11 gadgets commuters shouldn’t leave home without

How much time do you spend commuting to work?

While the average American commute is 25 minutes, according to the United States Census Bureau, Australians spend 30 minutes getting to work, News.com.au reports. Britons have it much worse, with an average commute of 54 minutes, according to a report by The Daily Express.

Here are 11 gadgets you should bring on your next commute to help you stay productive, energized and entertained on the go.

1. Brompton S2L foldable bicycle

The future of smart cities isn’t just optimized route planning, it’s utilizing multiple modes of transportation and real-time traffic data to get to where you need to be while mitigating the impact of your trip for other commuters.

One way to save money and time is to bike to your train or subway stop. Anyone who has ever done so knows two things. The first is that you can’t just lock your bike up outside your train stop. The second is that bringing your bike on a rush hour commute is horribly unpleasant for you and inconvenient for other commuters.

This is where a foldable bike can help. Brompton, which has roots in London, currently offers six models, all of which can be customized to meet the buyer’s needs. For commuters, the company recommends the S2L, which has two gears and can be snugly tucked away in a closet or underneath a desk.

2. Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD GPS

With a myriad of navigation apps available for smartphones, it’s easy for us to forget about the classic, windshield-mounted personal navigation systems that got us from point A to point B (and maybe point C) before we were twiddling with our iPhones and Androids. Those in-car GPS gadgets still exist, of course, and they’re favored by millions of drivers because of how simple they are to use and because of their adaptive features. One such feature is text-to-speech instructions that help drivers slide out of traffic jams without having to take out their phones.

The Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD, which adheres to your vehicle via a powered magnetic mount, offers Bluetooth connectivity, real-time traffic updates, simple voice commands and 3D lane assistance to ensure you don’t get tripped up on your turns. The nüvi also connects to a smartphone app that remembers where you parked your car, and shows you its location on a map.

3. Infinity Pillow

Train and bus commuters know all too well the hindrance of not being able to sleep or rest in transit because of uneven and uncomfortable surfaces. The Infinity Pillow, though, is the weary commuter’s best friend.

The malleable pillow is capable of being contorted into different positions and used in a number of relaxing ways. Commuters can turn it into a head rest, a neck pillow or back support cushion; they can even make an eye mask out of the Infinity Pillow.

The product is easily foldable and transportable, meaning commuters can stash it away in their desks and break it out when their supervisor isn’t around.

4. Siva Cycle Atom kinetic bicycle charger

Your car has charging capabilities and your train might have power outlets, but how can you charge your devices if you bike to work?

The Siva Cycle Atom bicycle-powered USB charger is a handy tool to power your devices and promote clean energy and smart cities — especially if you’re using a bike share. The gadget clips onto your bicycle, and its removable battery receives energy as you pedal to power the devices you have plugged into it. After your commute, remove the charged battery from the Atom for a continued power supply.

5. Hey Joe coffee brewing mug

Scores of companies and entrepreneurs claim to be disrupting the coffee industry, but Hey Joe could be the closest to doing just that. While other portable brewing systems exist, Hey Joe is among the most efficient, portable and environmentally friendly.

The battery-powered Hey Joe coffee mug, which can be charged in your car by USB, holds 14 ounces of java, the temperature of which is controlled by pushing a button on the cup.

Hey Joe brews in under three minutes and uses biodegradable packaging, which eliminates the environmentally destructive waste of a coffee cup and other packaging. Hey Joe coffee packets, which currently come in two different Arabica bean-based blends, contain flower seeds so that they can be planted after they’re brewed.

6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is a great, easily transportable companion device for subway, light rail and bus commuters. Weighing less than one pound, it fits effortlessly into your backpack or computer bag, and provides double the graphics of an HDTV for those who like to turn on a show or movie during their commutes. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 also features a multi-window function that allows commuters to access emails or documents while they watch media.

7. GUNNAR screen glasses

How many hours per day are your eyes glued to a screen?

Americans spend an average of 444 minutes each day staring at screens, according to a report by Kleiner Perkins analyst Mary Meeker. As you might be able to infer, that isn’t very good for your optical health. In fact, according to a report released this year by The Vision Council, 95% of Americans are at risk for digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome (CVS), a malady that causes eye dryness, itchiness and fuzzy vision.

To prevent eye irritation, commuters who use their laptop, smartphone and/or tablet in transit, in addition to their computer at work and at home, should consider purchasing GUNNAR protective glasses. GUNNAR’s lenses are engineered to block out the damaging high-energy, UV and artificial blue light that screens omit.

The optic also features technology that helps wearers focus by providing sharper vision without ocular strain. If you already wear corrective lenses or glasses, GUNNAR glasses can be fitted with your current prescription.

8. Sulan handbag tag charger

Worried about sustaining a charge without sacrificing appearance while you’re on the go? The Sulan Battery Tag is a stylish leather handbag accessory that clandestinely contains a 3000mAh rechargeable battery that’s capable of delivering a complete charge to your smartphone, ereader or tablet. The Sulan tag come in five colors.

9. SteelSeries Stratus wireless gaming controller

If you enjoy mobile gaming and have some free space to use on the subway or train (withoutmanspreading), try using a real video game controller as you game on the go.

The SteelSeries Stratus wireless gaming controller, which looks like a video game console controller, connects to your iOS tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth and delivers 10 hours of battery life, which makes it ideal for a series of short trips and even a few longer plane rides. The gadget is lightweight and portable, so you won’t have any problem placing it in your carry-on luggage or backpack.

10. Bluetooth handset gloves

It’s freezing outside, and your phone is buzzing away somewhere in your pocket. What if you could answer the call or make another one just by gesturing with your gloved hand?

The Bluetooth handset contains a talk button, a tiny microphone and a similarly diminutive speaker. By making the conventional phone call gesture with your gloved hand, you’re able to answers calls via a nondescript button near your wrist, and communicate with the party on the other line through a speaker located near your thumb and a microphone near your pinky.

The gloves come in knit or leather and have a range of up to 40 feet. Their charge lasts for 20 hours of conversation and 10 days on standby.

11. Otterbox screen protector and privacy screen

If you spend significant amounts of time working from your phone or tablet during your train or subway commute to work, you might want to consider purchasing a reliable privacy screen. Perhaps you don’t think you have anything to hide, but your superiors might disagree, especially if you routinely access sensitive information.

Otterbox, a well-known producer of sturdy smartphone cases, also manufactures a two-in-one screen protector and privacy screen for smartphones. The ultra-thin, fortified glass panel safeguards your phone against falls, and hides its content from prying side glances. It’s not too thick, either; the glass is specially designed to ensure that your phone’s touchscreen will react like it does without the protective layer.