Counter 01 · Gear
Verified 11 Aug 2026
GL.iNet Slate AX (GL-AXT1800) Travel Router
A pocket router that turns any sketchy wifi network into one you control, with a VPN client built in.
The Slate AX is a Wi-Fi 6 travel router that sits between your devices and whatever network you're stuck on (hotel, coworking space, airport lounge), running your VPN client so every device connects clean without installing anything on each one.
What it is
The GL.iNet Slate AX (GL-AXT1800) is a pocket-sized Wi-Fi 6 router built for travel. It runs OpenWrt, GL.iNet's Linux-based firmware, and its main job is to sit between your laptop, phone, and tablet and whatever wifi network you're forced to use on the road. Plug it into a hotel ethernet port or connect it to the hotel's wifi as a client, and it rebroadcasts a single, private network that only your own devices see.
What it does for a nomad
The real reason this router earns a spot in a bag: it runs your VPN client for you. Set up OpenVPN or WireGuard once on the router, and every device that connects to it is automatically protected, no per-device VPN app, no forgetting to turn it on before you hop on cafe wifi. It also works as a travel bridge (repeater mode) so you're not fighting a hotel's login portal on five different devices, and the microSD slot doubles as a private, self-hosted alternative to dumping travel photos on someone else's cloud.
The honest caveat
There's no built-in battery, so it needs a USB-C power source (a phone charger or power bank works fine, but it's one more thing to plug in, not a standalone battery-powered unit like some competing models). Setup also assumes you already have a VPN subscription or your own WireGuard server; this router doesn't include one. And if you only ever use your own phone's hotspot or a single laptop, carrying a separate router is dead weight, not a fix.
Price reality
It runs around $120, which is real money for a router. For someone who works from a different wifi network every week or two, it pays for itself in the hassle it removes; for someone who works from home wifi most of the time and travels twice a year, it's overkill.
- Wi-Fi 6 (AX1800) with Gigabit ethernet ports, no separate adapter needed
- Runs OpenVPN or WireGuard on the router itself, protecting every connected device at once
- USB 3.0 and microSD slot for basic file/NAS use on the road
- OpenWrt firmware gives real configuration control, not a locked-down consumer box
What works
- Runs your VPN for every connected device without installing anything on each one
- Doubles as a wifi bridge/repeater, so one hotel login covers your whole device pile
- OpenWrt firmware means real settings access, not a dumbed-down app
What to watch
- No built-in battery, needs USB-C power from a charger or power bank
- You still need your own VPN subscription or server, it's not included
- Overkill if you mostly work from one steady home connection
Questions at the counter
Do I need my own VPN subscription to use this?
Yes. The router runs OpenVPN or WireGuard, but you have to supply the credentials or config file from a VPN provider (or your own self-hosted server); it doesn't come with a VPN service bundled in.
Does it work without a power outlet?
No, it has no internal battery, it needs USB-C power from a wall adapter or a power bank, so it's not a fully standalone battery unit.
Can it share a hotel's wifi login across multiple devices?
Yes, that's one of its core uses: connect the router to the hotel network once (wired or as a wifi client), log in once, and every device you connect to the router shares that access.
Is the setup complicated?
It's more involved than a plug-and-play consumer router since it runs OpenWrt, but GL.iNet's own web interface covers VPN setup and basic network settings without needing command-line work for most tasks.