May 9, 2013
Don't Leave Home Without Them :: Travel Gadgets 2013
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 5 MIN.
Hey travelin' man (and woman)! Before heading off for summer fun, business trips, family get-togethers, and globe-trotting adventures, check out this year's selection of must-bring gadgets...
Whether it's a matter of a dying cell phone, rogue luggage, or really not wanting to fish around in your backpack to take a call from home while dangling by one arm from the side El Capitan, these hi-tech marvels will smooth the way -- all the way there and back again.
BoostBloc
Who hasn't been frustrated by lack of battery life on one's cell phone? They always seems to run out of juice faster than you wish and die precisely at the worst possible moment.
Problem solved with BoostBloc, the battery extender. This diminutive group of chargers are designed to re-charge your mobile devices when you're in need - and out-of-reach of that pesky outlet. On a plane, on a trail, on a tour, in a restaurant (RUDE), or when you've lost your charger... again.
Keep one of these little puppies in your purse, brief or travel case and you will never lose contact with your cellular pals - or those Internet connections we all know you're searching for.
The BoostBloc comes in several different modalities: BoostTurbine 1000 and 2000 are hand-crank versions for short boosts for your mobile devices - the 1000 will give a 50 percent charge and the 2000 fully charges most smartphones.
The BoostBloc 2000, 4000 and 6600 come each with their respectively sized mAh lithium batteries; the 2000 measures 1.4" x 1.6" x 1.6" and will charge most smartphones fully once, the 4000 comes in at 1" x 2.2" x 2.2" providing two full boosts and the 6600 at 1.7" x 1.7" x 2.8," has enough backup power to do three.
Give your BoostBloc a little shake and the LED charge indicators will let you know how much battery charge the unit has left. Never be offline again - and that's a good thing right?
Trakdot Luggage
OMG I love this one...
Ever had your luggage "lost?" I have, and let me tell you, as much as I love new outfits, this is not the way to go about getting them. "Leave your worries behind" took on a new meaning during a vacation several years back, when my luggage mysteriously disappeared on its way to my destination - with all of my clothing, toiletries and one very expensive camera (my laptop was in my carry-on, thank god), never to reappear again. I eventually received compensation, albeit a quarter of the value (read the fine print about your airline's reimbursement process, it's surprisingly difficult and typically non-committal about how value is assessed; I can guarantee however, you'll be completely disappointed.) I digress into my still-present hostility (Thank you, Delta-oops).
What I wouldn't have given for this little gem: The Trakdot Luggage tracker. Insert two AA batteries, press the power button to turn Trakdot on, register your device at their website with your e-mail/mobile numbers, or download one of their mobile apps and drop the device into your suitcase. Then sit back and enjoy peace of mind, when Trakdot notifies you that your luggage has arrived at your destination - anywhere in the world.
Travalo Touch
How gay is this one? In my experience, the only things that have ever broken while in my luggage are cologne bottles... of course. We all love our favorite scents, but having your clothes drenched in them can be a little off-putting, especially when the eyes of those standing next to you begin to water.
I love this little atomizer, it's inexpensive, very handy and you don't have to invest in one of the "travel size" miniatures costing close to the same price as larger versions.
All you need do is remove the spray nozzle from your favorite cologne bottle, insert the remaining stem into the base of the Travelo and press down - and voil�! To-go travel cologne ready for your case - and pretty much unbreakable.
Unless of course you piss off the flight crew and your suitcase ends up under the plane's wheels.
Many selections, sizes and colors are available for color-coding!
Martian Voice Command Watches
If men are from Mars, then I can handle them all by wearing this little gadget... and yes, I may have chosen it just because of the cool factor.
But you know how it is when you're wanting to feel like a cool-ass, body guard, James Bond agent-type-and baby, this is the "shaken-not-stirred" toy to do it. The Martian Watch is practical yet so very Flash Gordon (I think I just dated myself) in that you can use it to talk, listen, initiate voice commands, be notified of incoming calls and texts on your smartphone, all without it leaving your pocket, purse or backpack. Leaving your "hands free" to handle that trusty, oh-so-necessary laser gun!
Imagine this: your wrist watch notifies you of an important call via vibration, green LED and caller ID display - accept the call with a push of a button or decline with a simple shake of the wrist and talk or listen using MARTIAN'S clear speaker and noise-cancellation microphone.
Access your phone's voice commands and place calls, send voice-to-text SMS messages, listen and respond to text messages, set calendar notifications and use all other voice command functions for controlling music, searching the web, setting reminders and appointments. Or receive alerts from anything your phone offers such as Facebook, Twitter, Weather iCloud and Gmail, again triggered by a vibration, LED light flash or scrolling message readout. It even works with your iPad!
Offered in several face styles with mesh, leather or silicone bands in multiple colors-swanky as you can get Mr. Bond!
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
