If you travel frequently, work remotely, or spend a lot of time connecting to public Wi-Fi, having your own secure and private network isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity. That’s where the GL.iNet Opal (GL-SFT1200) comes in.
This compact, dual-band travel router is designed for people who want fast, reliable, and privacy-focused internet access anywhere in the world. Despite its small size and budget-friendly price, the Opal packs features usually found in much more expensive routers.
The GL.iNet Opal is a dual-band wireless travel router built to give you a secure and personalised internet connection when you’re on the move. Whether you’re staying in hotels, Airbnbs, hostels, or working in cafes, the Opal lets you create your own protected network no matter where you are. It supports multiple modes, router, access point, repeater, and even VPN client/server making it one of the most versatile travel routers available under £35.
Despite its small footprint, the Opal includes impressive hardware:
Dual-band Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz (300 Mbps) + 5GHz (867 Mbps)
Dual-core CPU @ 880MHz
128MB RAM & 16MB Flash
Three Ethernet ports (1 WAN, 2 LAN)
USB 2.0 port for storage or phone tethering
Micro-USB power
It’s lightweight, durable, and small enough to fit in a pocket, making it perfect for travel tech kits.
Here are a few real-world use cases where the Opal shines:
Connect the Opal to hotel or airport Wi-Fi once, then let all your devices connect safely through your private network. I keep the Opal SSID and password same as my home network, allowing the devices to automatically connect to a previously “known” SSID
Log in one time, then avoid repeating the process on every device.
The Opal supports both OpenVPN and WireGuard ideal for streaming, remote work, or privacy. I use NordVPN and this allows me to get past geo location restrictions.
Turn your Android or iPhone into a reliable internet source for multiple devices.
The Opal is ideal for:
Digital nomads
Frequent travelers
Remote workers
Cybersecurity-conscious users
Tech tinkerers and OpenWRT fans
Anyone who wants safe, fast Wi-Fi anywhere
It’s a must-have tool if you rely on public Wi-Fi or travel often.
If staying connected and secure is a priority when you travel, the Opal is absolutely worth it. The fact that you can keep the same SSID as your home network can save you and your family ample amount of time by avoiding the generic hotel login on each mobile, tablet and laptop device.
Video version of the above: https://youtu.be/bgKaR2OKfnU
🛒 GL.iNet Opal on Amazon: https://amzn.to/47zhqwB
🌐 Official Product Page: https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-sft1200/