Intelligent luggage, personal health and comfort items, space saving and enhancing solutions — there’s always a new bell or whistle to make life on the road more enjoyable and hassle-free. That’s good news for frequent flyers, roadies and adventurers in a world where airline seats keep shrinking, staying in touch means everything and getting enough rest seems like the impossible dream.
Here are a few of the latest products to the travel goods landscape, some of which debuted at the 2016 International Travel Goods Show, held recently in Las Vegas.
TO YOUR HEALTH
—With ever-shrinking airline seats, it can seem impossible to get comfortable on a plane — but there is a new personal body comfort system that helps you stretch, rest — even sleep — all in the confines of your seat. The BRIDGE by SITTINGBRIDGE ($65; www.SittingBridge.com) is a molded polycarbonate shell covered in cushy neoprene.
Tuck BRIDGE behind your lower back to release tension or beneath your thighs to raise up your knees. Place it on the open seatback tray for a sleeping or reading surface. Use it as a rocking footrest that will flex your muscles and help with circulation. BRIDGE expands from less than one inch to over four inches in height and collapses for compact storage.
—Joe Vogel has created a new twist on the travel pillow with his flipillow ($29.99; www.flipillow.net). Made in the U.S.A. by Vogel's company, Jovo, this is a patent-pending two-pillow design that comes with a washable cover. An elastic strap holds it in place and can be used as a carrying strap over your luggage or shoulder.
“I’m an inventor at heart,” he said. “One day I saw a horseshoe pillow and thought it would be comfortable to lie on facedown, kind of like a massage table.”
After testing his idea, Vogel then develop a wedged-shaped contour pillow to work with his horseshoe pillow.
“It’s not only comfortable for lying prone, but it’s also great for using together behind the head and separately to support the low back and neck at the same time,” he said.
—Keeping legs comfortable, especially on long-haul flights, are Fresh Legs Copper Compression Socks ($29.99; www.Zensah.com). Made by Zensah, these socks combine copper-infused yarn and compression to increase circulation, reduce swelling and relieve discomfort in the legs.
In fact, these socks energize and massage legs with their vertical ribbing and keep toes comfy in a seamless toe box. Zensah fabric provides natural anti-odor management — for which your seatmates will thank you — for truly feel-good feet, even at 35,000 feet.
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
—And everything in its place. The ORGO Lite from Everything ORGO ($39.99; www.EverythingOrgo.com) has no less than 18 adjustable compartments to hold all your toiletries – but that's not the coolest thing about this item. With an ingenious foldout panel that takes it from 15 inches to three feet of storage, it's like traveling with your own vanity.
Invented by two entrepreneurs who were traveling more than 120 days a year and fed up with not having enough counter space for makeup and toiletries, this item is especially handy in hotels with small bathrooms and cruise ships where bathroom counter space is always at a premium.
The technology is simple: Unzip, flip and slide to expand ORGO Lite over almost any sink to create counter space and have access to all your toiletries and grooming supplies. A winner of a Product Innovation Award at the 2016 International Travel Goods Show, it comes in black with a green, pink or black zipper and slips tidily into small suitcases.
—Baggalinni has created the perfect "plus one personal item" with its commuter backpack ($98; www.baggallini.com). Packed with pockets inside and out, this smaller-than-average backpack has a place for all your need-to-keep-handy gear — tablet, cellphone, travel docs, meds, snacks, cosmetics and more. You can even tuck your swimsuit and a pair of flip flops inside and be ready to hit the beach on arrival at your destination.
A wide zipper opening gives you full access to the main compartment and the bag’s padded panels cushion electronics. Lightweight and water-resistant, the commuter comes in six trendy colors, including poppy, and is trimmed with faux-leather accents.
SUITCASE SMARTS
—Checkpoint-friendly luggage has been around for awhile and the Sparrow Wheeled Garment Bag ($399.99; www.ec-bc.com) by ecbc has this time-saving feature with its FastPass System. But then it goes above and beyond to accommodate what is surely top-of-mind for today's travelers: powering up devices.
This sturdy, soft-side carry-on comes with a portable power pack with USB cable and a quick-charge pocket. No need to hunt down or prey on charging stations; this case lets you pack your power with you. And it has padded pockets for both laptop and tablet with removable modular inserts to accommodate different sized devices.
The bag’s garment section lets you hang suits or dresses directly from closet to garment hanger clasp so they’re wrinkle-free and ready to wear when you arrive at your destination. There are also multiple organizing compartments, including two removable mesh-topped ones plus a water bottle pocket.
—Unveiled at the International Travel Goods Show but rolling out later this year is Ricardo Beverly Hills' Malibu Bay ($100-$300; www.RicardoBeverlyHills.com), a rugged, hardwearing and eco-friendly soft-side collection offered in gray, indigo blue and deep orange.
There are two appealing come-ons for travelers. One is the top handle weight indicator that lets you know when you’ve exceeded 50 pounds, circumventing the uh-oh at the ticket counter and saving you excess baggage fees. The other is its extremely lightweight, water-resistant and 100 percent recyclable fabric. Called Dreamfel, it is 30 percent lighter than polyester and 20 percent lighter than nylon. You can pack more, not tip the excess fee scale and still be able to manage your bag. This fabric is also easy to clean.
Collection pieces include a USB Rolling Tote, Shopper Tote, 20-inch Rolling Duffel, 20-inch Carry-On Upright and 25- and 29-inch Uprights. Uprights have 360-degree spinner wheel and multi-stage locking handle systems and lots of interior organization, including pockets for small accessories. This collection is worth the wait.
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