Hey fellow gamers! I travel a ton for work, around 90-150 nights a year, and I’ve just gotten myself a 1TB OLED Steam Deck. I’ve watched tons of videos on setup and usage, but I feel like there’s a gap in advice for those of us who travel extensively with this device. I’d love to hear from anyone who frequently takes their Steam Deck on the go. What does your gaming setup look like while traveling? Space isn’t usually an issue for me since I drive to job sites that sometimes take 2-3 days to reach. Do any of you use emulation? Are the Batocera cards worth the hype? Since I’ll often be without internet, will this cause any problems with gameplay? Do I need to do any specific software planning or updates beforehand? Also, when staying in hotels, do you play on the device itself or use a dock with a controller? I’m curious about the general usage habits. Lastly, how do you maintain battery health on the Steam Deck? Are there ways to set charging limits like stopping at 80%? I already have the basic essentials like a 10ft charging cord, a dock, battery banks, and screen protector. Would love to hear your tips or any additional gear you recommend!
5 Answers
I’ve got a few tips from my extensive travels. First, consider getting a slim extension cord for planes since outlets can be unreliable. A 1TB microSD card is perfect for storing games and backups. I also recommend wired earbuds—they tend to have less latency compared to wireless ones and don’t run out of battery mid-game. Plus, I tend to play older or indie games during flights to maximize battery life, often getting 6-8 hours of play on a single charge! Just remember to check for any game updates before flying in case you lose internet access.
I highly recommend getting AR glasses like Xreal or Virture for your travels. They really enhance the experience! For battery life, I stick to smaller indie games or emulated games while traveling. They keep me entertained for hours without draining the battery too much. For instance, I’ve packed my SD card full with classics like Tetris and Slay the Spire. Great for long flights, and I often get them during sales, so they’re super cheap!
Are there any AR glasses that are affordable? Most seem really expensive, can’t justify spending that much on one.
I’ve been using my Steam Deck for about 80% of my gaming these days and I travel a lot too. I emulate a ton, including around 32 PS2 games. It’s seamless! For battery health, I suggest keeping your expectations realistic—if you don’t overdo it with heavy games, the battery will last longer. When you first launch a game, make sure you’re connected to the internet for any initial logins and downloads. After that, playing offline works perfectly fine. Plus, streaming is a game changer for AAA titles when you’re back home!
I travel as well and agree with all of this. One thing I’d add is to get a travel mouse and keyboard if you’re going to use the Steam Deck as your main device. It makes life easier!
Thanks for the input! I totally get how overwhelming it can be with all the tutorials online. I plan to use the Deck mostly for relaxing games, so I hope it fits my vibe after a long day. Do you use stick protectors, though? I’ve heard mixed things and I’m not sure about investing in them.
I usually travel quite a bit too, and honestly, I pack super light. Just the Deck, its charger, and a power bank see me through my trips. When I went to Budapest, that was all I took! I plan to do the same for my trip to Japan. Simple and effective.
As someone who travels about 250 nights a year, I’ve found that my gaming laptop has been invaluable for gaming. I stream to my Deck when I’m not playing heavier games. It’s great to keep things casual. I run Emudeck on a 2TB card, and it’s working like a charm. Just be careful with games that need second-launchers when you’re on flights—those can be tricky!
Sounds like we might play similarly! How long can you game on something like Vampire Survivors before needing a recharge? Just trying to gauge how much extra battery I should bring.