Seeking small items for the wanderers on your holiday list? Can’t go wrong with these thoughtful gifts.
Whether your friend is a world traveler who is unlucky with checked bags, your significant other often loses his wallet abroad or your teenager can’t keep track of her iPad, Homing Pin can help. Affix a tiny sticker to a wallet or electronic device, from camera to tablet, or a loop tag to luggage or car keys, then register the unique code online. If you misplace something, you’ll get a text if someone finds your lost item—unless you’ve lost your phone, in which case you can check your online account for details. Homing Pin is also integrated with the WorldTracer baggage handling system, used by 2,200 airports worldwide to track lost bags, letting airlines get in touch quickly when your bag is found. If your item is lost outside an airport, Homing Pin can also arrange international courier service to reunite users with their lost item. The Starter Pack ($10) includes 1 loop & tag, 1 key ring and 4 stickers, protecting 5 items while the Standard Pack ($20) protects 15 items. Each one comes with a one-year subscription to the tracking service, renewable for $8 annually.
Matador: A pocket-sized blanket for impromptu picnics
I was skeptical when I saw the Matador ($24.99) – sure the pocket blanket is elegant and about the size of a deck of cards, but once I unfolded it, would it ever slide back into its tiny attached case? The answer is yes – clever design and colored stitching guides the users of this puncture and water-resistant blanket to fold it just the way it came. Weighted corners will keep it from blowing away and the silky fabric feels great for lounging, so toss one in the glove box of your Tesla and be ready next time beach or meadow beckons.
Vinnibag: Inflatable Travel Bag
Ever since TSA regulations banned liquids from airplane cabins, getting special bottles of wine home has been a problem. Many is the time I have carefully tucked several bottles into a checked bag, then prayed that I didn’t pick up my suitcase from the baggage carousel in a puddle of red wine. While there are many sophisticated travel cases for wine, the Vinnibag ($28) is impressive in its versatility and simplicity. The small, lightweight plastic bag takes up little room in a suitcase, and can form around a variety of bottle shapes and sizes, not to mention other breakables. Stick items in the bag, inflate it with a few breaths of air, stick it in a suitcase, and then deflate when you get home. VinniBag is TSA friendly and was engineered specifically to withstand air travel and high altitudes, and if you aren’t transporting breakables, the designers say you can use it as an ice pack or a waterproof float for your smartphone. Available at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Brookstone.
A craft cocktail can go a long way toward easing the unpleasantries of plane travel. The TSA-approved Carry On Cocktail Kit has the supplies to mix up two delicious Moscow Mules at 30,000 feet, including artisanal small-batch spicy ginger syrup. Grab a nip of rum and a can of seltzer from the flight attendant and get envious looks from traveling companions. The kit includes a recipe card, bar spoon, 1/2 oz. jigger, ginger syrup and a linen coaster.
The Hydaway Bottle: Collapsible Pocket Size Water Bottle
Stash this small water bottle in your carry on, then fill it on the other side of airport security to stay hydrated while traveling. The design allows the Hydaway ($20), which comes in 21-ounce and 12-ounce sizes, to collapse easily to fit in backpacks, lunch boxes, and picnic baskets. All Hydaway bottles are BPA-Free and feature a flip-up straw, carabiner-friendly carry handle, and come with a watertight guarantee.
