GSI Halulite Microdualist Camping Kit
Just how compact can you make a full cooking and dining kit for a camping couple? And how practical will it be under real-world conditions outdoors?
I’d put my money on GSI Outdoors for knowing the answers to those questions better than anyone. They’ve got a whole range of nifty camping kits that are a thing of wonder when it comes to both design and practicality. This Halulite Microdualist kit I’ve been checking out takes “packing light” to a whole new level. 
You see, that whole big kit at the top packs down into one small container with a protective cover, like in the photo to the right. The whole thing is under six inches high. It’s impressively designed, with everything in its place yet so simple my daughter packed it all back up without any help. The protective cover doubles as a wash basin. The next layer is the cooking pot, with a handle that folds onto the top after the other things go inside.
Those other things are like a collection of items a magician pulled out of a top hat: two bowls, two mugs with lids, two retractable sporks, and a pot lid that doubles as a colander for draining off water from pasta or other items. The pot is made from lightweight non-stick aluminum. The Infinity plastic is stain resistant, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe.
After my real-world tests in the great outdoors, I’d give everything an A except maybe the washbin idea. It’ll work in a pinch, but it’s not much bigger than the pot, so kind of tricky to use for that item. And you might want to carry plates along if you’re going to eat more than what you just cooked in the one pot. But hey, this is meant to be for minimalists.
This whole kits weighs just a shade over one pound: probably less than the pair of shoes you’re wearing right now. So carrying this Microdualist kit along is not going to require much sacrificing in terms of weight or bulk.
Even if you’re not the backcountry primitive camping type, this kit is worth buying for the ease of use and the cool factor. Car camping? Heck, you can do “scooter camping” with this kit.
The GSI Halulite Microdualist kit sells for around $55. Follow these links to buy it at Backcountry or REI.
See reviews of more camping items at Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on May 3rd, 2012
Vapur Flip-top Element Anti Water Bottle
Want to buy a water bottle? There are a zillion of them out there to choose from, with variations on the color, materials, and opening. There’s one that really generates some double-takes when I use it though: the collapsible water bottle from Vapur.
I reviewed the original Vapur collapsible anti-bottle late last year, so why am I returning to it now?
Well, this one has a different top. Yeah I know, that doesn’t sound like much of a big deal and I didn’t get all that excited when a rep handed one to me on the floor of a gear trade show I attended. Was it really that hard to open the original one?
Not really, but this one is a whole lot more convenient because you can open it with one hand, without using your teeth. And there’s no little plastic cap to lose. See with this new flip-top version, you can pop it open with the same hand that’s holding it, which is great if your other hand is holding a camera. Or a walking stick. Or a ledge on the side of a cliff you’re climbing.
Since the flip-top keeps the water from leaking out, you can drink straight out of this without sucking. Simpler and quieter, plus you don’t have to feel like a baby. The top assembly screws off for cleaning and drying. There’s an attached plastic ring on the top
Like the original version though, this water bottle has lots of advantages. It can roll down tight to store in your bag when you’re not using it—like when you’re going through security or checking a bag. If it’s half full, it doesn’t still take up the same amount of room as when it’s full. And the really cool part is—pun intended—you can freeze it. Fill it up with water, put the whole thing in the freezer, then you’ve got ice cold water while you’re hiking, for hours. Or you can use it as an ice block in your cooler. After it melts, you’ve got fresh water.
The one downside of these is they’re more bag than bottle, so when they’re not full, they won’t easily go into a bike cage or some backpack holders. So they do better playing back-up than the lead role. On the plus side, kids love the novelty.
These Vapur Element bottles come in four colors representing fire, wind, and water. There’s a 1-liter one, but it’s much easier to find the regular size, which is 7/10 of a liter. These retail for $11.99 if you buy direct from Vapur, but check prices online at Summit Hut too.
See more water bottle reviews from this travel gear blog.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on May 2nd, 2012
Travel-sized (and Budget-sized) Laundry Care
When we travel, we’re a carry-on only type of family. We’re also a family of three active boys and a mom (that would be me) who tends to spill food like a five-year-old. (My husband pretty much acts his age.) So when we pack for a vacation, we need to go light on the extra clothes, despite full knowledge that there will be laundry-related emergencies. I recently received the following travel-sized laundry care items to take on the road, and we put them to use during a spring break cruise.
Dryel Instant Stain Remover:
No matter whether you pack carry-on only or hire a sherpa to cart your gear, at some point, you’ll stain something. For us it occurred at the buffet line, when my 12-year-old dripped some kind of food grease on his brand new t-shirt. He wore it the rest of the afternoon, then I treated it with the Dryel Instant Stain Remover pen. The pen has a rubbery scrubber at the tip to help control the flow and dig into the stain, and it’s only .7 oz, so it’s TSA-friendly. The best part about it is that you can treat the stain, then toss the item into a suitcase and not wash it until you return home.
But did the stain come out? Mostly. I can still see a bit of a ring around it, but it’s far, far better than it would have been left untreated. And in Dryel’s defense, the instructions on the packaging clearly state to that you need to treat the stain while its fresh. Sometimes, however, when you’re traveling, you just can’t! We did have another stain on a shirt (er…mine) later during the same trip, and I treated it immediately. That stain (ice cream) came out completely. The pen retails for $2.97.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser:
First of all, why, why, why would anyone travel with a shirt that wrinkles? I jest: I know many people need to. (We try to pack only cotton and other similar fibers to make our lives easier.) The Downy Wrinkle Releaser comes in the form of a pump spray bottle (again, under 3 oz). You spray the item of clothing liberally, then tug and pull, then leave to hang dry. I tried it at home (again, I don’t travel with anything needing an iron) on a nylon dress shirt, and while it work replace an iron, it did take the shirt from messy to presentable. I don’t think the result would pass in the board room, but out to a decent dinner? Sure. Plus, it smells great, so if nothing else, you can use it to freshen up a shirt while traveling very easily. Pick one up for only $1.47.
Bounce Lint Roller:
Now, this I can see the need for, considering I live with two dogs and a cat. Somehow, we still end up with dog hair on our clothes even when we’re traveling away from the dogs! (Yes, we’re slobs…this review package couldn’t have come to a better suited person.) Put simply, everyone could use a Bounce lint roller for something, and since this travel version is small and light, it’s easy to toss in your luggage. At $1.99, it doesn’t hurt to have one.
Tide Travel Laundry Bag:
This was my favorite laundry-related product, as we always travel with 2-3 mesh or drawstring laundry bags. This travel laundry bag Tide is smaller than my others at 18×18, but holds more than you’d expect. Plus, it’s made of sturdier construction than the mesh types, infused with a magical anti-bacterial coating which traps odors. We used it on the cruise, and let me just tell you the odor-trapper works and leave it at that. We used it for our smelliest stuff, including wet swimsuits that smell like chlorine) and it didn’t stink up the rest of our clothes in our luggage. You can grab one for $3.97, which I think is a steal.
While not available directly at Amazon, all of the above travel laundry products can be found at major box stores like Wal-Mart or Target in the US, and at drugstore.com or well.ca in Canada.
Posted by Amy in Travel Light on May 1st, 2012
Cushe Evo Mocc Casual Men’s Shoes
My travels keep me on my feet quite often as I have to hit the ground running when I land and am often walking long distances from place to place. I typically wear loafers or casual business shoes, and even the best brands like Johnston & Murphy’s have developed holes or peeled-back soles quicker than expected for such expensive shoes. Quite the disappointment.
When I had the opportunity to try the Cushe Evo Mocc comfortable shoes, I was excited yet concerned that they may appear too casual. On the contrary, they were perfect for not-too-dressy cities and were well-paired with both jeans and even dress khakis. I even received a few compliments on my shoes and comments that they looked very comfortable.
The shoes are crafted from leather with a neoprene sock and mesh interior that make them comfortable and ventilated for high energy use (whether its athletic hikes or long business walks). I appreciated that the look of the shoe is not too earthy (I don’t travel with a bandana to wear to business meetings!) and the rubber sole is not as noticeable as you might expect. That sole, by the way, is like an air cushion making you feel like you are wearing tennis shoes without the intensely casual look of a pair.
One day while walking in the rain, they got a bit damp on the outside, but the moisture did not permeate the shoe and it dried very quickly.
Various colors are available, and the ease to slip it on and off at security checkpoints or on board an airplane make it a frequent traveler’s friends. Cushe has a host of other rugged, soft-footed shoes, but this is one of the best options for travelers. While not ideal for business travelers who must don a suit and tie daily, this is a great gift for many whether vacationing through the streets of Europe or careening through crowded airport terminals in a hurry, heavy bags in tow.
Available for about $100 at Zappos or REI, this is not the kind of cheap shoe you want to drag through the mud although it cleans easily with the wipe of a damp towel.
See more reviews of Cushe footwear and other good travel shoes.
Posted by Ramsey in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, Travel Light on April 30th, 2012
High Sierra Pack-n-Go Duffel is a Steal
Your second bag and a toiletry kit—for 20 bucks?
For this travel gear blog we get excited about different things than reviewers focused on the latest $500 suitcases and $300 laptop bags. When we find something that works well and is bargain-priced, we’re all over it. This High Sierra Pack–n-Go Duffel seems too good to be true. It’s a workhorse duffel bag that can qualify as a carry-on, but it folds up into a little pouch. Not just any pouch though: the case is a toiletry kit. How cool is that? To see it in action, check out this video demo.
All parts of this work better than you would expect. The toiletry kit is good on its own, with a loop for hanging, a loop with a clip to hang it from a towel rack or shower bar, plus a zippered pouch and several mesh compartments inside.
Then you pull out the duffle bag and it over-delivers as well. It’s got an adjustable shoulder strap plus hand straps with a Velcro handle fitting—all solidly stitched. Those straps are adjustable too so you can convert this to a backpack in a pinch. The zippers are strong and they move smoothly, plus they’ve got sizable openings at the end for locks. There’s an extra zippered compartment on the side. It’s made from 600-denier “Duralite” nylon that looks like it’ll hold up for the long haul.
The one I’m showing off in the demo video is basic black, but this Pack-n-Go duffel comes in a variety of attractive solid colors and patterns, like the one you see here to the right.
It also comes in larger sizes: 24, 30 and 36 inches, each of them still stuffing down into a flat pouch that’s easy to pack. You will have to check the others if you’re flying, but it could be worth it to fly somewhere with one bag, come back with two, especially if you’re buying nice things. It’s still usually cheaper than shipping, especially internationally.
This 20-inch Pack-n-Go duffel shows an “original price” anywhere between $24 and $60, but you can easily find it online for around $20. The actual retail prices generally work out to a dollar for each inch of length: the 36-inch one goes for $36, for example, which is still a great deal. Check prices at eBags, Luggage Guru, and Amazon.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on April 26th, 2012
