What's New, What's Hot: December 2014

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What's New, What's Hot is Travel Weekly's look at useful and fun travel gadgets, edited by Joe Rosen.

ChargerLeash: You wouldn't be the first traveler to inadvertently leave behind your only charger cord when checking out of a hotel room. Now a handy device called the ChargerLeash can keep you and your all-important charger cable together while you are in transit. In short, the ChargerLeash is a sync cable that will alert you when with an alarm within seconds when your device is disconnected from it. The alarm, which can be shut off with the press of a finger, is a gentle but effective reminder to take that cord and charger with you or store it in a safe place until you need to use it again. The product can also serve to warn you if someone attempts to make off with your phone while it is being charged at a public charging station. The ChargerLeash, which can be linked with a wall or car charger, is available in four models: micro USB, multi-tip, Apple 30-pin and Apple Lightning. $19.99 to $39.99; www.chargerleash.com.

Arcopedico LS Shocks: Arcopedico, a family-owned company that produces handmade   shoes in Portugal, is represented by this new unisex travel shoe that is as comfortable as a pair of knit socks yet wears like a shoe. The Shocks, which are lightweight, extremely flexible and easily packable, feature knitted sock-like uppers, durable shoe soles, cushioned insoles, a patented twin-arch support system and adjustable laces. The Shocks, which are great to slip on in the pressurized confines of an airplane, come in a variety of attractive colors, though only gun-metal gray and black are offered in sizes large enough for men. $110; www.arcopedicoshoes.com.

Blynk: Using time-lapsed, programmable photography to shoot your daily travel experiences as you live them, from one picture per second for 16 straight hours or one every five seconds for 56 hours, Blynk is designed to otherwise keep your eyes and hands free while you enjoy the sights, sounds and experiences of being on the go. With dimensions of only 0.5 by 1.4 by 2.5 inches and weighing only 1.4 ounces, Blynk, which is intended to be used with a free downloadable app called LyfeView, can be set down in place or pinned to your clothes. The resulting pictures can be saved as JPEG images or AVI movie clips. The camera comes with a number of convenient features, such as a rechargeable battery and on-off settings, including white balance. Comes in three colors: black, blue or pink. $129.99; www.lyfeshot.com.


Domke Medium Shoulder Bag: This lightweight camera bag (1.9 ounces) has a lot going for it, including a padded tricot interior, a front zippered pocket large enough to store a point-and-shoot camera or other personal device, a secure shoulder strap, a carry handle, steel snap hooks, a sturdy zipper and a main compartment that can handle a compact SLR with lens mounted, extra lenses and accessories. Other attributes are a water-resistant canvas exterior, removable and movable interior dividers and a foam-cell bottom liner for extra protection. Comes in sand, black and olive. Dimensions: exterior, 11.5 by 6 by 9 inches; interior, 9 by 3 by 7 inches. $139.99; www.tiffen.com.

Janska Margot Wrap: This reversible wrap is a perfect companion for a woman who wants to pack lightly yet dress in style. The one-size-fits-all wrap (the average center back length is 33 inches) comes with an oversize patch pocket and is available in three colors: artichoke, paprika and slate. Each reverses to a trendy black. Made of machine-washable bonded fleece, the Margot also can double as a blanket on a chilly flight, and its shawl collar can be used as an insulator for a headrest or an eye-cover to help get some down time on a long flight. Janska also markets at least two other pieces appropriate for travelers, the Pocket Cape (including several attributes of the Margot Wrap plus polar fleece and a single button closure) and the Spitfire Jacket (reversible, easy-to-pack polyester-nylon blend, water-resistant and featuring a double-breasted design). All are made in the U.S. Margot Warp, $129; Pocket Cape, $85; Spitfire Jacket, $195; https://janska.com.

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