.99), which folds up when not in use.

The right shoes

If you have to walk a lot to get to work, the shoes you’re expected to wear in the office may not be the right ones for your trek. Guys, you can split the difference with some dressy sneakers, like the Goodfellow & Co Graysons available at Target ($29.75). Ladies, for a similar idea, try some comfort loafers, which only look hard to walk in. You’ll be hauling ass to the bus and straight into your office with no trouble for just $21.55. If you want to keep your comfy and dressy shoes totally separate, make sure your bag has enough room for sneakers somewhere inside of it. Try the iMESTOU bag with a secure shoe compartment, available at Walmart for $14.65. Or keep your work shoes at work and just pack foldable flats, like these plain black ones from Silky Toes ($16.95).

The right earbuds

Over-ear headphones give you great sound, but are bulky to carry around. Corded earbuds can be a nightmare on public transportation: Someone can pull them out of your ears by accident; you can get stuck when they wrap around a stability pole; and they can even get pulled from your phone and get lost forever on busy platform. (All of the above have happened to me). You need small, wireless earbuds you can stash, but which still offer noise cancellation so you don’t go totally crazy in all the chaos. Please, try the Beats Studio Buds ($99) and avoid these horrors.

The right chargers

A little phone-charging cable that fits on your keychain is surprising handy, whether you’re in Uber or on a bus (most buses have USB ports now). Commuting takes a while and there’s no need for your phone to be dead when you get to where you’re going. Try this keychain from i-Dawn ($5.99), which also has a bottle opener on it, for some reason. (That might be useful for the ride home from work.) You should also have a portable charging bank, like the Anker ($21.98), so you can connect your USB keychain (or any wire) to power no matter where you are.

Commuter tools, in review

Having a comfortable, easy commute is key to starting your day off right, so pick up these items to make it smooth: