What's New, What's Hot is Travel Weekly's look at useful and fun travel gadgets, edited by Joe Rosen. Click on the image to open the slideshow of all of the featured products for April.
Fleet Messenger Bag for iPad. Part of the Hex brand's Fleet collection of carryalls for electronic devices, this messenger-style bag features an exterior port that enables you to access your iPad or laptop directly simply by lifting a micro-fleeced-lined front flap that serves as a protective cover for the device. As a result, you can surf the Internet while waiting at the airport without having to stuff your iPad or laptop in your carry-on when your flight is called to board. Constructed of a heavy-duty, water-resistant striped canvas shell, the Fleet Messenger Bag has leather zipper pulls and multiple compartments, including an organizer pocket, and comes in two sizes to accommodate 13-inch and 15-inch laptops. $79.95;
www.shophex.com.
4-in-1 Travel Blanket. This poncho-style blanket, designed to cover you from the shoulders down or as a lap throw, is made from a micro-fleece fabric that is at once warm and comfortable. Perfect for home, auto, train or plane, the Travel Blanket can easily be rolled up into its attached case for use as a pillow for head, neck and lumbar support. Available in beige or navy, the Travel Blanket is a carry-on luxury at a time when airlines are cutting back on flight extras such as blankets and pillows. $24.95;
www.travelrest.net.
Art of Shaving Travel Kit. According to the manufacturer, this kit contains the four elements of the perfect shave experience: a pre-shave oil (1 ounce); a glycerin-infused shaving cream (1.7 ounces); an elegant Fusion Razor; and a moisturizing after-shave balm formulated with shea butter and jojoba oil (1.7 ounces). Add to this a pure badger travel shaving brush as well as a leather carrying case, and you have a great grooming accessory for the man on the move. $150;
www.theartofshaving.com.
Jambox by Jawbone. This compact speaker from Jawbone really packs a punch when it comes to wireless audio for any Bluetooth-enabled device, and its modern, minimalist design looks great in any setting. With a distinctive bass, an excellent spectrum of sound and a 33-foot wireless range, the Jambox, which is small enough to fit in one hand, can be carried wherever your travels take you, whether across the ocean or to your own backyard. This wireless, all-in-one speaker system -- it will also handle your Bluetooth phone calls -- obviates the need for docking stations and cables (other than to charge it, and that after as many as 10 hours of use). The Jambox, whose functionality and software can be updated online, comes in four colors: black diamond, blue wave, red dot and gray hex. $199;
www.jawbone.com.
Seagate GoFlex Satellite. This mobile storage device is designed to wirelessly stream movies, photos, music and documents to your iPad, tablet or smartphone, in effect enabling you to carry your media library on the go without worrying that your device will run out of memory space. In fact, the Satellite offers 500GB of storage capacity, with up to seven hours battery life, and can stream media to eight devices at the same time via WiFi. Included with the product are a car charger, appropriate USB cable and adapter, compact wall adapter with retractable pins and a USB-to-DC cable. $199.99;
www.seagate.com.
Got something for What's New, What's Hot? Email Joe Rosen at jrosen@travelweekly.com.