Shop Guide: Travel Gadgets
Essentials for Professional Jet-Setters
With all the current stresses of travel, be it waiting in mile-long airport check-in lines, endless hours sitting in cramped spaces, lost luggage, or finding yourself in a foreign country without the amenities you're accustomed to, sometimes preparing yourself with the right supplies can take the edge off while traveling. While having the right travel partner can undoubtedly better the experience, or at least provide someone who can commiserate, sometimes the most invaluable companion is a handy gadget. So whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, psychoPEDIA has compiled a list of must-have accessories to ensure that your time in transit is spent in comfort, health, and most importantly, style:
Ohso Pocket Toothbrush ($20)Never fear stale plane breath again with the ultimate travel toothbrush: the handy, all-in-one Ohso. This sleek chrome, pocket-sized gadget stores toothpaste in the handle which conveniently dispenses directly to the bristle head. Besides being refillable with your toothpaste of choice, the Ohso also has awater-tight cap to prevent leakage and a ventilating top for bristle drying. And it's all only a bit larger than the size of a pen.
Plane Clean Air Filter ($19.95)No one wants to breathe stuffy airplane air. Fortunately, Plane Clean Air is a travel-sized filter that easily snaps into the over-head vents to purify the germ-filled air before you inhale. You can breathe easy knowing that this filter is proven to remove 99.5% of the nasty bacteria, viruses, and allergens that are known to be prevalent in planes. And in addition to arming yourself with vitamins and preventative Airborne supplements, this gadget will help protect you from catching the flu from your sniffly neighbor.
Lost & Found Sound Tag ($9.95)Since filling out those hand-written paper tags each time you travel has become passé, now you can save yourself the headache and just record a 20-second voice message with all your information. With this Lost & Found Sound Tag, you conveniently record all of your pertinent information, from home address, phone number, email, location of ultimate destination, and depending on how much you want to disclose about yourself, maybe even…marital status.
Voltaic Solar Backpack ($250)We all enjoy doing our part in being green, but sometimes it can go a bit too far. Most travelers have gotten stuck at least one “eco-chic” lodge where it’s almost impossible to catch a charge, or suffered the age-old problem of incompatible plugs without the proper adapters. As it can be completely overwhelming not to have a fully charged Blackberry while abroad, the Voltaic backpack offers a simple solution to this problem. This solar paneled backpack, which holds 4 watts of solar power, offers 11 different adaptors that allows for recharging gadgets while in transit. Not to mention, this bag is big enough to store all your essential electronics that make "roughing it" tolerable.
SteriPen ($89.95)Montezuma’s revenge will be a fear of the past with the SteriPen, which uses ultraviolet light to safely sterilize your drinking water. Designed to destroy bacteria, viruses, and dangerous protozoa contained in many foreign waters, this pocket-sized, battery-charged water purifier will give you a peace of mind while traveling. So whether you're backpacking through the mountains or just drinking from a hotel tap, the SteriPen is sure to keep you hydrated without contracting any unwanted stomach viruses.
USB Razor ($22.00)Any frequent business traveler can appreciate the importance of a clean shave. As flying on the red-eye and then heading straight to a conference can leave you without time for touch-ups, with the USB Razor, you won't get caught with a 5 o’clock shadow during an important meeting again. Shave on-the-go with the compact USB Razor that conveniently charges through the USB-port on your laptop.
Knee Defender ($14.95)For anyone whose ever suffered from the annoying, out-of-control brat in the plane seat in front of you, the Knee Defender is for you. Solve the problem on your own terms by simply attaching it this gadget to the pull-out tray to lock the front seat from reclining. Now you can spread out, eat your microwaved TV-dinner, and view your PowerBook in ease, even from your coach seat.
Vibrating GPS RingThis sassy ring combines a compass, GPS, and buzzing cues to help you navigate foreign lands. Just enter the postal code and place you're looking for, and the ring will get you there, guiding you with tiny electronic pulses on the left or right to tell you which way to turn. While this device is still in development, once released, it could prove to be a lifesaver when navigating unfamiliar areas and foreign-language street signs.
~Joanna Kunze
