Travel Tested: How to Protect Your iPad on Flights, Hikes, and Road Trips

Your iPad is your go-to travel companion. It holds your movies, books, travel docs, itineraries, games, work files, even your sanity on a long flight or in the middle of nowhere. But travel can be rough on tech! 

One minute you're watching Netflix at cruising altitude and the next, your iPad's sliding off the tray table like it’s training for the Olympics. 

Turbulent flights. Dusty trails. Unexpected rain. Car seats with no padding. Your iPad is tough, but it's not invincible.

In this blog post, we'll show you how to protect your iPad on flights, hikes, and road trips,  and which gear actually holds up when it matters most.

How Do You Protect Your iPad When Travelling?

iPads are expensive and fragile. That’s basically everything you don’t want in a travel environment without proper protection. You wouldn’t pack your passport in a paper envelope, right? The same logic applies to your iPad. Travel puts your devices into unpredictable environments. Think cramming them into your cabin bag for flights, dusty hikes, rainy cities, or even road trips where it slides around the backseat like a hockey puck.

Your device deserved protection, and if your idea of protection is a $10 case from an airport kiosk… Well, that’s cute.

Discover ZUGU Cases for iPads

 

Flying with Your iPad: The Right Way to Do It

Let’s start with the skies. Air travel is harmless enough for most people, but airplanes are the ultimate stress test for tech gear. Flying with your iPad sounds simple until the kid behind you kicks your seat, the beverage cart smashes into your elbow, or you drop your device falling asleep on the redeye.

To protect your iPad while on the plane, you need:

• A rugged iPad case that won’t budge, multi-angle stand options for seat trays, laps, or hands-free use, and secure magnetic closures so nothing swings open mid-flight. 

ZUGU’s iPad cases were made with travel in mind. The magnetic stand has up to ten secure angles so you can binge-watch without awkward wrist gymnastics. It even sticks to the back of plane seats if you want to go full hands-free. 

Extra travel tips for carrying an iPad on a plane include: 

• Turning off auto-brightness to save battery, 
• Downloading movies or books before boarding, 
• Keeping your iPad with your personal items, not in your checked bag
• Using a screen protector for added scratch resistance. 

Remember to keep a microfiber cloth to clean fingerprints and smudges, and use airplane mode to preserve battery. Oh, and yes, you can take your iPad through airport security safely. TSA considers iPads similar to laptops. Take it out of your bag, place it in a separate bin, and you’re good to go. Easy!

Hikes: iPad Protection for the Great Outdoors

We know what you’re thinking. “Who takes an iPad on a hike?”. A lot of people, actually! 

Maybe you’re tracking your trail route with GPS, or a photographer using it to transfer and view high-resolution images. Some even use it to control drones or sketch on-site. Lots of hikers, photographers, drone operators, and digital nomads use iPads for everything from trail maps to remote work. These tips are for you.

That said, trails are rough. Dust, water, elevation, and accidental drops are all real threats.

So, how do you protect your iPad on outdoor adventures? You need a case that’s ready for anything:

• Reinforced bumpers that absorb shock from drops
• Snug fit to keep out dust and debris
• Water-resistant materials to fight off light rain or splashes
• Durability for protection inside backpacks.
  
  

The ZUGU case is built for this.

It has drop protection, but still fits snugly into most hiking backpacks without taking up much space. Pair your ZUGU case with a screen protector and screen wipes to keep it clean and protected. The combo shields against scratches, grit, and face-down drops.

Also, don’t forget to keep your iPad in airplane mode to save battery, store it in a dry bag if you're near water and use offline maps like AllTrails or Gaia GPS. So yes, you can protect your iPad on outdoor adventures. Just come prepared.

Road Trips: Safeguarding Your iPad on the Move

Road trips sound relaxing until your iPad takes a hard corner and ends up under the driver’s seat. The big question is, how do you protect your iPad when traveling by car? What’s the safest way to carry an iPad on a road trip? It’s simple, use a case that:

• Won’t slide around or pop open
• Doubles as a viewing stand for passengers
• Survives a drop if you fumble it while reaching for snacks.

ZUGU cases are road-trip friendly! 

You can use them hands-free. It has built in magnets if you’re using a magnetised stand, but you can also prop it up using the multi-angle stand. If you’re using your iPad for GPS, ZUGU cases have precise cutouts, so you can charge while using it without overheating on long, hot journeys or blocking sound — you’ll never miss an off-ramp again.

iPad Travel Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed

It’s not just about the case. A few smart accessories go a long way when protecting your iPad on the go.

Here are a few:

• iPad screen protector: anti-glare and anti-scratch is key
• Cable organizer: keep your charging cables from getting tangled 
• Stylus holder: ZUGU has built-in Apple Pencil charging and storage
• Keyboard attachment for working on the go
• USB-C or lightning power bank for charging on the go
• Headrest mount for backseat viewing
• A microfiber cloth and screen wipes (trust us, screens get gross on the road).

Your Ultimate iPad Protection Checklist

Whether you're heading out for business or adventure, follow this cheat sheet to protect your iPad:

✅ Use a ZUGU iPad case for shock absorption and hands-free viewing

✅ Apply a screen protector for travel to block scratches

✅ Bring a dry bag or zippered pouch for outdoor hikes

✅ Always carry your iPad with your personal items on flights

✅ Keep a charging cable and portable battery with you

✅ Use offline apps to save data and battery

✅ Have a cable and accessory organizer

✅ Always charge with reliable accessories.

When you’re out in the world, your gear needs to keep up. If you’re wondering how to protect your iPad when traveling or looking for the best iPad case for adventure, start with the case that’s already trusted by thousands of adventurers — and everyday users.

Ready to upgrade your travel setup?