Posts Tagged road trips
Cobra Universal Mini Mount for the Dashboard
Almost every time I see a driver doing something stupid or barely missing an accident, it’s because they’re yakking on their phone or looking down at their phone. With this easy-to-use, universal dash mount from Cobra, those boneheads could be using their speakerphone instead and at least be looking in the right direction—the road.
This Mini Mount is truly universal: it attaches onto any kind of dashboard, even the one in my car that seems to have nary a level surface anywhere. Then two adjustment points allow you to turn it multiple angles.
The key question always is, how can this work for multiple phone sizes? This Cobra device works great because of some kind of wonder adhesive that holds an object very securely but doesn’t leave a residue. It’s sticky to the point where it usually takes two hands to remove your phone, so it’s not going flying off the dash if you round a bend too quickly. If two people are using the same car, it can work for two phones.
I was skeptical either of the two adhesion points were going to work well: that this would really stay on my dash and that the phone would stick without getting sticky. This little $25 device proved me wrong though and the mount has now been in place for three weeks—in an overheated summer car even—and all is well.
If you have a smart phone mounted to one of these, all kinds of possibilities open up. You can use a phone navigation system app like CoPilot Live and skip the mounted GPS system altogether. You can use Bluetooth or the speakerphone to get things done while driving safely. You can play the music on your phone through your car stereo.
The Cobra Universal Mini Mount is going on all my future road trips. I’ll be less bored on the road, and less lost, but will still be safe. Some of the real dunces I’ll encounter along the way will be texting behind the wheel, but that’s a level of stupidity that no gadget is going to solve—that requires a brain transplant.
Get the dashboard mount at CobraHandsFree.com (warning, video demo sound comes on automatically) or pick it up at Amazon.
Posted by Tim L. in Business Gear, General Gear on August 18th, 2011
Table Topics To Go
The premise is simple: provide a list of open-ended conversation starters to promote dialogue among strangers… or even family members who live together, but who might not know intimate details or odd quirks about one another. That’s what Table Topics sets out to do with its clear cubes of 135 question cards; plop the box on a dinner table and let the conversations fly.
But when you’re on the road, these 4-inch acrylic cubes aren’t that easy to transport (and the easy-off tops make it easy for the cards to slip out). That’s where the “on the go” version comes in: they are 40 cards that slip into a plastic case and they aren’t much bigger than a deck of cards.
Topics are in themes — there are conversation starters for a honeymoon (I know, oxymoron) and some specifically to pull out at a picnic or tailgate. I have the Kids Table Topics To Go, and the cards offer questions for the whole family: “If you could be a super hero, which special power would you choose to have?” and “What do you love most about yourself?”
Some questions are a little silly and some are more poignant and thought provoking, but the bottom line is, these cards promote conversation, for sure.
The Table Topics To Go are $9 each for 40 cards. We whipped through the Kids’ questions quickly, and when my son tried to “re-ask” the questions on day 2 of a multi-state road trip, he was met with a resounding chorus of, “We did this already!’ from the rest of us. So, you could re-use the cards with extended family or friends, but once you’ve gone through the cards among your immediately family, you’re done.
Are they worth $9? It might be easier to just write up a bunch of conversation starters on your own index cards (which you can buy at the grocery store for $1.99). That said, for a novelty gift — they come in bachelorette and wedding shower themes — I think they’re great. These would also make fine stocking stuffers, too. For travel activities, specifically, check out the travel and road trip editions.
Posted by Kara in Kids and Family on June 11th, 2010
Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe: Must-have for Road-tripping Families
How’d I ever get along without my Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe? I took this rugged tote with three packing cubes on two road trips this summer, and found it perfect for hauling our camping stuff, sports gear, water shoes, sand toys and more. Much more.
The Hauler is big — it’s 15 by 15 by 25 inches. I knew it would fit a lot of stuff, but this carrier fits a LOT of stuff. The soft sides, made of quilted, water-resistent material, allows for expansion — which means you can stick socks, headlamps and other little items into all the nooks and crannies of the three cubes (which double as totes with handles) that line up inside.
Each interior cube is color coded, so you can assign a cube to each type of gear or different family members. Forget who is “green”? No problem – the zippered lid of each cube is clear, so you can find out at a glance what’s inside.
More highlights: the bottom of the Hauler is waterproof and abrasion-resistant rubber, so I didn’t hesitate plopping it down on parking-lot asphalt, damp forest floor or sandy, wet beach. Each of the four sides of the hauler have reinforced handles, making it easy to carry by yourself or share the load with another person. Compression straps can be used if the bag is not fully packed and you don’t want items jostling around.
My husband was so impressed with my packing for our summer road trips. Typically I fill up five to six assorted duffel and LL Bean tote bags with our gear and toss them in the back of the minivan. The Hauler System kept our trunk 10 times more organized. I could tell him, “I need the yellow cube with the beach towels,” and that was easy to grab out of the hauler and carry separately as its own tote.
I think the uses for this Hauler System are endless. Not only can it be used on road trips to haul anything from sports equipment to snacks, but also as storage of seasonal gear at home.
Purchase the Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe Bag at Altrec.com or get it at Backcountry for around 80 bucks.
Posted by Kara in Kids and Family, Travel Light on August 18th, 2009
