Comments on: Travel gear I’d find genuinely useful

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:24:01 +0000

Swiss army knife? Mine has all sorts of useful instruments, including corkscrew.

By: Alastair McKenzie

Alastair McKenzie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:20:45 +0000

The compass is a nice practical thing (how many times do I search in vain for the trace of a shadow on overcast days!) but on the tube exit thing – I wrote to London Underground years ago suggesting they embed a compass rose in the floor at all their exits. No response.

By: Dave and Deb

Dave and Deb — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:28:41 +0000

We just bought the iphone too. I will be using that compass. And I have to admit, we have added a lot of language apps. Have never used the translators before, but going to give them a try this time around. At least they are in the Iphone, so they are not taking up extra space.
With all the the electronics that we have started carrying, a small power chord is super. Now we can charge everything at once using just one adapter.

By: Tim Richards

Tim Richards — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:26:53 +0000

I’ve just obtained an iPhone and it’s already clear the compass in it is going to be handy coming out of the Tube or the Warsaw Metro!

Re shoes, I only travel with one pair – they’re black Caterpillar walking boots, solid-looking but presentable enough for restaurants (or at least I like to think so). I’ve had them almost 4 years and they’re still in good shape. But I suspect Annie’s right to say it’s easier for men to pull off the multi-use shoe trick.

By: Cheryl Probst

Cheryl Probst — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:07:55 +0000

Energizer makes a compact recharger that charges both AA and aAA batteries. Works on universal current. I’ve used it in China and England, though for England I had to buy a connector plug. I got it at Wal-mart, something like $10 for the charger and $10/set of 4 batteries. Very useful to have. Batteries recharge overnight while you sleep. I have 2 cameras and eight batteries (4 as spares) so I’m set if I take beacoup pix one day and run out of battery power.

By: Paul Dymond

Paul Dymond — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:37:57 +0000

This may sound like a silly thing but I find it really useful. I have a moustache and goatee and any trip longer than a week and it starts to look a bit ratty and the moustache starts to tickle my top lip. I used to take a little pair of scissors but found them really annoying trying to trim a mo and inadequate for the goatee. A few months ago I bought a razor by Schick called the Quatro which has a mini beard trimmer in the handle. It’s powered by a single AAA battery and makes trimming facial hair (and sideburns!) a breeze.

As for compasses I recently bought a watch with one built in and find it fantastic. I also used to have a Casio watch which told you the sunrise and sunset times after you manually put in your longtitude and latitude – perfect for landscape photography.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:53:04 +0000

The Lifeventure Microfibre Trek Towel is great – this doesnt ‘stink’ as is treated with an antibacterial formula. It certainly soaks up water, absorbing 7x its own weight in water, and dries 6x quicker than a normal standard towel. It is very lightweight and ultra compact too. It comes in blue or green – http://tiny.cc/DfbY1

By: Annie Bennett

Annie Bennett — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:09:52 +0000

Hi David
Aquis towels are really good, but now difficult to find the best ones (i.e. expensive), even online (says me who just had hers nicked from pool changing room).
Oh the shoe thing… think we’re all obsessed with the shoe that goes up a mountain, not too obviously a trainer, smart enough for city walking, going out on the town and even to the bloody opera if necessary. Do find something occasionally, but wear them out in a couple of trips! And it’s much easier for men than women to find that sort of thing too. But I do have a mini compass on a keyring. Plastic and hideous, bought in Alexandria 20 years ago to wander and always know which way the sea was so couldn’t get too lost, for about 20p. Perfect. Friends always laugh at me when I whip out a compass in cities, but it’s absolutely essential to me. And if you find that ideal-sized bag with the compartments etc, let me know!