As Christmas grows closer, you still may be in need of a gift for your favorite traveler.

For those who like to bring music on the road, there’s no better way to pass the time in an airport terminal, or to tune out the rowdy child on a flight.

While many of us are familiar with the trendiest in music gadgets (think iPod mania), far fewer are up to speed on the latest in attachments, speakers, cases, and specialty devices and players (the kinds of things that make perfect gifts!).

Here’s a round up of the good, the practical, and the just plain fun in travel-friendly music gadgets.

More and more people are now opting for music-enabled cell phones rather than carrying around a phone and an MP3 player, and the people at Bose have taken notice. Their lightweight Mobile On-Ear Headset offers people who want to listen to music on their cell phones (and enjoy clearer phone calls) all the acclaimed sound benefits of their traditional headphones.

The headset’s custom-designed audio cable also contains an enhanced inline microphone, which makes switching between music and phone calls extremely easy. An added bonus? The padded ear-cups rotate from front-to-back and top-to-bottom for a comfortable fit, which is a nice change of pace from those often-uncomfortable earbuds. The headset is directly compatible with the Apple iPhone and with all other music phones that have 3.5 mm jacks, and it includes four 2.5 mm adapters that enable you to plug into many other popular music-enabled mobile phones. $199.95; www.bose.com.

If it’s earbuds rather than headphones that you want, though, V-MODA’s Vibe Earbuds feature noise-canceling technology designed to make your on-the-go music listening experience as clear and rich as possible. These sleek metal earphones have small silicone ear fittings (available in three different sizes) that, on top of being more comfortable than traditional plastic fittings, stay in place very well. Available in sexy colors like gunmetal black and flashback chrome, these high-fashion earbuds also come with a gold leather pouch for storage. Though they retail for $101, V-MODA claims that purchasers of its Vibe Earbuds receive VIP card access to V-MODA modcasts, music, and other gear—translation: more bang for your buck. Vibe Earbuds are compatible with the iPod, the Zune, and several other portable music players. www.v-moda.com.

For those who really want to take control of their mobile music listening experience, Tension Labs’ EAP03 Earphone Audio Processor offers new possibilities. This credit card-sized device, which attaches to your portable music player with Velcro, is a multi-channel audio processor that lets you adjust the mix of music and outside sound to your satisfaction.

This is a good option for tuning out noise on a busy city street or, conversely, for being able to hear announcements in an airport terminal over your music. What’s more, the device’s “soundfield expansion” technology makes the earphones sound more like speakers because it blends the left-and right-ear signals to introduce small timing differences. The audio processor has a battery life of up to eight hours, so it can get you through some pretty substantial car or plane rides. $179; www.tensionlabs.com.

A device that allows you to put similar audio precision to more fun use is Griffin’s iKaraoke, an iPod attachment perfect for a good car sing-along. This microphone plugs into any iPod, and isolates and then fades the lead vocals on songs to allow you to supplement your own. A built-in FM transmitter can send the resulting sound to any nearby FM radio, making you a bona fide radio star.

Alternatively, the iKaraoke can be plugged into the “Auxiliary Audio In” docks of most home or auto stereos. You can use the iKaraoke microphone to start, stop, skip, and repeat tracks on your iPod, as well as to control the overall volume of the music. Mute the music entirely and the iKaraoke becomes a handy portable PA system. Also, since the device uses your iPod as its power source, you won’t have to worry about buying or fiddling around with any batteries. $49.95; www.griffintechnology.com.

Aspiring music-makers will also love Digital Information Development’s new Virtual Piano, a cutting-edge product that allows you to turn any surface into a 25-key, two-octave keyboard. The Virtual Piano uses “a red semiconductor laser module and holographic optical element” to project the keys from a small black box; a camera inside this box watches your fingers and plays the notes corresponding to the keys that you hit on a speaker.

In addition to normal piano sounds, the speaker can also be set to play organ, pipe organ, and harpsichord sounds. Though the technology is complex, the result is something that anyone can appreciate: a piano that you can easily take with you on the road. Bigger boxes are capable of projecting full-sized grand pianos, but the 3.5-ounce, 25-key model is definitely the most travel-friendly. $130; www.did.bz (search “Digital Information Development” on Google to get a translated version of this page).

The Newman-Hyun L1200 is ideal for combining music listening with one of the other popular pastimes of travelers: taking pictures. This 12-megapixel digital camera/video recorder doubles as a media player, with an SD/MMC slot that let’s you upload both music and video to it. An exciting convergence to be sure, the price of this gadget is equally appealing at $132. Unfortunately, this high-tech gadget is only available on a limited basis, mostly in China.

A hybrid device that you can more readily get you hands on is the Oakley Split Thump—basically a pair of Oakley sunglasses with an MP3 player inside. The speakers on the glasses are both adjustable and removable, and the controls are integrated into the design of the sunglasses so as to be almost unnoticeable. The music player has eight hours of battery life, and comes equipped with anywhere from 512 MB to 2 GB of memory space. A lightweight, sweat-resistant frame and a Mac- or PC-compatible high-speed USB capable make convenience is the name of the game. $250-400, available online at www.oakley.com.

If laser-projected pianos and MP3 players in sunglasses are a bit off-the-wall for your taste, you can always spice up a conventional personal music player with a unique case or cover. Gelaskins makes very thin (less than 2 mm thick) adhesive vinyl protective covers for iPhones, iPods, RAZR phones, and laptop computers. Choose from dozens of different designs, including everything from golf-balls to national flags to Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Starry Night; you can even submit your own idea to Gelaskins and they’ll consider adding it to their gallery of cover options.

Every iPod Gelaskin (with the exception of iPod touch Gelaskins, at least for now) also comes with a clear screen protector to keep your display in as great a shape as the rest of your player. Patented micro-channels within the adhesive on Gelaskins make for a bubble-free application, and the adhesive leaves no residue upon removal—a single Gelaskin can in fact be taken off and then later reapplied to your iPod if properly stored. Unlike many other covers, moreover, Gelaskins do not block your iPod’s charging port and they do not interfere with plug-in accessories such as the iTrip (or the iKaraoke!). Around $15; www.gelaskins.com.

For a case that does even more than look great and protect your iPod, try AJ Prindle’s iPod case with Mini-Speakers, a leather case (about the size of a day planner) that holds set of mini-speakers for your music player. Mini-cases sized for standard iPods and iPod nanos are included along with the main speaker case, and can be used on their own or else attached magnetically inside the opened speaker case opposite the speakers. A magnetic clasp keeps the whole case securely closed, so there’s no need to worry about losing anything while on the go. $49.95; www.ajprindle.com.

While it can’t play your music for you, Mophie Bevy’s iPod shuffle case gives a whole new meaning to the concept of multitasking—this clear polycarbonate case also serves as a bottle opener and a key fob, and has an earbud wrap to avoid tangled chords when you store your shuffle in your purse, pocket, or luggage. The only negative is that you can’t charge your shuffle while it’s in the holder. The concept for this case came out of a contest among recent MacWorld Conference and Expo attendees, who were charged with creating a device or accessory to enhance any existing Apple product. This versatile shuffle case is available in five colors, and should soon hit the shelves in various retailers around the world, including Apple stores. $15; www.mophie.com.

The next thing coming out of that same MacWorld design contest? The Schelp, a protective case for iPhones and 5th generation iPods that includes space to hold money and credit cards and that attaches to the shoulder strap of your favorite purse, backpack, or other tote. The Schlep isn’t available just yet, but keep it in mind for next year.

Finally, travelers headed to colder climates this winter will appreciate a set of the Ear Warmer Stereo Headphones made by Problem Solvers. These dual insulation headphones will protect your ears from the elements, and a detachable four-and-a-half foot cord hooks up to most MP3 players. Designed to wrap around the back of your head rather than over the top of your head, these headphones can be worn easily with hats, helmets (skiing, anyone?), and glasses. They are also fully collapsible, so you can stash them in your purse or luggage without taking up much space. $34.95; www.problemsolvers.com.

By Kellan Connor for PeterGreenberg.com.

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