Taking the Kids: Gifts for your favorite travelers
FOR THOSE DISORGANIZED PACKERS there are Pack-It Specter compression cubes (on sale for under $32 at www.EagleCreek.com ) and other organizer cubes and sacs, including quilted ones, which are my new favorite, and are great for electronics and jewelry. For totally hapless packers, www.TravelSmith.com has cubes labeled "underthings," "socks" and "T-shirts" (on sale starting at $15 for a set of two).
FOR YOUR FAVORITE RUNNER: The AlpenGlo Dome hat ($30) made with luminescent yarn, so it's visible at night. There is a recycled polyester microfleece lined ear band inside for comfort. Anything with reflective material will be appreciated.
Also odor-resistant clothes. I love the new Timberline flannel shirts from LL Bean that are lightweight, moisture wicking and stretchy. (On sale for $39.99 on the website.) Mountain Hardwear also has a men's Stretchstone flannel long-sleeve shirt that has a moisture-wicking finish and a special stretch fabric. I'm a fan of the new reversible ZHANNA leggings from ExOfficio ($85). They're quick-drying, moisture wicking, wrinkle and odor resistant and even have Sun Guard 50+ built in.
If you've traveled with someone who falls apart when their battery conks out, especially teens, you know that's not pretty. I can't count the number of times I've lent my Powercell 3015c (Ventev, $44.99). It's the size of a small wallet with built-in Apple Lightning or micro USB cable.
Another welcome gift for those traveling abroad is a charging hub that will be combatable most everywhere. The Global charging hub 300, a bargain at $34.99, works in 150 countries.
The best gift, of course, is a promise of a trip together, just as long as you discuss it all before plunking down a nonrefundable deposit.
Happy shopping!
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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.)
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