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Note, your router from home is not going to be the best travel router on the road.

Travel has evolved rapidly in the last 10 years thanks to technology. We stay connected to friends and family at home, book accommodation and brag about the day’s adventures on social media on our phones, cameras and laptops. Even working remotely!

As often as we feel connected however, wifi connections around the world isn’t always the greatest and getting online can cost you a small fortune in some countries.

The idea of getting a wireless travel router isn’t that crazy.

Here are the top three best wifi travel routers reviewed in this article. Keep reading to learn more about their benefits, what a portable travel how is, how they work and more information about the routers chosen here.

What Is A Travel Router

As per Wikipedia a router is: a device that forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network.

In simple terms a travel router gives you access to a safe internet connection like your broadband router at home. The travel aspect? It means the router is portable and can be set up anywhere in the world as long as you have access to a wifi network.

How Does A Wireless Travel Router Work?

  1. You connect the travel router to the wifi network or wired broadband connection wherever you are
  2. Once connected the router will do it’s thing and create a safe/private network
  3. You can now connect all your mobile devices to this network and use the internet like at home

Benefits Of A Travel Router

  1. Secure private network connection
  2. Easy to transfer files
  3. Multiple devices can connect to avoid data charges
  4. Some routers will make the wifi connection stronger, extend the range

Features Of A Good Travel Router

  1. Compact size: the router will fit in your pocket or easily into backpack
  2. USB powered: the best way to ensure you are always able to keep it charged. If they’re battery powered, make sure the batteries are rechargeable
  3. No cables: you carry enough cables in your pack as it is!

The Three Best Travel Routers Profiled (out of seven)

Travel Router Model
Product Size
Weight
Transfer Rate
Check Amazon
Edimax Travel Router2.6 x 0.8 x 0.6 in.1 ozup to 150MbpsCheck Price
Cisco-Linksys 2 x 3 x 5 in.1 pound54MbpsCheck Price
TRENDnet Wireless Travel Router1.5 x 3.2 x 2 in.1 pound150MbpsCheck Price

Edimax Travel Router

edimax travel router

Size: 2.6 x 0.8 x 0.6 inches

Weight: 1 oz

The good looking Edimax Travel Router knows you have 101 things on your travel mind so conveniently remembers your login info and setting for connection so you can get online quickly.

Despite its small size, it acts as a router, access point and has Wireless ISP mode allowing you to surf on a secured connection (encryption: WEP 64/128 bit, WPA and WPA2).

The pocket size router is charged by a laptops USB port meaning no external power adapter is needed as you transfer files up to 150Mbps.

*Multiple devices can be connected.


Cisco-Linksys WTR54GS Wireless G Travel Router with Speedbooster

Size: 2 x 3 x 5 inches

Weight: 1 lb
cisco travel router

Create a temporary hot spot with the push of a button anywhere with this travel friendly router with a built-in power supply and antenna. The high security device is as secure as any other device here and can even connect with the old school Windows ME, 2000 and XP if you ever needed that in a off the beat tourist location.

In addition to sharing the router with the built-in SpeedBooster via Wi-Fi you can connect the ethernet port to a hardwired PC with the easy to use browser setup.


TRENDnet Wireless Travel Router

Size: 1.5 x 3.2 x 2

Weight:

1 lb

Trendnet wireless travel router

With TRENDnet’s travel router they keep things simple turning wirded internet into wireless networks as you’d expect. Connect your USB and boom, you can share all your files once you’ve finished charging your device of course.

One unique benefit is the interchangeable power plugs making it easy to keep the device connected worldwide.


NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router

Size: 6.42 x 9.26 x 2.17 inches

Weight: 0.77 lb


NETGEAR travel router

The N300 will do the usual things you expect from a router but rather than just extends your current WiFi coverage, has a canny ability to fill in those very annoying dead spots in your home.

If the WiFi connection you are on in a Malaysian cafe isn’t strong enough, pop on you NETGEAR travel router and see you connection strengthen in seconds.

The charging abilities are plenty, wall plug, power bank or a USB port making it the perfect device for long road trips overland.

Flip out the antenna, and away you go.


TP-LINK TL-WR802N Wireless N300 Travel Router

Size: 2.2 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches

Weight:

7.2oz
TP link wirless travel router

This convenient wireless travel router fits in our pocket like a gem just waiting to host a wifi hot-spot for you and your friends.

Capable of 300Mbps and 2.4Ghz you can actually stream video and game online without lag every other minute. Don’t forget to charge the deivce needs to be charged via an external adapter or (micro) USB port.

This is a tech friendly solution with the two year warranty a good thing to fall back on, not that you’d need to with a user friendly and high encryption levels on the device activated.


HooToo Wireless Travel Router

Size: 1.65 x 1.65 x 3.74 inches

Weight: 8.8 oz
HooToo wireless travel router

Rather than describe all the features as the previous descriptions, I’m just going to list them all for the last two:

  • Sharing of photos and video via desktop app or TripMate Plus mobile app.
  • Convert wired/wireless networks to private/secure wireless networks.
  • Use the device to transfer files to your USB flash drive.
  • Multiple USB devices can connect
  • Built-in 10400mAH power bang
  • 5x people can connect to the wireless network at once

Belkin Travel Dual Band Wireless N Router

Size: 3.5 x 2.5 x 1 inches
Weight: 2.2 oz
Belkin Travel Router

And more bullet points for you:

  • Quick button press automatically connects you to wifi
  • Ensures people cannot connect to your private wifi network
  • 2x USB ports to charge devices now and share files right away
  • Different routers = different speeds that files will transfer but 150+Mbps is the usual minimum speed
  • Battery powered device ensures you don’t get too conected to your device

What’s The Best Travel Router To Buy?

I really don’t know what is the best travel router for you to buy. These devices are far from perfect but if it serves you well in your hometown you can’t go wrong. If you really need some advice, buy two and sacrifice the weakest link.