1. Cool Vest. Taking
your dog on a trip to the Hot Zone? This import from Japan might be
just the thing to keep Fido cool and comfortable during the dog
days. The Cool Vest, which contains no chemical gels, is made of a
washable fabric that absorbs and retains water so that simply
soaking the adjustable vest provides man's best friend with
protection from direct and indirect sunlight. At the same time, its
laminated lining keeps dogs dry. From mini dachshund ($50.95) to
German shepherd ($58.95); www.gramercydistribution.com/productinfo.html.
2. Sony VAIO TZ.
At only 2.7
pounds and as thin as a rail at less than an inch, this notebook
computer was a wonderful travel mate during a recent 10-day trip in
British Columbia that included several flights aboard cramped float
planes, where luggage space was at a premium. The laptop features
an 11.1-inch screen, a full keyboard, an Intel Core 2 Duo
processor, next-generation wireless technology, optional wide-area
network technologies provided by Sprint (subscription required), an
integrated fingerprint reader for security and something Sony calls
LocationFree software that enables enhanced entertainment options.
The operating system is Microsoft's Windows Vista Business. Starts at $2,200; www.sony.com/vaio.
3. Arthur
Frommer's Expandable Trolley Upright.
Yes, the redoubtable travel
writer, publisher and founder of Frommer's travel guides is out
with a line of luggage designed to be lightweight, durable and
fairly priced. The 21-incher (shown here), like most bags in the
new collection, has a graphite frame, in-line skate wheels, a
one-button-locking trolley handle, front and back pockets, an
integrated ID tag on the trolley uprights and a zip-out suiter
panel. For extra packing, the bag expands by two inches when you
need it. The Frommer's set ranges from a 29-inch trolley to a
12-by-10-by-9-inch personal bag. $79.99; www.ebags.com.
4. Becker
Traffic Assist Highspeed GPS.
The average driver needs a global
positioning system (GPS) just to navigate through the maze of GPS
units on the market. The German-engineered Becker, introduced in
the U.S. by Harman International and sold exclusively at Office
Depot outlets and online, offers a speed-limit alert and display in
addition to the usual bells and whistles: a 3.5-inch touch screen;
64 megabytes of memory, expandable via an SD card; built-in Navteq
maps of the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico; two internal speakers; a
WMA-MP3 player; and a JPEG viewer. A universal dash-mounting system
enables the unit to be attached to a bicycle, if that is how you
are heading down the road. $199; www.officedepot.com.
5. Flatterme Leg
Pocket. This cute and effective theft deterrent is
designed to give travelers a leg up on pickpockets and other
evil-doers lurking at airports and train stations and in hotel
lobbies. Appropriate for men and women, the Leg Pocket -- a wallet
attached to the wearer's leg, ankle, thigh, wrist, bicep or calf
with an appropriately sized band -- is available in lamb leather,
patent leather and suede. From $31 to $35; www.flatterme.com.