Travel Gear

T-Rex Runner Launches Ramblen, Resource for Traveling Runners

With the huge number of sites like RunKeeper and Yelp to give opinions and options for eating and finding routes, you might think it is easier than ever for a traveling runner to hit a new city. Sadly this is not the case, as recommendations of routes often lack context, and definitions of ‘healthy dining’ vary wildly. In this light the new site Ramblen has launched to provide curated recommendations for eating and exercise for travelers. One of my favorite running blogs is the T-Rex Runner – I appreciate the humor and randomness, but also the way she immerses herself…


Sonicare DiamondClean Sonic Toothbrush Review – Judie & Dan Mouth Off About Oral Hygiene

Judie: I’ve used various electronic toothbrushes off and on for years, but since 2007 I’ve used Philips Sonicare toothbrushes exclusively. My first was their less expensive e-series model (liked it), which I replaced it with a HealthyWhite (loved it). Now that we’ve tried Sonicare’s DiamondClean toothbrush, Dan and I can safely say that we’ve both got the best toothbrush everrrrr.


Just Mobile Mobile-Charging Roundup Review

It is easy to think all cables are the same, but that simply isn’t the case. Not only do high-quality cables last longer and perform better, but they can also enhance the experience of using your devices. Just Mobile’s Highway Max, AluCable Twist and AluCable Mini do just that. We got one of each for review!


Charge It All On the Go with the Anker 5V / 5A 5-Port Wall Charger

The Anker 5-Port Wall Charger will be coming in quite handy during my upcoming travels. Instead of needing to carry multiple wall adapters this small rectangle of electronics will let me take just one adapter but still charge up to five different devices at a time. Best of all the $45.99 accessory is currently just $19.99 in our Amazon Store.


Ultimate Ears UE BOOM Gets an Alarming New Update

The $199 Ultimate Ears UE BOOM is one of the best Bluetooth speakers available. (Read our review.) The UE MIMI BOOM also impresses and when used as a stereo pair… wow. (Read the review.) A new firmware update teaching the UE BOOM an alarming new trick by improving audio and letting the UE BOOM become your alarm clock.


New Trent PowerPak Xtreme External Battery Pack Review

It’s hard to beat the 20,000mAh external battery Judie just reviewed, so I’m not even going to try. Still, while the $59.99 Trent PowerPak Xtreme External Battery Pack offers “just” 12,000 mAh of battery power (“JUST”!! lol), it comes in a rugged shell that built to withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it. And it is under $60.



Contort Power Solves Two Powerful Travel Dilemmas

It seems like all the hotels I’ve stayed at in the past few months have only had one free electrical outlet near the bed. That would be fine if I didn’t have a phone, iPad, and sometimes a laptop that all needed to be charged from the same plug. The $24.99 Contort Power from Quirky might just be my solution.


Velodyne vQuiet Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

If you are looking for a pair of headphones with active noise cancellation, and you don’t want to be a Bose-wearing lemming, then you’ll want to check out the Velodyne vQuiet Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones. The vQuiet headphones have a unique look; they offer good sound, and they do an excellent job of blocking out noise. Available now for $299.


Phiaton Chord MS 530 Bluetooth Headphones Cut the Cord and the Noise

The Phiaton Chord MS 530 Bluetooth headphones combine premium materials, Bluetooth 4.0 and Active Noise Cancellation in a single pair of high-end, stylish headphones you’ll want to wear for hours at a time. Comfortable and great-sounding, the Chord MS 530 headphones are also well-made and great-looking. At an MSRP of $349 they should impress. And, in a word, they do!



Phiaton Chord MS 530 and Fusion MS430 Headphones- 1st Look

We recently brought word that Phiaton was releasing two new pair of headphones. Phiaton’s $349 Chord MS 530 Headphones cut the cords thank to Bluetooth AND have active noise cancellation. The $180 Fusion MS430 headphones use carbon fiber to keep weight down without comprising on build-quality. Reviews are on the way. For now, check out these two first look videos.


Cut the Cords and the Noise with Phiaton’s New Chord MS 530 Headphones

Phiaton has been adding depth to their headphone lineup and their latest, the Phiaton Chord MS 530 Headphones, is set to impress. These headphones offer “incredible sound, active noise-cancellation, the flexibility of wireless Bluetooth and an unrivaled design that stands apart from competitors.” With 18-30 hours of talk and listening time these $349 headphones do it all. Check them out.


The Nokia Lumia 1020 Is the Only Camera You’ll Need When Traveling

I use an HTC One, but its camera is subpar, and I take a lot of pictures. When the Nokia Lumia 1020 was released, who wasn’t intrigued by its camera? I sure was, and so I bought one. But could the 1020 function as my only camera while on a dream vacation in Paris and Dubrovnik? I would soon find out. From the moment we arrived in Paris, I started snapping pictures predominantly with the Lumia’s Pro Cam app set to 5 megapixels, which is oversampled for lossless zoom. About midway through the trip (or about the time we moved on to Dubrovnik),…


Come Explore King’s Landing (Dubrovnik) During Game of Thrones Season 4 Filming

Do you watch Game of Thrones on HBO? Kev and I love the books by Gorge R. R. Martin as well as the television series based on them, so an added bonus to our recent trip to Dubrovnik (arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world) was that we knew we might recognize some of the locations from the show. Are you a fan? Then this post is for you! Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a medieval walled city located on the coast of Croatia, and since season two it has been used for various locations in Game of…


Genius Packer 22″ Carry-On Review- Not Just for Mensa Members

All carry-on luggage was not created equal. That’s the message Genius Pack wants you to get when looking at their Genius Packer 22” carry-on. This is a bag for the serious traveler who needs good organization and doesn’t have time for hunting around to find what is in the bag. Normally $298 is currently available for $198. Get it. At first glance the Genius Packer doesn’t look all that unusual. A black 22″ carry-on with wheels, the back looks like something you could pick up at pretty much any department store. The bag measures 22″ x 14″ x 9.5″ and…


Save on the Handpresso Wild Hybrid Espresso Machine

Nothing’s better than a cup of fresh espresso to start your day. And if you are on the go there’s no reason to compromise. Handpresso’s Wild Hybrid lets you enjoy fresh espresso anywhere. Combine hot water with Handpresso’s ESE pods or your own ground coffee and let the Wild Hybrid do the rest. Normally $129.99, get it here for $109.00.


Enjoy an Aerial Tour the Arctic & Greenland from the Comfort of Your Home

I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic and Antarctic, but touring either would take a lot of money, and it’s just so … cold! Enter IceBridge, a six-year NASA mission to survey the ice at both of Earth’s poles; they’ve released almost 4.5 minutes of icy aerial goodness. I’m still shivering at the thought, but now I’m even more intrigued. Find out more at the Operation IceBridge website; via Universe Today.


AKG K495 NC On-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones Review – Hear the Quiet, Even When It Is Noisy

The AKG K495 on-ear headphones offer good sound and excellent noise cancellation in a refined package that looks great and is as comfortable as any pair of on-ear headphones I have used. At $349.95 the USB rechargeable headphones are, however, a bit pricey. Then again, quality doesn’t come cheap. Check them out here. I’m on the Amtrak Acela headed from Jersey to DC for a few hours. I like these one day trips, so long as I get to take the train rather than fly. It is easy, rather comfortable and, at least compared to travel by air, quiet. Still,…


Sachi Insulated Food Bags Review – Carry Your Lunch with Class

I work out of my house. Well, I guess more accurately, I work in my house, so I usually either meet friends out for lunch somewhere or I eat at home. I don’t have a lot of need to carry a meal anywhere and keep it hot or cold. So when the offer came to check out the Sachi Insulated Food Bags. I figured it might make more sense for my girlfriend to run it through its paces. She’s a kindergarten teacher who takes her lunch to school every day and only has about 15 minutes to eat, so premade…


Traveling with the Nokia Lumia 928 – Good Enough to Be My Only Camera?

Before leaving on our recent trip to NYC, I was given the opportunity to try out a Nokia Lumia 928. I wasn’t expected to review the phone — Carly had already thoroughly done that. Rather, the idea was that I see how well the Lumia 928 could do as my primary camera while traveling, and to see whether I liked it better than some of the other phones I had also brought along on the trip. Ordinarily when traveling I’ll bring either my Canon G11 or 5D; on this trip I brought nothing but a bag-full of phones. Although I…