travel products Archives

Always Travel With These 10 Things

Over the years I have gotten down packing to a science. Who am I kidding? I hate packing and find it to be the most dredging part about traveling. Having to decide what matching outfits, shoes, and jewelry to carry for 2 weeks that would be perfect for the weather, activities, and local culture consumes me.

However, there are a few items I have discovered that make travel easier and I never leave home without them.

1. THE BEST TRAVEL JEANS IN THE WORLD BY AVIATOR $98

This is my favorite pair of jeans ever, not just for travel. It is made of stretchable and breathable cotton, has hidden pockets to hide change, and loops for headphones. Best part is it looks really flattering!

2. POWERSHOT G9 X MARK II CAMERA BY CANON $529

I only recently discovered this camera and ditched my mirrorless Sony and Panasonic for it. The Powershot is so compact, it fits in my purse, so I don’t have to carry a seepage camera bag with all its attachments. And the 20.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor camera takes really good pictures, even in the dark.

3. LAPTOP CHARGER BY DART $99.99

Instead of carrying my Apple laptop charger, I now keep DART-C is, the World’s Smallest Laptop Charger ® in my carryon. It is four times smaller and lighter than chargers found on the market today.

4. TECHAWAY ROLL BY GREAT USEFUL STUFF $24.99

Because I am often on very long flights, I keep all my chargers and essentially in my hand luggage. The Techaway Roll with its zipped compartments makes it easy to organize cords. It’s like your cosmetic bag for technology.

5. AIRSCALE BY OAXIS $59

I am an over packer and frequent shopper, which can lead to overweight luggage problems. This compact scale can weigh your bags, as well as serve as a battery bank. Its dual functionality eliminates the need to carry two gadgets.

6. SOUND GRENADE $15.99

Because I am often traveling by myself I think about what safety precautions can be taken. I recently found this 1-oz ultra-compact siren that emits a 120-decibel alarm that can be heard up to 300 feet away. It is safer than carrying pepper sprays, although there are many pepper spray reviews to tell you which one is the best one to buy.

7. INSECT REPELLING FRAGRANCE BY AROMAFLAGE $30

Aromaflage is probably the only product that repels mosquitoes that cause Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever, and smells good too! I always keep a small bottle of natural insect repellant (the size of a perfume sample) in my clutch that serves the dual purpose of insect repellant and fresh scent. While Aromaflage repels most insects, you should be wary of bringing any home with you in your luggage. You might want to check a site like https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/louisiana/baton-rouge/ if you find your home infested after your travels.

8. PERSONAL TRAVEL HUMIDIFIER BY CRANE $20.99

When changing hotel rooms frequently, it can be tough to get a good night’s sleep. In addition to my personal Tempurpedic pillow, I have now started carrying this ultra-portable humidifier.

9. LINT FLIP COMPACT LINT ROLLER BY EVERCARE $3.79

You never know when you need a lint roller, and this one is smaller than the size of a smart phone and has a protective cover so the sheets won’t dry out. Always have one in my suitcase.

10. ZIPTUCK™ REUSABLE TRAVEL BAGS BY FULL CIRCLE $5.99

If you are a smart traveler, you will store your liquid cosmetics, medicines and snacks in air tight plastic bags. Made of reusable FDA-Grade EVA material, air tight and dishwasher safe, these are the most sturdy, practical and environment friendly storage bags I have ever found.

Do you have a favorite travel product you always carry? Do share with me by leaving a comment below…

Pure Water Anywhere In The World

Are you horrified by how much bottled water costs at airports and hotels? Sometimes, you arrive at your destination late at night, and have to searching for a store that is open late so you can buy a bottle of water? Or you love to go camping and hiking and find yourself hauling loads of water to last you through the adventure?

GRAYL’s newest product, the Ultralight Water Purifier can help solve all these problems! The portable water bottle can purify any water in matter of seconds, without any special equipment.

The bottle is no bigger than any other stainless or plastic ones you would carry to the gym or the office. Mechanics are simple. Just fill in any water – from the river, sink or cooler, and press down in a slow motion (similar to a coffee press) to remove impurities. Your water is ready to be consumed with 15 seconds!

GRAYL’s says their unique features make them stand out from the competition. However, you might be interested in checking out the other options from Water Filter Way before making a purchase.

Full-Spectrum purification – Removes 99.99% of Virus, Bacteria, Protozoa, Sediment, Chemicals, and Heavy metals.
[ONE PRESS] mechanism – no batteries, bulbs, chemicals, pumping, sucking or squeezing.
Fast & Easy – compact device for purified water in just 15 seconds. Weighs 11 ounce.

GRAYL is the perfect accessory to keep travelers safe and hydrated without all the plastic bottle waste. We at Go Eat Give believe in sustaining the environment, especially when you travel, and a $60 investment can help make a big difference.

Take 20% off any GRAYL products by using code “GOEATGIVE20.” Support GRAYL on Kickstarter until March 5, 2016.

All you need to know about the Sony Smart Watch 3

While companies are producing their versions of the “gotta have it” smart watch, it may be a little overwhelming to decide what actually makes one different from the next. If you are really struggling on making a decision on what to get though, then it might be worthwhile checking out a site like Product Expert to help give you a review of smart watches. They all possess the ability to receive email and text notifications, respond by voice, play music and adhere to any apps you download to your phone. While your phone will work well with a Smart Home, this Smart Watch gives you full functionality and comes with a range of features.

Offline GPS

So what sets Sony Smart Watch 3 a part from the crowd? It’s the only watch with a stand-alone GPS feature making it a sure shot for runners, athletic persons and could even be a boost of motivation for the “I’ll start on Monday” workout crews. Now, you won’t have to wear a Sphygmomanometer-like band around your bicep (you know, the device used to measure your blood pressure during your annual check-up) to carry around your phone. You’ll be able to trace your route and distance and it will sync once you are in range with your phone. The 4 gigabytes of internal storage will also allow you to enjoy all of your “summer bod” music playlists. Unfortunately, The Sony Smart Watch 3 doesn’t track your heart rate, which may be a deal breaker for some.

Download apps such as My Tracks, iFit, RunKeeper and Ghostracer to activate the offline GPS feature.

Design

It is physically obvious the Sony Smart Watch 3 caters to the more athletic consumer. In comparison to other playmakers in the sea of smart watches, this model is a bit more bulky, which could be the result of a larger battery. The Sony Smart Watch 3 battery life is pretty impressive having lasted me a full day, even day and a half on some occasions. It uses the standard micro USB to charge the battery, although the location of the input is on the back face of the watch making it slightly awkward.

The feature that still gives me giddies is its resistance to water and dust. Sometimes I pour water on the watch just because I can. The band is made of rubber, therefore quite comfortable. It is easy to adjust the strap according to the size of your wrist. For replacement straps for smartwatch devices across a range of brands, Mobile Mob has a wide variety of bands to change the style of the device or replace broken parts.

If fashion makes or breaks your decision when purchasing a smart watch, the design of this model may not suit your needs, but keep in mind that Sony has just released a stainless steel version that is more sleek and stylish.

Functionality

To maneuver through the available features of the watch is fairly easy. The recent system update allows you to view all of your available tabs. After “double tapping” the tab you selected, scroll down to view the entire page and swipe left to see additional settings related to the selected tab. Swiping “right” is essentially a back button when you are ready to go back to the main features.

Additionally, in the “settings” tab, you can adjust the face, font size and unique functionalities according to your preference.

The Sony Smart Watch 3 mirrors the applications featured on your phone. It displays a preview of any update or notification your phone would typically receive and allows you to view it. For example, when I receive an email, I have the option to read it and reply or dismiss it from the notification screen. If I receive a Whatsapp notification, I can view it, but prompted to open the app on my phone to send a reply.

Receiving or making calls requires a Bluetooth device, either an earpiece or your phone. The Sony Smart Watch 3 does allow you to reject or send text message replies without a Bluetooth device.

Additional Features

“Ok Google” is a feature that uses voice recognition to give commands. You can ask for the location to the nearest grocery store, set timers or reminders and verbally send a text to let your friends know you’ll be staying home tonight without pausing your favorite show on Netflix. It is one of its most compelling features simply because it allows your watch to revolve around the use of Google now which is very convenient.

If having a heart rate monitor is crucially essential, or the physical design of the watch has to aesthetically match your outfit for the day, or you absolutely can’t fathom the idea of using a Bluetooth device to make a phone call, the Sony Smart Watch 3 may not be for you. But to those looking for a smart watch that owns simplicity and functionality, supports your desire to become physically fit, without feeling the need to take a selfie, and let’s you decide which notifications are worthy of you digging all the way in your purse or back pocket to pull out your phone, then the Sony Smart Watch 3 is a great investment.

Note the Sony Smart Watch 3 is only compatible with Android wear. iPhone and Windows Phone users will have to sit this one out.

Connecting Feet Through Art

If you like products that have a story behind them, you need to get a pair of canvas shoes from BucketFeet. The company has found a new innovative way to connects artists with consumers. They take a pair of ordinary canvas and create pieces of original art. Each graphic imprinted on the canvas is created by a different artist from around the world. Think khakis and stripes from Guatemala, elephants from Turkey, peachy melons from Atlanta, medicine hearts from LA – whatever country or artist you fancy!

BucketFeet’s two American cofounders met six years ago while living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Raaja Nemani had quit his finance job in 2008 to backpack around the world, and he was tutoring children in Argentina. There he met Aaron Firestein, who had started his own company in college by decorating canvas shoes and selling them to his dormmates. He had gotten so successful that by the time he moved to Argentina, he was shipping his decorated duds around the world.

With $7.5 million in investments from venture capitalists, this February, BucketFeet leaped to the next level. In addition to its existing storefronts in New York City and Chicago, the company says there will be at least six retail studios in 2015, including three international locations in Asia. The e-commerce site still remains the biggest source of their revenues.

When you purchase a pair of BucketFeet, it comes with information about the artist who created its design. Its gives artists from around the world an opportunity to showcase their work in a product form. The reach is global and you can even follow the artist on the blog. Additionally, the company gives $1 royalty a pair to the artist and donates a percentage of sales to community programs. “Art is one of those platforms that everyone can understand; it’s a universal language, and it can bring people together,” Nemani speaks the language of Go Eat Give.

I got a pair of the lace up Encres, a red and violet modern art pattern designed by Paris based, Bernice Golmann. Berenice is a French artist who started to paint on walls while a teenager, then graduated with a Masters in Architectural History, and a traditional Fine Art course of study at Beaux Arts school in France. Every time I wear the shoes, they remind me of Paris – chic, summery and making a statement.

Get your own pair at BucketFeet web site or if you feel inspired, submit your own designs. The comfortable canvas shoes cost between $68-$84 and are available or men and women.