Gadgets for Writers on the Move

Waterproof KeyboardI've mentioned before that I travel a lot, but that rarely stops me from writing.  I do however often find myself muttering that wistful phrase "If only..."  Normally followed by some wish that could never come to pass such as "If only batteries lasted forever,"  or "If only I could use my laptop outside in the sunshine."

While the latter problem has still not be resolved (surely some genius somewhere is working on this?) the former, along with many of my other niggles and complaints can be nicely remedied by the ever growing list of cool gadgets available for both travellers and writers.

Here are some of my favorite travel gadgets for writers:

Keyboards of the future?Admittedly, until they come up with a travel screen and a portable hard drive to hook up to, (hey, a girl can dream!) a travel keyboard may be more a desk space saver rather than a travel gadget,  but I love both the cheap and simple waterproof roll up keyboard and the futuristic LED keyboardless keyboard.

Definitely a gadget for workers on the move though is this 'wearable' desk , or holder for your laptop, which gives you a comfortable way to work on your laptop, whether walking around the forest, sitting on a plane or perched on the end of your hostel bed.  I'm not entirely convinced by the 'ergonomically designed for comfort' claim, but at under $25 I might be willing to give it a try.

Power Monkey ChargerAs for power top ups, the only way for me would be solar.  For smaller gadgets, the Power Monkey is a compact and efficient little gizmo, while hardened travellers with hungrier power appetites can fire up their laptops and camping lights with this rugged backpack with solar panels with give you a constant source of juice.  It also has some neat pockets and design features to allow cables to be stored neatly.

Vagabondish had a great selection of gadgets in general in this great post,  and the Gorillapod is a fantastic tool if you plan to accompany your writing with some images while you are on your travels.  These flexible camera stands can be positioned on just about any surface, and their flexible legs allow you to prop up your camera in even the most difficult places.

If you are serious about writing while you travel,  a smart phone can be an invaluable tool, with internet access via Wi Fi or 3G allowing you instant access to emails and research resources.  Or download useful apps onto your PDA or phone such as a dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia and atlas for the basics.

Lastly, you really can't go wrong with good old pen and paper.  Sometimes the best answers are the most obvious.  No power supply needed, will work in most environments, quick and responsive, and very portable!   If you want to combine old with new,  you can do away with the paper altogether and opt for one of these Livescribe pens, which will allow you to capture writing on just about any surface, record audio notes, and upload everything to your PC when you get back tobasecamp.