Product Reviews |
We have personally tested and used all of the
travel related products listed below. Note: some but not all of the products reviewed below have been sent to us as samples.
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Dave's Recommended Roll-Aboard for 2011 |
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Double
Decker Duffle.
(Mar 2011)
The "beauty" of this product other than its
obvious fashionable design is its versatility. This bag can
be both a carry on or a roll-aboard (in line wheels with a
telescopic handle) and is the latest in the line of travel
bags and accessories designed by long time inventor Joy
Mangano. This duffle bag is stylish (even the luggage cuff
is elegantly designed), yet super practical and durable. It
is made from high quality nylon which is also weather
resistant on the exterior.
This duffle easily expands from 2 compartments to 3 just by
using a zipper (still within the typical size limits of
carry on baggage). Each compartment can be separate from the
others or by simply unzipping the "layer" inside you can
turn the duffle into one giant bag. What is also nice is
there are a |
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plethora of small pockets (including some
specifically built for pens and other office supplies) and
zippers both inside the upper compartment as well as
outside. Carry it or roll it. The duffle also comes with a
luggage cover/shoulder strap should you prefer to check it
in. It comes with a 10-year limited warranty and is
available in a wide range of colors from flashy purple to
more subtle black. Think this bag is super pricy? Think
again - it retails for $74.95. For this product and Joy's
other travel gear, visit:
www.hsn.com/joy-mangano_b-192_xb.aspx |
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TECHNOLOGY |
Iphone4 Super Juice Case
(Feb 2011)
Short battery life is certainly a problem
with smart phones including the Iphone 4. When your on the road
its no fun to run out of "juice" and have no way to charge it
when trying to listen to music, play games or surf the net. Make
life easier and your phone last longer with the Super Juice Case
from Dexim. This "Applesque" looking item serves not only as a
durable case but also extends the charge life of the phone with
its powerful Lithium Polymer Battery.
The Super Juice Case has a handy kickstand on the back to keep
the phone upright on your desk when you are charging from your
computer via the included USB cable. We've tested the battery
life out with our Iphone 4 and while we are not always on the
phone, this battery case has extended the battery life of our
phone by several days (Dexim advertises a battery life extension
of talk time up to 6 hours, a video/game time of up to 10 hours
or a audio playing time of up to 40 hours). Or if you don't keep
the phone in the case, keep the case fully charged and use the
case to charge the phone on the fly.
A red light on the back of the case indicates if its charging or
not. With the press of a button you can see how much battery
life you have left in the case. For more information on this
product and other phone related products, please visit:
www.Dexim.net |
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Hazel
Mail (Nov 2010) is a slick new service that updates the "old style"
process of sending postcards by using the Internet rather than sending a
physical paper postcard. Simply bring up their website,
www.hazelmail.com and
upload one of your travel photos, write your short letter, and fill in the
address information. This costs merely $1.50 to send to most locations in
the world. For the time it takes to track down a postcard in a foreign
country, write it by hand, acquire stamps and find a post office, this
service is well worth the reasonable cost. Hazel Mail cuts down on costs and
keeps this an environmentally friendly service by contracting with printers in
various regions of the world so that the postcards are sent locally. During
a recent trip to Hawaii, within several minutes we had fired off postcards
to friends back in the states as well as International destinations. Its
that easy!
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Pelican
i1015 (March 2011) is the ideal case for the extreme
adventurer or outdoor enthusiast. This is a great fit for rock
climbers who want to protect their phone or those involved in other
adventurous activities. The shell of the case is made from hard
plastic with foam and inner rubber inside. The case is water
resistant but not waterproof (not meant for swimming). It even comes
with a small carabiner.
The case was designed for the iPhone 4 but will also fit select
models of Nokia, Motorola and the Blackberry. Not only is it an
excellent protective case but there is an external jack that plugs
in to your phone inside the case which connects to the outside (for
listening to music). If your phone's jack is on the top of your
phone then it should easily fit in this case; if the jack is on the
side then you might not be able to plug in the jack and fit the
phone in the case at |
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the same time. We tested both the iPhone 4 and a
model of Blackberry.
www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=i1015
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Checkmate II Laptop Case
(May 2010) is designed to be extremely
travel friendly. This was one of four new airport security
checkpoint-friendly laptop cases offered by Staples office supply store
beginning in November 2008.
Staples is the only office supply retailer to carry the Samsonite cases. The
cases range in style and price to meet any traveler's budget.The Checkmate II as well as the other cases are designed so that you should
not have to remove your laptop when you go through airport security. The
case has a laptop only compartment that completely unfolds to lie flat on
the X-ray belt. Once it has passed through security the laptop
compartment can be easily |
| zipped up. The Checkmate II Laptop Case comes with
a three year warranty. Visit any
retail Staples office supply store or online at:
www.staples.com |
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Xtreme 24-7
Power Pack, Fuel Cell Charger
(Aug 2010)
Fast, affordable,
portable and easy to use. What more do you need in a
charger! This is a wonderful invention that has a variety of uses.
This is the perfect gift for a traveler or for anyone who wants an
instantaneous emergency backup power supply. Medis Technologies
provides a compact portable fuel cell charger that is easily used to
charge cell phones. We have accumulated a number of cell phones over
the years and tested this charger on them all. Each fuel charger
comes with a number of small adaptors that will certainly connect to
most mobile phones and other hand held applications. This charger
uses a liquid "fuel" that is safe for the environment and
furthermore, everything in the cell can be recycled at the end of
its life. Replacement fuel cells are priced extremely affordably.
The beauty of this charger |
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is it is "plug and play". In other words,
no pre-charging is needed. Pull it out of the box and follow the
simple 1-3 step instructions and you are ready to charge. It has a
long shelf life and can sit around prior to activation for extended
periods of time.
Medis also produces an "Emergency Kit" which includes a variety of
adaptors, the fuel cell and a flashlight which hooks up to the fuel
cell. The one fuel cell will provide several days of charge for the
flashlight, while providing hours of charge time for handheld
devices. (Charge times vary depending on the device). For more
information and to purchase this product visit:
www.medistechnologies.com |
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FOOTWEAR |
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Kuru
Shoes.
(June 2010)
We recently wore a pair of these
shoes on a trip to Hawaii. While being new these shoes
hardly needed breaking in and wore wonderfully on hikes in
the diverse microclimates of Maui. From running beachside on
the edge of the surf to hiking at 10,000 feet on the upper
slopes of Haleakala these shoes held up very well to the
different rigors. Kuru shoes are lightweight, extremely
comfortable, and very
breathable (especially nice in humid climates). While
lightweight
may often mean non durable - these shoes seem well
constructed and meant to last.
Men's travel shoes:
www.kurufootwear.com/travelshoes. General purpose:
www.kurufootwear.com |
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FASHION |
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Cinzia
Design, Sport 4 (Apr 2010)
is the latest of Cinzia's trendy
sunglasses from their Sport Collection. Cinzia was founded
in 2002 but has a long optical history behind its products;
it is a division of US based Europa International, Inc.,
which was founded in 1977. The company was founded by
Cynthia Shapiro (also the lead designer) |
| Cynthia has more than
30 years experience within the optical fashion industry.
The Sport 4 glasses are the latest in the evolution of Cinzia's
sport line and are currently available in the Spring 2009
collection. These glasses seamlessly blend fashion with form. They
are modern, functional and great for everyday outdoor activities,
yet sophisticated enough that they can certainly be worn for events
more elegant and social in nature. |
The Sport 4 is available in black and bronze colors, each comes with
spring hinges and high quality polarized lenses. Oh, and these
glasses come with a real cool sporty looking case to!
Besides Sunglasses, Cinzia also produces a number of reading
glasses. Their reading glasses are not boring and austere sometimes
typical of these types of glasses, rather they have warmth, style
and are chic in nature. In addition look for a number of fashion
accessories including stylish mini-handbags.
You can even request a virtual eyewear consultation via their
website. For this consultation and for more information about their
sunglasses, visit:
www.cinziadesigns.com |
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Porsche
8457 (Feb 2010) These very cool looking luxury titanium
sunglasses will invite glances from the glamour of Beverly Hills to
the Fashion streets of Milan. As the frames are made from titanium
they are extremely lightweight and durable. Not one to just use numbers in the naming of cars, all
their sunglass have their own model numbers. Can't afford a
Porsche?... while still expensive as far as sunglasses go, these are
certainly much more affordable then the |
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| care of the same name! Each pair comes with a nice black padded stylized carrying
protective case. All Porsche Design products are found at select locations
worldwide including their own retails outlets. Porsche Design was founded in
1972. For more information please visit Porsche Design:
www.porsche-design.com |
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Urbandillo
(Apr 2011) tote
bag (the "Classic Hobo") is the creative idea of Veronica
James, fashion designer and avid traveler. The bag embodies
her philosophy of"shrink and go" fashion. Similar to the
animal which inspired the companies' name, this tote bag
shrinks down into a fairly small ball with the pull of the
draw cord using Urbandillo's patented SHRiNXtm design.
The Urbandillo seamlessly blends style and function. Its the
perfect bag for those on the go. Small pockets are built
into it for your phone or Ipod with a larger zippered pocked
on the back. Carry it as a hand bag or wear it on your
shoulder. The Classic Hobo comes in either purple or black.
My wife replaced her old bag with this one and really likes
it (the style, pockets and excellent quality of material). |
| Veronica also works with
organizations and individuals who work and help children.
She designed a blanket specifically for children and is
delivering as many of these as possible domestically and
Internationally to children in need. For more information
about Urbanillo's products and to order visit:
www.urbandillo.com
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WINE |
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Vino Amici Wine MummyTM
(Sep 2010) is the perfect item for wine lovers who travel - and how many
wine lovers do you know who do not travel!? Each Wine MummyTM
is an innovative black sealed padded bag that zips at the top. This
is the perfect way to protect your valuable wine when transporting
it or checking it into your suitcase when flying. It is large enough
so that it holds a variety of wine bottles all the way up to a
Champagne bottle size. It is 7x17 inches in size. It is also
reusable. We have several of these 'mummys' and when not traveling
we currently store several of our most valuable bottles of wine in
these. Not only do they provide protection but they also keep out
the
light.
Wine MummyTM
is currently available in several multi-packs at very affordable
pricing. For more information, or to place an order, visit
www.winemummy.com.
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ACCESSORIES |
 isafe
(Nov 2011)
The iSafe fanny pack is always armed and ready for use. By
quickly pulling down on the hidden draw strap you will
immediately produce a mind numbing shrieking sound that is
sure to draw attention, startle your attacker - gaining
precious time to with an advantage over your attacker. iSafe
is advertised as being the world's loudest personal alarm
system - containing two 125 decibel sirens and a high
intensity LED strobe light. During a recent testing when we
activated the unit - we awoke |
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our entire office as well as probably the neighboring
offices! Activation is simple - just pull the draw string
down. You don't have to worry about wondering when the
batteries are low - a battery indicator light is built into
the pack. For more information and to purchase
isafe: |
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Head
Hammock Traveler
(June 2011)
There are alot of items that claim to make sleeping in
airplane Economy seats more comfortable - with limited
success, most we've tried are related to pillows or a brace
behind your head/neck. The Head Hammock is somewhat
different in that it allows you to lean your head forward
slightly and rest against a well supported cotton hammock.
This simple yet ingenious invention is the brainchild of
Theri DeJoode. She experienced a whiplash accident a number
of years ago and her doctor told her she needed to keep her
head supported. Not one to stay put, she came up with an
early version of the Head Hammock - simply a sarong wrapped
around her airplane seat. Jealousy (and appreciation) arose
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why not design something everyone could use and appreciate -
enter the Head Hammock Traveler. The Head Hammock is
adjustable, lightweight and easy to pack and carry. Good for
airplane & train seats or other high back seats. For more
information and to purchase one, visit:
www.headhammocktraveler.com |
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| Precision
Voyager
(June 2011)
by
EatSmart™ is a
small lightweight digital hand-held scale that is just the
ticket for determining weights of luggage before leaving on
a trip. We've all seen people frantically unpacking items at
the check-in counter to avoid the overage weight fees -
especially these days. This items removes the stress and
worry of whether your luggage will be over the airline
weight limits. Simply unclip the strap and wrap it around
the handle of your suitcase or backpack and pull upward
until your luggage is off the ground until you hear the
beep. The weight read-out is available in either KG or Lbs.
The scale turns off automatically in case you forget, a nice
battery saving feature. A limited 2 year warranty is also
included. Follow EatSmart Twitter
@EatSmartScales -- LIKE EatSmart Products on
Facebook
and visit the EatSmart website:
www.eatsmartproducts.com or purchase directly from
Amazon. |
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Vizini
(Jul 2010) - Where better to test out
a product meant to be worn in the sun then the sunny state
of Hawaii. We took a Vizini on a recent trip to the big
Island to test it out - from sea level to the top of Mauna
Kea the Vizini worked as advertised! It is small and
lightweight; simply slide in the straps on your sunglasses
and voila you have shade without |
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having to wear a cap. Since the Vizini is strapless
and is a stand alone visor you won't mess up your hair. It
works well with thick framed or wire framed glasses. For
more information visit:
www.vizini.com |
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Yak Pak (Oct
2010) sells a
variety of laptop and netbook sleeves in various colors, sizes and
styles. This company was actually conceived "on the road" by founder
Stephen Holt while he was in a remote part of Tibet in the late
1980's. Different themed sleeves are available. The sleeves are
available in both foam and neoprene (same material as used in
wetsuits) versions with easy 3/4 sleeve zipper access. This is an
excellent light weight way to carry your labtop or netbook around
especially if you tend to travel light. They are also a safe way to
store your computer while its not being used. Yak Pak also produces
handbags, backpacks and unique |
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| bags made from recycled billboards. The 15.6" sleeve (an image of ours is shown
above) retails between $24.99 - $29.99. The 10.2" sleeve retails between
$19.99 - $24.99.
To purchase visit:
www.yakpak.com/ |
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The
"Shoul" (Mar 2010) by Casual Essentials, takes its
name from Shawl and Shoulder and is a one size fits all
shoulder wrap for a woman's shoulders. Once you put this
shoulder wrap on, it stays on. It is basic yet very
functional, small and easy to pack for travel, soft and is
very lightweight.
It is surprisingly warm and because it is
so easy to put on an off it is a very versatile solutions
for changing temperatures.
The shoul comes in a variety of colors and two types
including Acrylic and a Cashmere blend. The shoul wrap
appeals to women of all ages and men take note; this is a
"mistake proof" gift as one size fits all. It also comes
with its own carry on metal clip.
You can purchase directly via their website here:
www.theshoul.com |
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My
Little Steamer, Go Mini - (May
2010) Never iron
again and…Be wrinkle-free and on-the-go with the fabulous
Joy Mangano "Go Mini" - My Little Steamer! This is a small
portable device that because of its size is ideal for travel
(or for use around the home for that matter).
We recently
tested this and were pleasantly surprised by how fast the
water starts boiling and producing steam (2 minutes or
less)! Why lug
around a big iron when this compact steamer does the job
quickly and efficiently. An 8 foot long cord helps with
longer range use. To order your mini steamer,
click here. |
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Booklight in a CoverTM
(Oct 2010) is a handy little
device that provides light for reading (Three AA batteries
required). It is cordless, clipless and clutter free. Often we find
ourselves traveling in situations both during the day and at night
with very little ambient light. This is the answer to reading under
low light conditions! Merely slip a small book into the cover
pockets, pull up the LED light from the cover spine. This light
automatically turns on once you have the arm fully extended. This is
the ideal gift for travelers who enjoy reading. Specific book covers
are made for either soft or hard cover books and they come in a
variety of attractive colors. A built in bookmark is also available.
Once you are finished push down on the retractable light arm to put
it back in place. Once in place it becomes almost a part of the
spine of the cover and can easily be transported without worry of
breaking it. Because this light is compact and meant just for |
| a book you don't have to worry about disturbing others in various low light
situations, i.e. Red Eye Flights, Camping etc.
The Periscope Booklight is found nationwide at Barnes & Nobles
bookstores or by visiting:
www.periscopelight.com |
Microfiber Firm Support Travel Socks.
(Jan 2010) Ames Walker specializes in medical socks, therapeutic shoes,
supports, braces and other footwear accessories.
These particular socks are excellent for helping prevent Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT) a type of blood clot that can result from extended sitting
in small places, i.e. economy class on an aircraft. More information about
DVT can be found here:
www.economyclasssyndrome.net
These socks are recognized by The World Health Organization in regards to
reducing the risk of DVT. The socks apply decreasing pressure from the ankle to the knee
which forces
blood to the leg’s inner veins. This in turn reduces the pooling of blood and maintains proper flow rate of blood to the heart and lungs.
The travel socks are available in men’s and women’s styles in multiple sizes
(S, M, L & XL) and colors and cost only
$9.95/pair. Ames Walker has a printed and online catalogue. To order or to find out additional information go to
www.ameswalker.com
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mySpaShop.com (Jan 2010) offers a variety of
wonderful tropical smelling products including hand and body
lotions, bath and shower gels, massage oils and
body-hand-foot scrubs. We sampled a number of products from
JAMU which specializes in a number of Balinese influenced
products. Why not bring the exotic smells of the tropics
into your own house. We recommend the Jasmine
Frangipani body, foot and hand scrub. With a mix of Jasmine,
frangipani, turmeric and rice this exfoliates and cleanses.
Seventeenth-century Bali and its ancient beauty rituals are
now at your fingertips with mySpaShop.com. In Bali, experience
the royal Balinese wedding ritual of Lulur,
beginning with a JAMU massage of Jasmine Frangipani oil and ending
with a yogurt splash, shower and flower bath. The JAMU lulur scrub
is infused with antioxidants that leave the skin with a bright,
Asian-inspired radiance.
To purchase, visit:
www.myspashop.com
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Loaded Questions (Jun 2010) is a great game for the
entire family whether stuck in the car on a long road trip, crammed
in an airplane or just sitting around at a campground. This card
game tests players on how well they know each other with thousands
of questions designed to spark laughter, creative discussion, and a
lot of curiosity along the way. The game is divided into four
categories including Hypotheticals, No-brainers, Anything goes and
Personals. The On the Go version features a convenient handled
‘suitcase’ box, custom spinner eliminating the possibility
of lost die, and a consolidated answer and score pad in one. 250 new
questions are included. Found at Barnes & Noble. For more information, visit
www.loadedquestions.com. |
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About
Dave's Pick