Worldette’s Kate Caroline takes a look back at the best travel gear of 2012 that helped us stay stylish and organised on the road.

Kindle Fire

The Kindle Fire (Kindle Fire on Amazon) is your eReader and tablet all rolled in to one, making it your ideal travel tech companion.

For all those long plane, train, and bus rides, travelers want compactness and need entertainment. The Kindle Fire lets you put all your music, books, and movies on one device, and it’s battery will last you for about the duration of a flight from New York to Paris.

iPhone Case with Battery PackI constantly see people searching for outlets so that they can charge their iPhones. When traveling, this is especially inconvenient.

Third Rail has created a sleek iPhone case (www.thirdrailmobility.com/p-4-slim-case.aspx) that holds an extra battery so that for those moments when you really need Google Maps to guide you when you can’t find your hotel and your phone dies, you have an alternative.

Solar Backpack Charger

Quite possibly the most ingenious backpack ever created is one that has the capability to charge your electronic devices. All you need is some sun.

The solar backpacks (www.voltaicsystems.com/offgrid.shtml) designed by Voltaic come with a lightweight, removable solar panel that charges your devices. One hour of sun equals three hours of talk time.

Barefoot Shoes

Okay so Barefoot Shoes, or Five Finger Shoes, were not created in 2012, although these designs were.

Vibram FiveFinger shoes (www.vibramfivefingers.com) are great for traveling because they take up less space in your suitcase and you can wear them during outdoor travel activities, like hiking the Inca Trail or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Brookstone Tablet Keyboard

Laptops aren’t always the best travel companions. They’re heavy and take up a lot of room. That’s why tablets are a great invention for travelers, but sometimes they’re not enough.

Here is where the Bluetooth Magnetic Keyboard Portfolio case (www.brookstone.com) from Brookstone comes in: Just slide your iPad into the portfolio and you set it up to act like a mini laptop.

The keyboard is removable so you can place the screen where it is most comfortable for you. No need to lug that heavy MacBook around anymore.

What did we miss? Share your tips for the best travel accessories you came across in 2012!