Luggage Tags and Handle Wraps from Travel Chic

This travel gear blog has been quiet the past week because I have been...traveling! A real vacation, chillin' with the relatives, stuffing myself, and not doing any work. It involved some flying, which means picking out our bags among a sea of suitcases on the luggage carousel. My daughter didn't have any problem spotting hers from far away: her suitcase was adorned with a luggage tag and handle wrap set from Travel Chic.

Travel Chic specializes in hip and fashionable accessories that help you find your bag in a hurry, without resorting to an ugly piece of colored tape or a ribbon tied around the handle. When Travel Chic offered to send a sample to try out, my little one went for the pink ensemble pictured here (because you can never have enough pink apparently). There are a whole lot of colors and styles to pick from, however, from the wild and flashy to the elegant and restrained. There's also a kids' line--see the example at the bottom.

You can order the luggage tags by themselves for $16 or get one of the reversible handle wraps for $14. Or order a matching set for $27 and save a few bucks while getting coordinated.

The items are well-designed, attractive, and feel like they'll hold up to whatever the baggage handlers throw at them. If you're tired of sorting through identical black rolling bags as they come down the belt or you want to buy a nice gift for the frequent traveler on your list, one of these will look thoughtful without setting you back too much.


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Teeny Tiny Micro Lantern from Coghlan's

If you want to pack light and still illuminate your whole tent, you can't beat this Coghlan's LED Micro Lantern. It's so small and cute it looks like a Christmas tree ornament, but it cranks out an impressive amount of light from its tiny package.

The output of light is 3.5 lumens, which doesn't mean much to me, but it seems to rank somewhere between a single-LED keychain flashlight and a "real" flashlight with two or three LED bulbs. It won't illuminate the whole campsite, but fine for a cheap guesthouse room nightstand or a two-person tent.

Unfortunately, the small size doesn't allow it to use rechargeable batteries, but the two CR2032 coin-style batteries keep it going for 25 hours before they need to be replaced. Or if you're lost in the woods, they'll flash for 50 hours.

Considering that this micro lantern is only two inches hight and not much bigger than my thumb, it'll be easy to pack no matter how light I'm traveling. It's water resistant and weighs less than an ounce (24 grams). See more about it on the Coghlan's product site.

You'll have better luck finding this at a camping store than a regular gear store. It generally goes for $8 to $10, but Walmart.com has it for$6.74. A great bargain.

Cozy Snoqualmie Cap From REI - Woof Woof!

I was a little skeptical about this Snoqualmie cap from REI, with its doggie-ear flaps and a shape I usually associate with hunters tramping through the woods wearing bright orange. This puppy is one comfy hat though.

My home town got hit with a bracing cold snap this week, giving me a chance to really test this cap with the thermometer below freezing. As I scraped off the frost from my windshield and later walked around the neighborhood seeing my breath in front of my face, I realized that this may be the most comfortable winter hat I've ever worn. It keeps my ears warm without smothering them and with a soft fleece lining, it doesn't get scratchy when my head gets warm.

I'm all for renewable resources, but you've got to admit modern science results in a step up in comfort and features. This Snoqualmie cap uses eVent fabric that is waterproof and windproof (up to 60 mph), but has venting properties that allow the sweat to ease on out---reportedly twice as fast as typical wicking waterproof fabrics. The hat is as light as any plain fleece cap, but is lined with soft fleece and has a brim to keep the sun out of your eyes. When you don't need the flaps, they snap to the body of the cap. It comes in the color pictured here and "graphite."

None of this technology and smart design come cheap though: the hat retails for $40. But what's your comfort worth on the slopes? Or while slogging through the streets of Europe in the winter trying to find your hostel?

In my experience, REI-branded products are not a screaming bargain, but they're generally a fair value compared to gear with similar features from the likes of Patagonia, the North Face, or Columbia. I plan on using this hat for years to come whenever I'm headed off to a cold place. My ears will thank me, even if I do feel like begging for a bone-shaped treat.

Get the REI Snoqualmie Cap with eVent Fabric - Men's

Kombi Bamboo Charcoal Weave Hat

All kinds of exotic materials are showing up in fabric now, but this is the first thing I've tested that's made from a "bamboo charcoal weave"---the La Bamba hat from Kombi.

The tag says it's made from 100% bamboo, a fast-growing renewable resource. That's cheating a bit though since the tag inside that hat itself says the shell is made from "100% polyester." So I guess if this flew off your head and into the woods while you were skiing, by the summer the outside would degrade but the inside would remain.

I'm not sure the polyester is necessary from a comfort standpoint as the bamboo weave is surprisingly soft, but this is probably to allow the "moisture-wicking, odor-fighting, and quick-drying" claims.

But how well does it work? Well it looks good and feels good, keeping my ears nice and toasty during the frosty and windy mornings that are already upon us. The only logo is an understated shield on the side with "1961" (Kombi's founding year) on it.

Kombi has also worked this bamboo charcoal weave into pants and base layers. More on the latter after I hike through the Andes with a zip turtleneck in December and give it a workout.

The La Bamba hat retails for $16. I just got gobbledygook code when I searched the dealer locator on the Kombi product site for my state, but you may have better luck. The best bet will be a ski shop, where they probably stock a whole line of Kombi hats and gloves.

Travel Thongs (or Emergency Thongs) from Flingz

Would it be handy to have little packets of clean underwear on you at all times? To be able to toss them into your purse or weekend bag and forget about them until needed?

I don't have the right equipment to be in the target market for these Flingz travel thongs, but they sent me one for my significant other to try out. She's already a thong wearer, so no convincing was necessary on the benefits of no panty lines. She popped the packet into her gym bag, changed into them after a workout, and pronounced them up to the job. The thongs are 95% cotton, she washed them in the machine like she does with all the others and the Flingz came out fine.

The big appeal of these, however, is that they're inexpensive and they fit into a little palm-sized packet that's easy to shove into your purse or a corner of your travel bag. So you can have one with you at all times or pack three to carry you through a weekend trip.

My volunteer model wasn't up for any photos, so you'll have to rely on these from the website, but I promise the Flingz fit nicely. You'll have to make due with this shot from the Flingz website to get an idea of that. There aren't many retailers carrying these yet, so your best bet so for is to order from them direct at $7.50 for one or $18 for a three-pack (plus shipping).


Related post: Quick-dry Travel Underwear

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Coghlan's Clip-on LED Headlight

A headlight that is tiny, multi-functional, and long-lasting; maybe I'll pack one of these contraptions after all.

I'm personally not a big fan of headlights for regular travelers. If you're spelunking or robbing a bank, sure, but for just finding your way to the latrine at night or stumbling from the bar to your bungalow, it's overkill. They often end up taking up as much or room in your pack as a flashlight and when you factor in the straps, they can be a packing annoyance. Plus I've been shined in the face by the infernal things more times than I can count by trekkers who try to make eye contact while shining a bright light from their forehead!

I like this cute little light that Coghlan's sent me though.

If you're a camper, you probably have plenty of Coghlan's products. They put out a whole long list of items that keep you comfortable, safe, and out of the dark when you're in the woods. This one is as reasonably priced and well-designed as the rest. For a mere $11.53 list price (yea, no .99 at the end), you get a little 1.3-ounce orb of a light that can be worn with a strap or clipped onto the bill of your cap. Or of course you can clip it onto anything else when needed: a tree branch, the top of your tent, your book, whatever. It uses two small lithium batteries that will wear out eventually, but the estimated life is 25 hours, or 50 with the strobe. If you're lost for more then 50 hours with a strobe flashing, well, you've got bigger problems.

This is a nice double-duty item: strap it on your head when you're hiking in the dark, carry it as a flashlight, or clip it onto something when you need light. There's even a little red filter than flips down to give you "night vision," in case you have to bust up a hidden terrorist camp I guess.

This clip-on LED headlight weighs a quarter of what other models do, it takes up almost no room in your bag, and it's priced at less than 12 bucks. What's not to like? Pick one up for yourself and another for a stocking stuffer. I had trouble finding this online at the usual outlets, so you'll probably have better luck at a camping retail store or Wal-mart. Coghlan's has a list of physical and online retailers and a zip code search function on it's website.

Checkpoint-friendly Laptop Cases Out Now

If you travel with a laptop, getting through the security gauntlet at the airport is almost as much fun as when you travel with a toddler. You normally have to remove it from the case, lay it flat with nothing on top of it, with a TSA agent barking at you for still not doing it right as you fill up bin #4 with your belt and shoes. Get to the end and put it all back together again.

Things took a big step forward recently with the approval of laptop bags that will fly through security with ease. They are now hitting the market, including office stores like Staples where you can get different versions from Samsomite and Targus. With these cases, your laptop stays in place and all you have to do is unzip the bag and lay it flat on the belt. At the other end you just zip it back up and you're on your way in a flash (well, after you put your shoes and belt back on.)

I've been trying out the Samsonite Checkmate laptop case, which will make my life easier next time out. It fits a 15.4-inch computer snugly or a netbook-sized one with room to spare (see pics). For that see-through compartment, it's laptop-only. But then the rest of the bag is like any other one you've used for travel or going back and forth to the office: lots of pockets and compartments, comfortable handle, and a shoulder strap. There is plenty of room for chargers, gadgets, and reading material, plus a front pocket with spaces for pens, business cards, a phone, and the like.

It uses lots of pleather around the nylon at the stress points, but the Samsonite Checkmate bag retails for $80 and comes with a 3-year warranty. It's rugged and looks like it will take any abuse you throw at it, while the cushioning inside keeps your equipment intact.

Staples also carries a few other computer bag options, including a rolling version. These models are just now getting into stores and taking longer to trickle out online, but should be easy to find as we get closer to the holidays. If you've got a business traveling road warrior on your list, this would be an appreciated gift.

Gear Wash from Nikwax

All these scientific fabrics and organic fiber blends now prevalent in our travel gear and clothing are a wonderful thing, except when it's time to wash them. At the two ends of the scale---hi-tech and organic---the laundry instructions go far beyond what's required with your usual wardrobe. You can't just drop those Gore-tex and bamboo items off at the back alley laundry shop in Cusco. If you're away from home, you'll probably need to hand-wash them in a sink.

Nikwax, the people best known for their waterproofing liquids, has put out a line of washing gels to meet the needs of these fabrics. As the clothing has gotten more specialized, so has the washing, apparently. There's a Base Wash for synthetic base layers like fleece, a Tech Wash for waterproof items, and Wool Wash for Merino and other natural fibers.

These come in a size small enough for travel, but unfortunately not quite small enough: each is 3.4 ounces and doesn't meet TSA limits for carry-on items. Be advised you need to use a lot of it too in some cases. With the recommended amount of 33ml for 1-2 items with the Tech Wash, you'll get exactly three uses out of the $5.95 container. For the Base Wash though, you only need 5ml.

I tried out my sample of Wool Wash on my Ex-Officio soy blend sweater, an item that comes with more care warnings than a newborn baby. The wash got the stink out, left the sweater feeling fresh, and seems to have preserved its fragile temperament. Since I couldn't remember when, if ever, I had washed my GoLite Ether wind jacket, I used that to try out the Tech Wash. The water in my sink looked like the Blue Lagoon in Iceland after it got going and it was a strange slick sensation. My jacket is now clean though and the waterproofing is intact.

I have no idea what's really in any of these gels since the ingredients listed all comprise 5% or less of the total. The packaging says "data sheets are available upon request," but that part of the website is blank. They don't use petroleum though and at least try to have a strong environmental ethos, so I'll willing to give Nikwax the benefit of the doubt.

While I wish the company had gone all the way and made these packages 3-ounce travel-friendly, I guess if you're geared up to go skiing or hike the Andes, you're probably packing more than a carry-on anyway.

See more about the products at the Nikwax site. The gels seem to just be trickling out there at retail, but search REI.com or Backcountry.com as they carry the larger sizes and will likely be stocking these soon.

Activetrax Travel Crank and Solar iPod Speaker

There are a lot of solar and crank radios out there now, which is a beautiful thing, but this little Activetrax cube from L.L. Bean goes beyond the rest in several ways. It's a speaker for any MP3 player, iPod, or phone. It's an AM/FM radio and a NOAA weather band radio with an extending antenna. It's about 2/3 the size of a Rubik's cube (3"L x 3½"H x 2¼"D), easily fitting into the palm of my hand or the corner of my backpack.

All well and good, but this is an off-the-grid electronic item that I've used for 12 hours without it coming near an electrical outlet. (There is an included A/C adapter for lazy people who want to charge it up before leaving home.) There's a small crank on the side that provides an hour of play time with only three minutes of cranking. Then there's a solar panel on the top that does even better. In my tests, an afternoon in the sun provided the full seven hours of play time.

The Activetrax comes with a carrying case that essentially doubles the size in order to accommodate the adapter, so if packing space is tight it's better to leave it at home. Otherwise, it's heavy-duty and comes with a carbiner to attach it to your bag or tent.

Alas, there's always a trade-off, and in this case it's the sound quality. It's okay, especially for the radio, but nothing like the sound you'll get from most powered MP3 speakers, like the Altec Lansing Orbit speaker I use a lot when I travel. Plus you need the included mono adapter to hear both channels from an MP3 player and the tiny and sensitive radio dial is hard to tune. For me though, it's worth it to have something I can use anywhere, without electrical adapters or batteries. It also gives me a lot of pleasure to use something so practical pulling nothing but green energy.

Most people know L.L. Bean for its quality outdoor clothing at a good price. They do carry some unique gear items too though. The new catalog has a cap with built-in tiny LED lights in the brim and several crank flashlights. Got to llbean.com/gear to see the line-up.

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