Posts Tagged airplane gear
Reusable Snack & Sandwich Bags from ChicoBag
These cute and useful snack bags from pioneer ChicoBag are handy and are no sweat to clean and reuse.
The richer a citizenry becomes, the more stuff it throws away for the sake of convenience. One plastic baggie may not be a big deal, but multiply it times a year of lunches, then times a hundred kids, then times a hundred schools, and suddenly you’re looking at a mountain of garbage that will be around for a thousand years or more.
One small step for mankind is to switch to something reusable. Most of us already use Tupperware and the like for taking food to work or on a flight, but packing snacks or sandwiches isn’t as easy. I’m digging these Snack Time bags though because they don’t require much in the way of sacrifice. Made from recycled PET plastic, they already come with some environmental credibility from the start. They’re also free of lead, PVC, and BPA. When you go to buy them in the store, the packaging they hang on is recycled paper.
None of that is going to get someone to buy them if they don’t work though. Fortunately these do, and quite well. The first objection from most is going to be about having to clean them. That’s not as hard as I expected. You can simply turn them inside out and wipe them clean with a wet sponge or rag, or if they’re really smudged on the outside too, you can just toss them in the washing machine. We’ve been sending my daughter to school with these and making her wash them when she gets home and there hasn’t been any whining—a sure sign it doesn’t require much effort.
The real kicker with these though, especially for travelers, is the double-duty design. At full size the bags are 6.5 inches wide and extend to 9.5 inches (24 cm) on one side. So you can fit in a sub sandwich pretty easily and close the top. Or you can fold down the flap and it’s 5.5 inches (14 cm) high, the perfect size for a sandwich or a bunch of pretzels. Either way they close with one of several Velcro fasteners and in the smaller folded-down mode there’s a relatively tight seal. I wouldn’t put anything that could leak badly in there, but for grapes or strawberries that won’t get crushed they’ll work. Obviously they’re fine for any dry snacks and nothing gets out.
They come in packs of three or five, so you can mix and match your food with the right setup. Whether you’re grabbing food to go for a road trip or flight, or need something for that budget self-catering backpack trip through Europe, these handy Snack Time bags are compact and light enough to easily find room for.
I admire this company for turning trash into treasure and trying their best to wean people off of single-use plastic bags with their products. This isn’t always easy, especially when the plastic bag manufacturers sued the company last year for making them look like their products create lots of garbage. (Which reminds me of when Muslim organizations successfully pushed Hollywood to stop making the terrorist characters in movies and TV shows be from from Afghanistan or the Middle East. No fair!)
These reusable sandwich and snack bags are new and are just getting out into stores. You can order a set of three direct from ChicoBag for $16 or get a five-pack with free shipping for around $25 from Amazon.
See our other ChicoBag product reviews.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family on February 22nd, 2012
ShowOffs Reusable Travel Bags
Years ago, when the TSA introduced mandatory guidelines for packing 3-oz-or-less toiletries in clear, quart-sized bags, I — like the rest of the world — reached into my kitchen drawer and pulled out Ziploc-brand baggies for just that use. Since reviewing a few rollerboards that came with plastic zipper bags for just that use, I ditched the kitchen baggies for these slightly classier reusable bags.
For folks who might not be in the mood to purchase a new suitcase for its included zipper bag, consider ShowOffs travel bags for your next trip. Indeed, these bags — with magenta, seafoam green or black “frames” or flower designs — can make you feel a bit more dignified about sharing your mini tubes of toothpaste or Clearasil cream with other travelers in line at the airport X-ray.
Gallon and quart sized ShowOffs bags plus reusable bottles for $14.99.
Quart-sized ShowOffs come with three little bottles approved by the TSA that you can refill with contact lens solution, hair spray, shampoo or the like. The colorful designs one one side of the bag still allow TSA agents to see inside. Gallon-sized bags, meant for use in your checked baggage, have more of a solid design with just a small clear space on each so you can peek in to see what’s enclosed. Bags have a Ziploc-like resealable closure and the plastic feels thicker and sturdier than a regular kitchen baggie.
Use ShowOffs bags not only for toiletries, but also snacks, small electronics or any other small items that you want to keep organized in a larger bag. I always put regularly sized toothpaste, sunscreen and kids’ liquid Advil in gallon-sized bags when I check my luggage, so I’m pleased I’ll have these stylish bags for my next long-haul trip.
Purchase on the ShowOffs website (free shipping) or other online retailers like Brookstone or eBags (where they are currently 20 percent off).
Posted by Kara in General Gear, Travel Light on December 27th, 2011
Solid Line iPad Case with integrated Bluetooth Keyboard
Solid Line iPad keyboard
My biggest pet peeve is dragging my heavy laptop through security and around in my bag as it weighs me down. Lately, I have been traveling with my iPad, iPhone, and laptop for use in different situations. The laptop is perfect for when I have to type up reports or articles; the iPhone for when I am checking quick emails; and the iPad for when I want to surf the web without typing lengthy emails or articles.
But, the Solid Line keyboard is the perfect accompaniment for my lightweight iPad, which allows me to leave my weighty laptop behind.
This double-edged product serves as a protective bycast leather case for your iPad while also incorporating the keyboard into the case. The case allows users to prop up the iPad screen, perfect for when watching movies on the plane.
The keyboard is easy on the fingers thanks to its silicone consistency and is quick to respond. By downloading an app called Pages to the iPad, you can type reports or articles that can be emailed to yourself and transferred easily to Word documents.
The case and keyboard weigh just one pound. My iPad is now my go-to device for web surfing, email answering, and article writing thanks to this crafty device, which has lightened my carry-on bag by several pounds. This amazing feat is not only easy on my arms as I stroll through an airport, but it saves me from having to argue about carry-on bags that are too big or too heavy (a common occurrence especially when traveling overseas).
The keyboard is connected to the iPad via Bluetooth technology, and occasionally, the signal between the two can be disrupted. It does not last long and you can continue typing without problem.
When the keyboard (and case) is fully charged, it can last up to 9 hours, which is perfect for long flights. Since my iPad has a similar long battery life, they are perfect together.
It is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on October 10th, 2011
RingO Universal Tablet Mounting System from Vogel’s
RingO Universal Tablet Mounting System by Vogel's
This convenient mounting system from Vogel’s has a variety of uses and is simple enough to set up at home or when traveling. It can mount to the wall, in the car, or even in the kitchen to use when eating or cooking. On long flights, I often see people folding back the iPad cover to stand it upright for movie watching. But, I am often working on my laptop or watching DVDs on my computer. The reason I find this system so beneficial is that I can use it in my car or in a hotel room to watch my own movies or programming (especially helpful when overseas and there are few English language programs).
Unlike other mounting systems, this device mounts in multiple ways with multiple tablet devices. And the look of the mounting piece is aesthetically pleasing so that it can be a permanent part of your interior décor if you choose.
It is all based on a hidden button that screws onto almost any surface to hold the mounting system in place. Then an aluminum ring snaps into the mount’s button piece holding the iPad securely in place. The ring allows for a total rotation to create easy viewing from any angle.
Vogel’s has experience in flat-screen TV mounting, which is what lends the company such credibility when attaching an expensive iPad to a wall or vibrating service in a car, for example.
A separate flip stand feature lets you put the iPad at the angle that works best for you by clicking the stand into the holder. For travelers, the stand folds over the iPad screen for protection. It can also be attached to the back of a car seat to allow passengers in the back seat to watch a movie.
The best part is that this multiuse system is easy to install with no tools required. It is lightweight enough to travel with on an airplane and is easy to carry for car rides. If you choose to install it permanently into a wall, it can be done with either a drill or an adhesive strip that is strong enough to hold it in place. I have used it in multiple ways and have found it surprisingly easy to use. And, I am not very good with directions!
It comes in various price packages depending on what version you need. There is a home use pack with a holder, table stand and wall mount, or a car pack that adds in a car mount. Public speakers will prefer the presenter pack that features a tablet and flip stand. The All-in-One-Pack has everything included, and can be purchased online at Vogel’s web site or on Amazon.com.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on August 8th, 2011
PodFlexPro for Watching Video on Small Screens
Want to watch video on your small media player in multiple places and positions?
Sure, there are already all kinds of accessories out there that will hold your iPod, iPhone, or Touch on a little stand, but this new PodFlexPro holder is a different animal. The “flex” part has a double meaning here: the case itself is flexible, plus the way you can use it is quite flexible.
Basically this is a holder at the top with a plastic cover, then a snaking covered skeleton that can be bent and shaped to fit the place where you’re resting it. So you can set it on a table by forming an S shape or a V. You can hang it on an airplane seat back by making a hook at the top. You can use it on a machine at the gym by wrapping it over the top of the control panel.
The covering is a stretchy synthetic membrane and it’s a bit of a tight squeeze getting your device in there the first time—if you’ve attached a hard case or extra battery pack it’s a no-go. Plus your ability to pinch and spread your fingers for controlling it is limited through the clear plastic. The best way to use this is to get the video going, hit pause, insert it, plug in the headphones, and then watch your video or movie. You also have to play with the PodFlexPro a bit to figure out the physics. With a bit of time it gets easier. 
I’m not normally the type to watch a whole movie on a tiny screen, but for the sake of research on my last flight I watched an episode of Ren & Stimpy I’d downloaded for my daughter. (What can I say, she has a warped sense of humor already.) It was nice not to have to sit there holding the thing in my hand and I could act like it was my own seat-back entertainment system, just smaller.
And hey, it’s not just for the Apple crowd: 8 different Android phones will fit in it as well.
This accessory lists for $25, which is not too painful, plus it stores flat, easily jammed into any kind of bag between layers of clothing or in a laptop case. Retail distribution is just rolling out right now, but you can get it immediately at the company website or at AccessoryGeeks.com.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family on November 24th, 2010
