If you are a frequent traveler for business or leisure, then you understand the importance of accessories that make traveling hassle-free.
For most, traveling in comfort is high on the priority list. Especially for those unpleasant long flights. Magellan’s offers a broad variety of high quality travel clothing as well as convenient electronics, and suitable luggage.
Scottevest Windbreaker Jacket from Magellan’s
- 100% Polyester.
- Imported.
- 26 Pockets including an RFID blocking pocket.
- Teflon Coated.
- Holds full size iPad.
The Scottevest line of products has earned its fair share of attention from travelers, and rightfully so. Its dozen or so hidden pockets ease the travel experience especially during a time when airlines are pinching travelers with fees for heavy or large carry-on bags.
Overseas travelers know this is a favorite practice of airlines who often restrict carry-on bags to a laughably small size and hard-not-to-surpass weight restriction (since bags often weigh a half-dozen pounds even empty).
The lightweight jacket has stolen the scene, but Magellan’s has a windbreaker version that is perfect for cooler climates or breezy evenings. It has all of the standard hidden pockets that Scottevest loyalists have come to love making it the ideal travel favorite.
For those who are not familiar with this great line of outerwear, this jacket comes with 20 pockets perfect for storing small or heavy items. When using this on a hike or skiing, it’s great for goggles, gloves, snacks, or sunglasses.
When traveling, it’s ideal for storing heavy items like cameras, batteries, or even something as large as an iPad. It really lightens the load of your carry-on without making your jacket look like the Michelin man.
Thanks to Scottevest’s weight management system, the design of the jacket keeps the weight evenly distributed so you don’t topple over.
This polyester-nylon blend jacket is breathable and water-resistant. It features clear touch fabric allowing you to use touch screen devices like iPhones or iPods without unzipping the pockets.
That’s especially convenient for those who like to listen to music on the go since there is a special pouch through which to run a headphone wire or cell phone cord.
Various pockets include one with a clip and space for eyeglasses and another for your identification or business cards. Separate pouches for cameras, magazines, and cell phones are specifically designed with their size in mind.
There is even a special pocket for a pen. Special padding is in place to protect expensive electronic devices, which is especially important when not wearing the jacket because it’s easy to throw it down on a chair or in a security checkpoint bin in haste.
Travelers not taking loads of clothing or heading on a quick day trip can actually fit all of their gear into the specially designed pockets of their jacket making this the ultimate carry-on bag.
When on a long overseas trip, I often place small items that I know will add weight to my carry-on bag in my pockets when checking in and going through security since I know the extra weight will cause ticket agents to check my bag.
Be careful, agents in Sydney, Auckland, and Zurich are especially strict (I have had bad experiences there and wish I had this jacket to help disperse the weight).
I have been wanting to try these jackets for a while, but could never figure out the right one for my travel patterns. Magellan’s has a full line of Scottevest jackets including this windbreaker jacket.
There’s a perfect size, color, and version for all types of travel whether business or adventure.
Magellan’s Stretch Travel Jeans
- 100% Cotton.
- Imported.
- Machine Wash.
- Relaxed-fit medium-wash jean.
- Zip fly with button.
Magellan’s denim travel pants are classy enough to pass for casual pants while comfortable enough to feel like a pair of jeans.
An invisible stretch waistband is hidden behind the belt loop providing a comfortable look without looking like a senior traveler on his first foray into the unknown world (although if you are one of those travelers who wears their ID around their neck and a fanny pack, there really is no helping your situation).
The hidden security pocket with a zipper for identification, credit cards, or money does come close though.
In the back, there is another pocket with a zipper perfect for protecting one’s wallet, and the button fold over top keeps it inconspicuous.
An extra benefit for travelers is that these pants are made of wrinkle-resistant cotton with Lycra for a stretchy texture that is also machine washable. The flat-front design keeps them stylish too.
On closer inspection, they certainly do not look like jeans which may be a downside for those who want to pass them off as a hip pair of pants when heading out to the bar, but their comfort far surpasses that concern for most.
Frequent travelers with limited carry-on space will appreciate the fact that these pants are difficult to wrinkle making them perfect for long trips.
Plus, their dark color is convenient for those worried about stains especially if this is the only pair you are traveling with (that is often my personal dilemma, at least).
They can shrink after their first wash so be careful to not buy a pair that is too tight. They are available for an affordable price of $70 at Magellan’s.
DreamSacks Original Opening DreamSack from Magellan’s
- Fabric/Silk.
- Sleeping Bag measures 93x36x.5.
- Use as an extra layer in a bed or as a sleeping bag liner.
- Silk adds warmth in the cold and feels cool and soothing in the heat.
- Includes pocket to cover pillow.
This Magellan’s DreamSack liner produced by Yala Designs is a great example of a solution to a common problem I have when traveling.
While this is intended mostly to be a sleeping bag liner when camping or hiking, it has a fantastic dual purpose that can apply to business travel as well.
There have been times when a flight delay or cancellation has sent me scrambling for a room in a less than favorable hotel or when my travel pattern sent me overseas to cities where the hotel choices were limited.
Now with this liner, I can simply open it and place atop the bed linens and use it as a protective liner. It is not that bulky so it can easily be stashed in my carry-on for impromptu use.
I know people who cover the hotel pillows with a towel or their own clothing. While this may seem obsessive, it is certainly warranted for someone who has read about or knows someone that has gotten bed bugs or bites from a dirty hotel room.
This 100% silk lining folds up conveniently with a Velcro closure into my carry-on and can unfurl luxury anywhere I please. I did wonder what would happen when I roll it up and put it in my suitcase after frequent use, but sealing it in a Ziploc bag should do the trick if I suspect something could spread to my other baggage contents.
It is warm and comfortable and even features a built-in pocked to wrap around the pillow. It measures 34″ wide 7’9” long in the regular size, larger for the wide one, and is hand or machine-washable.
This is certainly a luxury item, but the price point is not over the top. For anyone that has a fear of bed bugs or contracting strange rashes or skin conditions from a questionable hotel or sleeping location, this is a great alternative to your hotel sheets concerns.
It is available on Magellan’s for $60-90 depending upon size or on Amazon.
Magellan’s Four-Wheeled Getaway Under-Seat Tote Travel Bag
- Large main compartment.
- Front organizer compartment and zippered front pocket.
- Water bottle pocket; Add-A-Bag Strap.
- Full-size back-up bag folds for compact storage.
- Fits beneath airplane seat.
I had no problems on any of the ten flights I traveled on with this bag. To be fair, I did not stuff another large bag on top of it (although my narrow briefcase was always present).
And the bag may appear too tall to fit under the seat at first, but it does with ease. The four-wheel rotation of this bag made it simple to maneuver within the airport although it was smaller in storage size meaning it is best left for short trips.
The main compartment has ample space for a small stash of clothes and a pair of tennis shoes plus some handy pockets, including a padded iPad sleeve, zippered water bottle pouch, and 3-1-1 pocket.
It weighs less than seven pounds overall and is just about 15 inches tall. The lightweight nature of the bag and lack of a bulky appearance make this an ideal travel gift for frequent flyers and is available on Magellan’s for $149.
Mophie Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 4/4S from Magellan’s
- Rechargeable smart battery concealed inside of a light-weight.
- 2-tone matellic case; made for iPhone 4 & 4S.
- Adds up to 8 hours of talk time.
- Rechargeable smart battery.
- Charge and sync your iPhone to iTunes.
The Mophie Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 4/4S has a powerful battery which extends the life of your iPhone for hours while offering a dual-injected hard shell case with protective rubberized band.
I am known the world over for dropping my iPhone or losing it completely, and this device provides a double whammy: battery power and overall phone hardware protection.
A rubberized band provides bolstered protection to the case in case of drops or hard hits against the surface of the device itself.
Sound quality is also boosted with this device providing stronger acoustics to those who use their phone to stream live audio or video.
It can more than double the time you have to utilize your device thanks to the external battery housed in the case itself. There is a toggle switch on the case that allows for standby and charging mode so you only have to use the juice pack plus battery when necessary.
I often find myself showing friends how to switch their iPhone to showing the percentage of their battery life left (something that many fellow travelers I meet are unaware of).
This external battery also provides an alert via four LED lights on the bottom that show how much power is left in the juice pack plus battery.
The boost of up to 8 hours of talk time and up to 7 hours of data use on my 3G data phone is incredibly helpful. Surprising to me was the fact that if I were to use Wi-Fi networks, my battery life would be extended even further to 11 hours of data using this device.
Suffice it to say, you will not see me traveling without this charger anytime soon. It is available at the Magellan’s website for iPhone 4 or iPhone 5 or on Amazon for $100.