I’m leaving on holiday really soon, so I’ve got travel on my mind. And an image of my newly-borrowed black trolley bag among the other dozens of black bags on the conveyer belt. Do we see a problem? I do: it will take ages to recognize it.
The Razz Tagz are a stylish solution to that particular problem: the colorful tags will help you identify your bags in a flash. They come in almost 20 patterns and at $7 you can even buy one for every mood or destination. I’m not crazy about the designs, but I love the fact that they’re very visible, so I’d be able to spot my bag from away.
It’s too late for me to buy some right now, but I’m hoping they’ll help someone traveling in the near future.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7 on Razz-Tagz.AmazonWebStore.com.
Via Outblush
Most people who have traveled by plane know what a pain finding your luggage can be. More than 3/4 of all bags are dark trollers, so if you’re the proud owner of something that fits the description… have fun trying to guess.
This is why luggage tags are so convenient. There’s literally hundreds (if not thousands) to choose from, but I think the “That’s Mine” Tag would be perfect for me. After being stuck on a plane for a couple of hours I’m not the friendliest person, and the message would be very appropriate. Before you take a bag off the conveyor belt, make sure you examine it properly. If I can tell it’s mine and you can’t tell it’s not yours, we’ve got a problem.
At 10 super-strong Tyvek tags per pack for $10, it sounds like a very good deal.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $10 on Dynomighty.com.
If you feel camping should include roughing it, this tool will make you spit in disgust and say something about sissies. If you feel that you can get in touch in nature but still maintain a degree of comfort, Grandpa’s FireFork is for you.
It’s a (relatively) high tech tool made to be compatible with low tech: a pointy piece of metal that can hold marshmallows or sausages or whatever else and that can be easily attached to any stick. It’s having the best of both worlds, really. You can feel you’re being adventurous while maintaining all your laziness. Why bother making a skever yourself? Too much trouble.
(However, despite the fact that I think the FireFork is very silly, I know a couple of people with such a lack of DYI skills that they’d actually need this… Something new for the present list then.)
How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
Via OhGizmo!
The chances of falling into a crevice or getting stranded in the woods while hiking are pretty slim. But, unlikely as it seems… you never know. It’s not like anyone plans to have an accident.
An experienced person can probably assemble a great emergency kit, but newbies should probably trust other people until they learn what’s necessary. You know, better safe than sorry.
The Ultimate Survival Kit in a Water Bottle contains a lot of stuff that might save you from a tight spot. The 32 oz bottle is filled not with water, but with the following assortment of things: carabiner,
multifunction tool, multifunction whistle/compass, flashlight, 2 batteries, survival blanket, hand warmer packet, candle, waterproof matches, emergency poncho, 20pc first aid kit, reusable zipper-lock bag. And, of course, you can just throw everything out and fill the bottle with water. (But, unless you’ve got real packing skills, it’s unlikely you’ll ever manage to fit them all back in.)
How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
Just because you’re camping it doesn’t mean you’re supposed to be eating off the grass. A compact set of eating utensils is a must for anyone wants to leave civilization but still preserve a bit of comfort.
The Light My Fire Outdoor MealKit has pretty much everything you need when eating outdoors: two plates, a spill-free cup with lid, a combined colander and cutting board, a “spork” (spoon + fork) and a waterproof box. The fit right into each other, so the set takes up little space, and they’re very easy to clean (very important when dish detergent is far away). Plus (not that it matters very much), the girly side of me is happy that there’s 9 colors to choose from.
Now all you need to do is throw the kit in the backpack, add some cans, eggs, cheese and veggies and you can be on your way.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.
Unless you’re going to the beach with a larger group, you are going to run into a problem: you are in the water, while your stuff is not; how do you enjoy your swim without being worried it will get stolen?
Tip #1. Don’t take anything unessential with you. Yes, the camera can stay home. No, thieves don’t steal beach towels.
Tip #2. If you have money, hide it well. A wallet is obvious and easy to find; look for alternatives. My low-tech solutions is taking very little money and throwing it inside the beach bag. But (if I didn’t hate flip flops) I would get the Stash Reef Sandals.
The idea is brilliant: they have a little “drawer” inside the sole where money, credit cards or keys can be stashed. I’ve never ever heard of shoes being stolen from the beach, so your valuables would be much safer than anywhere else. High quality footwear that’s more than just a pair of flip-flops? Win.
(Reef are not on their first pair of smart sandals, either. We had the Dram Sandals earlier this year – booze on the go!)
How much under $29.99?
Exactly Starting from $11.90 on Amazon.com
(white/grey version only, the rest $46).
Via JeetBlog
The Door Stop Alarm is an interesting product. I like it, although I doubt I would ever actually use it.
The name says it all: it’s a door stop that lets out an alarm when touched. Unlike regular door stops, it will not only prevent people from entering a room, but it will also let the person inside know when someone tries to. No way of sneaking past it, even if the door would budge is pushed a little.
I hope no one is paranoid enough to use it in their home, but if staying in a dodgy looking hotel or hostel… I’d sleep better if I knew there was something to let me know when someone tried to come in. Hey, it could mean a 30 seconds lead on the serial killer coming to get me! (Or it could scare him off.) It’s also got a sensibility switch, because no one wants to be woken up in panic by a cat trying to make its way in.
When you’re done with serial killers and thieves, you can use it as a regular door stop: an on/off switch lets you get rid of the alarm.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.35 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.
The beach towel offer isn’t great around here. Cartoon characters, half naked women, simple stripey designs and that’s about it. I’ve been told that towels are utterly unimportant and asked why I would care about a design… Simple: I don’t want to cringe when I look at it and, if possible, I want people to admire it.
I don’t know if it will attract admiration, but the Crime Scene Towel will definitely attract attention. How can anyone ignore a black towel againt the white sand, with a human crime scene silhouette on it? If you’re into pranks and have the right body size you can try to sunbathe while posing as the corpse. Morbid, but funny. For people with a weird sense of humor anyway.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.95 on BaronBob.com.
How important is style when it comes to drinking? Some would say it doesn’t matter, as long as the heavenly liquids are at the right temperature. Some would say it adds class or fun.
Personally, I tend to favor the first opinion. However, the Denim Beverage Can Coolers use my favorite fabric in the whole world… Tough one.
Truth be told, they do look better than other can coolers I’ve seen. And I’m a girl, I get this urge to match everything, not only my bag to my shoes. My brain says I don’t need bloody denim to wrap on my beer, but my heart says “OMG I want!”.
My brain wins when it comes to money, especially since $10 a piece isn’t exactly cheap, but I wouldn’t mind at all if I got them as a present. *hint hint*
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $10 on FrontGate.com.
Via bookofjoe
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
