Carmen Cognac Abrigo bag does more than travel duty

Gorgeous fall colors only begin to describe this Abrigo bag

Revolutionary ideas in luggage don't come along that often, but when they do, buyers delight in an "Ah-ha moment."  Such was the reaction when we came across the Abrigo bag, created by Katie Grove.  Described by Grove as "the world's only luxury coat bag," it is that, but so much more.

Luxury - yes - no doubt. It's made of some of the finest jacquard material imported from Turkey, where weaving is a centuries old artform. Best part, this 19"x22" bag is made right here in America. When not holding your coat, its soft fabric drapes close to your body and never gets in the way.

Sturdy - all seams are securely stiched and bode a long life, even in daily use. Rich leather reinforcement on the strap means even the heaviest load will travel safely. The leather also seems to keep the strap from twisting, whether worn over the shoulder or across the chest. Both zippers are surrounded by leather as well, protecting these vital parts of the bag.

Practical - Grove designed the bag to store her bulky coat, both while in the airport and on the plane. A unique outside front pocket is designed to secure the bag over the handle of your suitcase. While it stores your coat with no effort at all, most people buying this bag are liable to want to use it everywhere they go instead of taking a large purse. When you're done, the bag can be folded flat for storage.

Easy to get into the front pocket, this is a perfect place to store wallet, credit cards, etc. The large main compartment can handle just about anything else you could possibly carry. Also inside, you'll discover a key lanyard, solving the age-old problem..."now where did I put those keys."

The Abrigo bag is presently available in two classic colors - Carmen Cognac and Carmen Verde. The fabric is so stylish, you're guaranteed to get compliments on its looks and its so versatile, you won't use it just for travel.

For more information, check their website at http://www.abrigobag.com.

Lusting for a...jacket?

Scottevest with sleeves and hood removed.

Did you ever have a love affair with a piece of clothing? I did. It was a rain coat I bought to take to Alaska back in 1997. Somehow, after just 12 short years, it died. Started peeling apart at the seams. Time to find a replacement. 

What I loved about it was its light weight, breathability and real waterproofness. Not water-repellant as so many coats advertise. It was waterproof, snow proof, ice proof...well, you get the idea.  

So the search was on.  I looked at many different coats earlier this year while at the Travel Goods Show in Chicago and subsequently at numerous outdoor recreation stores since then. With all the electronic and camera gear I carry, there was only one logical choice as a worthy successor to my old love and that was a new Scottevest RevolutionJacket.

More than just a rain jacket, this also has zip-off sleeves and a hidden and removable hood. I really need a hood for a year-round jacket.  When removed, the sleeves and hood can be stored in one of the many pockets. 

The material is a breathable Teflon coated material with hot melt lamination for the ultimate in water-proofing. With great vapor-permeability, it is suitable for use in all climes, but more on that later.

Scottevest has been known for years as the company that has pockets for everything and yet somehow you can wear their clothes loaded with gear and not look like a walking sack of oranges. Each pocket is engineered to hold various gadgets close to your body without creating large bulges in the jacket fabric.  I don't know how they do it, but they pull it off better than anyone else on the market. 

Shooting flamingos in the salt flats

And did I mention they make pockets for everything? No, seriously, I mean it. The Revolution has 26 pockets plus a personal area network (PAN) system that conceals the wiring for your headphones.  That means your ear buds just stay right in the jacket, ready to be used at any time, or tucked away in their own special slots when you aren't using them.  No more screwed-up cords waiting to be untangled. 

So let's talk about the pockets for a minute. Where I really got a kick out of this coat was going through airport security. On a recent trip to Chile, I visited four different areas of the country and I was on and off planes 10 times in 12 days. 

 

Before Scottevest, I would carry some things in my coat, some in my shirt pockets and some in my pants pockets.  With the new airport scanners, you can't leave as much as a piece of paper in your shirt or pants. So here's where it starts to get good with the Revolution. Everything, and I mean everything, goes into my jacket.

Interior see-thru pockets let me keep my iPhone on my left and my classic iPod on the right. Both can be played without removing them from their pockets. A pen and pencil fit neatly into a slot pocket parallel to the zipper on one side and a magic marker and highlighter fit in the slot on the opposite side. 

Right below my iPhone, a wide pocket perfectly holds boarding passes and passport. Another see-thru pocket below that holds a driver’s license and flight club membership cards. 

 

A larger pocket behind those actually holds an iPad or in my case, a netbook computer. How cool is that? Now I can use that second carry-on for my large DSLR camera, since my computer is tucked in my coat and doesn't count when I go past the airline ticket takers.  

Walking my llama in the Atacama desert

Remember me mentioning that the pockets don't bulge? That even goes for the computer/iPad pocket.  It’s almost unperceivable that I'm carrying it. And, the PAN system even extends down into this pocket so if I wanted to listen to music from an iPad, I could do that as well. If you aren't carrying an iPad, it makes a perfect magazine or newspaper pocket.

Inside the coat on the other side is a side-opening pocket for sunglasses, complete with a cleaning cloth on an elastic cord. I'm always getting fingerprints on my glasses as I shoot photographs so the cleaning cloth is always a handy thing to carry.

Right below that I carry my small point and shoot Canon S90 digital camera and extra batteries and memory cards. More times than I can mention, I've been so happy I was carrying a high quality digital camera when the perfect, unexpected photo-op arose.

Moving to the outside of the jacket, there are six more major pockets. Two are high on the chest and I use these for a digital recorder and a notebook, used for impromptu interviews or recording tour guides. 

Down lower, in typical jacket placement there are two more pockets on each side, both with zippers to keep everything inside. Inside the outer pockets, there is another Velcro pocket for loose change on one side and an extendable key holder in the other. The right pocket also has an internal stretch loop that secures a typical bottle of water inside the jacket. I did mention that it held everything didn't I?

A mini blizzard prevented us from climbing Villarica

Two remaining pockets outside can hold snacks, your computer charger, wireless mouse or digital card readers. I used one of these two to store my sleeves and hood when converting this to a vest.

As I mentioned, I hit four different areas of Chile, from the Altaplano high desert in the north all the way down to Pucon in the southern Lake District.  With the sleeves and hood off, it functioned as a vest I could wear comfortably out in the desert, ready for later in the evening when the temperature would drop 40 degrees.

In Valparaiso, the fog hung like a puffy comforter over the entire seafront the night we arrived.  Walking the sidewalks along the break wall, the waves were crashing over the railing, and it was great to have a real waterproof raincoat that protected my electronics inside.

Down south in Pucon, as I rode the ski lift in a mini-blizzard, I was glad that hood was ready to pop-out and keep my hair-challenged head nice and toasty warm.  Chile is a beautiful country and the extremes of its climates gave me a year's worth of testing in just two weeks.

So, did I get over my old love affair and so quickly start a new one?  Well, I can't remember my old coat's name anymore so I guess I did. Scottevest, where have you been all my life? It's great to get to know you. Want to go to Taiwan next month?

PowerSkin doubles your smartphone talk time

Wrapped around my iPhone, the PowerSkin fits perfectly with its low profile, protective silicon case. It’s hard to believe, but this sleek case houses the latest in battery technology, doubling your talk time on the iPhone. 

The PowerSkin couldn’t be easier to use. One slipping motion, like stepping in to a slipper, and your phone is not only protected from drops, but also energized with XPAL powered battery technology. Depending on your particular phone, the PowerSkin will deliver from 4.5 to 8 hours of additional operating time.

Each case comes with a micro USB port for recharging and an on-off button, in case you want to hold off charging your phone until its internal battery has been expended. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the micro USB to standard USB cable is capable of syncing with iTunes.  No need to remove the phone from the PowerSkin, and no more searching around for that special sync cable that came with your iDevice. Simply plug the cable into the PowerSkin and plug the other end of the cord into a USB port on your computer. iTunes pops up and sync starts right away.

The PowerSkin is a pleasure to hold with a non-slip rubber exterior. The case is extremely light weight and it comes in models for iPhone, myTouch, HTC, Samsung Galaxy & Vibrant, Droid, and BlackBerry.  See all available models online at Power-Skin.com or shop for them at Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com and Staples.

Light up your life (photos) with the Lightscoop

• ·         Harsh shadows?
• ·         Red-eye?
• ·         Unflattering hot spots on the skins?

No, these aren’t diseases, but rather symptoms of on-camera flash. While on-camera flash is handy and a no-brainer to use, it’s typically not the most flattering to your subjects. And well…isn’t that what photography is all about…taking beautiful photos of friends and family?

Well now there’s help, thanks to Professor Kobre and his ultimately easy-to-use Lightscoop. If you’ve got a DSLR with built-in flash (think Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sigma, Sony, Olympus or Fuji) then you are a candidate for the Lightscoop.

This little plastic accessory slips in your camera-top hotshoe and by way of a mirror, reflects your flash 90 degrees. The light can be bounced off a ceiling or wall to provide a wide, soft, attractive illumination. Gone are the harsh shadows and red-eye so often encountered. 

To use the light reflection capability to its best advantage, take the following steps:

• ·         Pump up your ISO to 800
• ·         Use your widest f-stop – f2.8 preferably
• ·         Set flash exposure to +1 or +2 if possible
• ·         Look for a 8’ or lower white ceiling
• ·         Alternatively, look for a white wall and shoot vertically

What you’ll discover, is a softly lit portrait with none of those annoying hard shadows just off to the side of your subjects face.

Andrew, a photographer from North Royalton, tried out my Lightscoop and said he was very satisfied with the immediate improvement. He liked the fact that it fit very securely into his hotshoe and had no worries about it coming loose.  He also liked the soft-touch protective pouch that came with it. His biggest concern was finding a spot for it in his already crowded camera bag.

You can order a Lightscoop directly from the manufacture in one of two models – either standard (clear mirror) or a warming type (with a tinted mirror) from the Lightscoop website. For $29.95 its one of the bigger bangs for the buck you’ll find in photography. $55 gets you one of each.

Product Review – Benro Travel Angel Tripod

It you are a serious travel photographer, you’ll want to take a tripod with you when you set out on your next shoot. If you plan to fly, that has usually meant a large suitcase to pack your tripod in. For years, I used a tripod that was just slightly too large to fit in my carryon bag. No more. 

Last year I discovered the Benro Travel Angel TRCB269 tripod, just made for traveling, When folded, this tripod measures just 14.6” long – plenty short enough to fit in any carryon bag. Out in the field however, this baby opens to a comfortable 63.1” plus head height.

It achieves its unusually short length by having the legs fold 180 degrees back onto the center shaft. This shaves lots of inches off the folded length, making it ideal to fit into a 22” carryon bag, even with the head attached. 

The legs have two separate stops enabling the tripod to set up extremely low to the ground or in cramped areas if needed. The center post comes equipped with a pull out hook which can be used for additional weight should you need to stabilize the unit even more.

Included with the tripod set is a quality carrying case with shoulder strap. Inside the case are metal tips for digging into the ground as well as a wrench for tightening loose fasteners. (Take that out before you pack because TSA prohibits tools of any kind, and they stopped me for this little tightening wrench.)

The rubber locking grips work very smoothly on the four leg extensions and help protect the legs from moisture and dust. 

The unit comes with a B-1 ball head which works splendidly with either large DSLR’s or medium format cameras. The B-1 comes with a quick disconnect camera plate and has worked admirably on a whole range of cameras and lenses including a Nikon D300S with a 300mm f2.8 lense.

If you a looking for a great tripod in a compact format, you’ll have trouble finding anything better than a Benro in this size. Check out their website for all sorts of additional models.

Product Review – H2Otugo drink holder

Airports are about hurry up and wait. Once you make it past security, if you are like most people, you’ve got another hour or more to wait before you’ll board your flight. Can you say Starbucks?

A refreshing beverage takes the sting out of waiting so long for your flight and for sure, a second drink is in order when your flight gets delayed. But did you ever try to balance a hot coffee or a water bottle on those skinny airport seat armrests? Didn’t think so. Goodtugo.com to the rescue with their tugo drink holder.

Most people seem to be pulling a rollaboard bag today and most of those have dual vertical supports for the handle. If that is you, the tugo has just the gadget you’ll want to investigate. With just a couple quick twists of its straps, the tugo hangs between your bag’s vertical handles and gives you a spill resistant cradle for your drink. (Watch this short video.) 

The tugo is manufactured in the USA and is made using materials without phthalates. Phthalates are plastic softening agents that are being phased out because of health concerns, but you knew that already didn’t you? The inventor, Karen Porte, is a nurse and she knew enough to watch out for you.

The tugo swings freely if you ever have to pull your bag to another gate. In its original form, the tugo would support up to a 20 oz. drink cup – hot or cold.  With an optional enclosed mesh insert, you can now also carry water bottles, baby bottles or canned pop.  With the mesh insert, it’s called the H2Otugo. Clever.

The tugo is $9.95 and the H2Otugo is $12.95. If you already own the tugo and want to upgrade, the mesh insert is available for $3.00. 

Tugo is available on their website or from dozens of retailers. See their site for a list.

Product Review – Stashsafe 200 – anti-theft hip pack

Some of our most exciting adventures come in places that are off the beaten path. Venturing into the unknown requires some street smarts and a healthy dose of preventative measures to insure our safety and the safety of our gear.

Such is the thought process behind the Pacsafe line of anti-theft travel gear. Since the majority of loses come at the hands of pickpockets, strap or bag slashers, bag snatchers or just plain gear thieves, it behooves us to take some measures of security to thwart these evildoers. Pacsafe specializes in doing just that.

Stashsafe 200 protects you multiple ways

Most hip packs can be unbuckled and grabbed by a professional bag snatching thief in one quick motion, usually before you realize what’s happened. The Stashsafe 200 hides its clasp under a Velcro flap and offers a padlock for ultra-security if deemed necessary.

Strap slashers can sever the strap on your bag in one second with a sharp enough knife and be off with your bag. The straps on this bag have a concealed stainless steel wire that will thwart any knife.

Bag slashers operate in similar fashion, cutting the bottom of your bag and letting all your gear fall to the ground, usually leaving you in an immediate state of confusion or worse, not realizing it’s happened. The bottom and sides of the Pacsafe bags offer an eXomesh slashguard to prevent this. Picture a miniature chicken wire, sewn between the layers of fabric, concealed from view but always protecting your gear.

Pickpockets work up close and can quickly flip the top of your bag open, reach inside and grab whatever feels valuable. With the Stashsafe 200, all zippers fasten to concealed clips requiring too much time for them to do it unobtrusively. 

Interior compartments for everything you need

The Stashsafe 200 has a total of 244 cubic inches of storage for all the stuff you need to carry,; but it’s not a big looking bag when worn on your waist. There are:

• ·         Two main zippered compartments with pouches, mesh pockets and flaps galore.for change, business or credit cards, whatever.
• ·         Hidden rear zippered pocket
• ·         Three padded pockets for phone, MP3 and camera.
• ·         Headphone port so your MP3 player can stay locked inside while you listen
• ·         Key clip so those keys don’t get lost in the bottom of the bag

Obviously, you need to use common safety sense when traveling, but a pack like this takes one more thing off your mind so you can really enjoy the experience where ever life takes you. 

I got my Stashsafe 200 from Magellans.com. Magellan’s has the widest possible variety of top brand travel products you’ll ever need and if you order by 2:00 pm PST, you can have it next day if you want. Check out their website or request a catalog. You won’t believe how many cool products they carry.