JakPak Jacket:The JakPak packs more than just a jacket. Sure it's a lightweight, waterproof, breathable shell, but hidden within its polyester body lies many secrets.
There’s a tent in there, and a sleeping bag. I kid you not. The JakPak turns you into a one-garment campsite. Oh, and did I mention the mosquito net or the iPod-friendly loops to direct your wiring round. And it’s fire-retardant. Well, you wouldn’t want a loose campfire spark to make you extra toasty, would you?
So where to start? Well, the sleeping bag part is stashed in the back of the jacket. You simply fold it down, step into it and zip it up. Like you’re about to do a sack race with some Olympic-quality hi-tech sack. The back of the bag is completely waterproof for lying on the ground, whereas the top (or front) is breathable.
The tent part folds out from behind the hood. I use the word “tent” in its broadest possible meaning here. The makers refer to it sometimes as a shelter. Scale-wise as a tent, it’s for Barbie. You lie down and prop it up over your head. Now carefully arrange your mosquito net and you’re ready for 40 winks. And the making of much mirth all about you.
Check out the video on their site. And I’ve a link on betweenideas.blogspot.com.
Cost:$250 (€173) from jakpak.com.
Pooch Power Shovel
There’s no better exercise regime or motivator for hitting the great outdoors than getting a dog. They love walks. You love them. Simple equation. And even when you don’t feel like it, they’ve perfected that soulful look as they use their Jedi mind-games on you: “You shall take me for a walk. You are not tired.”
But there is a snag in the canine Zen state, the dreaded poop. The days are long gone where it was kosher to leave a parcel and move on. Though you mightn’t believe it from the state of the pavements. When are these dogs out that no one sees them?
There are all sorts of pooper-scoopers in plastic and paper, but all require you to get up close and personal. Not any more. The Pooch Power Shovel is a purpose-designed vac for dog do-dos. It’s got quite a powerful motor which sucks up the offending nasties into a biodegradable bag which can take up to 3lb or 1.36kg of doggedness. Don’t think about it.
No touching, no crouching, no gagging, just press, point and look smug. As much as someone carrying round a dog poo vacuum can. One charge lasts about 50 clean-ups.
Cost:$99.50 (€69) from petpowerproducts.com, 25 bags $10.80 (€7.50).
F1 Go Clean Set
Is this a gadget? Not really. Could you do this without spending 50 bucks? Absolutely. But they’re nicely designed and bring a certain elan to packing for the return journey.
It’s a set of bags to put your dirties in for the homecoming, including a large laundry bag, couple of shoe bags and a sack for stuff, as they say. So everything doesn’t come down with sand or the whiff of that bottle of beer that you spilt over yourself. Or your shoes don’t get to give everything in there a damn good kicking as luggage handlers do their best to test your case’s robustness.
Sure you could use a set of Ziploc bags from the supermarket, but like always wearing clean underwear just in case, you wouldn’t want your luggage opened in front of everyone looking like evidence bags for the local CSI crew.
Available in brown or turquoise.
Cost:$55 (€38) from flight011.com.
* betweenideas.blogspot.com