Easy Set-up Family Tent From Grand Trunk
My natural reaction was to be skeptical when I saw this Grand Trunk tent billed as “The easiest tent to set up in the world.” We’ve all heard that one before, right?
So I pulled this out of the carrying case, unrolled it, and took a crack at it with my 11-year-old daughter. Some thirty seconds later, no lie, she jumped inside our set-up tent and said, “Cool!” It wasn’t just the easiest tent I’ve ever set up, it was the first one where I haven’t had to look at the instructions or wrestle with a bunch of hinged-together poles I was trying to get through fabric tunnels. In fact I didn’t look at anything. I just pulled up the handle, locking it into place on top with the attached hook. Done!
Once open, it’s billed as a “4-man tent” or a family car camping tent. That gives you some clue to what the catch is: this is a rather heavy tent you would not want to carry very far. It comes in a bag that would not qualify as a carry-0n if you were flying and it weighs 15 pounds. If you’re using it for its intended purpose though, who cares? It’s big, easy to assemble with the attached fiberglass poles, and well-made without any shortcuts to make it ultralight.
This Grand Trunk tent has a front door and a back door should you choose to use them without the rain fl. There are lots of no-see-um mesh opening with flaps you can zip closed, and places to stake it into the ground. My daughter liked the little stowaway pouched on the sides and at the “loft” top, plus there’s a hook for hanging a lantern. An attached flap extends out from the front for leaving your hiking boots outside. The included rain flap not only protects the tent, but it extends out over this vestibule flap to keep those boots dry or give one person a place to sit with their head dry.
The tent itself is 95 X 95 inches—more than 7 feet/2.3 meters in each direction. That’s a little tight for four if anyone is too plump, but downright spacious for three or a family with one or two small children. We fit in a twin Aerobed mattress and two sleeping pads and had room to spare.
When you’re finished, take-down is just as fast as the set-up, with it easily fitting into the carrying case without knowing any origami. Just like that, you toss it in the car and you’re off.
The Grand Truck Easy Set-up Tent for Four is available direct from Grand Trunk for $225 or check prices online at REI and Overstock.com.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on May 17th, 2012
Teva Ion-Mask Mush Frio Packable, Lightweight Travel Shoes
The first time I saw a pair of Teva Mush Frio Canvas lace shoes, it was at a company booth at a trade show. They caught my eye because the shoes were hovering in the air, each one held up by a single helium balloon. That’s how light they are. Each one is just 3.4 ounces, so the pair is less than a pound. I’ve been checking out its predecessor, the Ion Mask version, which is slightly heavier but comes with waterproofing.
Oviously packing a pair of these shoes is not going to ding your weight limit, plus they smash up flat so you can easily fit them in a bag that seems like it can’t hold another pair of shoes. As for comfort, they feel like a pair of slippers, even the first time you put them on. But something this thin doesn’t come with any real arch support. So I wouldn’t use them for walking around in all day on city sidewalks, but for kicking around at the end of the day (especially after skiing or hiking) they’re terrific.
The “Mush Frio” part of the name is meant to imply you can wear these shoes when it’s not flip-flop weather. When you have to put away the flip-flops and put on real shoes, you don’t give up any comfort. They’re light enough and breathable enough to wear all year though—part of the upper is canvas, but the whole tongue part is stretchy padded mesh and there are two eyelets on the side. Plus you get an anti-bacterial treatment on the insole and shoe lining, so they shouldn’t get stinky when the weather gets warm.
The insole is nice and squishy and after a while will conform to your feet. They really fit like a glove though, so go one size up from your usual if you don’t have narrow feet. Otherwise there’s not much margin for error.
This slightly advanced Ion-Mask version has waterproofing, which they probably added to the original version after realizing that marketing this as a winter item while letting it soak up melted snow was probably a bit incongruous.
I’m not sure these will last you five years, but they’re about as light as you can get for something so comfortable and the price is right. This pair lists for $65 at Teva.com, or shop around at Zappos or Amazon.
You can lop off at least $10 and get a lot more color choices by removing the “Ion-Mask” part of this—the waterproofing. You can get the even lighter Teva Mush Frio direct from Teva for $50, or shop around by following these direct links to Zappos or Altrec. The version (pictured to the right) comes in six colors, so check Amazon, where some color/size combinations are currently going for under $35.
See more Teva Footwear reviews on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on May 16th, 2012
Scout ‘Stiff One’ Cooler
When Scout asked me if I’d try out one of their new soft-sided coolers in time for summer travel, I admit my first thought was, ‘but I already have a soft-sided cooler.’ As does everybody, right? So what makes the Scout ‘Stiff One special enough to feature here? In a word: design.
The Stiff One (by the way, all Scout products have fun names that will go right over your kid’s head–hopefully–but make your grandmother blush) is a traditional cube shape of 14x12x9, made out of standard insolated, coated polyester, and is water resistant, but what sets it apart is its hard, flat bottom. Not only does this bottom keep the cooler upright even in the back of the car or on uneven surfaces (think riverbanks, lakesides, and less-than-perfect picnic spots), but…wait for it…it does not leak. Not at all! Until trying the Stiff One, I’d never met a soft-sided cooler that didn’t get soggy and drippy as the ice inside melted, and had all but given up on using them (even when my large hard-sided cooler was overkill). Thanks to the Stiff One, I can pack lunch for a day at the lake and not look like I’m planning to be gone for a weekend.
The Stiff One comfortably fits a six-pack of your preferred beverage, plenty of sandwiches, and extras like fruit, cheese, yogurt, etc. We easily fit a lunch for a family of five, or a variety of snacks for an afternoon away. On a recent soccer trip, I packed sports drinks on ice for a half a dozen thirsty boys. (And did I mention the lack of leaking?) Aside from the hard bottom, it features a three-sided double-zipper at the top (top-loading), and two outside side pockets, big enough to fit silverware, cutlery, or a stack of paper plates. The sturdy fabric shoulder straps are generous in length, velcro together for easier carrying, and are nice and thick. The interior is water resistant and wipes clean, as you’d expect in any soft-sided cooler.
What I wish it had: a slide-in pocket for an ice pack, preferrably on the underside of the lid. There’s space for a large ice pack on the bottom, but it’d be nice to tag-team it.
The Stiff One’s hard bottom is by far its best feature, but it’s probably not what you’d notice first: these coolers come in fun, funky colors and patterns. Half the fun is picking which one you’d like on the Scout website. I choose Indigo Girl (shown), which, if I do say so myself, looks quite classy at the beach or on the road. It also comes in Racy Lacy (black and pink), Meryl Stripe (pink stripe), Flashback Paisley (spring toned paisley), and Barbara Stripesand (in either coral or blue toned stripe). See what I mean? No matter which you choose, this cooler screams fun. The colors and designs are certainly more geared to women than men, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
The Stiff One’s a good value at $38, and will make for a versatile travel companion throughout the summer months. I anticipate bringing it along on winter ski days as well…it will certainly be easy to spot amid all the plain colored coolers in the lodge. Find it at the Scout site or at Amazon for a few dollars less. While you’re purusing the site, check out all the other totes and bags Scout makes: they’re all equally colorful and fun.
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Posted by Amy in General Gear, Kids and Family on May 15th, 2012
Ebags 22″ EXO Hardside Spinner Carry-On Bag
Always searching for the perfect rollaboard, my quest continues to come up empty. The Brookstone bag is sturdy but not durable in the long-haul. This new EXO hard-shell spinner from eBags fulfills both qualifications as its exterior shell protects the contents from shock, and the four wheels are much larger than Brookstone’s version making them stronger and less likely to break.
The shell of the bag is composed of polycarbonate and comes in a variety of sleek colors, but it is the wheels that make this bag so perfect. They spin 360 degrees with ease allowing you to push this bag (even fully stuffed) with the slightest of ease. No need to drag it behind you when you can push it with the flick of a wrist. The handle retracts at two levels making it easy to use no matter what your height.
Inside, there are two compartments with a zip-around mesh cover to keep items separated from each other while still allowing visibility to what is inside. It is great for keeping laundry away from clean clothes or storing shoes or electronic gear cords. There are also straps that can be used to secure clothing like suits or bulky items in place. The moveable shelf system inside keeps items wrinkle-free.
Nosy TSA agents can still access the bag’s contents if needed thanks to a TSA-approved lock while sticky-fingered baggage handlers are kept at bay.
This bag was put through the wringer as I travel frequently within Europe dragging bags across cobblestoned streets, bumpy sidewalks, and through messy airport terminals. It performed flawlessly. The zipper was sturdy even when I overstuffed the bag. While I am not a fan of the largeeBags logo that appears on the side of the bag, it is subtle and not overbearing. The bag is available from Ebags for a bargain price of just over $100. It pairs well with its larger, equally affordable model for those who want to check bags.
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Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear on May 14th, 2012
Two Polo Shirts Worth Packing for Your Travels
A polo shirt is a versatile piece of clothing to be packing when you travel. It’s nicer than a t-shirt, hits the “collared shirts only” requirement, can be used for a game of golf or tennis, yet doesn’t take up much extra room in your bag. Most polo shirts are made to be wrinkle-resistant as well, so they’ll look better coming straight out of your bag than a dress shirt.
I’ve been testing two that take it a step further though for travelers, building in odor protection, temperature control, sun blocking, and moisture wicking. They’re the kind of super-polos you won’t find on the clearance rack at Marshall’s.
Woolrich MNS Territory Polo
The Woolrich MNS Territory Polo has been in my wardrobe for a couple months now, on several trips, and has performed well. It’s made of a merino wool blend (half synthetic) that is odor resistant, wicking, and wrinkle-free. It dries quickly after a sink washing on the road. The Agion Active treatment adds another layer of stink-proofing and it worked surprisingly well: I wore it three days between washings in Bulgaria, one of those a day of heavy hiking in the mountains.
There’s a hidden zipper security pocket on the side, giving you another pickpocket-proof place to store some cash. It’s cut well to fit on the shoulders in a flattering way and keep seams out of the way of your pack or shoulder bag.
On the downside, I did notice a slight itchiness each time when I first put it on, something that happens with a lot of merino wool products that aren’t priced like luxury goods. After I had it on a while, I didn’t notice. It also suffers from the other merino problem of the fibers bunching up all around, so it doesn’t look as smooth anymore as when it was new. Not a biggie for me, but it could be for some people. (This is probably partly because I ignored the instructions that said to hand-wash it. Nothing I own is getting that kind of pampering when I’m home and it’s not practical for people who will use hotel/guesthouse laundry services.)
Overall though, this is a good quick-drying workhorse piece of clothing to pack for a vacation or extended jaunt. It comes in four colors, fits to size, and lists for $69. Check your local store that stocks Woolrich products or get it at Amazon. Or you can order direct. A message popped up my laptop saying they would ship direct to Bulgaria when I did a search from there to grab the link, so you can probably get it where you are…
Mountain Khakis M’s Approach Shirt
When I got the info about this M’s Approach polo shirt from Mountain Khakis that incorporated recycled coffee grounds, I was more than a little skeptical. It sounded like a silly gimmick, Bluesign certified or not.
This is a shirt I would have picked up off the rack at a store though, it looks so good, so I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I took it with me on the same three-week trip to Europe as the one above and have been thrilled with it.
As with the Woolrich one, after trying it out at home for a wash cycle first, I wore it on the road for three days without washing, one of them doing some hiking. Since I was with other people in a van, I wouldn’t do this if it was getting at all smelly. No worries though: it did a great job holding out until I could wash it. When I did, it dried by the next morning, despite being half cotton.
It has a YKK zipper instead of buttons, which I like, a breast pocket, and is cut to look good without being too clingy. I’m not as skinny as the guy pictured here, but it fits true to size with room to move. It comes in three colors and lists for $69.
Like other Mountain Khakis products, it’s well-made and comfortable, so this one has fast become one of my favorite shirts for warm weather. Get it from Mountain Khakis via Amazon or check prices at Altrec.com.
Posted by Tim L. in Business Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on May 10th, 2012
