Whether long or short, trips away from home can take a toll on travelers. Parents have the difficult task of keeping themselves and their kids occupied and reasonably comfortable while on the go. Useful gadgets and helpful gear can make going on the road more convenient. A recent trip that totaled more than 1,500 miles from Lakeland, Florida to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee provided an opportunity to test out travel gear that made the trip easier and more comfortable.
Travel Gear Guide
A trip that was 600 plus miles one way required eating on the road. Add a couple of kids to the mix and this could have become quite taxing. One of the products that made snacks and meals on the road less of a mess was the Auto Tray. These small, light-weight trays fit comfortably on adult and kid sized laps. They were not bulky. They tucked neatly away between the seats of the van when not in use. The trays came with rubber backing (presumably to add stability). The rubber backing could have used a stronger adhesive to keep it in place in the extra hot southern temperatures; however, the Auto Trays still did their job quite well. Auto Tray - www.autotray.net/
Extra cushion without extra bulk makes for a better ride. Anywhere Comfort back cushions and arm cushions provided a little extra comfort during the half day road trip. Both products by Comfort Ideas come with straps that allow them to be attached to a standard vehicle seat. They can also roll up to a smaller size for travel packing. Anywhere Comfort - comfortideas.com/
A three mile trip up a mountain to get to a cabin at night can be scary. Tennessee mountains have deep drop-offs in various places. Trying to read directions in the dark gets complicated when the driver needs the roof light of the vehicle turned off so that he can see. The Modus Dual-Output LED Flashlight was a life saver. This compact flashlight is crafted from high-strength aluminum. It's powered by one AA alkaline battery, which is included. It is sealed with O-rings making it waterproof for 30 minutes in one meter of water. It provided a light source that could be aimed directly at the directions without being a distraction to the driver. It feels good to the user's hand. The purse sized flashlight gets five out of five stars for handiness. Modus - Dual-Output LED Flashlight - http://www.myiconlight.com/
Minimus.biz takes the work out of packing for a trip. They specialize in products that are minimum in size and maximum in convenience. Travel kits containing individual sized products for travel, camping, for office use, home use, and even for use in the car can be purchased on their website. The Toddler Travel Kit makes traveling with little kids so easy. It's ideal for long or short trips. Minimus.biz offers a wide selection of prepackaged travel products. Minimus.biz - www.minimus.biz/
Radius travel products come in many shapes and sizes. All of them are extremely handy. Travel cases for full sized bars of soap, personal hygiene product cases, and travel toothbrushes and cases are available on the Radius website. The travel products make packing easier. The array of colors makes it easy to color code for each person on a trip. (Moms will appreciate that.)
Radius Travel Cases - www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp
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The patented GoPillow! is the BEST multipurpose travel pillow and blanket for babies and kids. The GoPillow! and blanket is portable and excellent for moms to take along when traveling long or short distances with the kids. This multipurpose pillow and blanket combination reduces the number of items a mom needs to carry when traveling with a baby or child. The GoPillow! provides a surface for diaper changes when moms are on the go. The built-in privacy blanket/cover-up is also especially useful for modest breastfeeding moms. View a video demonstration by clicking this link: www.youtube.com/watch.
The GoPillow! by Simply Necessary, Incorporated - www.simplynecessary.com/
One of the down sides to travel is returning home with a suitcase or bag full of dirty laundry. DNA Products disposable underwear helps to reduce the work after a trip. The disposable notions and apparel are useful and affordably priced. The quality of the disposable underwear products is excellent. The comfort and fit of the product is equally good. Users can even elect to launder the products for extended use. DNA Products - www.dnaproductsonline.com/
The Elegant Setting offers personal service. Custom Embroidery is what sets these products apart. The Elegant Setting can work with a customer's own design or create a custom design including monograms, motifs, and images. There are over 200 fonts and 300 different thread colors to choose from for custom embroidery. The Elegant Setting Sunblock Travel Bag is roomy and makes packing larger sized cosmetics and bottles easy.
The Elegant Setting Sunblock Travel Bag - www.theelegantsetting.com/index.php
A trip to the mountains, or to some urban areas for that matter, makes it necessary to establish some form of easy communication between people on the trip. Motorola Talkabout (MC220R)Two-Way Radios provide a communications solution. The MC220R radios have a range of up to 16 miles mountain to valley, up to 5 miles near lakes, and up to 1 mile in urban settings. The Motorola Talkabout (MC220R) Two-Way Radios are perfect for hiking in the mountains. (An added bonus is being able to use them at home to talk to someone outside without having to go outside where they are.) Motorola Talkabout Two-Way Radios - www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Two-way-Radios-and-Accessories
Wearing the right shoe is important when traveling. Hiking in the mountains definitely requires comfortable shoes. Hi-Tec Outdoor Shoes are an excellent option. They are light weight and make navigating both mountain and urban terrain more comfortable. Hi-Tec shoes are fashionable and contemporary. Hi-Tec Outdoor Shoes - www.hi-tec.com/us/
Related Travel and Gear Articles:
www.examiner.com/x-26399-Lakeland-Parenting-Examiner~y2010m5d12-Travel-Gear-for-Families
Contact 1Mom@simplynecessary.com with comments or questions regarding this gear guide.
Please be advised that all product reviews are solely personal opinions. In cooperation with the FTC's guidelines regarding disclosures to consumers regarding the receipt of sample products from a company in connection with a review of such company's products and/or services, please be advised that products reviewed in this article were provided at no cost for review purposes.
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