These bags are made with real sailcloth, which has a very unique feel about it. As a sailor, I can tell you that Dacron sailcloth is very lightweight, extremely durable, and very water resistant. It is not damaged by sunlight and can take a lot of wear and tear. That's why it is such a great fabric to have in a duffel bag. I bought a large duffel myself and love it. The colors are vibrant and fun; the design is taken from marine signal flags). I use mine about four times a month, mostly when traveling on the weekends. During the sailing season, I'll use it just about every weekend while on the boat. The size I have (large) fits all my gear and space never seems to be a problem with what I need to pack for a weekend trip. There are other sailcloth bags out there, especially those made from recycled sailcloth, which is appealing in some sense, but you don't always know where the cloth comes from or the quality. All of True Wind's bags are made with new sailcloth that comes from an Irish company called Hood, which has a long history in the industry. The bag also just looks different and the quality is there. True Wind uses solid brass hardware, and personally, I like that they're made in the US. The company also offers monogramming, which wasn't available at the time I ordered mine.
-- Warren B.
True Wind Sailcloth Bags
$175
(various colors)
Available from True Wind
You've previously reviewed wallets on Cool Tools, so let's have equal time, guys ;-) .This travel purse is actually the best everyday purse I've ever found. I've used and abused it for four years, and the purse still looks great. Its polyester microfiber sheds dirt and is machine washable. Best of all, the easy-to-open strap clips (satin brushed metal which continue looking good indefinitely) allow me to convert it to a waist pack in seconds. Worn as a waist pack, the front zippered section (with your money & credit cards) is easily accessible without removing the purse. It’s great for shopping and errand running. You can keep your hands free. You don't have to hold onto it or shove it out of the way. You can't put it down and forget it somewhere. Wearing it as a waist pack also helps deter pick-pockets and purse-snatchers, too. And, whenever necessary, you can convert right back to shoulder use in five seconds.
Here's a rundown of the interior: flat pocket under Velcro flap in front (good for receipts). Unzipping the front compartment reveals two flat pockets and one zippered pocket (cash), then two more flat pockets (checks in one), one fronted by 8 card pockets (each can easily hold 5+ cards), and a pen loop. The back zipper reveals a large compartment -- mine holds keys, cell phone, PDA, camera, folding brush, comb, lip gloss, sewing kit, mini first aid kit, tape measure, etc., I enhanced the inside of the back pocket by adding a Velcro strip, so small items don't vanish below.
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I originally bought mine to improve my posture -- no matter how big a purse I get, over time I'll overfill it and gradually tilt sideways. Even the "healthy back" bags didn't work. This one's big enough to hold what I need, but small enough so it won't get too heavy. It's astonishing how much it can hold, but it's small enough that if you really must carry a designer purse for a night on the town, you can drop this little beauty inside.
-- Barbara Dace
En Route 3-in-1 Travel Purse
$30
Available from Amazon
This incredibly compact, bike-oriented multi-tool has five different sizes of Allen wrench plus a Phillips screwdriver head, all of which folds up into a little pod about the size of a walnut. Sometimes I'll carry it in my pocket or toss it in shoulder bag; mostly I keep it in the under-seat pouch of my bike. It really comes in handy for quick adjustments: raising the seat height, tightening the rear view mirror, adding and removing accessories, etc. Because it's so small it doesn't give enough leverage for really tight nuts (you can't remove a handlebar stem with it), but by extending the tools on the opposite side of the one you're using you can get a handle that's effectively 2.5 inches long, which is enough for small jobs. It also works well as a keychain fob, though at 58g it's slightly on the heavy side.
This mask has indispensable for daytime naps or when sleeping in barracks or tents with other people who like to stay up late. I was stationed for a couple months in Qatar and am currently stationed in Kuwait (that's as much as I am able to tell you without breaking OPSEC). The mask is more effective and comfortable than the other ones I've worn. You can open your eyes no matter the time of day and think it's the darkest time of night. It blocks the light most effectively due to the contour over the nose. With normal masks you get gaps on the sides of your nose, no matter how you try to position it or if it has a nose cut-out. When I got back from basic training five years ago I discovered I liked to take mid-afternoon naps. I found a silly sleep mask, pink with fake daisies on it. I was able to sleep, but I would wake up with my eyes all dried out. I eventually lost it and went through a basic satin sleep mask and also a silk eye mask that had little pillows attached to the bottom edge so it wouldn't smash your eyes. Once again, though, both of them dried my eyes out something fierce. Since this mask does not press against your eyes, it allows for moisture to draw out out along your eyelashes.
I have been using the mask almost non-stop for the last nine months. I don't use it nightly anymore, mainly because lately my roommate goes to sleep before me. I use it during the day when I have to work an overnight shift. I have a tendency to lose things so when it's something affordable I buy two. When I had a different roommate, we worked different shifts. She would borrow one of my masks, and we were able to each leave a light on for the other person so we wouldn't walk into a pitch black room. On one occasion, there was a horrific downpour that flooded our tent. Unfortunately one mask was drenched and when it dried out it the fabric started to come away from the foam. I continued to use it and the second mask I brought with me. The second mask's foam started to separate from the fabric when I had to fold it up to stick in my pocket and take it out and fold it back several times on my journey from Qatar to Kuwait. Even though the fabric is coming away on both masks, they are still comfortable and wonderful to wear.
In a few months I am going home because my deployment will be over. Even though I'll be back to being a "citizen/soldier" in the National Guard, I plan to keep sleeping with this mask. I don't have to adjust it five times to fall asleep or use eye drops after I wake up. And I love the sensory deprivation aspect. I have traveled a lot. On a plane I use the mask in conjunction with my iPod and an inflatable neck pillow. I love thinking that when I open my eyes it might be in a different place than when I closed them. With this mask I can pretend, until I take it off, that I am going to wake up at home in my own bed.
-- PFC Erica H Sandberg
Lights Out Sleep Mask
$10
(blue)
Available from Amazon
I had seen these small pouches before, but didn't pay close attention until I saw photo of a fully-loaded one on Flickr. When I don't want to carry my whole gear bag, these are great for the bare essentials. Even when I do need my gear bag, the BDU is compact enough I just slide it right in, as is. It really helps keep my stuff organized. I fit five pens, including the previously-reviewed 0.18 mm pen, a Moleskine planner, Sony Clie PDA, ID and credit card, pocket knife and a small flashlight. You open up the wallet and it has slots for pens/pencils with a pouch behind that section that fits a pocket Moleskine perfectly. On the inside right, there's a flap with a clear plastic pocket for ID stashing. It can also fit a small portable music player.
Behind that is another pocket where I store my small LED flashlight and pocket knife (removed easily for air travel, of course). On the back are attachment straps that can be used as a belt mount - if you prefer a larger version of the Handyman Belt Organizer -- or to mount the wallet to another bag or gear. I am in the process of putting together a bug out bag with a small first aid/survival kit. I'll likely buy another BDU wallet just for that. After I started searching, I found there are various manufacturers (BlackHawk and Spec-Ops) and styles to choose from (some don't have the flap that can cost $18 to $30. I ended up getting mine for less from a surplus store on eBay.
-- Ivan Romero
BDU Pocket Field Organizer/Wallet
$8
Available from Arvada Surplus
Although you can certainly get cash in plenty of places overseas, in a good many others ATMs just do not exist. You gotta plan ahead: this nylon money belt is pretty much exactly what I've always been looking for in a money belt, because it's actually a belt. While traveling in Asia for six months, and on trips to Mexico, I've used a standard money "belt" that's really more of a pouch you tuck into your beltline. You then subsequently appear to have either a distended abdomen or a money belt tucked into your pants, which obviously contradicts the goal: fly under the radar. I can keep my documents and passport safely hidden elsewhere, thanks much. But for carrying cash through pickpockety or banditry-prone places, this belt with a slim, zippered pocket is a real winner. I happened to see it at REI just before I left for a three-week trip to Nicaragua. I did have some trouble getting people to accept my origami-style folded bills (I really loaded up the belt), which is ironic because I didn't find a single dry Cordoba in the entire country! Still, from now on, I will always travel with this belt.
-- Mathew Honan
The Eagle Creek money belt has another great feature -- the buckle is plastic, unlike many others with metal buckles, so it doesn't have to be removed during airport screening. Keeps your cash right where you want it, not on a conveyor belt disappearing into an x-ray machine and not out in the open where someone with a sharp eye might notice it.
-- Evan Marks
Eagle Creek All-Terrain Money Belt
$12
(black or brown)
Available from Campmor
The Balikbayan Box Cover is a heavy-duty canvas bag with reinforced seams and side handles that's designed specifically to fit a 20" x 20" x 20" cardboard box. The beauty of the box cover is that after TSA officials inspect and reseal your box, they can zip up the top flap on the bag closed and your box is further protected from re-opening. The bag also helps guard your box (and its contents) from rough airline baggage handling. Gearing up for an extended visit to Moscow, my wife and I struggled to find a way to pack a large box of provisions that would still be well-sealed even after TSA inspection. I'm typically a minimalist when packing for trips, but this was a much different situation than your typical few days on vacation. I was concerned TSA folks might not be especially thorough about re-taping the box seams, which could lead to the box tearing open in transit. A Filipino friend came to the rescue with this simple, but incredibly effective solution (in the Philippines, when someone travels abroad, it's customary to ship his/her relatives a Balikbayan box filled with gifts/goodies). At 60 inches linear total, the box cover conforms to major airline luggage size restrictions, although it may take some creativity to keep the weight within the 50-lb. limit in this large of a box.
After receiving some nasty shaving lotion in a foil package at a hotel, I went on a quest for a travel shave soap I wouldn't have to declare as liquid or gel at airport security. This soap comes inside a hinged, clear plastic container. Pack it wet or dry the soap off first with a towel or piece of toilet paper/Kleenex -- either way, you shouldn't have any water/dampness issues in your luggage, as it seals well. The soap foams up a little when you get it nice and wet, seemingly a bit more than regular soap. Based on my usage, I'd say it's good for at least 25 shaves (at the rate I seem to travel that should do it for life). Though ease of carry-on was my initial criterion, the quality of the shave, price, expected lifespan of the product, and the functionality of the packaging make this a great option. Bonus: it smells really good (I use the lime version).
-- Joseph Stirt
The soap lasts *hundreds* of shaves from my experience. I've tried all the flavours, but prefer the Amber and Bay Rum. I use these at home, a couple or three times a week. The tubs are all over a year old; the Amber is in its second year and is only now down to the bottom of the container. Of course, if one's making enough lather to shave a ship of sailors, it's not going to last as long.
-- David Priest
Col. Ichabod Conk Shaving Soap
$3.50, shipping excluded*
(lime)
Available from Amazon
[*Before buying, please note the Amazonian shipping price ($8+); the best deal is to stock up on several at once or go in with some friends who also want to try one out -- sl]
The Travelsafe 100 is a heavily reinforced, lockable nylon bag with steel cable woven through the fabric and an external steel cable which makes it possible to lock the bag to a stationary item (such as the frame of a bed in a hotel). The bag is 8+" x 13" and quite light. It's more of a deterrent to casual thieves, as a well-equipped, professional thief armed with a hacksaw or 5" bolt cutters could probably penetrate it (a knife would not be sufficient to cut the steel mesh). On a recent surf trip to Costa Rica, the hotel safe at the main office was only open 8am-6pm, and was basically unavailable given our daily schedule. I used the bag to store my digital camera, iPod, passport, wallet, traveler's checks and money by locking the bag to the hotel bed frame (my travel buddy also put some of his things in it, too). If you don't want to be burdened with a key, you can buy your own combination lock, though the spindle needs to be thin enough to fit. Pacsafe also sells lockable knapsacks, shoulder bags, computer bags, and even steel mesh covers to extend over large backpacks or suitcases. I chose the model I did because I wanted something relatively inexpensive and small enough to just hold valuables and electronics.
Efficient equipment, tool or "stuff" management is always an issue with creativity. With the Art Comber, I always have a portable art studio at my beck. I draw everyday, but attend paint-ins/outs a minimum of least once a month. It is one thing to simply draw with a pad and pencil; it is another to be able to get out of my vehicle or attend a workshop with a self-contained studio intact and, almost instantly, sit down and let colors fly and create. The seat is quite comfy, much more than a campstool. The average indoor dining chair seat measures 17"; the Comber measures 14 1/2" and the height is quite close to a regular chair, too. I've taken the Comber through a variety of terrain -- roadside, parks, reserves, beach, arboretum, poolside, barns, and other artists' homes. The relatively light weight is important since you are pulling and lugging around a lot of stuff.
My cart (approx. 21" x 8.5") holds: 1 digital camera (strapped on), 1 14"x18" cushioned lap desk w/metal clip-fastener, 1 sketch pad/book, 1 14"x20" watercolor-paper block pad, 1 ceramic/metal mixing pan (15 1/2"x 11 1/4"), plastic or paper trash bags, 1 12.5" x 9" clipboard, 2 collapsible canvass paint tube caddies, 2 brush caddies, 1 portable easel (use depends on style of painting), 1 tri-leg 23" x 3" camp stool (for an extra flat surfaced mini-table, if necessary), scissors, tape, water spray bottles, 4-6 stackable water containers w/closeable lids, Kleenex, jar or plastic bottle, bottle of water, sandwich, bug spray. I use portable caddies and Ziplocs to handle much of the stuff (erasers, glue tubes, sponges, frisket, rulers, water bottles, etc.). One improvement would be to add side pockets and a few compartments, so unpacking for the colorful spontaneous event would be even simpler. Until then, I am very pleased with the Art Comber and the caddy also serves as tidy storage when I am not painting.
Once you've got the GPS bug, you'll find there's a lot more than simply knowing where you are and where you're going. There's also knowing where you've been, so you can plot your bike rides in Google Earth, geolocate your trail photos after the fact, or otherwise track your movements. This requires what's known as a GPS "logger," which is either a feature in some of the higher-end handheld GPS navigation gadgets, or a stand-alone device. I’ve used two of the stand-alone variety on robotic aerial photography planes, which is admittedly a little extreme, but the conclusions are useful for anyone just going for a walk in the park.
The first is the i-Blue 747 Bluetooth device from Transystem, and the second is the TrackStick II. One is great, and the other isn't. Both come with software that will output your track data to a Google Earth file that you view and send around to friends. (Note: neither support the Mac, so you'll need to use Parallels, dual-boot or find a different device if you're one of those happy Apple folks.) There are probably other uses for these GPS loggers involving your teenage children, your car and various banned locations (and no doubt even creepier uses that I haven't thought of), but I didn't test those.
The i-Blue 747 can be found for less than $70 at Amazon. It's got 16MB of memory, tracks 32 satellites and has Bluetooth so you can use it for real-time communications with a PDA or smartphone. It comes with rechargeable lithium batteries and is really small (approx 2.9" x 1.75" x 0.75"). It also saves GPS positions once per second, which is important when you're moving fast, either on a car or bike or -- in my case -- in the air. In our testing, the i-Blue 747 acquired a satellite lock in less than minute and was rock-solid in keeping it. [Note: the software communicates with the device via a virtual Com port, handled by a driver. It can be a little tricky to figure out which Com port, however, so I suggest you go to your Windows device manager and see which port was assigned to the device and set the software to use that. On one of my machines it was port 5; on the other it was port 10; it depends on how many other drivers you've already loaded.]
The TrackStick II costs a jaw-dropping $190 at Amazon. It only has 1 MB of memory and only tracks 12 satellites. No Bluetooth, so it's just a logger with no real-time function. It requires AAA batteries, which only last for a day or two of regular use, and is long and rectangular (4.25" x 1.25" x 0.9"), about twice the total size of the i-Blue. It has a built-in USB jack, so you can plug it straight into your PC. Aside from that advantage (the i-Blue requires a standard USB cable), the software does essentially the same thing as the i-Blue's.
In testing, three serious problems cropped up with the TrackStick (aside from it being expensive, big, and badly underfeatured): 1) It only records a GPS record every 15 seconds in low-power mode and every 5 seconds in high-power mode. Even at the highest, battery-draining settings, that's too slow for accurate tracking; 2) It takes forever to get a satellite lock. The first time, it took more than half an hour and subsequently it took more than three minutes; 3) Keeping that satellite lock is a struggle, too. By having a GPS chip that only sees 12 satellites, the TrackStick II suffers from frequent drop-outs and glitchy datapoints. We found it essentially unusable.
Basically, I can't understand why the TrackStick is even sold. The i-Blue 747 does everything at a third the price, and it also does important things like Bluetooth, 1-second GPS sampling, and has a useful amount of memory.
I have an ice chest fetish: every time I go into an Academy or a Bass Pro Shop, I always have to check out the coolers. I had yet to find a decent chest to keep drinks cold all weekend in the sun until a friend told me about Yeti Coolers (formally Icey-Tek), the heavy-duty coolers that hard-core fishermen use. They are marine grade and because the lid and the walls are about 2" thick with polyurethane foam insulation, ice can last at least 3 days, all weekend! I was so impressed I bought the 50 qt Sherpa and the Lunchmate, which holds about 18 canned beverages with ice. I have tried many non-powered coolers: Colemans, Igloos, generics, all sizes and shapes. I was most excited about a stainless steel Colemans, but mine fell apart. Unless these get stolen out of my truck, they will be the last coolers I ever own. The only con: expensive. However, you do save money on ice.
-- Jim Plank
Yeti Sherpa Cooler
$180
(50 qt.)
Available from Amazon
The PocketDock is the Swiss Army Knife of iPod connectivity. A non-standard, compact cable and small dock with several AV connectivity options, it replaces a bag full of adaptors and cables and makes life easier, especially if you spend a lot of time traveling and staying in hotels. Mine lives in my laptop bag and goes with me on regular business trips to Australia, so I can plug my iPod into hotel stereos and even hotel TVs to watch video podcasts via S-Video. I've yet to come across a situation where I haven't been able to output satisfactorily. The key for me - aside from the fact it's significantly cheaper than Apple's AV Connection kit - is how the audio is line-out, rather than from the degraded headphone jack connection. The sound quality, therefore, is higher: I can barely hear the difference between AIFF tracks playing on my iPod through my Linn hi-fi at home and tracks being played via CD on my CD player.
Don't watch this documentary unless you are ready to quit your job. It's about the joys and woes of long-term traveling. It's impossible to watch this fun film and not confront the fact that you are here instead of there, out on the road, soaking up the mysteries of the world, with all-you-can-eat $3 dinners and $5 rooms, backpacking around the world for a year, as the filmmaker himself did. This kind of vagabonding is more a state of mind than a state of motion. Something weird happens when you travel longer than 10 days, and that wonderful transformation (which no one can explain to their family when they return) is what this superbly written, fabulously edited, deeply personal and wonderfully likeable documentary is all about.
This film explores the mellow subculture of (mostly) young people who trek along an invisible international traveler's circuit. There's a kind of endless distributed global party going on every day of the year (plainly visible here), and to join it all you need is a ticket to any country and the address of the local hostel. I was part of this mind-set for many years and boy, does this film nail the peculiar delights of perpetual cheap travel. Not just the highs (everyday is Saturday, each new person an instant best friend), but also the lows (always saying goodbye, and loss of connection).
This DVD won't give you the how-to specifics of vagabonding. For that I recommend First-Time Around the World. A Map for Saturday works best as an orientation course, offering inspiration on why to tackle this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It's the next best thing to having a good friend come back and tell you what really happens when you find yourself at the other end of the road.
-- KK
A Map for Saturday
Brook Silva-Braga
2006, 90 min.
$15 ($20 with shipping), DVD
Available from the filmmakers' website
The ultimate trip is a slow transverse of the globe on very little money with lots of time. I've recommended two guides for this way of traveling in the past: The Practical Nomad (for budget travelers) and World Stompers (for those with almost no money). While both of these books still have some good tips in them, they are both a bit out of date and have been superceded by this great new information-packed volume from Rough Guides.
First-Time Around the World is the book I would write if I had to give my advice on how to travel cheaply and globally. It's smart, current, wise, and true. And worth reading even if you are only traveling for a few weeks.
-- KK
First-Time Around the World
Rough Guides
2006, 336 pages
$11
Available from Amazon
Sample excerpts:
Q: I've got $4000 saved up. Will that get me around the world?
A: No problem. You can find round-the-world tickets for half that price, or hitchhike on yachts for even less. The more important question is what kind of trip do you want to take and how long do you want it to last? To figure out a daily budget that fits your comfort level, and to learn which countries offer the best value, turn to the "Cost and savings" chapter, where you'll find some budgeting tips as well.
*
Fake police scam
A kid comes up and asks for change for a small banknote. Not long after (most likely in a city park or on a quiet road), a man approaches, flashes a badge quickly and tells you he's a police officer. He explains that the note you just received from the boy was counterfeit and that he needs to take it back to headquarters and you will be fined for your involvement. At this point, just as you are starting to wonder if it's real, a large muscular "colleague" arrives and pressures you to pay up.
How you beat it: take a good long look at the badge and tell him that, although he is certainly a genuine officer, there are many impersonators and that, according to their own tourist ministry, you're supposed to make all such spot payments at police headquarters, and you'll be happy to follow him there on foot. Under no circumstances should you get into their "unmarked police car".
*
Free transport scam
You're met at the train or bus station by a tout who is offering free transport back to his hostel. You follow him onto a city tram and notice that it's not free - he just didn't pay the fare.
How you beat it: ask how you'll be getting to the hotel. If it's by public transport, make sure the tout is willing to cover your fare.
*
Time and space
One thing travellers often forget to mentally prepare for is the different conception of time and space on the road. With buses that don't leave until they're full, boats that wait at the harbour for the captain to return from his family holiday, and mechanical problems that require spare parts sent by cargo ship from Australia, the hardcore traveller's mantra of "no watches, no calendars, no worries" begins to seem like a healthy response. Your personal space, on the other hand, is likely to shrink, whether you're speaking with someone who insists on standing almost nose-to-nose during the conversation or you're packed into a six-person minivan with seventeen other passengers. Plan for twice as much transport time as you think you need, try to grab a seat near a window so you can control the fresh-air supply - and make sure you've got something to read.
Hostels range in price but they are usually the cheapest lodging option in most cities. You can often find a bed in mega-cities for less than $20. A hostel has very little to do with youth, although there is still a network of official youth hostels, which anyone of any age can use. A hostel is simply a hotel where you sleep in a shared bedroom, or a dorm, instead of a private room. Shared facilities mean cheap digs. (The exception is South and Southeast Asia where private rooms are as cheap as hostels). Hostels also often have a shared kitchen which residents can use. This means hostels are very social places with lots of interaction between travelers.
Cool Tools previously reviewed the hostel booking site Hostels.com, but that site has fallen a bit behind the times after a change in ownership. Much better these days, with thousands of more hostels in their database, and a lot more friendly mojo, is Hostelz. It is the most complete and useable portal for global hostelling.
Started by a backpacker, the web site Hostelz list some 22,000 hostels and guest houses around the world. They encourage independent reviews by users and don't censor negative reviews. In addition, they hire backpackers $7 to officially review hostels for the site. Hostelz graciously provides you with the complete contact and location information of each hostel so you can book a room yourself. But Hostelz also provides the option to book a room through them at the same price. Since they do not charge hostels to be listed, this booking option provides their only income, which so far is enough to keep the site going.
Hostels are a great, often overlooked resource, and Hostelz is your best bet for finding one.
Kabul Hostel, Barcelona.
17-25 Euros per bed.
Five stars.
This hostel lived up to its name as the party hostel. I stayed in a twenty-person dorm for three nights and there was always at least one group that stayed up well past 6 a.m. One night we had twenty-three people (three people on the floor). If you want to sleep, do not stay in a twenty-person dorm. It did not help that I got the biggest party room in the entire hostel. (I'm not really complaining -- I had a great time.) Earplugs help. The good -- spacious lockers and toilet facilities, hot water. Excellent location if you want to stay where the action is. Lots of French girls. The not so good -- never-ending noise when you want to sleep. Staff were generally rude at the front desk. (No big deal but other hostels had friendlier service.) Five internet computers for two hundred-plus guests meant there was always a line. I would stay here again.
Nelles Maps are the best foldable maps for travelers I've seen. I favor them for six reasons: 1) They come at a good practical scale for traveling, fine enough to show most small rural towns. 2) Each map displays shaded physical relief of mountains, highway numbers and even "places of interest" - which are often not listed in guide books. 3) The maps are printed on both sides to maximize coverage. 4) They are printed in a form that folds neatly into a shoulder bag, with cover. 5) They are reasonably priced. 6) Best of all, Nelles seem to keep them very up to date. I haven't found any Nelles maps in print that are more than a few years old.
These qualities may seem expected, but most maps of third world countries are uselessly vague. Nelles maps shine in particular for Asia and Africa, and remote places where good maps are hard to find. I know from personal experience they have the best ones (in English) for China (in 3 maps, a North, Central and South), for India, and for the Himalayas as a whole. And they have the only useable map for Papua Maluku (Papua New Guinea) that I've been able to find. You may be able to find maps that are better for specific countries, but try Nelles (based in Germany) as your first stop.
I travel a lot, including abroad. With the kwikSynCh, I use one cable to charge all my various toys (US cellphone, GSM cellphone, Bluetooth headset, iPod etc.) from my laptop's USB port. Typically each device needs its own power supply, but with the kwikSynCh, I only carry one power supply (for the laptop).
You purchase "mTips" (i.e. connectors) to suit your particular devices. I am particularly impressed by the mTip for my 4-year-old 6310i Nokia GSM phone that includes an in-line small adapter (i.e. "booster") to generate 6V from the 5V the USB port actually puts out.
Yes, only 2 devices can be charged at once with the kwickSynch, but I also have a 120V-to-USB adapter (and the mTips work with any USB source), so I can do three at once. In a pinch, I connect the fastest-charging device (or least drained) as soon as I get to the hotel at night and switch last minute before I go to sleep. Even if I don't end up with all items fully charged, I'm still usually OK until my next meeting -- and I find that the colorful cable hanging off my USB port also makes a great conversation starter.
The Sony Reader is a portable, unobtrusive paperback-sized handheld device for reading eBooks. I've carried it on several plane trips and car trips and have found it be quite convenient and functional. In fact, I generally have it with me all the time, so I'm never without a book (or 40). Having it has encouraged me to read the types of books I might not consider otherwise due to space constraints around my home or simply not wishing to carry around a physical book that could potentially get damaged during transport. The books I usually read tend to be technical or reference books, but I've particularly enjoyed reading some classics and contemporary fiction on the Reader.
The three things I think distinguish it from a PDA used as reader or a laptop are the battery life, the fact that its E Ink technology works just as well in bright sunlight as it does indoors, and the book-like form factor.
Battery life: Sony advertises that you can get "7500 page turns" off one charge, and "turning a page" is the only operation that consumes battery life. This is a bit misleading in that a "Sony Reader page" is much smaller than a paperback book page (example: Anna Karenina is 860 pages in paperback but 2100 pages on the Reader). However, battery life is one thing I look for in a handheld device and I'm very happy with it on this one. I recently took the Reader on a 9-day vacation and read for multiple hours a day, and the battery wasn't even half drained. When I've used color PDAs (or anything with a color screen) I've generally been much less thrilled with the battery life. The Reader also doesn't need a fancy processor to drain batteries further, since it only does essentially one thing.
Works in sunny environments: This is really important for me if I want to take it on vacation or read outside. It's amazing how well the device works in very bright sunlight -- I'd say it's better than a regular book because not only is it highly readable, it doesn't have the glare of paper. I've used it as a passenger on very sunny road trips where it was pretty much the only thing I was able to look at, and it worked great.
Form factor: It's like a small, thin book and is easy to hold and carry like a book. Again, it's actually more convenient than a regular book, because you don't have to use both hands to turn the page (it's also quieter). The controls are well-designed for reading sequentially and I haven't found any problem with losing my place in a book. The nice-looking cover that comes with it also opens like a book. (I've found no need to purchase the accessory leather cover. The provided cover I got still looks great even after I've had it banging around in my bag for several months, touched it with greasy hands, etc.)
I haven't tried the iLiad (the other E Ink device for the U.S. market), but based on what I've read about it, I still prefer the Reader. The iLiad is twice as expensive and its official specs for battery life (12 hours) seem to be much less than what I've experienced with the Reader. It's also a bit bigger than the Reader (8.5"x6.1"x0.63" vs. 6.9"x4.9"x0.5"). I'm not sure how much that would bother me, but I really do like the size of the Reader.
The one feature the iLiad has which the Reader doesn't is that you can apparently take notes and annotate text on the iLiad. I think this is a pretty cool feature - now if only they'd bring down the price and improve the battery life, I could imagine getting one myself. The Reader is very geared toward reading, and only reading. The only "writable" thing you can do on it is mark pages as bookmarks and clear your history (it automatically records your most-recently-read 100 pages in each book).
I've purchased most of my books from the Sony Connect store ("BBeB" format), but the device also takes PDF, TXT and RTF formats (if you have Word, the Connect software will convert Word documents to RTF). The screen size is quite small, so PDFs work best if sized specially for the Reader. (Some instructions for doing so are published here). Manybooks.net and Feedbooks.com are two sources of free eBooks, and both sites provide custom sizing of PDFs for the Reader. TXT files display very well, in an easy-to-read default font. The displayed text size can be adjusted for all formats. The Reader also will play music files (MP3, AAC) -- which I haven't made much use of as I already have an MP3 player -- and it will display images (JPEG, GIF, PNG), which look pretty good considering they're in black and white. (I've uploaded maps and photos to my Reader.)
The device comes with 92MB of built-in storage, expandable with either an SD card or a Memory Stick. I haven't used any expansion cards since most books are only around 500K to 1.5MB. The cable for connecting the device to the computer is a standard USB cable that works with other devices I have (camera, MP3 player).
A few caveats:
*The Sony Reader eBook format is, of course, proprietary, and the device doesn't support any other proprietary formats (e.g. those from Palm Digital Media). This is mitigated somewhat by the fact that you can use your own PDFs, but it's something to keep in mind if you already have a collection of DRM-protected eBooks from somewhere else.
*The screen "flashes black" every time you turn the page. I have never found this bothersome at all, but it's a weird behavior (apparently an artifact of the E Ink) that you may wish to look at in person before making the purchase.
*It's not particularly good for reference books, as the device currently doesn't have a search function. (However, you can search content you've imported or purchased via the Connect software for the PC.)
*The Connect software is currently not available for the Mac. It is possible to put content directly on an SD card and put it in the Reader, but I've always used the software (which I find quite easy to use), and since I don't have access to a Mac I haven't figured out if there's also some way to get purchased eBooks on the Reader directly.
*The screen does not have a backlight, so if you want to read in the dark you have to use a booklight or some other form of external light. I've used a headlamp in a "reading emergency," which worked great.
One more thing: if you get hooked, people can give you gift certificates for the Sony Connect site via Borders (note: they're not the same as a normal Borders gift cards, and for some reason you have to go into a physical store to order them).
This bag is always my carry-on bag when I fly and has been for more than five years. There are 12 very useful pockets which vary in size and can be used to hold snugly almost anything: PDA, cell phone, etc. Two of the pockets have mesh fronts so you can see what's inside, and there's also a key holder that keeps keys or other items handy yet out of sight. The side pockets on each end are sized for a water bottle (many bags offer one pocket, but two is even better). I find the bottle(s) really stay put, but are easy to remove and go back into the pocket without much fuss. Also, the bag has big, rugged zippers that never jam. The openings in the zipper pulls are 5/16" x 3/16" and rectangular in shape, useful for attaching things like bungee cords, what-have-you.
The versatility of the bag is a big plus. My daughter uses hers (actually, she stole mine so I bought another) for her daily transport to and from law school (laptop, books, materials, lunch, water bottle, etc.). Sure IKEA's tote bag is only $0.99, but it only has one pocket versus the Ampac's 12 of assorted sizes. And the IKEA can't be closed, so it's placement under an airline seat or in an overhead bin would be a potential mess/disaster.
I find $30 pretty sweet for something this useful and very tough and well built. After 5+ years of travel, it still looks brand new. Ampac offers the bag in eight colors: Black, Green, Blue, Khaki, Yellow, Red, Purple and Lime Green. I opted for red, which makes it easy to find and keep track of while traveling, but I'd buy another in a heartbeat if mine did get lost.
Unlike most travel bottles which must be turned upside down to squeeze out their contents, these are designed in a light bulb shape with the opening at the base of the container. No shaking or waiting for contents to be accessible on account of gravity. Better yet, the use of flexible silicone -- instead of hard plastic -- allows you to depress the container easily, getting out every last drop of its contents, like a tube of toothpaste. The extra wide mouth makes filling the bottles much easier and quicker. Best of all, the bottles were designed in accordance with TSA standards: they are transparent enough to be considered clear and hold 2 oz each. I have flown with these several times with great results. I simply put them in a clear plastic zipper bag and drop them in the security bucket with my shoes and am on my way. They're on the pricey side, but are so easy to use I won't be switching back to those hard plastic travel bottles (even if the TSA eases up).
-- Linda Leckart
Silicone Travel Bottles
$20
Available from and manufactured by PKOH NYC
The Tool Box Grill is the best portable, tabletop barbecue grill we've ever owned. This gas-powered grill is a good size and is easy to use anywhere (we are full-time RVer's). The handle on top makes it easy to carry, the grill is very stable, and there are no vents in the bottom, meaning no greasy mess (there's a built-in grease tray, too) and the grill doesn't dirty up the compartment where we store it. The grill heats up quickly (I mostly cook with medium heat, sometimes low), but is completely cool and ready to store by the time the meal is finished, and it closes up quick just like a tool box. We used the less expensive charcoal model several years ago and switched to gas when it became available (no ash to empty out after).
When flying you can never be sure if your aircraft will be equipped with in-seat power, especially in economy. My laptop's battery only lasts a couple hours when playing movies, but most external extended batteries have been bulky and require another external charger - until now. The recently released Universal Notebook Batteries by APC finally solve the problem well.
The UPB70 model I purchased for my last trip to Europe is very light and very thin using lithium polymer batteries and it requires no extra charger. To charge up it just plugs in-line: wall plug --> laptop power supply --> APC battery --> laptop. Both the laptop and battery get charged simultaneously. It works with both of my current laptops, as well as my wife's, so we can share it (also defraying the cost). The battery also has a separate USB-charging port for your phone, iPod or any other USB-charging accessory, like my GPS, which is handy. Most importantly, it kept my laptop playing movies all the way from London to San Francisco!
They are a bit expensive at around $150, but considering those "air power" adapters are often $120 and you can almost never use it, I think this is a deal. The batteries also come with tips for several hundred specific laptop models so you can figure out how to allow the battery to be charged in-line with your laptop cord. The one thing the APC battery doesn't have is the Apple MagSafe connector yet (although they do have the G4 connector), but there are seemingly options for making an adapter for yourself.
One note: I learned quickly is that if you are taking it through airline security, it's best to take it out of your bag along with your laptop, as they will always want to see it once it goes through the X-ray.
-- Alexander Rose
APC Universal Notebook Battery
$135
Available from APC
I have been doing a lot of exploring and surveying in the desert recently, and have been trying to find the right GPS mapping solution. The solution I found incorporated stuff I already had (laptop and GPS) with the help of some excellent, nearly free software. The best part is that it works even better than the $900 in-car GPS solutions as it uses always up-to-date satellite data, and is easily sharable.
Basically you run Google Earth and use some great donation-ware to link it in real time to a GPS. This means that your mapping software and maps worldwide are not only free, but you also get hi-res satellite views and in some cases 3D buildings (in downtown areas). Only a year or so ago this would have cost tens of thousands of dollars in proprietary GPS mapping gear; it would be difficult to share it once done; each map and satellite shot would cost extra; and it would have been an ordeal to get it all loaded up and working properly for each area you wanted to go.
What you need... (my set up is listed below). To get started you need a computer that can run Google Earth and you need a GPS. If you want this setup to be mobile, it's of course best to use a laptop, and if you plan on using it as a primary navigation solution, I would suggest a tablet PC or UMPC with a daylight-readable screen. I use a hand-me-down Fujitsu Stylistic 5000 tablet PC that I keep in a "ruggedized," water-resistant case with drop protection by Otterbox. Tablet PCs and UMPCs are great for in car use as they have daylight readable screens, and their touch screen interface and form factor are easier to use in a vehicle. The Fujitsu ST 4000 and 5000 also happen to fit the Otterbox case for a very rugged combo.
To connect the GPS to Google Earth on a PC I recommend Goops (there are a couple other options out there like Earth Bridge, but I have not tested them yet). For Mac you will need GPS2geX).
The GPS I use is the tiny Globalsat BT 359, which has a very long battery life and works wirelessly by Bluetooth to my Mac, PC and even my Treo (there are also some GPS's that have data logging memory built in like the DG-100 and TrackStick, though I have not used these yet). This style of GPS is only meant to be used in conjunction with another device as it has no screen or memory.
So once you have a GPS and your laptop has the right software, you will need to pair your GPS to the laptop via Bluetooth and make sure it's recognized by Goops (or whichever linking software you are using). You are now able to track your real time position and history in Google Earth. Goops can even color code your track history based on your speed (red for fast; blue for slow), and give you speed and altitude data on the fly. You can also track multiple networked units as well. Below, the red, levitated track is a plane.
The trick here is that Google Earth DOES work even when disconnected from the Internet. You just need to be sure the cache is updated in the area you are going to (you can set your cache to 2 gigabytes in the preferences to maximize this). So before I go somewhere I just zoom in pretty close and "fly" over the area or route, and this loads all the hi-res satellite imagery into the cache for off-line viewing. This solution is WAY easier than buying map CD's and downloading them into a GPS, and satellite imagery is way more useful for navigation.
My favorite part of this is that you can save your track and share it with others via Google Earth. They can replay your track and even download it to their GPS (with the $20 Google Earth Pro upgrade) and follow your footsteps. The following is my set up, but as I mentioned above, you can mix and match based on what gear you may already have or prefer.
These bottles are a great solution for anyone looking to get away from plastic. In the last few years, studies have suggested that using plastic bottles may be harmful to your health. For instance, plastic bottles made of polycarbonate (#7 recycle code) contain a substance called bisphenol-A (BPA), which acts as an endocrine disrupter that mimics estrogen and has been linked to aneuploidy, adipogenesis, and other scary problems with funny names. Found in plastics with recycle codes 1-5, phthalates (the chemical that softens plastic) can be carcinogenic and act as endocrine disrupters, too. Even water standing at room temperature in a plastic bottle can leach phthalates from a bottle, not to mention a bottle that goes through temperature changes throughout a day.
Granted there's been great debate over all these studies and whether the levels of leached phthalates in the average plastic bottle are really high enough to merit health concerns. Either way, just think about the toxic byproducts of plastic production: dioxin (a carcinogen) and plastic waste. Enormous amounts of plastic waste from all those bottles that aren't recycled create equally enormous vortexes of plastic garbage in various oceans, where they wreak havoc on marine life. Moving away from plastic is healthier for the planet.
The Sigg bottles are just a tad heavier than their plastic counterparts. The water-based, polymer coating is taste-neutral and acid-resistant (think fruit juices), and guaranteed for the life of the bottle (5 years according to the manufacturer). They come in a variety of eye-catching designs and sizes. You can also purchase a variety of caps (i.e. the sport top) that increase the utility of the bottle for your specific needs.
-- Ari Cohn
Sigg Aluminum Water Bottles
$20+
(1.0 liter)
Available from Amazon
Fashion Sigg
$19+
Availabe from Amazon (0.6 liters)
I've been living in Asia for 2 years now and travelling fairly regularly. With the exception of Shanghai (a guy on the street helped me find a nice hotel) Hostels.com has been my main booking device for lodging. Hostels.com and other services like Hostelworld and Hosteling International provide electronic booking for guest houses, hostels, and barracks like shared rooms in apartments almost everywhere. So far it's helped me find a very cheap hostel in Taipei and the rather nice Asha Guest House in Bangkok. Friends have used it for rooms in Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, and elsewhere. Hostels.com works a little like eBay. Stayers rate the hostels afterwards on a variety of different scales, and the hostels are ranked by ratings. It requires a very minimal confirmation fee via credit card and then pay once you get there. If you're looking to travel on the cheap, it's definitely the way to go to avoid potential overbooking etc. I've had no problems with it, and found the ratings to be fairly accurate.
-- Andrew Jones
[It's pretty cool. I had no idea you could get dorms in downtown San Francisco for $19. Nice service. From any internet cafe in the world you can book a simple bed in one of 7,000 inexpensive hostels. -- KK]
San Francisco Backpacker Hostel-Pacific Tradewinds
680 Sacramento Street
Pacific Tradewinds is a friendly, small, clean, and homelike place for Backpackers. Centrally located in a good neighborhood, walking distance from bus and train stations, Fisherman's Wharf, night life, one block from cable cars and Chinatown. No Curfew, Lockout. Free Internet, linens, tea/coffee, security lockers, kitchen use, luggage storage, help and smiles from our international staff.
Dorms From:
$24.00
RATING: 89.6%
*
Ginkgo Hostel, Budapest, Hungary
Ginkgo Hostel offers you a clean, quiet, non-smoking and safe budget hostel right in the middle of downtown area. We are within 10 minutes walking distance of:
-The 500 year-old Turkish Termal Bath Kiraly next to the Danube River, so no matter what season it is take your swimsuit with you
-The St Stephen's Catholic Basilica
-The Jewish Quarter with its famous Great Synagogue
-200 pubs and cafes within 200m/600feet
Dorms From:
$17
Privates From:
$27
RATING: 92%
Flying with a guitar that you care about can be a nerve-racking experience. Normal guitar cases don't offer enough protection and the professional's standard Calton cases are $600+ and heavy enough to make your arms lengthen.
Here's a case designed for flying that is light, well designed and pretty much indestructible. It costs around $160-$200 and you can put your instrument in it by itself, in a soft and light gig bag or in your normal hard shell case. I like to put the guitar in a gig bag to use for light weight protection when I get to my destination.
The case also comes with well designed wheels that you attach with velcro and are stored in the case when not in use.
If you've ever traveled to Europe, you've taken or bought a plug converter. If you've traveled much at all, you've probably purchased a set of these things in a lovely (and huge) travel case. Equally likely is that you've either forgotten one or two or lost them somewhere along the road, forcing you to purchase spares that don't fit in the original case.
For this reason, I got tired of a bag of random adapters and went looking for a universal one. I found two or three of them and they all had one thing in common; they were the size of a baseball (I'm obsessive about size and weight when I travel). So when I stumbled across this adapter by APC, I fell in love. It's small (1x2x4 inches), it's packable, it has all the adapters I need, and it works. If you travel overseas and you're sick of a computer bag that weighs more than your luggage, you have to have this.
-- Keith Smith
APC Universal Plug Adapter
$16
Available from Amazon
This is a fantastic electric cooler based on the free piston Stirling cycle that will maintain freezing temps even in a hot car. The power consumption is amazing, 24 watts. It's quiet, light weight, works great. Much more practical than the portable compressor or propane based freezers. I've had two in continuous use for two years now and they are wonderful. I think this product has not taken off like it should because of confusion with the cheaper, power hogging thermo-electric Peltier-type coolers.
-- Todd Troutman
Coleman Stirling Power Electric Cooler
$460
Available from Amazon
I was skeptical at first but after some practice I've become very attached to my little MIOX purifier. Its about the size and weight of a mini-Mag Light. I've tried iodine and chlorine tablets in the past, but I've always ended up filtering my water a second time to a Nalgene bottle to get the taste out. I was initially turned off by the smell of the MIOX too. It's very strong for about 10 minutes as it off gases, but after the required 30 minutes of "dwell time" it's virtually undetectable in a 100 oz. reservoir.
I've been using the MIOX pen mostly as a backup. It runs on CR123 Lithium batteries and salt. It took some practice to get the water in the salt chamber filled and the solution to travel back through the screen to the diode. There are a couple screw caps and several ways the task can be done. But I can fill my reservoir, treat my water, and get my reservoir back in my pack in about a minute now. I pre-filter my water if it's really cloudy or stagnant.
The pen has multiple settings for different volumes of water. I use a 3L Nalgene bladder with the fist sized screw cap. Spare salt, test strips and a stuff sack come with it, but I carry none of them. A full salt chamber is good for about 12 doses. The rest is extra weight to me. The MIOX was developed for military applications with assistance from Darpa. Cascade Designs (parent company of MSR, Thermarest and others) partnered with the MIOX corporation to develop an entirely new type of portable water purification. I've been using one for 2 years now and have never encountered any problems. Thousands are in use by US and allied troops around the world. I'm convinced it's sound technology and a useful survival tool. When I'm not hiking it stays in my glovebox with a 2L reservoir.
-- Delian Scudder
MIOX Water Purifier
$130
Available from REI
or from Amazon
A greater selection of mini-sized consumables then your local drug store is likely to stock. Itty-bitty bottles of shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste, sunscreen, medicines and the like, for travel or camping. [Suggested by Mark Hurst]
On long vacation trips when we wash our own undies, socks, and whatnots in our hotel room sink, this nifty braided rubber clothes line is the thing we use to dry them. It weighs a mere few ounces. You stretch it between two secure knobs or hooks, which you can usually find somewhere in a room. (Adding string extenders helps.) The ingenious design allows you to slip a corner of wet clothes between braids, which clinches it without clips or stains. Thus secured, we have no fear about stringing the laundry up outside in a breeze, or under a fan, where they dry fast without blowing away.
