Innovative new products that make traveling easier and more comfortable are very appealing to many frequent travelers who pride themselves on finding cheap fares, fly on cheap airplane tickets and stay at discount hotel rooms or purchase cheap vacation packages.
The following are such products that were introduced at the Travel Goods Association show recently in Chicago:
Compressible Packing Cubes ($25 for three) from Kiva Designs allows a lot more clothes to be packed in bags. Soft side mesh topped bags are provided that can be compressed to half of their original height.
iTalk Scale ($40) from Heys USA actually voices the weight of a bag. Attach the hook to a bag, lift it off the ground and a voice announces the weight.
Traveldesk 21 ($349) allows its owner to work from anywhere. It is a nylon carry-on bag that comes with multiple pockets and an integrated 15.5 x 13.5 platform that folds up and out of its pocket to provide a sturdy desktop.
iPad Flip Case ($88) by Piel Leather provides protection for iPads. The leather folio can be positioned vertically or horizontally and comes with three inner pockets to store things like business cards and plane tickets.
First Class Travel Cushion ($30) from Hummingbird Gear helps make even coach passengers more comfortable. This self inflating seat cushion is filled with urethane foam and reduces pain caused by long rides, regardless of the mode of transportation.
The Head Holder ($40) cradles a passengers head like a pair of hands. It is lightweight and combines a chest pad, adjustable vertical post and foam chin pad to create a supportive alternative to the traditional travel pillow.
The Travel BlanKid ($30) from Cabeau Travel combines a pillow, blanket, and stuffed animal (comes in the shapes of a panda, monkey, or ladybug) into a child sized backpack.
The Day Dream Aloe Vera Travel Eye Mask ($25-$30) from DP Style encourages soothing sleep by using micro capsules of aloe vera. It acts like a time release medicine for the skin and is good for 300 uses.
A waterproof E-Case ($20-$40) from Hummingbird Gear keeps tech toys intact. Available in four sizes, the soft polyester cases comes with clear windows that allow full functionality for touchscreen phones, MP3 players and e-readers.
The Guide 10 Adventure Kit ($140) from Goal Zero is an ultra lightweight solar charging system that charges small personal electronics as well as rechargeable AA and AAA batteries.
The SteriPen Freedom ($120) from Hydro-Photon is the worlds first UV water purification device rechargeable via AC or USB. The pocket sized unit will purify 16 ounces of water in under a minute and provide 40 treatments per charge.
The Ultra Compact Cart ($40) from Travel Smart by Conair is a 39 inch high rolling trolley that will handle up to 50 pounds of luggage. It is so compact that it folds up to just 13.5 x 7 and can be packed in a briefcase or carry-on pocket.
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