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Backtrack to a month ago. I was visiting a friend in another country and - oh, so smart - I decided a bottle of wine would be an appropriate present. Only at the airport did I remember that liquids in hand luggage are a no-no. What can I say, I don’t fly frequently. Of course, I could have left it in the checked-in bag, but I figured red wine doesn’t go with my clothes (I’ve seen the way airport people handle bags and… no.)
Now I wish I’d known about the Wine Skins earlier… they look absolutely perfect for the job, and not expensive at all at $11 for 5. They are like bubble wrap cut and bound in bottle shape; I wouldn’t trust my precious booze solely to them, but bundled with some clothes it should do the job. Of course, there’s always the risk of spillage, so they’re also leak-proof, to make sure you don’t get a bundle of wet, dirty clothes at the destination.
I don’t know what could be better. Allowing more than 100 ml in carry-on, maybe. Or unbreakable bottles.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $10.99 on WallyWine.com.
Via cribcandy
I’m getting ready for a holiday at the beach… swimming, lounging in the sun… trying to ignore the screaming kids… and this drew my attention.
BeachStake Towel Anchors sound like a silly idea at first - until you think about it. One of the main characteristics of the beach is the breeze, and what the breeze often does is lift up the sheets/towels, which is annoying at best. My previous solutions was putting shoes on each corner, until I figured that my black sandals should stay out of the sun if I want to wear them again soon. So anchors sound fabulous right now.
You get 4 in each pack plus a carrying case, and you can kiss wind problems goodbye. No solution against screaming kids yet, unfortunately.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $10 on FrontGate.com.
Via bookofjoe
Travel mugs are priceless in certain situations, so of course they are all over the place. But apparently they all pale in comparison to the Ultimate Travel Mug.
What makes it “ultimate”? Well, for starters it doesn’t have a sip hole, it has a button. The top opens by pushing the button, then closes with a push of the outer ring, so it’s only exposed to the outside while you drink from it, thus keeping the liquid warmer for a longer time. Double walls? Of course, but not any walls: there’s vacuum between them.
The lack of a handle is presented as an advantage, but I’d like one, personally. If you’re a klutz you’re much less likely to drop something you have a good grip on.
On the plus side, the makers invented the first travel mug, so that’s got to count for something.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $13.99 in our store powered by Amazon.com.
Via bookofjoe
Judging by the number of gadgets and gizmos dedicated to identifying bags at airports and such, people must have real trouble with this. I still think the easiest way out is buying luggage in wacky colors (how could you miss a bright pink troller?), but sometimes this is not an option.
The Luggage Locator is one solution… but I wouldn’t recommend it in all situations. Let’s start with what it does. It has two parts: a remote and a receiver with a light and a sound alarm. When you push the button on the remote, the alarm will go off and the LED will turn on, thus reuniting you and your clothes.
However… consider what airport security will think of it. Hm. I’d rather not find out for myself. But it can work great in other places: a hotel hall, or a train station, or maybe even the luggage compartment of a bus. No security people there, and it’s much easy than rummaging around or examining all the black bags you can see.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.85 on Magellans.com.
Via bookofjoe
Cords and cables are the bane of my existence. I have a big box where I keep all my chargers, USB cables for various gadgets, plus the random seldom-used electronics. And then there’s the ones I use everyday: phone charger on my nightstand or my desk, e-book reader charger on desk, a battery charger lying on the floor somewhere or thrown inside a drawer for “safe keeping”… Let’s just say finding a particular one takes more than 30 seconds.
But oh, what do my eyes see… a Organizer Charging Case. Paradise in polyester form! The case can hold up to seven devices plus the power strip and folds to a 12¾” x 8” size for storage or travel. It’s most useful on trips, to help keep hotel rooms organized and to prevent forgotten cords, but can be used effectively at home too. The only issue: you need to have enough room to extend it, because 18”x21” is quite a lot. But if you make a dedicated “charging spot” then this should pose no problem.
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.95 on Solutions.com.
Pink haters, grab your pitchforks! It doesn’t get much more sickeningly pink than this.
The Pink World Travel Adapter is a set of mix-and-match parts that ensures you’ll be able to charge your UK-bought gadgets in America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Even better, it also has an USB port so you don’t have to carry your laptop around just to charge your iPod in it.
However, it’s pink. Very pink. My eyes hurt already. But coming from a website called Pink Toolbox, what was I expecting? Well, it looks like I’m not the only pink-hater who likes the adapter set, so they also added a grey version. Thank you.
How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$29.50 on PinkToolbox.co.uk.
Via ChipChick
I’m about to leave on a trip, and I’m making a mental list of all the things I want to take with me. Somehow, a towel never makes it. I’ll just hope the hostel offers some or that I can borrow one from a friend. Why? Because it just takes up so much space…
But what’s this? A beach towel in a can? It’s a Magic Beach Towel, of course. Made of compressed cotton, it fits into a 4″ can, but when you soak it in water it expands to an impressive 30″ x 60″. It’s a perfect solution for travelers (or for those of you who like to carry everything to the beach, until the most basic things won’t fit in the bag).
However, I don’t suppose you can shrink it back, so it’s only good for an one-way trip. After that you’re on your own, find some room for it or discard it and buy a new one.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.99 on TshirtsMaui.com.
Via ChipChick
Whenever I am talked into hauling myself up a mountain (rarely), I figure I’ll pack light, since I get tired enough from simply hiking to want to carry extra weight. But when food is concerned, there’s not much choice: metal plates & cups are heavier, plastic ones get inevitably squished on the way.
Next time I do it, I’m taking the Squishy Bowl Set with me. First of all, “squishy” is a wonderful word. Second, these bowls are perfect for hiking: light and non-breakable. The recommended method of cleaning (”just turn one inside out and lick it”) is a bit disgusting for me, but there’s no problem if you prefer to use good old fashioned water.
They can be used both as cups or bowls, they can fit in tight spaces, they’re easy to clean (tongue or not)… what more can you ask?
Well, actually I’d like a matching plate too, if it’s possible.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $16.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
I’m not one to complain about travel conditions - as long as I get where I am going in one piece and I’m not paying a huge price for bad services, I’m ok. But that doesn’t exclude being comfortable, it just means I have to plan ahead a bit.
I don’t know if I am getting old or not (most likely it’s bad posture), but my back has started to ache when I sit down for a long time. It’s making itself felt even now… and only thinking of the Shiatsu to Go makes me feel a bit better.
Putting aside the ancient Eastern massage techniques, it’s a massage pillow you can use for your back, neck, feet or any other body part in pain. Which means it’s not only useful for travelling, but also for daily life. If you sit at the computer all day and the boss isn’t paying for a good chair… you get my drift. Ow.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.85 on Magellans.com.
Via http://feeds.feedburner.com/StoriesofWoW“>name
This is by no means a new idea (I have a bread basket like this), but it’s smart enough to warrant a mention.
The Travel Tray is extremely simple to use and can be indispensable for the messy people among us. It’s probably more useful for travel, but I could use it perfectly well around the house - for example to store my 4 or 5 sets of keys (don’t ask), which I can never find.
It’s extremely convenient as opposed to other storage trays because it’s flat, so it takes up virtually no room in your bags, and when assembled you get a 8 x 5 x 2″ deep basket, with a separate compartment for your glasses.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $8.85 on Magellans.com.
Via bookofjoe
