Posts Tagged business travel
Sonic Alert Alarm Clock with Super Shaker – SB200ss
This alarm clock may seem gimmicky at first, but the gentle wake up can make a big difference in how you feel for the morning. Circadian rhythms lull you into and out of deep slumber, and when you wake up in the middle of that deepest slumber it leaves you feeling more tired. This can easily be the feeling you have if you are also suddenly awakened by an annoying alarm or blaring music.
This Super Shaker is designed for home or travel use and involves placing the vibrating pad underneath your pillow. Most peoples’ pillows are thick enough to hardly notice it is there. At the preset time on the familiar alarm clock (which is connected by a white cord to the vibrating pad), subtle vibrations begin to wake you from underneath your pillow. One of the primary benefits of this clock, however, is that it can awaken one person without disturbing another as music or a normal alarm might.
There is a standard alarm if that feature is needed, and volume control allows you to adjust it to your preferred decibel. An ever-popular snooze function is perfect for those who like to procrastinate on the pillow. Light sleepers will also appreciate a dimmer switch on the face of the clock to keep the glow at a minimum.
Non-U.S. travelers will probably opt for the international 24-hour clock mode making this a great gift for the global nomad. It can operate on a battery or with electrical outlets and sells with foreign power supply accessories. For many, the apparatus may be a bit clunky to carry around, but it is lightweight and easily squeezes into any corner of your suitcase. I have visited many hotels in Europe and Asia where the clock (if there were one at all) was a small digital screen under the TV screen, which I could hardly see from my pillow.
This insures that I can be where I need to be on time and in a good mood. It is available for $44.95 on Sonic Alert’s website or on Amazon making it a great gift.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on May 13th, 2013
Kuru Footwear Aalto Chukka Soft Suede Leather Casual Shoe
As someone who travels to Europe almost twice a month, this shoe is certainly of interest to me as I am almost always inundated with European fashion and styles that are truly foreign to Americans. It is actually commendable when Americans can eschew the American stereotype of tennis shoes with jeans (or egad!, business suits, yes, I sadly see it often). It may seem comfortable and acceptable to us, but many Europeans are laughing behind our backs. Tourists probably needn’t care (even though they are furthering this image of Americans), but business travelers should beware as it sets a tone among foreign counterparts.
Dressing the part, even fitting in whether with foreign language skills or similar clothing style, is an important part of many business programs protocol. This Aalto Chukka shoe from Kuru Footwear fits the part for such a need if not for any stylish American in the U.S. Since my role is to share business travel-friendly gear, this post will follow that model.
This shoe has the most comfortable sole ever thanks to cushioning that is soft without being too thick. Looking like you are wearing an orthopedic shoe is never a good way to begin a business meeting, and this shoe is soft on the bottom (although is not meant to replace a business loafer). The laces on this shoe give it another dimension of style keeping it from looking like a simple slipper despite it feeling like one.
Admittedly, the company is quick to admit that the rubber sole can get dirty quickly (as is the case with any light color-bottomed shoe), but this should only be a concern if you plan on lifting your foot over your knee in a casual meeting, which in many foreign cultures can be a taboo-inducing experience. It can also wear through quickly as well, but this is being corrected with the shoe’s next incarnation since it was not developed for so much traffic, but customers found it so comfortable it was being used in that manner.
Since I wore this shoe on 48-hour travel jaunts with lots of walking in between, I found the interior to hold up extremely well. It must be because of it s anti-microbial insole custom mold that adjusts to your feet and an interior that keeps it from smelling.
An integrated arch is intended to boost a healthier stride when walking, which for me is important, and I did notice a more comfortable fit underneath my heel. What I did notice is that the moisture-wicking liner kept any smells from forming. The suede holds up well even when it gets wet in precipitation and does not stain from moisture.
While these shoes may not be for everyone, the style is a perfect fit for the foreign business person who needs to use the same shoe for business or casual wear. The science behind the shoe keeps it sturdy, protective, and comfortable. It is available from the Kuru website (and nowhere else it looks like) for just over $100.
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Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on April 15th, 2013
Touchfire iPad Keyboard
This clever and compact device is an excellent and compact accessory to one’s iPad, which is especiallfy useful when traveling and packing space is on the limited side. Unlike the often temperamental Bluetooth keyboards that we have tested in the past, this keyboard actually fits right on top of the iPad keyboard. As a result, it turns your iPad into a compact laptop making it the answer to many peoples’ dreams who find the Bluetooth units too difficult or touchy to use for intense typing or keyboard use.
Its clear and soft texture adds essentially zero weight to your trousseau unlike the conventional Bluetooth keyboards and cases. It may take a few sentences to get used to typing on the plastic-like surface to reach a speed that accomplishes a follow-through in typing, but users become accustomed very quickly. It is almost a lighter touch on your finger especially if you are one of those that bangs out a symphony when typing.
An odd function of using Bluetooth keyboards is either the lack of response or the far-too-eager response of the keyboard. The benefit of this cover is that it does not actually perform any functions unless you press firmly onto the iPad screen, which does not take too much getting used to after using it for a few minutes. And if you are used to using an iPad, you know the response is instant and easy.
It can easily be folded away using corner magnets when not in use (say, for example, you wanted to surf the web for awhile without using email or typing features). And while in use, its magnetic sides keep it in place. This device works with all versions of iPad, which is great for someone like me who still uses the original version. A storage compartment for this rubber device makes it easy to tuck away in your briefcase. It is easily washed with water and rolled away to store in this pouch.
Even international keyboards are supported with this device making it great for multilingual or international business travelers.
My favorite feature of this keyboard is its reliability allowing me to type without constantly checking back to make sure my words have been transferred to the screen. While using an iPad in place of a laptop no matter what the compact, space-saving accessory, there are still drawbacks for opening documents and total computer functionality. Still, this affordable keyboard costs just under $50 and is available at the Touchfire website making it a great addition to the frequent traveler’s portfolio.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on April 8th, 2013
Timbuk2 Woolrich Messenger Bag
This stylish carrying case is the perfect blend of European style with masculine flexibility and patterns that evoke a sense of cold weather energy and winter panache. It is essentially a standard messenger bag for laptops, paperwork, books, and the like while boasting stylish fabric patterns on its exterior making that clever personal statement without being boring.
The Woolrich Made in America collection is actually a limited edition bunch produced in the United States with rugged waxed canvas and durable nylon with a waterproof lining to keep city slickers protected from the rain. It is a combination of products from rural Pennsylvania woolmakers and San Francisco city mavens that wanted to craft something classically American without forgoing modern-day style.
Laptops and other contacts are kept secure by the dual buckles that are easy to pop open in a jiffy (a strong sticking point for other messenger bags that require brute strength to open while juggling a cup of coffee, boarding pass, and carry-on bag).
Inside the bag, there are separate pockets to keep contents separated including a zipper pouch to keep paperwork separated from keys, change, and electronics chargers.
While not as strong as other laptop bags, this messenger bag can still store an expensive computer (just don’t drop it). It is perfect for everyday meetings or stylish students who need to keep their paperwork, files, and other necessities in order thanks to color-coordinated zipper pockets. An exterior loop is ideal for connecting keys or a flashlight to the bag.
This is an excellent lightweight bag for frequent travelers, especially those who travel overseas and need a carry-on that does not attract unnecessary attention from nosy gate agents who like to weigh baggage at the gate.
The adjustable straps are perfect for tall or short travelers that need to make adjustments before dangling this bag over their shoulder or rollaboard suitcase. Other color and fabric pattern combination options are on offer including the red pictured here and a midnight blue and grey combination. This clever messenger bag is available for the affordable price of $125 from the Timbuk2 website, at Paragon Sports, or on Amazon.
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Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear on February 11th, 2013
Shave Tech Travel Razor with USB charger
Minimizing weight and heft in my carryon-only travel bags is a priority for me especially since many overseas airlines have a nasty habit of weighing even hand bags that can easily be more than 12 pounds if you are carrying a laptop and books or magazines. This new travel razor reduces the charging cord of my traditional razor and is also slimmer and more lightweight itself as well. It is the size and shape of an iPhone and can even fit handily in your back pocket.
The pocket-size nature is great to slide in a side pocket of a briefcase or in your jacket or pants pocket for a quick shave to catch a five o’clock shadow before an important meeting. Long-haul travelers are all too familiar with minor stubble after a long-haul flight that does not warrant a full shave. A once-over with this razor can do the trick in an airplane lavatory or airport bathroom in seconds. No cords to haul around, and no one would even know what it is unless they look closely.
It charges via USB meaning that you can charge it from your laptop while working on the plane or in your hotel room freeing up one electrical outlet. Those can sometimes be hard to come by in older hotels or while waiting in an airport terminal (much less on an airplane). It can also be plugged into an adaptor and charged in a normal wall plug.
While the razor foil itself may not be as wide or large as bulkier razors, it does the trick after a few extra strokes. The space it saves is more than worth it for a few extra seconds of shaving. The smooth blade cover leaves your face free from abrasions and can be cleaned with the small brush. It comes with its own soft pouch for storage so that pesky small hairs do not end up on your paperwork or other baggage contents.
A four-hour charge yields a half hour of use or the equivalent of four or five shaves. This excellent travel accessory is available at the ShaveTech website or Amazon for less than $40 and makes a great gift for business travelers.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear on January 21st, 2013
