Travel gear

Colour-coded multiplug adaptor
There's still very little awareness of the JA/C colour-coded electric adaptor system, though it may begin to find more traction thanks to this. It's a multiplug which will work in the sockets of about 150 countries. There are four interlocking plugs: yellow is for many Pacific countries including Australia and New Zealand; blue is the flat two prong, American plug; green is largely what we'd think of as the European standard, and red is our square pin, also used in the UK and China among others. It slots together in a neat block.
$25 from flight001.com

Spree fitness monitor
The last year has seen the emergence of lots of wearable fitness tech, though Spree claims a unique combination of performance and biometric monitoring, recording distance data, heartbeat rate and body temperature. It's all in the waterproof, sweat-channelling silicone headband, with a Bluetooth wireless link to your smartphone. Or you can download all the feedback from its internal memory afterwards.
$299 from spreesports.com

Filson dog car seat saver
There was a car ad a few years ago that featured a dog walker summoning a taxi for his mucky hound rather than have his four-legged friend dirty the new motor. This Filson car seat saver might have done the trick. It's made from washable, heavy duty cotton, and you simply loop the straps over the head rests to sling up a comfy hammock for your dogs. The only problem could be the kids wanting to snooze there too. It is approximately 140cm x 140cm, and it's made in the US.
$165 from filson.com

Tom Kelly
betweenideas.blogspot.com