The Best Rechargeable Batteries

Earth Day just passed. Are you still using regular throwaway batteries?

With a portable battery charger and a set of rechargeable batteries, you can help the planet and save money long-term as well. A minuscule fraction of batteries get disposed of properly, which means a lot of acid and toxic minerals going into landfills every day. In developing countries, you'll also see them tossed by a roadside or getting into the water supply via a riverside.

Wired magazine tested four models of rechargeable batteries in its April issue, snapping pictures on a digital Canon camera and measuring the number of photos per charge. They also looked at charger time, which ranged from 620 minutes down to 13 minutes.

The top choice in the number of photos per charge was actually the cheapest option: the Duracell 2650 mAH, which run about $4 a battery or $15 to $25 for 2-4 batteries with a charger. With a regular charger they took an incredible 10 hours 20 minutes to fully charge, but for an incredible output: 1,377 photos.

The fastest charger was the Energizer 2450 mAH, which only got 693 photos snapped, but charged in just 13 minutes with the included fast charger. I found a great deal on this package at Amazon: for under $25 you get the quick charger, two AA batteries, and two AAA batteries. And it qualifies for free shipping.

In the middle were the Sanyo Eneloop (759 photos per charge, 150 minutes charge time) and the UltraLast Green Pre-charged Rechargeables (781 photos per charge, 90 minutes charge time).

The UltraLast line is interesting though because of the chargers that are available. There's one $25 package on Amazon that has a wall charger, a car charger, and a sleek USB charger plus four of each size of battery. That's a bonafide bargain and in my book that puts it in the lead. I'll take the average performance if you throw that much into the package.

The USB charger would be quite handy too if you're a business traveler or a flashpacker. It takes up less room than the other options and if you're staying at the kind of hotels where you're going to be plugged in and working at a desk, you can just piggyback onto that power supply without the bulk of a wall socket charger.

Search for more rechargeable batteries and items at Gaiam.com

Editor's note: in May this blog will move to its own domain, where I'm be joined by a female gear reviewer and a frequent business traveler. Get ahead of the game by adding that RSS stream to your reader at PracticalTravelGear.com.

Heys Travelmate Sling Bag

Heys is a travel gear and luggage company best known for its very hard but lightweight rolling suitcases---those colorful ones you see whizzing by you in the airport. But they also make a lot of practical travel accessories and bags that aren't hard-sided, including this cool little Travelmate bag that slings over your shoulder.

Think of it as a miniature daypack, a travel purse, a hands-free travel carrier for dads, or a man purse, but the idea is that you can stow what you need in a small bag that doesn't get in the way. It's smaller than a backpack or messenger bag, but large enough to hold the essentials. In my test I managed to fit in the following: trade paperback, notebook, camera, passport, snacks, cell phone, pens, lip balm, and my Chargepod. There's a zippered mesh pocket on the side that will hold a small water bottle.

The Heys Travelmate stays snug against your body so your hands are free---especially helpful if you're trying to keep track of a toddler or push a stroller. If you're not traveling on business and you're on an airline that doesn't sock you for baggage fees, you could check your suitcase and complete the whole trip with just this bag. Then on the other end, it would do the trick for your days of sightseeing.

I have no complaints about the bag itself: it's rugged, well-made, and has lots of pockets for keeping things separated, including one on the front that's handy for things you need to get at often, like money and an ID. The flap on the front is attached with velcro, so you can open it with one hand. One inside pocket is clear and waterproof: handy if you're carrying cosmetics that could leak.

Two of the three accessories that come with it are a different story though and should have just been left out. There's a cheap LED flashlight that was already dead in the model I received and a mirror that's about as clear as a piece of tin foil. The included travel wallet is nice though: the kind that hangs around your neck and goes under your shirt---handy in places where pickpockets could be working the crowd. (The bag itself would be pretty hard to snatch too; it would have to be slashed.)

The regular line of Heys Travelmate bags includes models in 14 different colors, from subdued to very bright. There's also an "exotic" line with zebra and leopard prints or the houndstooth one pictured here. Some of the shades and patterns are too feminine for guys, but there's plenty to choose from.

These bags generally retail for $23 to $30, so they're a good value. They're available in some retail luggage stores. Find out more online or go shopping:

Heys Canada
Heys USA

Solid colors at Amazon
Exotic line at Amazon

Packing Cubes From Tom Bihn

Here's another option for packing cubes and I like the looks of these.

The Seattle-based Tom Bihn company is mostly known for its fantastic travel bags. Rugged and Made in the USA, they inspire fanatic devotion. I'm about to become a devotee myself I think. I'll be trying out their Aeronaut carry-on bag for a four-night trip next week and am actually looking forward to packing.

The company also makes loads of neat travel accessories though, including a wide array of packing cubes and gadget bags. I have mixed feelings about the necessity of these organizers, but my post on the Eagle Creek packing cubes before remains one of the most popular posts on this blog, so obviously people like the idea of getting their undies organized.

There's only so much innovation and differentiation you can put into little pouches that zip close and fit into a suitcase, so Tom Bihn's packing cubes mostly stand apart on style and color. They all have a checked pattern and come in either Steel (dark gray and subdued) or Solar (bright yellow). They have good YKK zippers and ripstock nylon fabric. They're mesh on one side so damp clothes don't build up mildew. Here's the real difference though: they're not made in China. If you want to put your own personal stimulus plan in place and buy American, you can do so at Tom Bihn without paying a premium. The cubes are $15 to $18 each and should last a decade or two.

The company also makes a 2-sided clear packing cube that is great when you want to be able to see exactly what's inside or you've got liquids you're afraid could leak onto everything else through mesh. In theory this should work for carrying cosmetics through the security gauntlet at the airport, but it depends on the mood of that day's TSA agent: carry a spare plastic bag in case.

Cute Portable Digital Picture Frame From Royal

Bring your favorite pictures along for ten bucks or less!

Over the years, as a traveling dad, I have found it extremely useful to pack plenty of diversions for the kid or kids tagging along. I haven't sprung for a Sony PSP or a Nintendo DS because I know how addictive they can be even for adults. But I share my iPod classic with my daughter so she can watch cartoons and listen to her favorite tunes. And often I'll pick up a cheap gadget to bring on a trip, something that has the flash of the new.

This little 1.4-inch digital picture frame from Royal is a toy in terms of specs, but at a retail price of $7 to $10, it's a great value. My daughter loves it and she can't wait to hook it onto her backpack the next time we take off, bringing photos of all her friends and grandparents along for the ride.

Set-up was dead easy. There's a mini CD that installs the program on your computer. Then you plug in the device, select the photos you want, and sync it up. The photo frame gets the time and date from your computer and charges up via the USB cord. Your photo library is presented in the software in the normal folder system. When you select a photo the software puts a cropping box over it (which you can move around) to size it for this device. In other words, you get the faces, not a shrunken version of the entire photo.

The picture quality is not going to win any awards, but it's pretty good for the price. You can scroll through the pictures manually, or just sit back and let it go in slideshow mode. After a period of inactivity it shuts off by itself. Thankfully Royal resisted the urge to add a bunch of useless features to it, but there is an alarm clock, so I guess this qualifies as a double-duty item for packing light. The clip also doubles as a stand.

There aren't a lot of good travel gadgets that will cost you an Alexander Hamilton or less. This is one that delivers.

Get the Royal PF140 Digital Photo Frame at Overstock.com

Get it at Amazon

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Travel Gear on the Wish Lists

Every once in a while I pull up the stats on this travel gear blog to see which posts are really getting checked out by the most readers. Which gear items are people researching and drooling over? (Okay, so maybe "drooling over" is the wrong phrase to use when talking about travel underwear, but hey, you like it a lot better if someone else spends $20 on it instead of you, right?) Since I'm on deadline for some magazine articles due this week, I've been taking a break from the travel gear tests. So here are the most popular posts over the past month:

Pacsafe's theft-proof travel bag. This post is two years old and is the most popular, so apparently lots of travelers are looking for a good slash-proof bag for walking around town. This one is highly recommended.

Quick-dry travel underwear from ExOfficio. Save money on the road with sink laundering and have dry undies in the morning.

Portable room safe. Apparently I'm not the only one who wonders how to keep valuables secure in a cheap hotel.

Are packing cubes worthwhile? Apparently a lot of people are pondering a purchase of these organizing aids.

The best backpacks for travelers. Your most important gear item for long-term travel.

Timex rugged Field Expedition watch. This was what I took with me trekking in Peru this past December. Great watch for a reasonable price.

Travel adapter, converter, and USB charger. This is a handy item that does double duty. I used it in Europe a few months back and was very happy with it.

Lightwedge innovative reading light. This one surprised me as I reviewed this way back in the summer of 2007. This book light takes some getting used to, but some people love it.

Your Own Pics on Postcards from Hazel Mail

How many times have you rummaged through the postcard rack in some tourist town and thought, "My own pictures are better than these." And have you dropped into the post office in say, Cusco, and been flabbergasted at how much it costs to send off those postcards you just bought?

I've been testing out a pretty cool solution from Hazel Mail that brings postcard mailing into the digital age. Here's how it works: first, you log into their site and upload your photo. Hi-res ones straight from the camera are fine. Then you format the image, with the ability to stretch it, crop it, or put a border around it. Then you enter your message and the address, picking out a font that you like. You pay $1.50 per card to addresses in the U.S., $2 for those in Europe, varying rates elsewhere.



Then you go about your travels, knowing that even if your e-mails get filtered and nobody really looks at all those pics you painstakingly uploaded to your Facebook page, your friends and relatives will know you are thinking about them. After all, a piece of mail stands out far more these days than another few megabytes in the digital firehose we're all drinking from.

There are a few little quirks. The website is very coy about giving out any info when you visit. You actually have to go through the whole uploading process to find out anything about fees and payment methods. Then they send a confirmation after the order, which is nice, but in mine the graphics covered up all the text so it just looked like an ad in HTML mode. I assume they'll work out the glitches soon though and add more info for prospective users up front in time. Apart from that, the site is dead easy to use and once you've registered it's easy to send new cards in the future. It'll store the address of Mom and Sis, for instance, so you don't have to retype them later. You can even upload a whole bunch of addresses from a contact list or spreadsheet.

I sent one of the Mexico City postcards to my own house to test the outcome and the result was nice. The photo looked almost as good as what you would get from a photo processing place and it had a real canceled stamp on it. The printed message doesn't have quite the same charm as a scribbled note with road dirt and spilled coffee on it, but still more personal than an e-mail. All this and you can avoid paying rapacious international postage costs.

Several writers have wondered if the sending of postcards is a dying art, but Hazel Mail seems like a good compromise in keeping this more personal communication method alive. Highly recommended.

Gear Advice from Around the Web

I'm going to step back from the mic today and point to a few worthy travel gear posts I've come across lately from elsewhere.

First, Beth Whitman discusses the thorny issues involved in picking out a travel adapter. For some good specific choices, check out this travel adapter round-up I did for Tibesti.com. I especially like the Travelon one with a built-in converter. I've used it successfully on a few trips now.

One of the Traveling Mamas has a great post on how to avoid those pesky travel illnesses. I especially like the Earplanes. Besides the catchy name, they solve a common problem and they're only $6.95 at Amazon.

Here's another reminder why you should never put anything valuable into your checked luggage. (Well, unless it's a bottle of duty free liquor since you've got no choice.) Gadling notes that two thieves employed at Portland's airport made off with more than 200 items stolen from passenger bags, including laptops. Who checks a laptop?

Fresh off my recent complaining about cell phone charger non-standardization, Dan Tynan looks at how the cell phone companies are waking up to their environmentally unconscious ways, sorta.

Carry-on Bliss with the Flybag

I noticed that it has been quite a while since I reviewed something fitting into the "cheap and light" category, so I present to you the Flybag.

The company sent me one of these to try out for my last trip and as soon as I got back I ordered one for my Mom. How's that for an endorsement?

Plenty of companies now make some kind of carry-on cosmetic kit that helps you cope with the shakedown at airport security. I've reviewed a few here on this travel gear blog. This version adds a bit of fun and novelty to the mix though, which made me smile.

Sure, there is the clear case that will keep most TSA agents from messing with your 3-ounce or less containers and three refillable bottles for special goop you need to take with you. But in an attempt to make your flight more comfortable after you have cleared security, there is a cool eye mask to enable you to catch some sleep and some earplugs for plane noise or crying babies.

The mask and earplugs can also come in handy if the hotel that looked so lovely on Orbitz turns out to have badly-fitted windows and is right on the busiest street in the city.

And I like their sense of humor. The Flybag carry-on kits come in "blue bomb," "pink scissors," and "grey dagger" colors.

You can order direct from the Flybags.com site or get it for under 20 bucks from Amazon.

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.

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.

Cupcoats for Your Takeout Coffee

I am fortunate enough to have a coffee shop a block from my house that uses real mugs. The one a little further away in my neighborhood does not, however, nor does the landfill nightmare known as Starbucks. Plus if you're grabbing a coffee to go, you're stuck with a throwaway cup unless you've worked out a deal to fill up your own.

I always say that if every person changed a few insignificant regular habits, they could reduce their impact on the planet far more than by doing more hyped actions such as buying carbon offsets for a flight. Here's one that's dead easy: buy one of these cool Cupcoats to put around your take-out coffee instead of slapping on the cardboard sleeve you see everyone using. If you only buy one cup of coffee a week, that's 52 pieces of garbage avoided. If you pick up a cup every day---whoa Nellie! That's a lot of extra trash (and the fuel to manufacture and ship it) avoided.

These things actually feel better in your hand too, whether it's the soft cloth ones in groovy colors and patterns or the burlap ones made from recycled coffee bags. Yes, made from used coffee bean sacks; talk about appropriate recycling!

As best I can tell from the Cupcoat Expressions website, there are about 40 different designs to choose from, ranging from $7 to $9.50. They switch out designs seasonally though and you can order custom prints or logos for company swag or a charity event. Starbucks could do this too, I suppose, but they'd probably charge you $20 for one.

These reusable cup sleeves fit most 12 to 20 ounce cups, they're made in Canada, and are biodegradable. This item is right up there with the reusable grocery bag, compact flourescents, and rechargeable batteries: a no-brainer.

Search for more eco-friendly travel gear and gadgets at Gaiam.com

Jimi Plastic Wallet

I'm on vacation right now, but am popping in with a review of the Jimi plastic wallet I'm carrying around. It has a slot for credit cards and a money clip, which is about all I need besides my passport.

Why a plastic wallet? Well, paradoxically it can be good for the environment, but I like it for practical reasons. My money stays dry at the pool or on a boat---or in the rain. It pops into a zippered pocket easily on my shorts. And I don't care if it gets scratched up or something. If you want, you can even hang it around your neck on a lanyard, wearing it under your clothing.

The Jimi wallet comes in a variety of colors, is durable, is water resistant, and is made in the USA even, from 100 percent recycled materials. Get your own for $15.

Shake Light Flashlight - No Batteries!

A couple years back I ran a review of a shake flashlight (torch) that never needs batteries. I bought that one for less than 10 bucks on eBay though and got what I paid for. After about a year the switch started wigging out on me and I had to hold my thumb on it to keep the light on. (Still makes a good kid toy though.) Now I'm using something more rugged and dependable: the Shakelight from Gaiam.

This one runs $20 to $30 depending on the exact model and where you buy it, but it could be the last flashlight you ever need. Plus you don't ever have to buy batteries for it. If a twister comes through or a meteor wipes out the electric grid, you'll still have light for weeks with just a shake of the arm. Naturally this makes it a good bet for traveling in developing countries too since the electricity supply is often dicey and the acid batteries go straight into the ground or into a burning pile of garbage. This you just shake and the magnetic coil system does its thing.

The Gaiam Shakelight weighs less than a pound, but has a double coil that enables almost a half hour of light after just two minutes of shaking. It's nine inches long and thin except for where the light comes out, so it's not much trouble to pack. It's the little things that often have the most impact on the environment over time. Using an eco-friendly flashlight is one little thing that's painless and productive.

(Just one warning on the box though: avoid this if you've got implanted medical devices and you might want to keep it away from any magnetic computer disks or credit cards.)

Get this version from Amazon for $20.

Search for more eco-friendly gear from Gaiam.com

Pen-sized Hand Sanitizer

I'm as game as the next guy for making fun of those travelers who load up on hand sanitizer for a trip, as if there are somehow 10 times more germs abroad than at home. (The germophobe gets a starring role in the new Nim's Island movie, with an ongoing Purell product placement via Jodie Foster.)

As a parent though, I know there are times when your kid is carrying a whole petri dish of stuff on his/her hands. But then it's time to eat the airplane or food stall snack, with no sink and soap in sight.

This cool little hand sanitizing spray device from CVS lets you kill all the germs without loading up your bag or worrying about the 3-ounce carry on rules. It's the size of a large ink pen and has all of 0.17 ounces (5ml) in it. The protective top even has a clip for hooking it to a pocket. Pull the top off and there's a little spray nozzle. No mess before or after.

This mini hand sanitizing spray fits into a purse or pocket easily so you can keep it handy in flight or while on the move. It retails for a mere $1.79 at their stores, so this is one gadget impulse buy that you won't regret later.

Comfy Casual Beach Shoes from OKA b

When a shoe company's website is www.shoesthatloveyou.com, those puppies better be comfortable. When the little tag attached to said footwear also says, "Love at first step," they had better be really comfortable.

Fortunately, it's not just hype and spin with the line of beach-friendly shoes and sandals from OKA b (short for Okabashi). For the past week I've been wearing a pair of the Cambden ones for men. The female with me, who is genetically wired to have a shoe fetish, has been bopping around the beach house with a pair of Savannahs. The verdict? "They're fabulous," she says. They look good and feel good.

I say they're comfy and they go on and off quickly, so mission accomplished. Granted they don't have a beer bottle opener like my Reef ones, but hey, fashionable people frown upon such utilitarian genius. These go over the foot rather than requiring a toe wedgie though, so points for that. Like Japanese onsen shoes but more pliable. You can even put them on the top shelf of the dishwasher to get them clean!

The big differentiating features of the Oka b line are raised arch supports (actually a minus for flat-footed me), non-slip soles, and massage beads where your foot comes in contact with the shoe. They're also impregnated with things to keep them from smelling and clean-up takes no time--there's no fabric. True, they're a long way away from being "green," but they'll last you years, which in itself puts them above most of the glorified flip-flops out there. Plus they're made in the USA; when's the last time you saw that on a pair of shoes?

For the full selection see the shoes that love you website, or look for them at hip shoe stores. The Camden ones I've been wearing retail for $20. The Savannah ones for women retail for $30. Good beach shoes, good price.

Transformers-style International Travel Adapter

Back in the day, I used to carry around a felt pouch with a half-dozen different plugs in order to be prepared for what the world threw at me in terms of odd electrical plugs my ancient laptop would face. Thanfully there are now more compact choices out there, including this SIP-3 “Ultimate International Travel Adapter” from Sima Products.

This model doesn’t go with the one-piece design you find in other electrical adapters. Instead Sima choose to offer a series of plugs that fit together in a way that ends of taking up about the same amount of space, but giving you the option to leave the ones you don’t need stowed away. It’s an elegant, efficient design that makes me wonder why it took this long to appear. Once you pull it out and put it back together, it just feels natural, almost intuitive. Plus the price is right--under $12 in some spots.

This set will cover you for some 150 countries, from Australia to China to the UK, so it is a handy item for any international business traveler or backpacker about to take off on a round-the-world journey with something that needs to be plugged in.

As with any basic set of adapter plugs, there’s no actual electric conversion. Don’t plug your 110v hair drying into one of these plugs in Europe and expect the motor to keep working. There’s no fuse either, so you need to use common sense and only plug in electronics that are designed for dual voltage.

You should be able to find this on their site, but if not click the link below to find the best deal elsewhere.

Find the best price for a Sip3 adapter

Small Retractable Cable Lock

A long while back in this blog I pointed to a retractable cable lock as an essential piece of gear for any long-term traveler. The Lewis & Clark one I had used for about a dozen long trips finally croaked at the end of last year and I snagged one of these much smaller retractable cable locks from an old standby: Master Lock.

It was only eight bucks, so I was not expecting much really. Half the size of my old one and half the price. That may be normal for computers, but it doesnt usually work that way with simple hardware. This cable lock is an exception. It shrinks by giving you 2 feet of cable instead of 3, but otherwise it is just as well made and rugged. So the question is, do you need 3 feet of cable or would you rather have more space?

My vote would be taking the larger models out there if you are traveling as a couple and sometimes need to lock two backpacks to a bulky chair or bedpost. Buy the smaller one if you are on your own. At this price, for something this light, you truly can't go wrong taking one along for security.

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I Use the Gear I Cover, Part 2

About a year ago I did a posting on how I really use the travel gear I review on this blog instead of just regurgitating press releases or gushing "Isn't this cool!" about something that looks great but doesn't actually work very well. While I'll occasionally point to what others have said about some quirky item that sounds fun, I try to put everything I write up through its proper paces. Often that means taking it with me as I travel.

As a travel writer, I am out and about quite a bit, like the 9 days I just spent in Panama. Here's what worked, and worked well.

Altec Lansing iPod speaker
There are some wierd quirks to the design of this thing (pictured above), but it delivers where it really matters: in the sound. A great bang for the buck.

Energizer battery charger
Speakers need batteries, but this small charger allows me to keep them primed without sending acid to the landfill (or in developing countries, the side of the road.)

Eagle Creek Wallaby hanging cosmetic case
I've used one of these things on every trip I've taken longer than a weekend for the past 16 years. A great item for when counter space is limited and it allows you to find what you need in a hurry.

Eagle Creek Meridian backpack
This is one of those convertible backpacks that zips up into a suitcase. So whether I'm going first class or low class, I'm ready. Works as a carry-on too, so no lost luggage when making connections.

Western Digital portable hard drive
I've got most of my desktop and all my photos on this thing as a backup, yet it weighs hardly anything and doesn't take up much room. Even has a little travel carrying case. I back up my photos to this every day or two and keep it in a separate place so if my camera and/or laptop disappear, I've still got my pics.

Buzz Off shirt from Ex-Officio
An extra layer of bug protection is a good thing in the tropics. This long-sleeve shirt with thumb holes helps keep them away from my skin. Right now there's a clearance sale too at the official site: BUZZ OFF Clothing at ExOfficio.com

Laptop backpack from eBags
I've been putting this thing through hard paces for two years now, using it every week and taking it to eight different countries.

Carry-on Cosmetic Solution: Travelon Travel Sheets

The number of solutions out there to deal with carry-on luggage restrictions for airlines is getting better all the time and I've got a few in the hopper to review in the coming month. (Already done, the 3-1-1 Travel Bag.) Lots of points for originality though with these travel sheets from Travelon. Liquid? We don't need no stinkin' liquid!

These are little sheets that come out of a dispenser and then when you add water, they lather up to fill a cosmetic need of your choice. Do your sink laundry. Shave. Shampoo your hair. All without worrying about how many ounces your bottles hold because there aren't any ounces of anything.

Yeah, it sounds a little wacky, but they work surprisingly well. The shampoo takes a little forethought since your fingers need to be dry when you take out the sheets---otherwise you could ruin the whole pack. Add water and lather up though and it works like regular shampoo. The shaving cream worked even better, giving me a better shave than I get from conventional shaving cream and definitely better than what I get from the dollar store travel razor I've used before.

I wish these sink laundry sheets had been around when I was a long-term backpacker. Besides the airline advantages, these are a lot easier and lighter to carry around than packets of powdered detergent or a bottle of liquid. You get 50 sheets in a pack for around $7.

In summary, they're compact, light, relatively cheap, and a breeze to take through airports. Apart from the initial wierdness factor, there is little to fault with these travel sheets. Go get some at your favorite gear or luggage store or at Amazon. For more info, see the Travelon site.