Upgrade Your Gear

Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008, 3:19 PM | Subscribe to the magazine

Source Article: Upgrade Your Gear

Spare a Square? Each pocket-size Travelon toiletry packet contains 50 wafer-thin sheets that turn into soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving foam, or laundry detergent when you add water. These are carry-on items that even the TSA could love. irvs.com, $5. (Michael Kraus)
Cache and Carry Reef's sandals have a compartment in each heel so you can store your ID, money, and keys while you're at the pool or the beach. They're what James Bond might wear if he ever took a vacation. reef.com, from $46. (Michael Kraus)
Portable Airports Designer Jason Solarek's Air Wear bags depict the codes, latitudes, and cities for 40 airports, such as CDG (Paris-Charles de Gaulle), TLV (Tel Aviv), and even the airport in Solarek's hometown, ROC (Rochester, N.Y.). airweardesigns.com, $35. (Michael Kraus)
No More Tears Not only can Rand McNally's microfiber maps help you find your way in more than 20 U.S. cities, they also double as napkins and as cloths for cleaning your glasses. The handkerchief-size maps are washable and wrinkle-resistant. randmcnally.com, $6. (Michael Kraus)
Green Screen Sunscreen chemicals are bad for coral reefs. Caribbean Solutions' sunblocks use biodegradable ingredients like zinc oxide, cucumber oil, and wild pansy extract. caribbean-sol.com, from $15. (Michael Kraus)
Packing for Dummies Even the most obsessive packer will have a hard time finding something missing from this master list. Copies of travel documents? Check. Tuxedo? Check. Razor? Nail file? Birth control? Check…. knockknock.biz, $7. (Michael Kraus)
Contain Yourslf Squish these Guyot Designs bowls to fit them into a suitcase, and they'll spring back into shape. The food-grade silicone withstands temperatures up to 400 degrees. guyotdesigns.com, $15 for a set of two bowls. (Michael Kraus)
No Sweat Made of a suede-like material, this 2-by-2-foot bandana absorbs nearly a cup of water—ideal for serious summer brow mopping or even toweling off in a pinch. kenakai.com, $18. (Michael Kraus)
Smart Card The Eye-Fi is the first wireless memory card for digital cameras. After you install the software on your computer, the card connects to your home Wi-Fi and auto-uploads your camera's photos to your computer. eye.fi, $100. (Michael Kraus)
Tunes in a Tube As iPods and MP3 players grow smaller, so do portable speakers. SurroundXi, a speaker system by RAPHA International, is encased in a seven-inch-long aluminum tube that fits easily in a beach bag. surroundxi.com, from $50. (Michael Kraus)