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A family trip can quickly turn into a small nightmare if the children suffer from short attention span and get bored easily. Poor parents need all the help they can get to keep the young ‘uns in check.
Are We There Yet? is a dreaded question (think Donkey in Shrek), but also the name of an activity game which might give kids an extra thing to focus on instead of bugging the driver. Every 50 miles, the brat in the back can open one of the compartments and get a plastic toy. It’s the Kinder egg of road trips.
Of course, in this age of entertainment such an old-fashioned thing is hit and miss. Don’t leave the gaming console at home, but try all options, you never know.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $4.95 on McPhee.com.
I can’t count the times I’ve tried to use a makeshift tripod. Balancing the camera on a friend’s shoulder or the back of a chair works sometimes and fails miserably at others.
There’s lots of people in the same situation, so the Bottle Cap Tripod is one of those “why didn’t they think of it earlier?!” products. It turns any regular water bottle into an instant tripod, so you’ll have a quick solution virtually anywhere. Even if you’re in the middle of a desert with no store in sight, you need to have some water with you.
Unless you’re planning to drink from springs and sleep under the stars, in which case a camera wouldn’t be the number one object on the “to take” list.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $10 on CharlesandMarie.com.
Via Coolest Gadgets
I usuallly do a pretty good job juggling cups of coffee while carrying bags and I never spilled water on me on a plane, so I never considered I might need help in that department. But marketing is at work: now I think the Cup Pilot might not be a bad idea at all.
Yet again, it’s a deceptively simple idea: if you put the drink into a pouch with a plastic reinforced back and attach it to your bags or table, it’s more likely to stay in the cup, not end up all over you, plus it lets you use both hands for wrestling with bags.
Infrequent travelers won’t need something so technical - it’s not like you need to drink a cup of coffee in every airport -, but someone who’s often on planes or long-distance buses might find the investment useful.
How much under $29.99?
some: $18.95 on Cup-Pilot.com.
Via bookofjoe
No one wants to drag their ceramic plates and stainless steel forks with them to a picnic or hiking, so disposable utensils were born… Then came the Snap-A-Party, but while it looks interesting, it won’t make the old plastic plates go away any time soon.
Like you can guess from the name and picture, it’s a snap-apart plastic set ready to use for a quick meal, with everything from cutlery to tootpick and napkin ring. A very cool concept, especially for those of you who enjoyed model plane kits as children, but how useful?
Not very is my guess. Since any supermarket carries countless types of disposable plates, forks etc. for a fraction of the price.. this is only worth it as a one-time thing.
(But it’s damn compelling nonetheless… can’t you just imagine snapping off that knife?)
How much under $29.99?
Some: $11.99 on PerpetualKid.com.
Via bookofjoe
After yesterday’s Shooting Target necklace, another gun related item? Yes, indeed, but it’s just a coincidence.
If the necklace was just a piece of jewelry (the kind you wouldn’t want on a hunting trip), the Shotgun Canister could come in very useful on cold days. Everyone knows how good a hot coffee or tea can taste at the right time, and what moment could be better than on a break after roaming through the woods?
Of course, a dedicated hunter could probably find a better thermos, but for someone who just takes the occasional weekend off this shotgun shell could prove to me a nice and thoughtful gift. Even if it only ends up getting used on family holidays.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.77 on GreatBigStuff.com.
Via BoingBoing
Anyone who’s ever tried to prop up a camera on a pile of rocks or a ledge knows that makeshift tripods don’t work so well. It might get the camera at the right height, but the picture will be tilted to a side - that is, if the camera doesn’t topple over to smash in a billion pieces.
So tripods are good; small tripods are particularly good for travel. The Gorillapod Go-Go and the Wrap/Micro Tripod Combo are two examples of inexpensive and handy accessories, and today there’s another one to be added to the family.
The Universal Pod comes with a new idea: why restrict yourself to horizontal surfaces? Its patented viscoelastic polymer base (no, I have no idea what it means either) lets the would-be photographer attach the camera virtually anywhere. Of course, restrictions apply: small cameras only, up to 15 oz. You won’t be able to use you DSLR with it, but the compact travel camera? Definitely.
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on SkyMall.com.
Via bookofjoe
The Snack & Stack Utensils look like the kind of thing to keep the kids entertained at dinner - happily eating, not wreaking havoc. Yet why do I feel adults will go crazy after them?
I also have the answer: Lego. They’re obviously not licensed products, but the look is unmistakable. If you figure that Lego bricks would have painful edges, you’re right. That’s why these are made from silicon: comfortable and easy to grip.
Due to the distinctive shape, they’re also easy to stack, which makes them perfect for travel or lunchboxes. (Spork lovers, note that your favorite utensil is included.)
How much under $29.99?
Some: $16.99 on PerpetualKid.com.
Via BoingBoing
If you’re fond of gadgets, long car trips sometimes spell trouble. My laptop dies in 1 hour and a half and my mp3 player might have a good battery life, but a 7-hour long drive of constantly hitting “next” (yeah, I have a problem) is too much for it.
The Coffee Cup Inverter is just like all the other car chargers, in the sense that it powers your gizmos on the move. It’s also not like all the other car chargers, because it offers two outlets and one USB port (laptop & iPod at the same time!) and it’s shaped like a cup. Normally I’d say a square box would’ve been more than enough, but the shape is actually a good idea: this way it fits perfectly in a cup holder and stays there even through bumpy roads and sudden brakes.
Almost $30 is too much if you only take a long trip a year, but I’d say it’s worth it if you’re a frequent car traveler.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $26.60 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.
Via gizmodo
The Cush Booties were designed for camping, but I would definitely buy them for around the house because they have that one important selling point: they keep your feet warm.
Of course, if you’re planning to camp in cold weather you’re more interested in the specific features, so here they are. First, the outsoles are made from slip resistant nylon, so you won’t risk flying head first on a slick surface, but they’re still comfortable enough you can keep them on inside the sleeping bag. Second, they’re warm (the faux-shearling and nylon take care of that) and third, they don’t take up much space.
I’m not a camping pro in the least, but after freezing my ass (and feet) off in a couple of tents along the years… yes please, I’ll take all the insulation I can get.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.95 on Sahalie.com.
Via bookofjoe
Sometime 3 or 4 post-apocalyptic books ago I started making a mental list of things I would need in case of a catastrophe. And after obvious things like good shoes, warm clothes and food… all the characters seem to want a radio. Communication is important, and radio contact is the most likely to last.
While a battery-powered radio is a great plot tool (the announcer is about to convey some vital information when poof! the batteries die), this Self-Powered Emergency Radio with Flashlight is the kind of thing I’d want in case a giant meteor hits the Earth or World War 3 breaks out. Or if I need to go camping, whichever comes first.
This tiny radio can be powered by using the hand crank or simply the sun. It works with AM and FM and can be used to tune in to the FCC and EAS public alert systems. It even comes with a cell phone charger (though I’m a bit unclear on that) and the LED lantern is a blessing for anyone who’s even been caught in the forest at night.
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
