Compiled by
TOM KELLY
Self-propelled suitcaseThere are some who like to think of themselves as travellers not tourists, for whom anything worth doing involves a considerable struggle: it's likely, this won't be the gadget for them.
This is for the easier life. It’s apparently a first of its kind (just what we like in this column), a suitcase that drives itself along. Ah, the sound of foreheads being smacked – of course, what an idea! And it’s quite a clever version too.
Sensors in the handle assess how much force you’re using to pull the wheely and, at a particular threshold, engages an electric motor to give you a push. It claims it can go at up to almost 5km/h, which is walking speed. When the case isn’t such a haul, like you’re on an airport travelator, it switches off and you’re back to person power.
The motor will only kick in when the handle is out and the case is at an incline, so it’s not going to scoot away as you browse the duty free, leaving you a Chaplinesque luggage chase. And there must be about 7kg in it for it to work at all. Sort of a lazyometer. The battery charge is said to last about 3kms.
Now there’s good news and bad news: the bad is the price below, the good, that it’s out of stock currently, so you can keep your plastic dry.
Cost$1,300 (€900), from hammacher.com
Travel Buddy Tea InfuserOn the other hand, the "traveller" may want one of these for a little home comfort. The Travel Buddy is a hot or cold tea maker, that lets you brew up in designer style on the go. To cold brew, you simply add your tea leaves (an exotic brew, needless to say) to the internal steel filter, add cold water and leave to stand in a cool place for about four hours. Okay, so you wouldn't want to be gasping for a cuppa. The amount of tea and the length you leave it, not surprisingly, dictates its strength, but cold brewing can make for a less bitter taste long term. Hot brewing – take a wild guess – just needs hot water. Tah-dah.
It’s all nicely put together by the Piao I Tea Company, a family-run tea-maker who take their business very seriously as you’ll see from the website. They’ve a whole dynasty of teapots and infusers for home and travel, and lots of delicious teas too.
The bottle is robust, made with shatter-resistant polycarbonate and toughened glass. It opens top and bottom for easy cleaning and it comes with a little carrying bag and strap for easy packing. You can get a sleeve to keep the tea hot.
Cost$31 (€21) for 580cc version, from purepuer.com
Airstream Victorinox Special EditionWe haven't exactly embraced the American fascination with the RV (Recreation Vehicle, don't you know) or what we'd call a camper van. Probably something to with not having epic-looking highways stretching off towards the horizon calling to our pioneer spirit.
But when talk does turn to camper vans – desperate times you might think – the Airsteam evokes the mythology of the road trip like no other. Wally Beam’s iconic 70-year old design is as seductive as ever. The silver-bullet, shiny aluminium body is adventure manifest. And this special edition partners another classic, Victorinox Swiss Army to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
Airstream has taken its basic 5.7m model – and I use that word advisedly – and given it a gorgeous once-over, with solid surface worktops, custom bedding, Swiss Army cutlery and other fittings, as well as a whole swag-bag of Victorinox goodies including watches, multi-tools and luggage. Throughout, the detailing is impeccable, as there is simply nothing Airstream doesn’t know about comfortable living on the road.
On the outside, it’s as curvy and futuristic-looking as ever, looking like something Jules Verne might have landed on the moon.
Unfortunately, I have to chill my own jets here a bit as only 125 commemorative editions have been made and they come with a hefty, though who’s to say bad value, price tag. But it might just mean leaving the road trip for another year.
Cost$59,000 (€41,000), see airstream.com for details