Gear

‘Dear Cab Driver’ Napkins Guarantee You’ll Never Lose Your Hostel Again

Like what you see? Subscribe to the full RSS feed.After one too many Hand Grenades in New Orleans one night (and by that, I mean we each had one. Unbeknownst to us, the secret ingredient is grain alcohol), we called for a cab back to our hotel. Between the booze and the jazzy haze […]

Liberia to Curb Crime with ‘Free Cell Phones for Citizens’ Program

Liberia has found a novel incentive to encourage citizens who’ve been robbed to report the crime – the government has announced it will begin distributing free mobile phones to each of the 400 communities around the capital, Monrovia. Crime is rampant in Liberia, which only emerged from the throes of a devastating civil war in 2003. […]

The Skeleton Attaché: For the Traveler with Nothing to Hide

Sure, we’ve mentioned the X-Ray gear bag before. But for the confident (or exhibitionist) traveler with absolutely nothing to hide, there’s the completely transparent Skeleton Attaché. Prove to the TSA that you’re proud of your undergarments and all that other useless chotchke you’ve picked up around the world. It’s also constructed of durable, PETG plastic panels […]

Japan to Introduce World’s Fastest Maglev Train - Over 300 MPH!

The Central Japan Railway Company (J R Central) plans to build a maglev train between Tokyo and Central Japan. At a projected speed of 310 miles an hour or 500 kilometers, the train has already been billed as the world’s fastest maglev train. A maglev train uses electromagnetic force rather than an engine to propel […]

Odd Travel Gift: Milan Street Map Fly Swatter

Christmas has officially come and gone, so it appears you’ll need another excuse to buy this odd little fly swatter for your Italy-obsessed friends. This obvious death threat to all things buzzing around us made us smile when we first saw it on the cover of famed Abitare magazine. We were even happier when we found […]

‘Liquor Lock’ Keeps Grabby Hostel Mates Out of Your Stash

Designed to guard against children and grabby neighbors from dipping into your $300-a-bottle oak barrel-aged single malt scotch, I’m sure the Liquor Lock could certainly hold its own against booze-happy hostel mates. Keep “unwanted customers” from running your bar dry. Just enter a three-pin combination, then turn the top clockwise until the lock expands and is […]

Backpacker’s Portable, Expandable Shelving System

It stands to reason that the Tidypack was designed by a backpacker. This revolutionary new rucksack, sure to be on many a traveler’s holiday wish list this season, has a built-in expandable wardrobe system that enables you to place clothes in separate compartments or shelves. To open the wardrobe, hang the rucksack on the door, […]

Find-a-Toilet Service Kicks Off in London

The next time you’re in London, admiring Big Ben and desperately in need of a place to relieve your bladder, don’t duck into the nearest mall or McDonald’s to visit the restroom. Just whip out your cell phone instead. The Westminster City Council has just launched a toilet-finding service via mobile phone for locals and […]

Top 20 Useless Travel Gadgets of 2007

After weeks of tireless deliberation, our crack panel of expert judges has narrowed this year’s list of most useless travel gadgets down to just twenty.

Batteries: The Greatest Threat to Safe Air Travel!

I received this e-mail yesterday: I’m writing on behalf of SafeTravel, a new DOT initiative founded to respond to lithium battery safety issues in air travel. The initiative’s website also addresses other items which could cause unintentional safety concerns. I’m writing to request Vagabondish’s help in spreading the word about this travel safety resource. Today’s travel enthusiast […]

Mount Everest Explorers: “Can You Hear Me Now?”

China Mobile, Asia’s largest mobile phone company, has successfully tested a mobile phone base on Mount Everest.

Add Wi-Fi to Almost Any Digital Camera

This little gadget missed the list of Another 26 Travel Gadgets Every Geek Needs by days. You’re looking at the new Eye-Fi SD memory card: The Eye-Fi Card is a wireless memory card. It automatically uploads pictures from your digital camera to your PC or Mac and to your favorite photo sharing, printing, blogging or […]

Another 26 Travel Gadgets Every Geek Needs

There’s certainly no shortage of useful (and oftentimes less so) travel gadgets. I present: another 26 killer travel gadgets that every geek needs.

How to Breathe New Life Into Old Gear: Fixing Backpacks, Boots, Bags and More

Just because your gear looks tired, beat up, and like it’s been dragged half way around the world (probably because it has), doesn’t mean that it’s always time to put it out to pasture. I unearthed this eight year old guide by Dan Nelson over at Backpacker.com on what backpacking gear can be salvaged […]

The Future of Airline Check-in: Cellphone-as-Ticket Technology

In a recent move that could save the airline industry half a billion dollars annually, the International Air Transport Association announced that it has successfully coaxed all of its 240 constituent airlines to move forward with “cellphone-as-ticket” technology. The International Herald Tribune is reporting that: The formats permit a passenger to register a phone during booking to […]

Yet Another Lovely Way To Flip The TSA The Bird In Style

Not content to thumb your nose at TSA baggage screeners with these “Have fun rifling through my underwear!” luggage tags? Perhaps these X-ray bags from ThinkGeek.com are brazen enough for you: … [S]how the world exactly what you’re carrying, even if what you’re showing is only a reasonable facsimile. The X-Ray tote and shoulder bags, […]

How To Flip The TSA The Bird In Style

Via Gadling: These tags are both cute and playful, but I really have no interest in being cute or playful with a TSA agent who has been rifling through people’s underwear for 10 hours, looking for any reason to break the monotony of the job. I’m sure there’s someway they could link these tags to terrorism. […]

13 Backup Plans For The Modern Traveler: Photos, Passports, Gadgets and More

Imagine every traveler’s nightmare: everything you have is stolen. Do you have a backup?

Print Your Own Travel Vaccines At Home!

Well, not exactly. The technology’s not here yet, but it’s in the mail. Via Travel Gear Blog: HP has announced that they will begin to sell a patch that is placed on your skin, and through tiny needles embedded in the patch, a vaccine will be “printed” into your arm. Since the needles barely […]

First Look Gear Review: MSR Hubba Solo Tent

If you’re planning to solo trek, backcountry camp, or tent your way around the world solo, the MSR Hubba Solo Tent is so lightweight and compact, it’s practically an afterthought to throw in your pack. A stale $50 EMS gift card from last Christmas and EMS’ annual summer super savings sale (not sure what it’s really […]

Magical Dissolving Laundry Paper

For the ultra-light, gearhead Flashpackers out there, you can never have enough cool (but useful) gadgets. Enter Magical Dissolving Laundry Paper (okay, I added the “Magical” bit): A must for travelers, our dissolving Laundry Paper is perfect for washing socks, undies, swimwear, etc. and goes through airport security in your carry-on without a hitch. Plus, […]

Backpacker Gifts: Best F*cking Trip Of My Life Photo Album

This rather classy photo album was a real hit last Christmas: Best F*cking Trip of My Life Photo Album. K absolutely loved this one.

Panoramic Travel Camera: Capture Your Travels In Full 360 Degree Realism

It’s just a concept for the time-being, but a pretty damn cool one at that. Via Yanko Design: The next time you wanna capture a good panoramic picture of your vacation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, put down that tripod and expensive digital camera. Use the Panoramic Digital Camera instead. Just make sure […]

Strange Travel Gadget: Electronic Meat Sniffer To Guard Against Tainted Food

If you’re a germaphobe through-and-through - the kind that might buy a SquatStrap™ perhaps - or just a conscientious traveler with a penchant for questionable street food, the SensorFreshQ might be for you. It’s essentially a sniffing device that detects harmful bacteria in meat and poultry. It says it’s mainly for “uncooked” meats, but why […]

My New Travel Invention: The SquatStrap™

I’ve had a lot of entrepreneurial ideas lately. None of them particularly good, but amusing nonetheless. I think my coup de gras is what I’m officially trademarking as the “SquatStrap”. Actually let me officially make that SquatStrap™ so no one steals my idea. For the average What About Bob? germaphobe subway traveler, there’s […]

When Your Luggage Isn’t Pro-American Enough, There’s Zuca

Travel Gear Blog introduces us to Zuca: One of the key features of the ZUCA bag is that you can sit on it. Is it really too much trouble to walk to an empty seat? Or did dragging your rolling bag wear you out too much? Does no else see what this is doing to humanity? […]

Pillowig: The Last Travel Pillow You’ll Ever Buy

Witness “Pillowig“: “Pillowig” is hand made wearable pillow comforting trieness of people in daily lives, enabling users to sleep comfortably whenever and whenever they’d like. When user test is done in public spaces - subway, airplane, library, class room and laundromat, viewers commented: “I would like to have it for my trip.”, “Very funny.” “This is […]

News You Might Have Missed: Google’s 411 Free On Your Cellphone

Evidently, Google’s had a free 411 service for quite some time. Via the Official Google Blog: [A] few months back we launched 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) in the U.S. It’s a free telephone service that lets you search for businesses by voice and get connected to those businesses for free. Aside from the free part, it’s not much […]

The Ultimate Traveler’s Cellphone

Well, “ultimate” if you don’t mind carrying a wind turbine around with you. TravelGearBlog is reporting: Orange is working on developing a portable turbine that is powered by the wind, providing juice for your mobile phone. While this project is still in the works, and prototypes are being worked out, the turbine is supposed to be able […]

A Revolutionary “Tobacco” Pipe

Ahh … what to buy for the traveling hippie who has everything? TravelGearBlog points us to the Solopipe: A lighter and bowl all-in-one. “Solopipe is the revolutionary self-igniting smoking apparatus that combines refillable, adjustable butane lighter with a high quality tobacco smoking pipe.” This invention was a long time coming and I’m glad someone finally took the […]

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