Showing posts with label Travel kit staples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel kit staples. Show all posts

1/07/2016

Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water


This is thermal purified water, put into a spray can. That is it!

It sounds simple, but sometimes the simplest things are the best.

You can use this for beauty or health purposes:  To refresh your face and eyelids when working for hours in front of the computer, to calm sunburns or irritated skin, to remove make up, after shaving your face or legs, and to clean small wounds (therefore, great for your emergency kit and for travelling). 
 
To be honest, you could buy a good thermal water by the litre, put it in a spray bottle and use it the same, but it would deteriorate after opening, and you would not have the benefit of the Avene's spray system, which is fantastic, as the water comes out with the right amount of pressure and in the form of a very pleasant mist.

I find the product overpriced, as it is sold as a beauty product. The travel size (50 ml) costs at least 8-9 bucks, which is a lot for a bit of canned thermal water! The bigger sprays are better regarding quantity-prize, but they are less portable and I wouldn't take it for travelling, and it is expensive, the 300 ml bottle is about 19-20 bucks.

Yet, a great product. 

1/04/2016

Clonea Antifungal Skin Cream

This is a generic brand for Canesten, a broad spectrum anti-fungal, the same product, the same concentration of active ingredient, but way cheaper. It works the same.

Any anti-fungal, especially if used on large skin surfaces (not just the feet), needs of at least three weeks use, one or so to get rid of the fungi, and two others to further guarantee you don't get them back. This being the case, you want to buy the cheapest possible product because you will using a few tubes. Canesten 50 gms costs about 10 bucks, while Clonea costs about 6. That is a remarkable difference in price for the same product.

The cream spreads well, absorbs well and, unlike other anti-fungals, I don't get an itch or burn reaction in my skin. The product does not smell and does not dry my skin either. I have found that anti-fungal creams work differently on different people, in my case this has worked great for me in the past.  

If you are going to travel for a long time and be walking barefoot in public or hotel pools, or backpacking and sharing showers, you want to have a tube of this at hand, just in case.  

1/03/2016

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 3G, 6" Free 3G + Wi-Fi 1st Generation

I have one of these since the product was launched, and it is a good sound book reader. Easy to set, operate and maintain, easy to access the Amazon Store and download your books, easy to navigate and to create collections, and very portable. Here a wrap-up:

GOOD THINGS
> Easy to set for the first time and easy to operate.
> Very portable and easy to store anywhere, in a folder, small handbag or briefcase. Perfect for travelling, as well.
> Easy-peasy wireless connection and delivery.
> Easy to carry and to pack. 
> Lightweight.
> Free 3G to purchase and download your books all over the world. Yes, that is right. I have used it lots, and by default as, until recently, I did not have router at home.  Unlike tablets, which rely on the existence of free WI-FI on the place you visit or on you buying a 3G SIM card or using roaming, this reader connects automatically to the closest source of 3G in the place you are visiting, Amazon pays for it. Of course, you cannot browse, but if you feel like browsing the Kindle Store and buying a book, you can do so easily.
> Long battery life, especially if you use it in flight mode, which disables the Internet connection.
> Great storage capacity.
> Great contrast for reading. It feels like the pages of a real book, indeed. And you can customise the contrast to your liking. Also, the contrast is great for reading outdoors.

DOWNSIDES
>  Monochrome all over, so not good for colour graphic books.
> Not good for PDF books.
> No highlighting colours for your text.
> Not good for audible books or for listening music (some older models of Kindle were way better on that regard.)
> Non-customisation for the desktop wallpapers or for collections folders covers.

GOOD AND BAD
> There is not a browser incorporated into the device (which was in older Kindle models) but, being practical, you don't want a browser in black and white either! So that was a good move,
> There were two versions of this ebook reader, one with some advertisements, which was cheaper, and mine, which was more expensive but allowed you to turn off recommendations and adds on from editorial houses. I found shocking that an add-free version still had the adds on and needed you to switch them off. This is not a problem with the new generation readers.
 
TIPS FOR USE
> Save energy and battery life by turning the device on flight mode. Unless you want to buy a book or browse Amazon Store, don't switched back on. Even if you switch off the device, if the 3G is on, the battery dies down sooner. I have tested this personally, and when I have it off, the battery life lasts longer.
> The easiest way to create a collection is to press strongly the screen and the add to collection screen will pop up. There other ways to add a book to a collection, but they take more time.

IN SHORT
Great product, but obsolete. Yet, a great acquisition if you grab a second hand one.  On the other hand, I doubt that the new generation can beat the better quality and readability of any tablet and the Kindle App. I rarely use this device nowadays beyond storage, and use my tablet to access my Kindle library and reach Amazon, but I take it for travelling every time.

12/20/2015

Kathmandu Pocket Backpack

Usually I don't fancy Kathmandu's own brand products, but this foldable pocket backpack is a brilliant exception. Actually these pocket backpacks are  is my travellers kit hall of fame after using them for years.  Why are they worth having? Because they are:
> Foldable. If don't want to fold it, you can still fit it anywhere as it is made of nylon and, therefore, very flexible and lightweight.
 > Great quality. They truly last for ever.
>  Very light, about 150- 200 grams depending on the model you buy.
> Adjustable shoulder straps. And you detach the bottom when you fold the back into the pocket. 
> Detachable waist strap.
> Roomy, 15 L average. I use my old one for doing the grocery shopping and I can carry many kilos in it, many! 
> They can be washed with hand soap and will be as new.
 > Good looking!
> Unisex.
> They are truly practical for every day travelling and touring. I got many compliments ("I would like to get one of those, where do you buy them?" sort of thing) from non-Australians as I take this every time I travel.

Kathmandu tends to change the colouring of these from year to year, and readjusts the design from time to time, still keeping all the features that make this backpack the awesome product it is.

These backpacks are usually expensive but, in cases like these, when I know the product is great, I tend to wait for the big sales, like Boxing Day or Mid Year sales when you can get them at very reduced prices. Also, the older models are cheaper and more discounted than the new ones; if you have budget, the oldie is still as good quality as the newbie just not as trendy. 

Vapur collapsible water bottle

I bought this bottle Vapur Anti-bottle (Element series), in the Perth International Airport just on realising that I had forgotten my usual water bottle and I would need it for walking and trekking. I paid a lot of money for this bottle, which felt like a punch on the stomach. It has turned out to be my best travelling water bottle ever. 

Made of strong durable 'plastic', you fill the bottle with tap or mineral water, and carry it along. The bottle deflates when you drink and will be totally flat and weithgless when it is empty. There is no straw, it works by natural suction, press your lips together baby and suck it up. The water hole is covered by a strong cap, and comes with a strong handle, actually an attachment clip, great to carry it along in your hands, attach it to your backpack, and also to roll up the bottle once it is empty.

The bottle can be packed flat easily in your suitcase, backpack or your handbag and will come handy when you need to carry your own water without damaging the environment with disposable plastic bottles.  

The water won't taste of plastic.  

Extra Kudos
> Different colours
> Different sizes
> With filter or not
> You can by the filter separately
> Fancy or plain designs.

Two downsides: 
> They are expensive, even the simplest model, like the one in the photo, will be pricey, The filter is very expensive. I consider all my travel items an investment as I use my thingies over and over again, so let it be.
> I would like the material to be a bit less rigid and more colours available in the Element range.

12/19/2015

Tubular multifunctional BUFF

I discovered this brand in South Africa.  I took quite a bit of safaris in Africa. We would leave at 5-6 in the morning, in an open Jeep, to go to a natural park or reserve to visit and its freezing cold. It was so cold that nothing seemed to warm up my neck and head especially because I didn't expect to find this sort of cold and did not have anything appropriate with me. A guy recommended the Buff thingies to me, which seemed to be everywhere in major travel shops in Joho and Cape Town and was very popular with adventure and sports travellers.

They are quite expensive for what they are, a piece of micro-fibre fabric tube, really, but they are really good. Worth the money.I consider all these products for travelling an investment because I will be using them over and over again. They are multi-purpose, can be used in many different ways, they come in different degrees of thermal protection, men and women sizes, men and women designs (200+ designs). I love the feeling of these, especially of the polar one and the fact that they can be packed anywhere, they can be used everywhere any time. A great product for travellers.

The product is sold all over Europe, South Africa, USA, and Australia. The demonstration below is brilliant.

12/16/2015

Gastrolyte Effervescent

A must have in any first aid kit and recommended for travellers.

I took tons of these tablets a few years ago when I go the stomach flu, but they are needed when you get any stomach upset involving diarrhoea, heavy colds and the flu. I tend to take a tube of these, or just a few, when I go on holidays and I know for sure that I will be doing lots of walking, trekking or strong physical exercise, as I can dissolve a tablet in a bottle of water and carry it with me ready to drink. Besides this sort of tube, when empty is most handy and you can reuse it to carry small things inside (small coins, small tools, other pills, rolled banknotes, whatever small) and rake them with you  safely. 

My only complaint is that the product is expensive, about 10 bucks the tube. That is not much if you are buying just a tube for a trip. However, if you are sick, especially with gastroenteritis, you will be taking lots of these. I wonder why the manufacturer hasn't thought of providing customers with bulk packages to save money and visits to the pharmacy in those cases. 

They come in at least two flavours and are quite pleasant to drink.

12/09/2015

The Body Shop Drench Sponge


Although, generally speaking, I am not into The Body Shop products or shops, I am a devotee of this sponge. It looks like a natural sea sponge. It behaves like a natural sea sponge. It is not a sea sponge, it is a mutant! Artificially engineered to give you the best of the natural sponge without any of its inconveniences. 

If you leave it dry, it becomes totally dry, the consistency of volcanic porous rock and you can use it as exfoliator if you wish. If you keep it in a moist area or put it under running warm water it softens and becomes a wonderful soft sponge again. This sponge cleans well, doesn't irritate my skin, maximises any body wash by using just a drop of the product, it feels good to touch and it has a long life, forever, no deterioration so far. Like a mummy. 
I have used this sponge as my every-day sponge since it came out to the market. This is also my-every-travel sponge as it can be carried safely when dry, and it dries fast enough for bring it with me when I'm moving around. If I have a shower in the evening it will be dry in a few hours and ready to be packed next morning.
My only wish is that this was half its size, as any traveller kit is always small and the smaller anything you carry the better. Of course, you can easily cut it in two or tree pieces, and voilà. 

This is an expensive sponge, as you will pay around 13 bucks for it. A lot of money for an sponge, you might say, but it lasts forever so, in that regard, it is a great investment. 

Goat Soap Bar

Goat's milk products are living a golden age, with goat brands popping up as flies in summer, some of them with very similar branding and products. This bar is made by Goat (how original!), an Australian company. To be honest, I don't know anything about the company as their own website doesn't give many details either. 

Although I don't use soap bars much these days, I do use them when travelling, especially when travelling to remote areas of the world, when I am staying in cheap or medium-range hotels, or when I am travelling constantly and showering in different kinds of water.

These soap bars aren't glamourous but they are excellent for people with sensitive or problematic skin as they are designed for them. They are mild on my  skin, but leave it velvety soft after washing, as if I had applied a moisturiser. 

The bar is small enough to carry in your suitcase without the need of bringing any liquid or lotion specific for your sensitive skin. They have many varieties, coconut,  manuka honey, oatmeal, lemon myrtle, argan oil and the original one which is the best if you are having skin problems right now.

They are usually less than three bucks, and tend to be discounted quite often.  Great value for money.

Naturopathica GastroHealth Probiotics

Naturopathica GastroHealth in capsules is an every-day probiotic brand that will help you keep your intestinal flora happy like in a manicured garden. They will help you recover from common ailments (flu, fungal infections, or stomach flu for example) and are needed to help recover your system after having antibiotics (my doctor dixit.)

Although I use stronger probiotics from other brands when I am sick (as they have many more millions of probiotics per capsule and many more varieties  as well) these are my usual daily brand. Besides, I take a package of these any time I travel anywhere as they don't require refrigeration and, once your remove the package, you can pack them flat anywhere.

I always recommend any traveller taking a package of these, especially if travelling to parts of the world where hygiene is lacking or you are going to eat or drink unfamiliar food. You will certainly be happy to have them at hand if you get a runny belly or food poisoning, I can guarantee you that. 

Pro-biotics are never cheap, but these ones are usually cheaper than other brands or more discounted. 
 

12/06/2015

Belkin Retractable Travel Mini Mouse

I am a devotee of Microsoft and Logitech mice, so I tend to stick to those two brands, but I found this 'cutie' beauty about five years ago and I could not resist the temptation. I am a traveller, so anything small, foldable, easy to pack and carry, catches my eye -- always. 

This is a good-quality basic optical corded mouse, whose cable retracts and rolls onto itself and plugs directly to the computer through the USB port connected to the cable. No dependence on batteries, which is always great when travelling to remote areas of the world. This mini does the job and, most importantly, is the most portable mouse I have ever had. It looks like a toy! 

On the other hand, it is so tiny that I don't find it that comfortable to use, even though I have very small hands. So nothing you want to take with you if you are going to use your computer all the time and need a comfortable mouse with more functionality. If you use your computer just for a few emails and general browsing when travelling, this mouse might be for you.  

 

Bonjela Gel

I always buy Bonjela gel when I get a mouth ulcer. I like the gel transparent texture, the anisette flavour, the cooling effect, the fact that it soothes the pain quite fast, and that heals the ulcers perfectly. I have to say that Bonjela is not a magic potion and It does not heal ulcers immediately, but it works. This gel is not messy. You can apply it with your clean fingers or with a cotton bud. Great for travelling and for any first aid kit. 

Hotteeze Heat Pads

I got a pack of these pads before a long holiday overseas last year as I Ieft home with a nerve-root irritation and needed of non-bulky products easy and safe to carry in my suitcase.

Hotteeze is a great versatile product that can be used for way more things that it was initially designed, that is, to use it on your body (especially your back) to sooth aches and pains. However, I have used this for bed warmer in very freezing mountain areas, or attached to my lumbar cushion in my work station when my lower back is a bit achey.  

They are really flat and odourless, so you can easily use them at the office, underneath your jumper or jacket and over your underwear and nobody will notice.

They heat up gradually and you feel the heat, so they really give you relief from your aches. They also cold down gradually and, at the end of the recommended use time, they are just warm. They last hot for about 12 hours, which is sometimes more time you would need them for.

They are also biodegradable, so you can dispose of the "carbon" inside in your backyard, garden, flower pot or wherever you find a patch of vegetation. I love that, because you don't want to be contaminating anything, especially if you are using them outdoors or overseas.

The product is endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and my local osteopath clinic sells them as well in individual format. Don't waste your money, you can buy them in a multi-pack from any major pharmacy or e-pharmacy. 

Mind. You don't use them directly on your skin because they become really ho and could burn you. You use them on your shirt or pyjamas or socks or underwear to avoid any burnt. 

Mind too. The body temperature of every single person is different, as well as the thickness of your skin an resistance to heat. So, some people will notice the heat quite noticeable, and others would just get a warm feeling.  

12/05/2015

Listerine Pocketpaks

I am not a fan of Listerine at all. I actually dislike the brand and its mouthwashes, but I do like this pocket mouth and breath fresheners. 

You can fit the pouch in your pocket, pencil case or even your wallet. They are not messy. They last in the pouch, in a good condition, for a long time. They dissolve rapidly in your mouth.  

I don't think they disinfect as much as a mouthwash, but they are a good alternative when carrying a bottle of liquid is a hassle, and that is always the case when you are travelling.

Logitech Wireless Mini Mouse M187

I bought one of these before one of my holidays overseas. It was so small and so pretty that I thought that it was worth buying even if didn't last long. To my surprise, this mouse has become one of mammy's dearest: Handy. Handsome. Manageable. Obedient. Responsive to touch. Soft click. Long AAA battery life. USB wireless. Lovable.   

This is a pocket mouse that will not bulk your desktop if you decide to use it daily, and one that you can easily put away in any tiny space in your travel bag or computer bag. Yes, the M187 is very portable but, most importantly, is a great simple mouse. 

If you have small hands or like small mice this is for you. Not only that, if you do mind the colours you surround yourself with and want to create a visually harmonious work environment, this is also for you because this model is manufactured in a huge range of colours. 

Good. Cheap. Handsome. Uncomplicated.  

Sudocream healing cream

 I don't have children, but I came to know this product when preparing an emergency kit for a long trip last year, just because the mini-tube size was perfect, and it was just 2 bucks. It turned out that I got a rash while travelling and I used it, and I was very pleased with the results. At my return, I bought a big jar, which I still have at home. I have used Sudocream for minor burns in the kitchen, sunburn areas when I forgot to apply sun-block in summer, heat rashes of various nature or skin irritation of different sorts.  
The cream is actually an ointment, very thick and emollient, so it soothes and heals fast, and it is one of my top products for dermatitis.

However, this is not a glamourous cream. The smell is OK. Zinc being the main ingredient, you have to be careful when you apply it, as it can stain your clothes. Great to apply at home, before going to sleep or when wearing your fav daggy clothing.  

A great product overall that does the job and is good priced.