Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Traveler

Looking for a holiday gift for your favorite traveler? This post offers all sorts of suggestions and includes a recent Gadget Guru segment from Great Day Washington as well.

Picture Keeper Connect 

It's happened again. You've taken so many darn pictures that you've run out of space on your phone. Back up those images so you can take new ones this holiday season. After purchasing the Picture Keeper Connect ($119.99 for 16 GB), download the app to facilitate the super-easy transfer of photos and videos from a smartphone or tablet to a computer or a portable compact USB drive.

Weego

How about a battery pack that not only charges your mobile devices, but your car as well? Weego is a pocket-size jump starter battery pack that can do it all. You can give juice to the main power pack at home or in your car (cables included), and then throw Weego in your glove compartment for those times when something in your car is in need of a charge. There's even a built-in flashlight. There are three Weego models, ranging in price from $99.99 to $289 (depending on type of engine you need to charge). Easy-to-follow-instruction are included, as are jumper cables.

HumanCharger

Sometimes, it's the traveler who needs the charge. Could it be that the quickest way to alleviate jet lag is... through the ear? That's the claim of HumanCharger's Finnish inventors, who say their device cuts typical jet lag recovery time in half by emitting light into the ear. The operating principle of the HumanCharger: The headset beams UV-free, blue-enriched white light through ear canal for 12 minutes at a time to the light sensitive regions of the brain that keep circadian rhythms in sync. The HumanCharger ($269.99) comes with a smartphone app that tells you when to take the needed 12-minute bursts of light (after you enter details of your trip). I haven’t tried it myself, but the HumanCharger has been certified to meet the EU Medical Device Directive.

Clean Wave Sanitizing Wand

Germs are everywhere when you travel. Airplanes and hotel rooms can be cesspools of microscopic bugs and bacteria. But the Verilux Clean Wave Sanitizing Wand ($69.99) can zap your these worries away. The wand uses powerful ultraviolet-C light to significantly reduce microscopic germs, mold and dust mites. Take the 10" battery-operated wand and wave it over doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures and the remote control in your hotel room. On the airplane, you might want to zap the tray table and the seat back pocket, two of the dirtiest places around. Frankly, I might be tempted to zap my seatmate as well, particularly if he's hogging the armrest. But the instructions do not sanction that usage.

Black Starry Night Arcopedico Boots

When a traveler is sightseeing, (almost) nothing is more important than footwear. Yet, for women, it can be difficult to find comfortable and good-looking shoes, particularly for winter weather. Well, these Arcopedico boots were made for walking. The knit upper, the soft textile lining, a twin arch support system and a cushioned insole provide all-day comfort. Just as important, the soles are non-slip.

More Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Traveler

It's getting down to the wire. If you are still searching for that perfect gift for the jet setter on your shopping list, here are a few original ideas. For more information, here I am on WJLA-TV in Washington describing the goods.

The AquaVault

It's happened to all of us. You're at the beach and you want to take a dip. But you have your car keys, and your iPhone, and other valuables to boot. What's a flip flop-clad gal/guy to do? Well, if she/he has an AquaVault, stuff can be safely stored in a lockbox while you hit the waves.

The AquaVault is basically a safe that attaches to a beach chair, a beach umbrella or other fixed objects. If it sounds familiar,  that's because it guest-starred on Shark Tank earlier this year. Sharp Shark Daymond John invested. If you want to invest in one, it's available on Amazon.com for $49.99. 

MeCam

The MeCam is the mini-me of GoPro and its ilk. Weighing in at one ounce and two inches in diameter, the MeCam takes pictures while being pinned to clothing or a backpack. The device can even shoot in low light.  This very 007 item is priced at $69.99. 


Alphaheat Battery Powered Heated Mittens

Alphaheat Mittens keep your mitts warm on the ski slopes or in a dog sled! Powered by an AA battery pack, these one-size-fits-most hand warmers can heat up to 120 degrees and can hold the charge for up to eight hours. They are available from The Warming Store for $49.99.







Bombata Bags

There are hundreds of cases available for iPads and laptops. But if  the jet setter on your list is the stylish short, a Bombata Bag might be the bomb. The Italian-designed line features leather-like vinyl in colors ranging from hot pink and lime green to more muted hues of blue, yellow and red. The MicroTablet briefcase goes for $55, while the Maxi bags start at $75.

Doppio Maxi Bombata Bag for 17 inch laptop

NapAnywhere

NapAnywhere is a new twist on the old neck rest.  In fact, it was a winner of the 2014 Product Innovation Award at the International Travel Goods Show. If you literally feel like nodding off, this flexible wedge can be molded to fit between the side of your head and your shoulder. It's held in place while you nod off with a strap that adjusts across your body. 

NapAnywhere costs $59.99 and comes in a range of colors, including hot pink, lime, cobalt, crimson and basic black.

Cloudz On-Hand Pillow

Cloudz hands travelers yet another take on the travel pillow. The On-Hand Pillow actually has multiple uses. You can stick your paw inside and cradle your head comfortably while sitting in the window seat. Or you can stick it behind the back for lumbar support.  The outer shell is super-cozy, while the inside, filled with microbeads, blends support and softness. It's available on Amazon for $15.99. 

Weego

How about a battery pack that not only charges your mobile devices, but your car as well? Weego is a pocket-size jump starter battery pack that can do it all. You can give juice to the main power pack at home or in your car (cables included), and then throw Weego in your glove compartment for those times when something in your car is in need of a charge. There's even a built-in flashlight. There are three Weego models, ranging in price from $99.99 to $289 (depending on type of engine you need to charge). Easy-to-follow-instruction are included, as are jumper cables. For the holidays, Weego is including an extra compact rechargeable battery pack with all purchases, a $19.99 value. For a store locator, visit www.myweego.com.

The Travel Gadget Guru on TV

Interested in finding out about the most innovative travel accessories around? Check out my appearance on Great Day Washington this week.

http://www.wusa9.com/videos/entertainment/television/programs/great-day-washington/2015/10/13/top-travel-gadgets-for-travel-tuesday/73860182/

For more, see this post and this one, too.

Holiday Gifts for Travelers: Part II

Looking for a holiday list a frequent traveler?  Ho-ho-ho, here are some ideas!

For years, I've traveled with two tennis balls in my suitcase. No, I'm not looking for a pick-up game. Instead, I roll my back along the balls in the comfort of my hotel room. I place balls on either side of my spine and then press downward as I slide along pressure points and crack my tired bones. The choreography is a bit complicated--the challenge is keeping the balls parallel while rolling along. Well, now the RAD Roller is making my version of an everywhere massage tool easier. The company has developed a functional, lightweight and durable massage and release tool that looks like two fused balls. You can easily roll your back over it, and it's small enough to target other aching muscles and sore fascial tissue. $24.99

Worried you might bust a zipper thanks to all of those holiday gifts you are packing? Maybe you just want to distinguish your blah black or blue bags from all the others on the luggage carousel. ORB Luggage Straps come in a variety of snazzy designs, and they're only $9.95. Or you can buy a coordinated accessories pack containing a matching lock and luggage tag for $24.95 at various on-line retailers.

Speaking of straps, as I type this post, I am experimenting with the BackJoy Posture Band. While it took me a few minutes to figure out the way to set it up, I managed to tie it together and throw it around my arms. The comfortable elastic tension band gently pulls your shoulders back as you are sitting at a computer...or sitting on an airplane. Granted, if you walk around the airport wearing it, some people may think you are into S & M. Little do they know that your goal is solely to get your posture on the up and up. $19.99



Finally, for the uber-organized, Eagle Creek presents its Pack-It system. The smart, methodical and slightly OCD-prone traveler on your gift list will love it.  The PACK-IT line has everything from Folders, in which you can pack clothing to be wrinkle-free, to Cubes, perfect for compressing pants, Tees, or PJs.. You can buy them as stand-alones or as sets. For example, a starter set contains a mediim folder and a large and a small cube for $35.  Other pricing is available at http://shop.eaglecreek.com/.

Ideas for larger items can be found here.

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