Gear Review: Daymaker Packies

Packies are just what they sound like: packing/storage cubes that have clear plastic on both sides. They come in sets of three with a choice of large or small. Each set has three different sizes.

The larger set may be too heavy for travel but I use them to store my travel “stuff” at home.

The smaller size is great for travel with the smallest of the three the proper size to be used as a 3-1-1 bag. I use one to my electronic accessories and another for all the miscellaneous stuff I take.

Besides the two sets in the photos, I have an additional small set in black. They come in various colors.(As usual, I’ve included my Ipod Touch in the photos to give you a size perspective.)

The large set sells for $32.95-39.95 depending on color. The small set goes for $19.50.

They’re well made of heavy duty microfiber. The see through plastic on both sides makes it easy to find things, keeps you organized and makes airport security a breeze.

I give them a big thumbs up. I owned the black set for awhile and when they went on sale a little while ago, I bought the additional two sets. That’s right, I was so impressed, I actually paid for them.

Gear Review: Lat56 Red-Eye

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from a Scottish company called Lat 56 wondering if I’d be interested in doing a review of their unique garment bag. They had seen a review Brad did on the Skyroll a few years ago and wanted to let us know that they felt their bag was better.

So, I took a look at their website, was intrigued with the design, and saw that the bag was now available in the United States.

We agreed that the Red-Eye would be the best model to test and one would be supplied for review. It arrived in a few days with all U.S. orders processed by Amazon Fulfillment.

Before we proceed, I have to let you know my camera battery died and a replacement is on back order. Luckily, the folks at Lat56 have made some videos and that will make my review easier to do. Watch the first video and then come back and we’ll talk about it. (Don’t worry, I won’t be testing you on it.)

Let’s talk about the specs. The bag is made of military grade EVA foam and has sort of a rubbery, plastic feel. A friend who saw it thinks it looks like some crocodile gave its life for the bag. (None did). Think of this as somewhere between a nylon/polyester fabric and a hardshell case. There is some give to the material but not as much as true soft-sided bags. There is one grab handle on top, two “D” rings to attach a shoulder strap (included) and a sleeve on the back should you want to slide it down the handles of a rolling bag. There are no external pockets. Zippers are YKK and lockable.

The bag weighs  3.3 lbs empty and 4.5 lbs with the suit carrier (more on that later.)

Inside, the bag is separated into two compartments with a thick zippered fabric divider. This divider has thin narrow pockets on both sides of the center zipper opening.. On one side of the divider the pocket runs the entire length. On the other side, it’s split into three pockets. These are the only inside pockets.

On one side of the bag is a compartment to pack shoes, shirts, undies, toiletries, etc. It measures about 22 x 10 x 5.5 inches. Most packing folders will not fit.

The other side is meant specifically for the Torso Protection System,, the unique suit packing system specifically designed for this bag. (Click on the link to see a full explanation and then watch the video below to see it in action):

The suit carrier is easy to use, has instructions printed right on it, and can be used in other bags besides the Red-Eye. No additional hangers are needed as the SPS hanger has a soft hook allowing it to be hung in just about any closet.

The Red-Eye comes with a TSA approved combination lock and a special I-Trak system. Each bag has a unique number. Should you lose the bag, anyone finding it can contact I-Trak either via email or a UK based phone number to report it. I-Trak will then help to reunite you and the bag. This is a subscription service with the first year included with the purchase of the bag. There is also a lifetime guarantee covering repair and replacement should the bag get damaged.

The Red-Eye is advertised for the business traveler on a 1-2 night business trip where a suit is needed.

I don’t do many of those these days but I gave the bag a test run. I took a suit,  two dress shirts, two ties,  a pair of shoes, two set of underwear and socks, a toiletry kit, and sleep wear. (You’ll notice no electronics. No room. ) Total weight, 16 lbs.

The suit, pants and shirts came out wrinkle free. The bag does what it’s intended to do and let’s face it, it looks pretty cool—although someone did ask if I had a musical instrument in there.

However, there are some downsides:

-there are no outside pockets so you either have to open the Red-Eye to get to your 3-1-1 bag at airport security or, more than likely, you’re going to have another bag with your office stuff and electronics. You could carry the 3-1-1 in that.

—only one grab handle. Not easy to get it out of a crowded overhead.

—it has limited use. This is really only for someone who must carry either  a second suit or doesn’t want to wear one while traveling. Even if you leave out the SPS, I don’t recommend this bag for the leisure traveler.

—it is expensive. It’s $295 including shipping and handling within the U.S. But then I compared it to Tumi and Briggs & Riley garment bags and it’s pretty much on target in terms of weight and price.

I know, you’re wondering, do I like it or not. The answer is….yes and no. It does what it’s supposed to do but it has such limited uses.

Let me give you another option. The company sells the Suit Packing System by itself. For the true one-bagger, why not just buy that ($135), and use it in your current bag? Here’s a video on how to do just that:

In conclusion, if you’re someone who has to carry a lot of electronics or other “stuff” for work and may use a wheeled laptop tote but needs a separate garment bag, then the Red-Eye might be something to consider. Let’s face it, you walk into a business meeting with this bag and no one is going to think your underwear is inside. 

If you’re a true one-bagger who needs to travel with a suit, just get the Suit Packing System and use your own bag.

The Lat56 Red-Eye is now available for purchase in the U.S. direct from the company’s website. It is available from numerous retailers in the UK. For the rest of the world, contact the company.

Gear Review: Qmadix 3-in-1 Retractable Charger

As most regular readers here know, I’m always looking for new items that will make my travels lighter and easier. Recently, I got rid of most of my charging cables and replaced them with retractable ones. Less mess, less tangling and less confusion at the xray machines. (I’m convinced airport security people don’t like wires.)

But I was looking for something more. And that’s when I found the Qmadix 3-in-1 Retractable USB Cord. It takes the place of three of my individual cords.

One side is a standard USB plug for use either in a computer or wall charger. On the other end are three different plugs, a mini-USB, a micro-USB, and one for an Iphone or Ipod. 

It weighs 0.8 oz, measure 5 1/2 inches and extends to about 30 inches.

I like it but there is one caveat. While I have no problem charging devices with the Qmadix via a USB Wall charger, charging via computer is intermittent. I have no problem with my netbook but can’t get it to work with my laptop. If you rely on a computer to charge your smaller devices, be warned.

Price is all over the place. It retails for $25. I paid $10 including shipping from a third party on Amazon. The price has now gone up from that same supplier to $11.50 including shipping.

 

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Aeronaut--updated

Four and half years ago, Brad, the founder of this site, did a review of the Aeronaut. You can find it here:

 OBOW Review of the Tom Bihn Aeronaut.

Please read that review because much of what I would say was already said in that  review.

Go ahead. Read it. You will be tested.

Okay, now that you’ve read it….You did read it?……No…..go back and read it. I’ll wait…………

All right, I’ll take your word that you read it. (But I know some of you are cheating.)

I agree with just about everything Brad said. (Oh, you’ll note that it seems like I respond in the comment section. That’s not me, that’s Brad. When I took over the site all of the webmaster postings were changed from “Brad” to “Frank@OBOW.”  It’s a technical problem with no fix from Squarespace. Sorry.)

First, let me update a few changes to the bag since that review:

—there are the famous Tom Bihn “O” rings in every compartment of the bag including the mesh pocket on the main compartment flap. (The pocket on the inside of the main compartment flap is now mesh.)

—the Breve is no longer available. (There is a “Breve” but it’s not a junior Aeronaut. The name is now used for a streamlined Ipad case.)

—prices on everything have gone up. The Aeronaut is now $240.

—two compression straps have been added to the main compartment.

—-some colors have changed.

—an optional waist strap is available.

I, too, give the Aeronaut 5 stars. To be honest, I’ve wanted this bag for a long time. And even though the good folks at Tom Bihn have sent lots of items to review, I paid my own, hard-earned, much coveted, personal money for the Aeronaut, associated packing cubes, and a few other pieces of “Tom Bihn bling.”

I haven’t regretted spending one cent.

I own eight carry-on bags. (While that seems like a lot, when you run a website like this one, lots of “light travel” products seem to arrive at my door.)

But this will soon change. At least half of those bags will be sold. Why bother keeping them to collect dust? With the Aeronaut, I can’t imagine too many scenarios when I will need anything else.

The Tom Bihn Aeronaut is now my number one go-to bag. It is the King of my carry-ons.

Need I say anything else?

Okay, I will say something else. Unless you are restrained, it is possible to put so much stuff in this bag it will weigh as much as a baby elephant. I don’t know if Tom took a weekend course at Hogwarts or something, but this bag just continues to take more and more stuff. And to some that’s dangerous. Especially to those whose packing philosophy is to keep going until the bag is full.

But on the bright side, if you don’t pack it to the gills, and leave a little “breathing room,” the bag can be “molded” to fit almost any airline sizer or overhead compartment. (With the square main section, I find rolling clothes to work better than folding.)

I should mention, since receiving the Aeronaut, my Tri-Star has been giving me the cold shoulder now that it has been relegated to second place. I don’t own a Western Flyer—well, at least not yet. Or a Co-Pilot, or a ……oh, no, here we go again. Some people collect stamps, others snow globes, I collect travel gear.

I admit it,  I’m a travelgearaholic.

Gear Review: Battle Lake Outdoors--Sports & Travel Bag, Small

A few weeks ago, one of our readers alerted me to a bag that he thought looked very similar to a Tom Bihn Aeronaut

Except for the large front rectangular pocket, it looks something like the Aeronaut, especially with those two end pockets.

So, I contacted the company, Battle Lake Outdoors, to see if they’d be interested in sending one for review. They were, they did, and here it is.

First, let’s get the big question out of the way. It is not an Aeronaut, it is nowhere near an Aeronaut and if you turn the bag around, it looks the same. And…no backpack straps whatsoever.

But wait. Don’t stop reading. This is still a bag to consider.

Let’s get the specs out of the way. It measures 22 x 10 x 8 (2200 cu in) according to the website and by my calculations weighs about 1.3 lbs empty. It’s made of 1000d Cordura Plus  and has YKK zippers throughout. (Top of the line in material and zippers.) The bag is unlined but does have double stitching.

There are five zippered external pockets—two large rectangular ones, two end pockets and one smaller zipped pocket on the outside of one of the end pockets. The other end pocket has an external open pocket that has a key fob.

It comes with a shoulder strap and the bag has not two but four “D” rings to allow you to choose how to carry it. There are end pulls that are attached to the top of the bag, not the actual ends. The main compartment has a large u-shaped zippered opening.

The bag is made in the USA (Minnesota) and costs….are you ready…….$67.

In a nutshell, this is a bag to consider if you are very good at packing light, don’t need any real bells and whistles, like lots of external pockets, and don’t need  backpack straps.

I’m not sure how well it would stand up to the rigors of constant airline checking but with this bag you shouldn’t have to check it. (Although, when packed to take photos, the bag measured 21.5 x 17 x 9.5 which is oversized as a carry-on for most airlines. Pack carefully.)

If you plan to carry a computer or tablet, don’t rely on the bag alone for cushioining. I’d suggest some type of padded case.

The bag comes with a shoulder strap but do yourself a favor and get a Tom Bihn Absolute Strap especially since there are no backpack straps. I also wish the main carry handles were a little longer. They’re very short.

With all that, this is still a bag I can recommend. Even if you’re just looking for a good quality gym or overnight bag, this is a good, affordable choice.

The company has lots of other bags and travel related products all of which are made in the USA.

You can buy the bag directly from Battle Lake Outdoors.

Gear Review: Lenmar 2x USB Charger

Every now and then I come across a small item I like and will give it a quick review.

Today, it’s the Lenmar Dual USB Charger (ACUSB2/ACUSB2K). This is a small, portable USB charger for smartphones, cell phones, mp3 players, etc. (It’s probably not meant for a large tablet.)  It can charge two devices at once.

It’s dual voltage  (100-240v) so you don’t need a converter, and it has a fold down/flip-up plug.

Dimensions are 2.8” x 2.0” x 0.6” /70mm x 51mm x 15mm and it weights 2 ounces.

I have, and have reviewed, its larger cousin that charges 4 devices at once and comes with a set of propriety plugs so it can be used all over the world. I found I never needed to charge 4 devices at once and the set was bulky. This one is lighter, smaller, and I can carry a set of international adapters to use with all devices.

The charger retails for $14.99 but I got mine at Amazon, in black, for $10. They also have it in white for just under $14.

The Ipod Touch in the photos does not come with the device. I just put it there to give a size perspective.

I like it and it has now replaced the bulkier, larger and heavier charger I mentioned above.

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Cadet

A couple of weeks ago, Tom Bihn introduced a new bag called the Cadet.  Just prior to its release, the company gave me early access to their website so I could see the bag before most others. I so hoped this bag would finally be the first poorly designed Tom Bihn bag. The one I could tear apart. The one I would find fault with. The one that would allow me to belittle a Tom Bihn creation.

But that didn’t happen. In fact, just the opposite. The faults I found with some of his other bags—flaps, lack of zippers—weren’t there.

Then they sent me one for review. I opened the box. I gave the Cadet a once over. I quickly realized that my hoped for creative, harsh, critical review would have to wait. This was a nice bag.

Darn you, Tom Bihn.

The Cadet is a sleek, stylish, no-nonsense, mini-brief designed specifically for Apple Macs and Tablets but will fit many PC’s. It comes in two sizes: the 15/13 designed for the larger Macbooks  with dimensions of 16.25” x 12.3” x 4.5”. It weighs 1.7 lbs empty.

The smaller version, the 11/Ipad, is 13.5” x 10.5” x 4.5”. It weighs 1.4 lbs  empty. (I have the smaller one and that’s the one I’ll be reviewing. )

The exterior of the cadet is made of 1050 denier ballistic nylon while the interior is specially made Japanese Dyneema ripstop nylon. All zippers are YKK with the main ones having a splashguard. Foam padding is sewn into the front, bottom and back of the bag giving it its shape and added protection to any contents carried within. There are two clips to add a  shoulder strap which is included. Mine came with an upgraded Absolute Strap which is available for an additional $20.

Each bag has three compartments. The front compartment is shallow and lined with ultrasuede. It was specifically designed to carry an iphone without scratching.

The second compartment has two iphone/camera pockets and three pen pockets. There are also two “o” rings with a removable key strap attached to one. (Photo of center compartment is of the larger bag with three iphone/camera pockets.)

It’s in the main compartment where the fun begins. This compartment, the largest, is divided into to open sections. The front section is empty and a good place for papers, a journal, book, etc. The rear portion contains two “rails” made of webbing. Attached with gatekeeper clips is a cache to hold your computer or tablet. This rail and cache design makes the bag checkpoint friendly.

Everyone knows when  you go through airport security, you have to remove your computer. Not so with this bag. Rather than take the computer out and expose it, all you need to do is slide the cache out of the Cadet until it is fully exposed. It is, however, still attached to the bag. There is no chance of leaving it behind or having someone with sticky fingers make off with it. Once through security, just slide the whole thing back in. For a good series of photos to see how this works, go to the Cadet website.

My Cadet came with an Ipad size cache. I don’t own a tablet, yet, so I tried putting my netbook in. Its dimensions are just under one inch longer than an ipad, about the same width, and twice the depth. It didn’t’ fit. I could have ordered a slightly larger cache in which it would fit but since I no longer take my netbook with me while traveleing this was not a problem. (I am  planning to get a tablet.) This main compartment also has two “o” rings. (Oh, I did put my netbook in it’s own cache that wasn’t part of the bag and it all fit nicely into the Cadet. I was able to fit my Kindle and my folding Bluetooth Keyboard into the Cadet Ipad Cache at the same time.)

If you don’t need the cache, it is easily removed. You can even order the Cadet without the cache and save $30.

On the rear of the Cadet is an open pocket for a newspaper, magazine or book. Should you be traveling with……..a wheeled bag…….there, I said it…….this open compartment has a zipper at the bottom. Unzipped, it becomes a sleeve and slides over the handles of your wheeled bag.

As most of you know, I prefer to travel with just one bag meaning my smaller day or business bag must fit into my main carry on.

I tried putting the Cadet into the center section of the Tri-Star. It wouldn’t fit.  (To clarify, while technically the Cadet will fit into the center section, My Cadet was filled to the point is was pushed to its widest thickness. So thick that when placed in the center section it pushed the dividers out taking away most packing space from the outer sections.  My Cadet had a netbook, charger and writing portfolio.)

The Cadet did fit snugly into my new Aeronaut.

BTW—the larger Cadet, which will technically will fit into some carry-on bags, will take up so much room  it’s not practical.

About the flaps and lack of zippers I mentioned earlier. I personally find the flaps on bags make it difficult to get into them while being worn. I also didn’t like the fact that many of those “flapped” bags didn’t have zippers for their main compartments. Easy pickings for a thief on crowded public transportation.

But the Cadet has no flap and not only does it have zippers, but ones that are easily locked or secured.

All in all, the Cadet is a great bag for someone looking to downsize their current laptop bag or briefcase yet keep a professional appearance. It can also double as a leisure day bag should you be combining a trip for both business and pleasure.  In reality, this is an every day work bag and not just one to be used for travel. Personally, I’ve replaced my Large Cafe Bag with the Cadet as my daily around town work bag. (The LCB now just comes out for fun.)

Pricey at $170 but you’re paying for quality. I believe it’s worth the investment.

The Cadet is made in the USA.

I used photos in this review that were made available by Tom Bihn because most people here know that I rank as one of the world’s worst photographers.

Gear Review: MyBlueBoost

A few months ago I reviewed a few small gadget chargers in a review titled Brigade of the Light Chargers. Since then, the Fueltanks I was using to charge and power my devices when not near an electric outlet started to work intermittently and I decided to look for something new.

It was then I came across MyBlueBoost. It claims to charge small devices such as Ipods, Android phones and Blackberry’s. I contacted the company and they sent me one for review.

It comes with either a retractable charger or a ten plug “octopus” cable depending on the device you need to charge (You order by telling them what kind of device you have and they include the right cable.) The Ipod Touch in the photos is there to give you size perspective and is not included.

In a nutshell: MyBlueBoost is easy to use, it does the job, what more do you want?

Oh, you want more.

Okay…the specs….it charges small devices (no tablets, just the small stuff.) It measures approximately 3 1/2” x 1 1/4” x 1 1/8”  and weighs 3.6 ounces including the battery. As for the technical stuff, I suggest going to their website because there is so much information. They not only tell you how they developed this product and why they chose the things they did but they have both written and video instructions on how to use it. It’s a real “mom and pop” operation where the couple who owns the company are the ones you deal with.

When I got the product, I decided to use my retractable cables rather than the ones they provide to see if they would work. (By coincidence, one of the cables they sent was exactly the same brand as mine.) I tried my Ipod Touch, Kindle, Blackberry Bold and a small mini-USB speaker. All recharged with no problems.

The only downside I see is that there is no way to know how much charge is left in the device.

The big upside is that the rechargeable battery is replaceable. So many of these USB charging devices have batteries that can’t be replaced. Once the battery is dead, you have to buy a new device. And that’s costly. (They even suggest if you’re gong camping to take a second charged battery and exchange it when the first battery runs out of juice. I’m going to get a second one not for camping but in case I get stuck somewhere with a lack of adequate plugs, like an airport, and need to recharge or operate a device for a long time.)

I’m not going to go into how the thing works as they have done an excellent job with instructions and videos on their website.

Back to the nutshell….it’s small, it’s lightweight, and I can definitely see myself using this on my next long international flight. It’s already been repacked into my “electronics” bag  for my carry-on.

MyBlueBoost comes with a recharging cable and a small blue carry bag. $39.95 to $49.95 depending on the number of cables needed. Assembled in the USA. As of this writing it is only available from the manufacturer.

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Travel Tray

I don’t know about you, but I have left things in the nightstand drawer of many hotels. Coins, Pens, even transit passes. Somehow they seem to get lost among the phone books and Gideon Light Reader.

The top of the night stand isn’t any better. Glasses, cell phone, flashlight (I’ve stayed in a few hotels where we lost power in the middle of the night so I like to be prepared), and the like clutter the entire surface.

I’ve thought about using travel trays but they seemed too bulky, too heavy and were good for just one thing. And everyone here knows I like items to do double duty.

Earlier this week, Tom Bihn introduced a new Travel Tray that not only weighs less than two ounces but collapses down to practically nothing.

Made of Japanese Dyneema Ripstop Nylon., the travel tray measure 8”/200mm in diameter and 4.5”/115mm high.

I’ve been using the travel tray at home and it has been keeping my night stand looking much neater.

If you watch the video below, you’ll see another great feature is the drawstring closure should  you want to grab items for a quick getaway.

I was allowed to check out the product webpage and video prior to its launch last Monday. It quickly struck me that there was another use for this item. When I go to the airport and have to go through security, everything has to come off and go into a small tray easily accessible to roving hands—wallet, keys, change, Beretta, cellphone, notepad, pens, etc.

But with the Travel Tray, I can put all these items into it, seal it with the drawstring, and put it all in my carry-on. Then once through security, rather than fumbling to put everything back on me  while both holding up the line as well as adding to the possibility of leaving something behind, I just have to grab my bag and shoes and go to my gate. Once comfortably seated at the gate, I can then remove the Travel Tray from my carry-on and replace those items onto my person.

This item has been added to my packing list. It’s just too versatile and too lite to leave at home.

There are lots of other uses:  TV/DVR/TV Guide holder, hobby parts holder,  portable candy dish, party hat, and more. It would probably make a great stocking stuffer for anyone into travel or organization.

The Tom Bihn Travel Tray available in four colors and I suggest getting one that doesn’t match the lining of your bag. Made in the USA.  $22

 

Tom Bihn supplied the Travel Tray for review as well as the photos and video.

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Travel Money Belt

Earlier today, Tom Bihn introduced his new Travel Money Belt. I was sent one a few weeks ago to review.

Made of 1 1/4” heavy nylon webbing, the belt comes with a simple plastic buckle. Inside is a 20” concealed zippered compartment (#3.5 YKK coil zipper with a plastic slider) that can hold up to 15 U.S. bills or a combination of bills and folded paper. It weighs a mere 2.5 ounces. And with no metal parts, it can—technically—be worn through the metal detector. (Unless you get one of those airport security agents who loves to yell “all belts off.” Then it’s best to comply.)

By coincidence, I have been in the market for a similar type of belt. And to be honest, this one sounds like most of the others. But, there is one big difference between this belt and those others.

All of the other belts are “one size fits all.” They only come in one big size. If too big, the manufacturers suggest you cut the belt down to size.

Cut the belt down to size? Even I who doesn’t sew, or knit, or know any of the needle crafts, knows that if you cut the end of a belt like this, it will eventually fray and come loose. It will look terrible.

But the Tom Bihn belt is different. It comes in a range of sizes from XS to XL. No need to cut. (And if XL isn’t big enough, send them an email and they’ll cut one to size.)

For that one reason alone, I suggest this belt over all of the others. I believe it will last longer because modifications were done at the factory and not at home.

It’s available in numerous colors as long as they are all black. Made in the USA. $20

Tom Bihn suppled the belt and photos for review. They’ve seen my photography skills and made sure their own photos were available for use.

Gear Review: Hammock Bliss Ultralight Travel Daypack

When the people at Hammock Bliss first contacted me about reviewing their new Ultralight Travel Daypack , I thought here we go with another company using extra material to make a small, packable daypack. How good could it be?

Boy was I surprised. It turned out to be a well made, well thought out bag.

Let’s look at the specs: The Ultralight Travel Daypack weights 6.5 oz/184g, when opened it measures 20 in x 11 in x 7 in/51 cm x 28 cm x 18 cm), and holds 1100 cu in/18 liters of stuff.

It is a top loading draw string bag with two mesh pockets on the outside—good for water bottles, magazines, maps—and one small zippered pocket on the inside. It’s made of water resistant nylon (I could never get Hammock Bliss to tell me the denier) but it’s much heavier and thicker than the key ring folding size bags. It also has two somewhat padded, adjustable shoulder straps. The bag folds neatly into one of the exterior mesh pockets for storage or travel.

In the photos, I have three large, bulky sweaters inside and there is still room for more. The interior pocket is about the size of a large paperback book. 

Now, for it’s usefulness. This is not for the office. It is definitely for leisure travel or light hiking. I probably wouldn’t put any heavy electronics in it or anything of value because a drawstring closure is not as good as a zipper. And it’s a free form bag; No real shape. 

However, if you’re strolling through Paris and you’re only carrying a couple of sweaters, a guidebook, a baguette and morsels for a picnic later, this could be a great bag for that purpose. Or if you’re hitting ‘Disney World with the kids and need to carry jackets for the kids as well as snacks and juice packs, this lightweight daypack may be your answer.

When loaded, it’s fairly comfortable to wear. 

When folded it molds enough to shove into a tight corner of your bag. Great for onebaggers.

The Hammock Bliss Ultralight Travel Daypack come in either black or blue (I ordered black, they sent blue.). It goes for $39.95 from the manufacturer or it’s available on Amazon for $25.50. 

Gear Review: Rufus Roo

Flying on an airline that has strict carry-on rules but you don’t want to check luggage or pay fees? A new product to hit the market is the Rufus Roo.

This jacket/poncho has six pockets, comes in six colors all with red zippers except black where you have a choice of red or black zippers, red logos on front and back, and is made of 100% “see-thru” polyester. Yes, that’s right, see-thru. I ordered one in black with black zippers and when held up to the light you can see right through it.  All of the other colors have red trim zippers

It’s suggested no more than 10kg (22 lbs) be loaded onto the jacket. They also show someone carrying an Ipad. Sorry, I wouldn’t trust any heavy electronics to these pockets. Clothing, yes, but nothing of real value. It also looks bulky when packed. You won’t be fooling anyone. 

The Rufus Roo comes in three sizes: Adult Large ( covering everything from Large to XX-Large), Medium and Child sizes. The large weighs 350 grams (just over 12 ounces.)

$49 for adult sizes/32.50 for kids size. Shipping is a flat $10 for one or more items. The item is shipped from the UK. 

The idea is good. Unfortunately, the execution needs work. That being said, if you travel on one of the restrictive airlines and don’t mind looking a little silly to save money, then the Rufus Roo might be the way to go. 

For more information, go to the Rufus Roo website. . 

Rufus Roo supplied the product for review. 

Addendum: Let me clarify my “see-thru” comment. You can’t see into the pockets but if you hold up the jacket in areas where there are no pockets, like the back, you can see thru it with a light in the background. You can’t see through when it’s being worn. (My apologies to Paula S. for not clarifying this before her comment was made.)

Guest Gear Review: MEI Voyageur--the smaller version

Contributor Paul follows up on his MEI Executive Overnighter review with this one:

MEI Voyageur “light”

Reader review / first impressions

                It’s been a long time since I posted my review of my MEI Executive Overnighter,  a bag that has gone on to serve me well to this day.  It’s held up beautifully, and still looks and performs like new.   

                Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for something a bit smaller for my leisure travel, since I have (like so many OBOW contributors) been able to reduce my one bag footprint.  I have been using a soft suitcase I purchased from Tactical Tailor  - see previous review on OBOW - that has given stellar service, but it’s dimensions are not quite optimal these days (the length in particular) so I found myself starting to cast about for another solution.

                I was aiming for a bag approximating the TB TriStar.  I like the Bihn product, but the cost is high (and I completely understand that TB is quality and quality costs), and after reviewing the sort of leisure travel habits I currently enjoy (nearly always to warmer climbs, and/or of shorter duration), the sort of packing assist gear I have (folders, light weight RS cubes, various stuff bags, etc.) and my personal preferences in bags (no wheels, comfortable backpack straps, ability to use my TB absolute shoulder strap, etc.). I decided that a one compartment bag would work fine for me.

                In the course of my research I stumbled onto the following thread on the Bootsnall forums (I hope this link works):

http://tinyurl.com/3rec7ko 

                The OP, ‘AceTracer’, contacted MEI to develop a smaller, lighter variant of the Voyageur.  I suggest reading the thread; it’s a good read.  The gist of it was the OP’s desire for a lightweight bag (“…Ideally, less than 2 lbs…”) of 55cm x 36cm x 20cm or 21” x 14” x 8” (38L) in size.  It seems he tested a number of prototypes, and received a final copy.  Unfortunately, the thread appears to be at least a year old, so I am unaware of the OPs thoughts after use, but I did like the idea and since I already was a satisfied MEI customer I decided to inquire with MEI on this.  In the end I decided on a bag constructed as follows.  It’s a bit larger than a TB TriStar, but, that’s ok:

Top & Back:  420 D Nylon Rip-stop in forest (hunter) green

Sides: Spectra nylon rip-stop in black color with spectra thread in white

Removable back foam pad, removable alloy internal frame stays

Light w/1/2” foam waist belt, 420 D Nylon Rip-stop 500 D Spectra Rip-Stop,
No lumbar pad, Backpack shoulder straps padded w/ .5” each of close and open cell foam

Per Ahmed @ MEI, weight is 3.4 lbs. all up

Dimensions (sewn edge to sewn edge:

         L:  21”/53.2 cm

 W: 13”/33.0 cm

  D:  8”/20/3 cm

                I just received the bag, and thought I would share some photos and random musings with the OBOW readership.

BTW, my thanks to that OP – I hope he lurks on OBOW.

                The first thing I did after opening the box was take out my trusty – likely not terribly accurate, but that’s ok – handheld luggage scale and tested it.  Ahmed was right on – 3.4 lbs / 1.6 kilos, all up..  Removing the alloy stays, and foam pad, the weight dropped to a bit below 2.9 / 1.3 kilos lbs.  Not too bad.  I wasn’t as concerned as the thread OP about getting below 2 lbs, since my personal packing methods are flexible enough that even with some extra bag weight, I easily keep at or below the unofficial ‘10% of body weight’ rule of thumb most of us generally follow and which works fine for me (for the record, I currently weigh 151 lb. / 68.4 kilos).

                Quality of material and construction is, as I expected, excellent.  Straight seams, tension points heavily sewed, quality YKK zippers and nylon/polymer buckle hardware, all very similar to my EO, and holding up beautifully.  The main bag materials , although lighter than the Cordura used on the EO, look to be durable enough to survive the occasional gate check, although I hope never to put that to the test. There are 3 flush handles, using that interesting webbing that I’ve only seen on MEI bags, and work wonderfully on my EO.  Only the geographic ‘bottom’ of the bag (think of the bag being carried on your back by the backpack straps, the bottom is the part closest to your bottom ) has no handle. Methinks that perhaps Ahmed can use this as a starting point to develop a similar version of the multi-compartment EO.  Ahmed – if you are reading this … I may consider being a ‘test case’ …

                The outside front of the bag has 2 full with zippered compartments,  one a full width pocket deep enough for magazines, etc (10 “ / 25.4 cm) and the other, shallower, with a vertical stitch dividing this into 2 pockets (8” / 20.3 cm, and both pockets have full double zips across the entire opening length) . Either of the shallower half-pockets should be wide enough to hold a 9-11 baggie (I need to test this).

                Inside, things are as I expected, with a few pleasant surprises.  As expected there is one large compartment.  There are 2 sewn and velcro’ed compartments for the removable alloy supports.  What was unexpected is 1) a flap of material, basically the size of the bag, and open at the top creating a thin compartment at the back of the bag, that can be closed by velcro, suitable for paperwork or perhaps a clothing folder, and 2) a small removable oddments bag, that attaches at the geographic top of the bag interior using Velcro, that would be handy for, well, oddments.  On the length-wide sides are mesh flaps, with short velcro–tipped straps, that can be used to isolate or subdivide the interior space (think socks, rolled up underwear, etc.).  As is often found in bags like this, there are 2 tie-down straps with nylon buckles to secure the contents.

                All in all, I am pleased with what I have, and look forward to using it.  Ahmed was fine to deal with (our communication was entirely by email, but I had his number in the event I needed to speak directly with him).  Ahmed (and his co-worker, M. Sipra) were very helpful, offering suggestions based on material availability and sending questions and updates as things progressed.  It was approximately 30 days from 1^st inquiry to delivery.

                I’ve not yet had the opportunity to travel with this, or even to test pack it, but I look forward to using it. I hope that you find this useful, and I will try and follow up after I use it.  Please let me know any questions etc. and I will try my best to answer them as time permits.

Happy Travels ~

Paul

 

 (Frank II)

Gear Review: Jaktogo

Remember when Jet Blue put out the following ad making fun of Spirit Air’s decision to charge for carry-on luggage:

We all had a good laugh. C’mon a bag that could be worn as a coat. Ridiculous……or is it?

Introducting the Jacktogo—the bag that becomes a coat.

Let’s start with the coat…..made of “durable” polyester and weighing in at about 1 1/2 pounds, the front of the coat has six pockets—four that close using velcro strips which are also used to keep the coat closed and two regular open coat pockets.

The back of the coat has three zippered pockets and the two logos that will be seen on the side of the bag.

Inside is where you find the remaining pockets all with velcro strip holders. 

And now for the magic….when you want to carry it as a bag, it turns into:

The bag. 

In total it has 15 pockets (Jacktogo claims 14 but I counted 15).

On a coolness factor, this is cool. When I first heard about it, I was intrigued.  I had fun showing it a few people. 

Now, on a practical level. 

If you are flying a discount airline and really want to carry everything on and don’t want to pay for checked luggage, especially if limited to one carry-on, I guess this could work. Although I wouldn’t try to convert it from bag to coat in front of airline personnel like on the Jaktogo video. I’d do it before trying to check in. (Oh, and Jaktogo wanted to remind me that it’s not really meant to be worn as a coat, just for the times at the airport when you need to get it past check in or gate people. They also suggest ordering it one size larger so it can be worn over a regular coat.)

Considering the material, I wouldn’t put anything of value or real weight in the pockets. It should be fine for clothing. 

As a coat, the logos are fairly visible on the back and eventually the airlines may catch on. Detailed instructions on how to fold the coat into a bag are included but don’t expect to do this on a plane. You really need to lay the jacket down to do it. There’s no place I can think of on a plane. The best you’d be able to do is a quick fold and then put it in the overhead. 

As a bag, it’s virtually impossible to get most things out unless you undo all the straps and turn it back into a coat. There are two small zippers near the logos. But since most people would have a carry-on as well, only put items in this that you wouldn’t need on the flight. 

So, as I said earlier, if you really want to get stuff on board rather than pay the checked luggage fee, this item might work. But then, why choose this over a Scottevest. At least the Scottevest can do double duty as a coat/vest, etc. But then some people might not want the extra coat—especially if traveling in hot weather. 

The Jaktogo is made in Bulgaria and is available from the manufacturer in that country for 80 Euros ($114US). (It’s on sale for 60 Euros ($85US) through August.) Shipping to the U.S., Canada and Australia is an additional 8 Euros. To the UK it’s 6.50 Euros. (Mine took about a week to get to me in the U.S.)

If you want a better look at this item, with better photos, I suggest going to the jaktogo website. 

Jaktogo provided this item for review.

(Frank II)

Gear Review: MEI Voyageur

Contributer Michii recently contributed this to a previous thread on the MEI Voyageur and I wanted to bring it forward rather than have it lost in the archives:

I ordered this bag back in April 2011 and it came in about 4 weeks later, which isn’t bad considering I live in Canada.  I used the bag for one bag travel three times since I bought it, once on a plane and twice on a bus.  Every time is was great to just stuff everything I needed inside and walk where I needed to go without having to lug around a giant suitcase on wheels like I did in Japan.

I found that packing cubes would’ve been helpful but I haven’t found an upper limit to what I can stuff in the bag as of yet.  The most I carried in there was 4 textbooks, a laptop, and a weeks worth of clothing (around 50 lbs) and it wasn’t heavy on my back.  There aren’t any popped seams or zippers and I am quite rough on the bag as I lug it back to forth to work with all my books inside.

I recommend this bag for anyone who would like to travel and either go heavy or light.  The bag is suitable to both.

Thanks Michii

Gear Review: Spongeables

Okay, I admit it. I’m not a camper or hosteler. In fact, roughing it to me is a hotel without room service. So, just about everywhere I stay, soap is provided by the management. 

But what about the multitude of people here who—either by necessity or choice—bring their own bath soap when traveling? Yes, you can bring a tiny bottle of liquid. Or you could bring a solid bar. Or you could bring a  Spongeable.

Spongeables are basically body wash in a sponge. They’re available in different sizes and in separate formulas for men and women. (Blue for boys, pink for girls.) Each one claims to cleanse, protect, massage and hydrate. (They’re both paraban free and never tested on animals.)

I was interested in the ones made specifically for travel.  They are about the size of an Ipod Touch.

Using them is easy: just wet, squeeze and lather up.

I will admit the shower was invigorating and the sponge was at just the right texture to feel as if I was getting a good scrubbing yet not too harsh. I guess the term would be—cough,cough—exfoliating?

The box mine came in claimed they were good for 5+ shower. The ones on the website now claim 3. I think I’ll go with the three. Five would be pushing it. At least for a good sized male. 

The fragrance from the men’s version is very similar to the same smell of most of the newer body washes made for men. And I have no idea what that is. 

I need to put in a personal note. I don’t like soap with heavy fragrance. The first day after using Spongeables, the fragrance was still detectable on my skin some 14 hours later when I went to bed. For some this is a plus, and is actually a selling point. 

Being a good tester, I used the product again the next day. The sponge did not lather as much as in day one but still did a good job. I also noticed the fragrance was not as strong. 

After day three, the sponge was done. 

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get anyone to test the women’s version but I’m still working on it. 

All in all, it’s a pretty good product and it does what it claims. If you’re going somewhere you need to take your own soap, and don’t want to bother with either tiny bottles of liquid or a bar, then this product might come in handy. 

To the makers of Spongeables…..if you came out with an unscented, anti-bacterial version, for both home and travel, I’d buy it.  (And I may be wrong, since I’m not a camper, but doesn’t “fragrance” attract mosquitoes and other insecty type creatures?)

Spongeables are available both on the web and at some chain drug stores and supermarkets. At $7.99 for two travel size sponges, they’re not cheap. 

Spongeables provided the product for review. 

(Frank II)

Update on August 20, 2011 by Frank@OBOW

I asked a lady friend of mine to sample the Spongeable for women and write a short review. Here it is:

Too sudsy, too aromatic
 
The soap blend feels smooth and creamy enough on the skin, and I like that it is/claims to be paraben-free + never tested on animals. But I don’t care for the heavy scent, or for the propylene glycol and sodium laureth sulfate (two ingredients listed on the package, which I avoid whenever possible). I also don’t like unnecessary waste, and this product sudses up way too much for my needs during each use. So much so that I have to put it down while showering so that the suds-making will stop, and finish washing with bare hands—-which of course means losing benefit of the two different sponge surfaces. (Although when I did try to use the scrubber side, the sponge kept slipping out of my grip—-because of all the creamy suds!) I tried my sample three times, and then didn’t care to exhaust the soap supply on additional uses before stopping to write this review.
 
If this were the only soap available in the hotel or guest bath where I was staying, and I hadn’t packed any of my own, I’d use it. But I wouldn’t buy this product to take with me on travel, and I won’t be buying it to stock for guests in my own home. 

(Frank II)

Gear Review: Barefoot Wanderlite Day Pack

Recently, there have been discussions of the ultra-light day packs. The one’s weighing about 2 ounces and can fold down to attach to a key chain. I think we all agree these are meant for casual, light use. 

Then there are the sturdy day packs, weighing in at around a pound and nowhere near foldable, collapsible or whatever. 

Then there is the middle ground. The foldable/packable day bag that takes up little room when folded up, weighs about 1/2 a pound, and holds a lot.

The Packbarefoot Wanderlite Packable Day Pack. fills that niche.

The bag is made of  420d nylon, fills out to 18 x 14 x 8, has a packing capacity of 1925 cubic inches/32L, weighs 9 ounces, and rolls down into the size of a soda can—maybe a little bigger. 

The backpack straps are 2” wide and made of soft nylon. They are fairly comfortable even when carrying a heavier load.

There is a small pocket in the front. The main compartment has a clamshell like opening for easy packing.

I loaded it up with 9 lbs worth of stuff including the two water bottles seen in the above photo. The Wanderlite seemed sturdy and held the weight with no problem. I felt it could easily hold a few more pounds. Because it’s so lightweight, it doesn’t keep it’s shape and items do tend to shift around. 

This “Made in America” bag is a good option for those looking for a versatile, lightweight, no frills  day bag. It’s $28 and available from the factory in Colorado. It also comes with a lifetime warranty due to defects in materials or workmanship. 

Now, if I could just convince them to make a something similar but in a shoulder bag and one that could be worn across the body.

Barefoot Packs supplied a Wanderlite for review. 

(Frank II)

Update on July 19, 2011 by Frank@OBOW

I forgot to add this important note from their website:

Barefoot Enterprises dedicates the net proceeds from the sale of Wanderlite packable daypacks to support the work of World Vision : helping the world’s poorest people work toward bettering their lives and communities through intelligently and compassionately  applied microlending and agricultural activities. 

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Tri-Star

It’s been two years since Brad posted a review of the Tom Bihn Tri-Star.. I guess it’s now my turn.

I’m going to cut right the verdict—this is a great bag. It is so versatile that almost anyone who wants to travel one-bag style would probably find this bag easy to use.

Slightly smaller than maximum carry-on size (19” x 13” x 8”) and weighting 3 lbs, 6 oz, the three compartment Tri-Star can be used for both business and leisure travel.

It’s refined look will have most people thinking it’s an oversized laptop bag. By using the middle compartment for “work” and the two end compartments for your “stuff,” the Tri-star will allow you to go from plane to meeting without a stop at your hotel.

For leisure travelers, it allows you to  stay organized and compartmentalized so you don’t have to go rummaging through everything to find that extra camera battery.

Made of 1050 denier ballistic nylon and lined with lightweight Dyneema nylon, the Tri-Star has both #10 and #8 waterproof zippers.

A true convertible bag, the hidden backpack straps include a sternum strap and can accomodate an optional waist belt. (I also use this compartment to hold a foldable light jacket.)

The padded backpack straps make it comfortable to carry for  a long walk although it’s doubtful you’d walk into a business meeting that way. So, you have two other options: the padded handles or the optional Absolute Strap. (I have a chronically sore shoulder and find it hard to carry most bags using it. However, with the Absolute Strap I seem to be able to carry everything pain free.) There are handles on three sides of the bag helping to make it easy to put in and take out of overhead storage  bins. 

Let’s take a look at the bag section by section:

The front of the bag has four zippered compartments. On the left are three vertical compartments that go from their zipper closure to the bottom of the bag. These are great for thinner items like keys, magazines, newspapers, a book, 3-1-1 bag , etc.

The zipper on the right can accommodate a water bottle but can also be used for storage as well.

When the bag is full, don’t expect too much give from these pockets.

The front section has an optional zipper that will split the bag into two compartments: one taking up 2/3 and the other 1/3. In this photo you see the medium sized Tom Bihn Tri-Star packing cube and a Tom Bihn Quarter Cube. (The small Tri-Star packing cube is cut to fit into the right side section but I prefer the two-sided quarter cube. One side for toiletries, the other side for my laundry kit. I could also add a small Tom Bihn pouch and connect it to one of the “o” rings. (Be careful if you use the dividing zipper. I was a little too rough and it ripped the first week I owned the bag. As I don’t use it, it wasn’t a problem for me.)

The medium sized cube in this photo is holding my undies, socks and a t-shirt.

This section zips down on three sides with the top capable of folding flat making for easy packing.

The rear compartment is meant for larger clothes. Here is the large size Tom Bihn packing cube holding 4 shirts and a sweater held down by the included luggage straps.Underneath the pack is an additional pair of pants. This section also opens on three sides for easy packing. 

 The Center section is the hardest to photograph as it only zips down halfway to prevent items from falling out. This section is my office/technology section. 

The center section also has clips to attach a Tom Bihn Brain Cell. These are computer sleeves that come in different sizes depending on your computer. 

Currently, since I want to travel with only one bag, I put my Tom Bihn Large Cafe bag into the certain section as well as a Tom Bihn 3D clear cube with all those miscellaneous items.

And here’s where it proves you can’t go by size alone to see if something will work for you. In the case, size does matter. I like to pack my day bag into my main carry-on for travel days. This way I only have to be concerned with one bag while traveling.

I thought the Large Cafe Bag would be perfect for this. However, there is one drawback to trying to pack it. The strap. I ordered the larger, heavier, Absolute strap—which is wonderful—but it can’t be detached. So, that strap takes up too much room. I will continue to use the Large Cafe Bag as a day bag at  home. 

Since a tablet is in my near future, I may have to substitute a different day bag. I’m thinking the Tom Bihn Ristretto. Not only will it fit my needs for what it can hold, the strap is removable. No need for two Absolute Straps. I can use the Absolute Strap from the Tri-Star to carry the Ristretto when my main bag is at my hotel. I’d take the included standard strap should the Ristretto not be that heavy.  (I’ll have to talk to the good folks at Tom Bihn to see what they think about this idea. I’ll let you know.)

One other thing. “O” rings. These are tiny round rings sewn into all of Tom Bihn bags. They are great. You can attach pouches, keys, packs, etc and they won’t fall out. There are plenty of them all over the bag. 

Now, what about the cons…well….there just aren’t  that many. If you pack too much, the bag will go over the 8” side. (I got mine up to nearly 9.5” by really trying.)

All in all, the Tom Bihn Tri-star is excellent for those who take short business trips and want to pack light, for leisure travelers looking for a smaller than maximum carry-on size case and still want quality, and anyone else wanting to go from maximum to less than maximum in carry on size. 

It may seem that I use a lot of Tom Bihn products. Guilty as charged. They’re high quality, made in America, and are  from a company that offers terrific customer service. I’ve been a paying customer for years. 

The Tom Bihn Tri-Star goes for $270. A set of Tri-Star packing cubes (L,M,S) will set you back an additional $55 but weigh only 10 oz. The three sized packing cubes come with a mesh top. The smaller size is also available in all fabric for shoes or anything else you wanted to keep separate.

For more photos and color choices, go to the Tri-star page on the Tom Bihn website.

(Frank II)

Tom Bihn supplied all accessories discussed in this review. I purchased the actual Tri-Star awhile ago with my hard earned weekly allowance. 

Gear Review: Cocoon Grid-It Organizer

When I first saw the Cocoon Grid-It Organzier, I thought what a great idea. Here is a versatile tool allowing the user to organize small items in endless configurations. 

Items are held in place by a series of elastic bands that come in different sizes. You decide how to configure it. 

The Grid-it’s come in numerous shapes and sizes. Shown in the photos are the CPG-10 (gray) at 12” x 8” x .375” and has a gusset pocket in the back, and the CPG-51 (black) at 15” x 11” x .38”.

The two models shown here cost $20 & $30 respectively. 

For the traveler, these will come in handy to keep all smaller items organized and make it easy for airport security to view without taking things apart. They also make things easier to find. I like them. 

However for “light travelers,” there is one problem. The weight.  The smaller of the two shown above weighs 11 ounces and the larger one weights 18 oz. And for those of us that measure every ounce, that adds up to a lot. 

I’m going to use mine to keep all my travel accessories neat—at home.

Cocoon supplied the larger of the two organizers for review.

(Frank II)

Gear Review: Brigade of the Light Chargers

 Back in the days when I first traveled, there was no internet, cameras took film, pocket sized phones were only seen in science fiction or Dick Tracy, and any electrical item taken overseas needed a voltage converter. 

But that was then and this is now. Who doesn’t take some type of smaller electronic device: cell phone, mp3 player, digital camera, etc?

With each item comes a charger. To light travelers, carrying one charger for each electronic gadget is too much weight.

Fortunately,  multi-chargers—evices that could recharge numerous devices at the same time—were developed.

One of the first devices I heard of was the Chargepod.

This dual-voltage (meaning it can be  used in most of the world without a converter) device can charge up to six smaller small gadgets at once using their Chargepod’s own proprietary adapters. (These are different from electrical plug adapters which you will also need if you take the Chargepod outside of North America.)

This has been my first choice as a travel charger for awhile. In fact, I use it at home rather than have a bunch of individual chargers plugged in all over the place.

The Chargepod is made by Callpod which also makes the Fueltank Uno and Fueltank Duo. 

Fueltanks are portable lithium ion battery powered portable chargers that can recharge a smaller gadget multiple times before it needs to be recharged. (They use the same adapters as the Chargepod). The Uno (on the left in the above photo) comes with its own A/C power adapter and can recharge one gadget many times. The Duo (in the center of the above photo) comes with the same power adapter and can recharge a single item twice as long or two gadgets at once. The Fueltank can also be recharged through the Chargepod. 

The Fueltank is great for very long flights where a plug may not be available. I have gotten three full charges from the Uno for my Ipod Touch. 

One caveat…..the adapters have been known to fail. I’ve had to replace a couple. And at $10 each, it can add up. 

Recently, I got a Lenmar ACUSB4 multi charger.

This dual voltage charger will charge 4 devices at once via USB. So, the same chord you would use to charge via a laptop would be used with this charger.  The Lenmar does come with 4 interchangeable electric adapter plugs so it can be used almost anywhere in the world. 

One surprise is that by using a USB/mini-usb  cord I was able to recharge the above mentioned Fueltanks. 

The Lenmar charger with plugs and 4 usb chords weighs a couple of ounces less than the Chargepod and its adapters. 

One problem I had was my digital camera. Neither of these two would charge the camera’s battery without bringing along the battery charger. 

But then I heard about and got the Lenmar PPUClip.

The PPUClip does just what it says: it clips onto a camera battery and is plugged directly into a USB port. (There is a fold down USB plug on the clip but it’s not seen in the above photo.) This works great.

To get an idea of the size of these, here’s a side by side photo of many of the above devices.

Now, a few notes:

1) These devices will not charge a laptop or netbook. They will, I’ve been told, charge an Ipad. 

2) If you bring a laptop or netbook with your while traveling, you probably don’t need any of these, except the PPUclip, because you can charge via the computer. 

3) Gomadic and IGo are two other companies that have multi-chargers. I’ve used Gomadic products and they are just as good as the ones I mentioned above. (In fact, when Gomadic redesigned it’s own AA battery powered portable charger because the original wouldn’t work with Apple products, they sent me a new one at no charge.) Be aware, all of these companies used to make adapters for Apple…..however…..Apple has cracked down and won’t allow then anymore. To charge an Ipod or Iphone, they suggest using the Apple supplied USB cord and a female USB connector.

4) Lenmar is soon coming out with a six device charger that looks a lot like the Chargepod. It will use it’s own proprietary adaptors. 

5) The devices I’ve charged with the two major chargers mentioned above are an Ipod touch, Palm TX, Blackberry Bold, Fueltank Uno and Duo, and 1st Generation Kindle. My Canon digital camera battery charged easily with the PPUClip. 

So, if you’re traveling without a computer, or even if you are but want a separate charger, there are numerous multi-chargers available that will help you lessen your load and lighten your travels. 

“half a league, half a league, half a league onward……”

(Frank II)

Update on June 12, 2011 by Frank@OBOW

As Cindy H noted in the comment section, many devices are now dual voltage. How do you know? Look at the power information. If it says 110 or 120/240v  you are good to go. No converters. Almost all newer small electronics these days are dual voltage.