5 great gadgets for fall travel

Most people might go on vacation during the summer – but there are lots of cool destinations that are at their best during a different season. Autumn trips mean you can check out changing leaves, seasonal foods like apples and cider and enjoy colder-weather camping.

But, just like any other time you might be traveling, there are great gadgets that can help make the experience better. Read on to check out five highly useful apps for fall travel.

Your new iPhone

Every year, one of the biggest things to happen in the gadget world is the release of a new iPhone – and if you’re looking for a travel device, it’s hard to do much better than a top-of-the-line smartphone for navigating roads and information about wherever you’re going. Fall is when the latest iPhones usually drop, so keep your eyes peeled and hit up Apple.com for 1 percent Cash Back from ShopAtHome.com. You can also try wireless providers such as AT&T (and get up to $100 Cash Back) or Sprint (with up to $40 Cash Back).

If you’re upgrading your iPhone (or Android device), another gadget you’ll want for your fall travel is a waterproof smartphone case. In many places around the country and the world, rainfall picks up significantly during the autumn months, so hit up stores like Amazon for devices such as the FRIEQ Waterproof iPhone 5 case, which you can nab for about $12.

Prep for the great outdoors

Whether you’re setting out for a camping trip or following your football team for some great fall tailgating, there are gadgets you’re going to need. Start by snagging something like the MSR Alpine Deluxe Kitchen Set – it’ll hook you up with everything you need for camping and tailgating, like a spatula, spoon and grater. Find it at Backcountry.com for $55, with as much as 5 percent Cash Back.

You might also want to pick up a Biolite Camp Stove for $130. It’s a wood-burning stove that will not only help you prep your camp food, it’ll also convert excess heat into electricity, which you can use to charge electronics like iPhones and Android devices. Hit up REI, and you might get as much as 3 percent Cash Back as well.

Campers will want one more non-food-related gadget, as well. Great to have on any trip is the Eton Raptor, a solar-charging radio that also includes features like an altimeter, a barometer and more. Walmart carries the Raptor for about $97 and offers 2 percent Cash Back, as well.

—By Phil Hornshaw, Appolicious