Let’s be real—I’m a travel nerd. Always chasing Wi‑Fi in hotels, Airbnbs, coworking spaces, and even cruise cabins (!!). My old go‑to was a basic pocket router. It worked… but it felt clunky, slow, and had zero personality.

Then I found the Slate AX—a tiny powerhouse masquerading as a travel router. Pair that with a solid price (it’s currently $109.90, down from $149.90 on Amazon) and it instantly went from curiosity to necessity in my travel kit.

First Impressions: Cute, Compact, But Built Like a Tank

At first glance, the Slate AX is deceptively small—about 5″ x 3″ x 1.4″. Put it next to my old bulky router and it looks like a candy bar. Yet this little guy packs Wi‑Fi 6 with dual‑band speeds up to 1800 Mbps (600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz), plus an IPQ6000 1.2 GHz quad‑core CPU, 512 MB DDR3 RAM, and 128 MB flash. That’s more grease than most home routers!
It’s got three gigabit Ethernet ports, USB‑C power (only ~8.75 W), a USB‑A 3.0 port, a microSD slot, and two nifty retractable antennas. Impressive for something that sits comfortably in your palm.

Setup & Everyday Use: Surprisingly Smooth

Pop it open, plug it in, and the Slate AX gives you a clean GUI that even tech newbies can handle. But it’s also fully OpenWRT under the hood, complete with LUCI interface and plugin support. That dual personality is rare.
There’s a physical toggle switch on top—quick way to turn on VPN (via OpenVPN or WireGuard) or ad‑blocking with AdGuard Home. AdGuard Home was recently added built‑in, which is HUGE—keeping out trackers and annoying ads while traveling and saving me data.

A firmware update brought IPv6, DFS channel support, WPA3, MU‑MIMO, OFDMA, 802.11k/v/r/w…seriously, it’s like a Swiss Army knife of network tech 😅.

Performance: More Than Just Travel Wi‑Fi

In normal travel‑router fashion, I tested it in hotels (with captive portals), Airbnbs, and even a cruise ship. Each time, setup was a breeze: hit “repeater mode,” login through the portal, and suddenly every device + TV/Chromecast is securely connected to my network.

Streaming, Zoom, file transfers—all smooth. In one iperf test, it hit gigabit speeds on both wired and wireless GL.iNet. PC Guide gave it a glowing 5/5, praising signal strength, download speeds, and sheer portability.

USB file‑sharing over the 3.0 port clocks in around 30–40 MB/s when using a Class 10 microSD or external drive GL.iNet—ideal for backing up photos or sharing docs on the go.

VPN & Privacy: A Traveler’s Best Friend

What really cinched it was the VPN capabilities. It comes preloaded with WireGuard (up to 550 Mbps) and OpenVPN (around 120 Mbps). For anyone who works remotely, connects to unsecured networks, or just wants geo‑freedom, this router is a Swiss fortress.
One Redditor shared:

“I always travel with this and VPN home so all my traffic is protected and no interception. It works even in China if you change the VPN port.”

That’s a serious peace of mind.

The Little Quirks (Because Nothing’s Perfect)

No router is flawless:

• The USB‑A port can interfere a bit with the Wi‑Fi signal—common in devices with 3.0 ports. A dab of copper tape often mitigates this.
• It runs a bit hot, and the automatic fan kicks in (Threshold adjustable from 70–90 °C). Not a deal‑breaker, but worth knowing.
• It needs constant power (no internal battery), so you’ll rely on a USB‑C charger. For me, that’s a small trade for insane flexibility.

Slate AX vs Other Travel Routers

In Lifewire’s 2025 roundup of travel routers, the Slate AX took top honors:

• Wi‑Fi 6
• Two gigabit LAN ports + WAN
• VPN, NAS, ad‑blocking
• Excellent coverage for up to 120 devices

Only held back by no battery or cellular, but that was fine—they recommended Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro for folks needing 5G and battery life.

Compared to basic routers like TL‑WR902AC, the Slate AX is in a different league—faster, more secure, with heavier customization. And cheaper than most 5G‑equipped devices. So if you need power and privacy on the move, Slate AX is a treat.

In My Bag: A Typical Travel Setup

Here’s how I roll:

1. Slate AX plugged into USB‑C charger in hotel room.
2. Antennas extended, switched to repeater mode.
3. Connected to hotel Wi‑Fi and passed the captive portal.
4. Enabled WireGuard via toggle—now my traffic is safe.
5. Plugged in Chromecast or NAS drive via USB (if needed).
6. All devices (laptop, phone, tablet) auto‑connect to my private network—not the hotel’s.

Everything from streaming to gaming to file backup just flows—and securely. The Slate AX becomes the centerpiece of my travel tech.

Final Verdict: Slate AX Router—Who Is This For?

The Slate AX router is a winner for:

• Frequent travelers (hotels, Airbnbs, cruises)
• Remote workers / digital nomads
• Privacy advocates & VPN users
• Techies who want control & expandability
• Families who want to share one secure Wi‑Fi network

It’s less ideal if you need battery freedom or cellular built in—but that’s a conscious trade‑off. Instead, you get blazing speed, expandable storage, VPN, ad‑blocking, and rock‑solid hardware—all in a package smaller than a paperback.

TL;DR

• Speedy Wi‑Fi 6 with up to 1800 Mbps
• Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, microSD slot
• WireGuard/OpenVPN plus built‑in AdGuard
• OpenWRT flexibility + friendly GUI/app
• Portable (fits in your pocket), yet powerful
• Around $110—great value for the feature set

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I had my own secure network when traveling,” the Slate AX is your answer. It’s the little gadget that makes a major difference.

Ready to make your travels smarter, faster, and more secure? Grab the Slate AX and never look back.