These are the products you should definitely take with you to college or university
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(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Whether you’re heading off to university or college, or just starting a new job, there’s one essential question that every T3 fan should be asking: what tech should I take with me?
As the purveyors of premium lifestyle technology, we know a thing or two about gadgets. We’ve also been there – whether it’s the first day in halls, or in a new office. So rather than create a general list of ideas, I asked the T3 team for the products they used in similar circumstances themselves and would recommend to others.
It’s not just about gadgets though. There are home comforts and handy accessories that just make life better, wherever you are. We’re coveringBack to Classtopics through all of August, so don’t forget to check out ourhub pagefor new features each week.
T3 team Back to Class recommendations
1. Rucksack
(Image credit: Knomo)
(Image credit: Knomo)
Rik HendersonNews Editor"One item I invested in when starting a new job, many years ago, was a hardy leather backpack, and I couldn’t have made a better decision. Having destroyed many a canvas bag previously, I opted for a Knomo leather equivalent and a decade later it is still as solid and dependable – even better, in fact, thanks to the patina it has accrued over time. The model itself is no longer available, but plenty of high-quality leather backpacks from trusted brands will do the trick too."
Rik HendersonNews Editor"One item I invested in when starting a new job, many years ago, was a hardy leather backpack, and I couldn’t have made a better decision. Having destroyed many a canvas bag previously, I opted for a Knomo leather equivalent and a decade later it is still as solid and dependable – even better, in fact, thanks to the patina it has accrued over time. The model itself is no longer available, but plenty of high-quality leather backpacks from trusted brands will do the trick too."
Rik HendersonNews Editor
Rik Henderson
“One item I invested in when starting a new job, many years ago, was a hardy leather backpack, and I couldn’t have made a better decision. Having destroyed many a canvas bag previously, I opted for a Knomo leather equivalent and a decade later it is still as solid and dependable – even better, in fact, thanks to the patina it has accrued over time. The model itself is no longer available, but plenty of high-quality leather backpacks from trusted brands will do the trick too.”
“One item I invested in when starting a new job, many years ago, was a hardy leather backpack, and I couldn’t have made a better decision. Having destroyed many a canvas bag previously, I opted for a Knomo leather equivalent and a decade later it is still as solid and dependable – even better, in fact, thanks to the patina it has accrued over time. The model itself is no longer available, but plenty of high-quality leather backpacks from trusted brands will do the trick too.”
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Today’s best Knomo Backpacks deals9 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$27.99View$74.61View$149.22ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Knomo Backpacks deals
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
2. Noise cancelling earbuds
(Image credit: Bose)
(Image credit: Bose)
Sam CrossNews Writer"Whether you’re trying to block out the noise as you turn in a paper, or need to dial into a video call, a pair of quality noise cancelling earbuds are a must have. I couldn’t have gotten through university without mine, and I still use them in my working life to this day. If budget permits, try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Those are the best all-rounders I’ve tried, and the ANC is pretty much unmatched. For a cheaper pick, the Sony WF-C700N are brilliant as an alternative."
Sam CrossNews Writer"Whether you’re trying to block out the noise as you turn in a paper, or need to dial into a video call, a pair of quality noise cancelling earbuds are a must have. I couldn’t have gotten through university without mine, and I still use them in my working life to this day. If budget permits, try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Those are the best all-rounders I’ve tried, and the ANC is pretty much unmatched. For a cheaper pick, the Sony WF-C700N are brilliant as an alternative."
Sam CrossNews Writer
Sam Cross
“Whether you’re trying to block out the noise as you turn in a paper, or need to dial into a video call, a pair of quality noise cancelling earbuds are a must have. I couldn’t have gotten through university without mine, and I still use them in my working life to this day. If budget permits, try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Those are the best all-rounders I’ve tried, and the ANC is pretty much unmatched. For a cheaper pick, the Sony WF-C700N are brilliant as an alternative.”
“Whether you’re trying to block out the noise as you turn in a paper, or need to dial into a video call, a pair of quality noise cancelling earbuds are a must have. I couldn’t have gotten through university without mine, and I still use them in my working life to this day. If budget permits, try the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Those are the best all-rounders I’ve tried, and the ANC is pretty much unmatched. For a cheaper pick, the Sony WF-C700N are brilliant as an alternative.”
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
3. Kindle
(Image credit: Amazon)
(Image credit: Amazon)
Beth Girdler-MaslenHome Editor"One item that was invaluable during my university degree was a Kindle. Having a Kindle meant the required reading for my course was on one handy device rather than multiple stacks of books, which would have taken up too much space in my backpack and made a huge dent in my student bank account. Books on the Kindle Store are also much cheaper than buying physical copies, while Kindles come with highlighters and sticky notes, making annotations and note-taking much easier and more condensed."
Beth Girdler-MaslenHome Editor"One item that was invaluable during my university degree was a Kindle. Having a Kindle meant the required reading for my course was on one handy device rather than multiple stacks of books, which would have taken up too much space in my backpack and made a huge dent in my student bank account. Books on the Kindle Store are also much cheaper than buying physical copies, while Kindles come with highlighters and sticky notes, making annotations and note-taking much easier and more condensed."
Beth Girdler-MaslenHome Editor
Beth Girdler-Maslen
“One item that was invaluable during my university degree was a Kindle. Having a Kindle meant the required reading for my course was on one handy device rather than multiple stacks of books, which would have taken up too much space in my backpack and made a huge dent in my student bank account. Books on the Kindle Store are also much cheaper than buying physical copies, while Kindles come with highlighters and sticky notes, making annotations and note-taking much easier and more condensed.”
“One item that was invaluable during my university degree was a Kindle. Having a Kindle meant the required reading for my course was on one handy device rather than multiple stacks of books, which would have taken up too much space in my backpack and made a huge dent in my student bank account. Books on the Kindle Store are also much cheaper than buying physical copies, while Kindles come with highlighters and sticky notes, making annotations and note-taking much easier and more condensed.”
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Today’s best Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 and Amazon Kindle deals
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
4. Powerbank
(Image credit: Belkin)
(Image credit: Belkin)
Matt KollatActive Editor"A power bank was essential for me when I was at uni, as it provided a reliable backup power source for my devices. With long days on campus and the need to stay connected for classes, assignments, and communication, a power bank ensures that my laptop and smartphone remained charged at all times. No one wants to run out of juice halfway through the day! If for nothing else, it offers convenience and peace of mind, especially during busy schedules."
Matt KollatActive Editor"A power bank was essential for me when I was at uni, as it provided a reliable backup power source for my devices. With long days on campus and the need to stay connected for classes, assignments, and communication, a power bank ensures that my laptop and smartphone remained charged at all times. No one wants to run out of juice halfway through the day! If for nothing else, it offers convenience and peace of mind, especially during busy schedules."
Matt KollatActive Editor
Matt Kollat
“A power bank was essential for me when I was at uni, as it provided a reliable backup power source for my devices. With long days on campus and the need to stay connected for classes, assignments, and communication, a power bank ensures that my laptop and smartphone remained charged at all times. No one wants to run out of juice halfway through the day! If for nothing else, it offers convenience and peace of mind, especially during busy schedules.”
“A power bank was essential for me when I was at uni, as it provided a reliable backup power source for my devices. With long days on campus and the need to stay connected for classes, assignments, and communication, a power bank ensures that my laptop and smartphone remained charged at all times. No one wants to run out of juice halfway through the day! If for nothing else, it offers convenience and peace of mind, especially during busy schedules.”
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
5. Smart Calendar
(Image credit: Skylight)
(Image credit: Skylight)
Lizzie WilmotHome Writer
Lizzie Wilmot
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
6. Laptop
(Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
Mike LoweTech Editor"DuringAmazon Prime Daya great Mac deal came up – and I wished mine was as cheap! TheMacBook Air M2– the first Air to introduce Apple’s latest design – is amongthe best laptopsfor most people, especially cash-strapped students. I found it to be a game-changer, having used Intel machines for years, as Apple’s fanless M2 silicon means zero noise – but not to the detriment of power. This’ll handle your student days and personal extras, no dramas, whilst saving you cash compared to the newerMacBook Air M3 model. It’s ideal – and thebest student laptopin my book."
Mike LoweTech Editor"DuringAmazon Prime Daya great Mac deal came up – and I wished mine was as cheap! TheMacBook Air M2– the first Air to introduce Apple’s latest design – is amongthe best laptopsfor most people, especially cash-strapped students. I found it to be a game-changer, having used Intel machines for years, as Apple’s fanless M2 silicon means zero noise – but not to the detriment of power. This’ll handle your student days and personal extras, no dramas, whilst saving you cash compared to the newerMacBook Air M3 model. It’s ideal – and thebest student laptopin my book."
Mike LoweTech Editor
Mike Lowe
“DuringAmazon Prime Daya great Mac deal came up – and I wished mine was as cheap! TheMacBook Air M2– the first Air to introduce Apple’s latest design – is amongthe best laptopsfor most people, especially cash-strapped students. I found it to be a game-changer, having used Intel machines for years, as Apple’s fanless M2 silicon means zero noise – but not to the detriment of power. This’ll handle your student days and personal extras, no dramas, whilst saving you cash compared to the newerMacBook Air M3 model. It’s ideal – and thebest student laptopin my book.”
“DuringAmazon Prime Daya great Mac deal came up – and I wished mine was as cheap! TheMacBook Air M2– the first Air to introduce Apple’s latest design – is amongthe best laptopsfor most people, especially cash-strapped students. I found it to be a game-changer, having used Intel machines for years, as Apple’s fanless M2 silicon means zero noise – but not to the detriment of power. This’ll handle your student days and personal extras, no dramas, whilst saving you cash compared to the newerMacBook Air M3 model. It’s ideal – and thebest student laptopin my book.”
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Today’s best MacBook Air (M2) deals1 Amazon customer review☆☆☆☆☆$999$849.95View$999View$1,499ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
7. Printer
(Image credit: Epson)
(Image credit: Epson)
Mat GallagherEditor-in-chief"Okay, it isn’t the sexiest piece of tech but having your own printer can be a lifesaver, whether you’re printing off an assignment or a boarding pass. I picked up the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 a few years ago and I’d never be without it. It comes with giant ink bottles that claim to deliver up to three years of printing – two years in, I’m about half way through them. It also has a built in flatbed scanner, which is handy for sending off copies signed documents or saving old photos. Just don’t tell anyone you’ve got one, otherwise they’ll all want to use it!"
Mat GallagherEditor-in-chief"Okay, it isn’t the sexiest piece of tech but having your own printer can be a lifesaver, whether you’re printing off an assignment or a boarding pass. I picked up the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 a few years ago and I’d never be without it. It comes with giant ink bottles that claim to deliver up to three years of printing – two years in, I’m about half way through them. It also has a built in flatbed scanner, which is handy for sending off copies signed documents or saving old photos. Just don’t tell anyone you’ve got one, otherwise they’ll all want to use it!"
Mat GallagherEditor-in-chief
Mat Gallagher
“Okay, it isn’t the sexiest piece of tech but having your own printer can be a lifesaver, whether you’re printing off an assignment or a boarding pass. I picked up the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 a few years ago and I’d never be without it. It comes with giant ink bottles that claim to deliver up to three years of printing – two years in, I’m about half way through them. It also has a built in flatbed scanner, which is handy for sending off copies signed documents or saving old photos. Just don’t tell anyone you’ve got one, otherwise they’ll all want to use it!”
“Okay, it isn’t the sexiest piece of tech but having your own printer can be a lifesaver, whether you’re printing off an assignment or a boarding pass. I picked up the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 a few years ago and I’d never be without it. It comes with giant ink bottles that claim to deliver up to three years of printing – two years in, I’m about half way through them. It also has a built in flatbed scanner, which is handy for sending off copies signed documents or saving old photos. Just don’t tell anyone you’ve got one, otherwise they’ll all want to use it!”
Today’s best Epson EcoTank ET-2850 and Epson EcoTank ET-3850 deals$246.95View$269.99View$349.99$269.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Epson EcoTank ET-2850 and Epson EcoTank ET-3850 deals$246.95View$269.99View$349.99$269.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Epson EcoTank ET-2850 and Epson EcoTank ET-3850 deals
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
8. Smartwatch
(Image credit: Coros)
(Image credit: Coros)
Bryony Firth-BernardActive Writer
Bryony Firth-Bernard
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Today’s best Coros Kiprun GPS 500 dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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