GLi.Net GL-AR300M Shadow Mini Router

An impressive, powerful, inexpensive tiny travel VPN router that I take on every trip

My Honest Thoughts on the GLi.Net Shadow Mini Router

Lovingly referred to by many as simply "the Shadow", the GL-AR300M is my go-to travel router. I take it with me on every trip. What I love about it is the size. It's tiny and will fit anywhere. Don't let the size fool you. This thing manages to handle everything I need when traveling. Personally I pre-configure it with my VPN so I'm ready to go whenever I get to a new location.

While not as powerful as it's bigger brothers (ex: "the Slate"), it is more than enough for my needs:

• Amazing size - it's tiny
• Supports VPN services (OpenVPN and WireGuard)
• Includes a LAN/WAN port - surprising for the size and price
• Like all GLi.Net routers, it runs on the OpenWrt operating system, giving you the same advanced features

The Shadow does have a few downsides. For one, it's simply not as powerful as the more expensive GLi.Net routers, so it won't have the same Wi-Fi range. This hasn't been a problem for me as I generally use it in the same room. Also, it only does 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, not 5GHz. Again, not a big deal. Oh, and it is powered by a micro USB slot. That one is a little annoying these days, but understandable for the price.

At around $30USD, the Shadow is an absolute steal and I highly recommend picking one up if you do any kind of traveling.

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