Last summer, while waiting for my delayed flight to Thailand, I found myself sitting next to a guy who was testing what looked like a tiny desktop fan connected to his phone. Curious (and bored out of my mind after finishing my book and getting tired of an online casino site bd my brother had recommended to pass the time), I struck up a conversation. Turns out he was a self-proclaimed "travel gadget enthusiast" with a suitcase full of bizarre tech I'd never seen before. By the time our flight finally boarded, I'd gotten a full demo of his collection and found myself oddly tempted to buy several items I definitely didn't need. Since then, I've fallen down the rabbit hole of strange travel gadgets myself, and I'm here to share some of the weirdest ones that somehow manage to be oddly useful.

Bizarre But Brilliant Bathroom Companions

If you've ever traveled to countries where toilet paper is a luxury or simply prefer a more, um, thorough cleaning experience, the portable bidet might be your new best friend. These handheld water jets look like weird water bottles but serve a very specific purpose. I bought one before a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia last year, initially as a joke. By week two, it had become my most treasured possession.

The first time I used it in a remote bathroom in Laos, I felt ridiculous – like I was participating in some strange water gun fight with myself. But listen, when you're dealing with "traveler's stomach" in a place where toilet paper is both scarce and questionably sturdy, you develop a new appreciation for innovation. My travel companions mocked me mercilessly until one by one, they asked to borrow it. By the end of the trip, everyone had ordered their own online.

UV Sanitizing Wands: Germ Warfare in Your Bag

Remember how we all got a bit germaphobic during the pandemic? Well, some of us never fully recovered. These battery-powered wands claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria on surfaces using UV light. Do they actually work? The science suggests yes, though perhaps not as thoroughly as the marketing claims.

I bought mine after staying in a hotel that I'm pretty sure hadn't changed its bedspread since the Clinton administration. Now I wave it over hotel remote controls, airplane tray tables, and anything else that gives me the creeps. Is it overkill? Absolutely. Do I sleep better thinking I've zapped microscopic invaders? You bet. It's like having a tiny lightsaber to battle an invisible enemy. The looks I get from hotel housekeeping are just a bonus.

Culinary Oddities for the Food-Obsessed Traveler

I never thought I'd be excited about a silicone bucket that folds flat, but here we are. There's something deeply satisfying about unpacking what looks like a colorful frisbee and watching it pop into a fully functional kitchen item. My collapsible coffee drip, measuring cups, and even a folding kettle have transformed hotel room cooking from depressing to almost civilized.

The most ridiculous item in my collection is probably the collapsible wine bottle. Yes, it's essentially a sophisticated adult Capri Sun pouch, and yes, I've had one spring a leak in my suitcase (pro tip: red wine and white clothing continue to be incompatible). Despite this traumatic experience, I remain committed to the folding wine container lifestyle. Nothing says "I'm classy but practical" like pulling what appears to be a deflated balloon from your daypack and somehow producing cabernet.

The Tiny Spice Kit: For When Local Flavor Isn't Enough

My friend Mark travels with what looks like a miniature tackle box filled with pre-measured spices. He claims it's because "hotel scrambled eggs need help," but I suspect it's because he's a control freak who can't handle culinary uncertainty. Nevertheless, after borrowing his smoked paprika for my otherwise bland hostel breakfast in Berlin, I found myself shopping for my own travel spice kit.

Mine now includes tiny containers of everything from salt and pepper to za'atar and togarashi. Is it necessary? Not remotely. Has it saved various disappointing meals across three continents? Absolutely. The looks of confusion from TSA agents as they try to determine if my oregano is actually oregano are just part of the experience.

Tech Oddities That Solve Problems You Didn't Know You Had

This absurd attachment turns your phone into a thermal imaging camera. Its intended purpose involves home inspection and finding heat leaks in buildings. Its actual use in my travel life? Determining which street food vendor has the freshest food by checking cooking temperatures, finding the warmest spot on the beach, and settling arguments about which friend has the coldest hands.

I initially bought it for a home project and threw it in my suitcase on a whim. Now it's become a bizarre travel tradition to take thermal selfies in front of famous monuments. My thermal image in front of the Colosseum looks like I'm standing before a giant alien structure. Worth the weird looks from other tourists? I think so.

The Translation Earbuds: Star Trek Tech With Budget Limitations

In theory, these wireless earbuds provide real-time translation of conversations. In practice, they work about 70% of the time, creating situations that range from incredibly helpful to hilariously disastrous. When they work, they feel like magic – I've had meaningful conversations with taxi drivers in Japan and shop owners in Portugal that would have been impossible otherwise.

When they fail, though, they fail spectacularly. My attempt to compliment a chef in Italy somehow translated to me asking if his cat was pregnant. There wasn't even a cat present. Despite these occasional misadventures, they've created some of the most memorable moments of my recent travels, even if not always for the right reasons.

Whether any of these strange gadgets actually enhance your vacation depends entirely on your tolerance for being "that weird tourist with the gadgets." But if you're willing to embrace a little eccentricity, they can make for some excellent travel stories – and occasionally even solve a problem or two.