Getting to work

Commuting to work can’t be avoided for most people, unless the job allows them to telecommute. For the rest of us, taking mass transit, hopping on a bike or braving the traffic in a car, alone or carpooling, there are all sorts of products that can make the trip easier —- and safer.

COFFEE ON THE GO

A slew of spill-proof coffee mugs, such as the new Oxo360 LiquiSeal Travel mug (above), are on the market. It comes in colors such as blue, green, pink, red and silver; retails for $12.99 at www.oxo.com (see the site for a list of stores that carry Oxo products locally).

For those traveling more than 10 miles on bike, there’s a choice of hydra systems, with the Camelbak (www.camelbak.com) or Hydrapak (www.hydrapak.com) products sold at Atlanta Cycling ranging from $39 to more than $100.

TRAVELING LIGHT

For bikes, a rack system allows you to attach bags and baskets, said Patrick Burns, an employee at Atlanta Cycling.

“Some of the racks actually have bags that fit perfectly into them and have drop-down compartments that improve storage,” he said.

Popular ones include those by Topeak (www.topeak.com), which he said start at $39 for the basic rack, with baskets for about $40 and bags ranging from $50 to $120.

Other options include backpacks, panniers and other attachable bags, such as the Novara deluxe handlebar bag (right), originally priced at $60 but on sale late last month at REI.

For gear recommendations and tips on cycling to work, visit www.rei.com/bikeyourdrive.

KEEPING SAFE

Repair kits for bikes and cars are essential, just in case there’s a problem or an accident. You want to get to the job quickly and safely, said Lauren Fix, author of “Lauren Fix’s Guide to Loving their Car” and editor in chief for www.carzen.com.

Emergency kits for automobiles range in size, with everything from jumper cables to tire pumps and inflators to hazard lights and first-aid kits.

If you don’t want to create your own, pre-assembled kits include cutesy ones such as the Safety Girl Emergency Roadside Kit in a pink tin, which features a safety light stick and tire-changing instructions as well as Ghiradelli chocolate and deodorant. Retails for $44.99 at www.safetygirl.com.

Bike repair kits and tools by companies such as Genuine Innovations include CO2 cartridges instead of a pump and tire levels, ranging from $24.99-$32.99 at www.genuineinnovations.com and bike shops.

To keep your bike safe, u-locks are traditional cable locks that are tougher to break into, but they also weigh more, and Burns said weight on a bike can be a big factor when commuting. For helmets, he recommends one with a visor, which will shield your eyes when the sun hits during the morning commute but also can pop off if not needed. Brands such as Giro and Bell Helmets are priced from $39.99 to $300, Burns said.

DEALING WITH NOISE

Taking mass transit can be noisy and it can sometimes be really difficult to hear if you need to keep in touch with the office and clients or just want to listen to music.

The new Motorola S9-HD (above right), which retails for $99.99 at Best Buy, has high-definition audio and ear buds that weigh less than an ounce. The Motorola H620 (above left), which retails for $59.99 at www.motorola.com, also is touted as being able to reduce sounds from the highway and car engines and adjusts as the background noise increases. They’re available at electronics stores such as Best Buy.