Away Travel Carry-On
There’s a simplicity to Away Travel’s luggage, yet the details have been well considered. They’ve got a lightweight, but tough outer shell that it claims is unbreakable.
A pair of external USB ports lets you recharge personal gadgetry off its internal battery and an integrated TSA compliant combination lock secures the zip.
Inside, a nylon laundry bag helps the organising and internal compression straps maximise packing capacity. This is the Carry-On version, but there’s a range of cases that nests inside each other Babushka Dolls-style for storage.
From €225 and up, see awaytravel.com
Scarpa Ribelle Tech OD Boots
Only a particularly lazy columnist might start his piece with some trite analogy about a new boot design signalling a step change. So we won’t be doing that then about Scarpa’s recently launched Ribelle Tech OD Boots.
A new sort of a cross between a trail runner and an Alpine boot, it was designed in association with legendary speed climber, Ueli Steck, who tragically died recently on Everest.
The Vibram sole’s stiff enough for the mountains, while the upper part has a stretchy, built-in gaiter. A waterproof flap protects the lacing and the whole lot weighs in at a miserly 500g.
€399, see scarpa.net for more
Joby GripTight GorillaPod Stand Pro
Joby has chipped away at what might have seemed a fairly limited niche to extend its GorillaPod grippy stands in all directions. (Another dodgy analogy open goal there.)
This one is for smartphones, with a larger tablet GripTight version available too. In effect, it fits any phone and can wrap-fix securely to just about any sort of handle, pole, branch or bar. There's a magnetic model as well, that clings to metallic surfaces like something alien from War of the Worlds.
€65 from connscameras.ie and other good camera stores.
@tomtomkelly