The iPod has become the third must-have gadget in the roadwarrior’s armoury, after the BlackBerry and laptop.

While it is nice to listen to your playlists through a pair of Sennheiser noise-cancelling headphones, when you are in your hotel room, it is less than convenient to be wired to the device. A portable speaker system is the answer and they don;’t come much more travel-friendly than the SoundTraveller, thanks to its dinky size and low weight.

While this has been designed for the iPod – it even comes in iPod black, blue, pink, red and silver – there is an audio input so you can connect any type of MP3 player or audio device.

Your iPod sits on a raised dock connector, which makes it feel very unstable compared to the recessed connector on a standard iPod dock but it doesn’t seem to have any operational issues as a result. Other than this, the design is spot on, complementing the iPod well. A supplied USB cable means you can charge the iPod from your laptop too.

Sound quality is pretty good considering the small speakers and that it’s powered by a single AA battery although lacking in bass as you would expect.

The spec

Size: 97x37x37mm, the same as a stack of two Mars bars (not King Size). Weight: Battery life: 12 hours on an AA battery. Power output: 1.2 watts x 2.

The hype

They say: Essential travel companion for total music connection. (Whatever that means.)

The reality

We say: Good for listening in your hotel room and very easy to slip into a jacket pocket or your hand luggage.

The bottom line

£45 from Power Traveller

The verdict

Priced a little high for my liking but offering a very portable way to get sound out of your iPod without being tied by a pair of headphones. Surprisingly good sound despite the small footprint and power consumption.

The roadwarrior rating

7 out of 10