Best and Worst [travel gadgets/items you have ever purchased]

[Mal]

One of the best: A bottle opener key (Originally given as a vendor gift, have replaced with an ebay version after it broke after 4 or so years).



Fits on the keyring easily, is one of those things that makes you friends in random places and comes in handy at unusual times.

Will have to think about the other categories.

 

[horseman]

Im gonna jump on the best - iPad, worst - inflatble neck pillow thing
that keys pretty awesome too!

 

[11sjw]

Best (solo travel): iPod touch with (self added) velcro on the backside and NC Earbuds. Attaches to the headrest in front (fabric seats) and forms a decent IFE making the Pilbara trips much easier to handle. (I like my neck pillow and it straps in to the top of my backpack too)
Best (family travel): iPod for daughter. Travel Cribbage board for my wife and I.
Worst: Some of those coughpy "Boarding Bags." Such poor quality that the bag breaks after a few uses.

 

[simongr]

What is a "boarding bag"?

Something like this: Crumpler Boarding Bag | Hunt Leather

 

[ashleyn]

Not very original but Bose QC15's must be the best closely followed by my iPad. Bad purchases just get dropped so are rarely memorable.

 

[pshepvic]

Best: definitely Bose QC15s and iPad, but also the hand luggage scales from Qantas inflight shopping. They make packing to the weight limits easy!

Worst: pants with zip off legs that turn them into shorts. Seemed like a good idea at the time but have never used them and they look so daggy!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[get me outta here]

Some of the good and bad above. Also, a couple of packets of chocolate caramel koalas to break the ice.

 

[Fantic125]

What is a "boarding bag"?

Something like this: Crumpler Boarding Bag | Hunt Leather

Actually I would have to say this is one of the best. I've had one for over 12 months and it's great.
My Victorinox travel wallet fits perfectly in the front zipper pocket, along with the blackberry.
The main section takes my android tablet, glasses case and wallet and can even fit in the bose qc 15's when boarding.

 

[get me outta here]

Which is the best / best to avoid travel pillow?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Which is the best / best to avoid travel pillow?

I'm thinking the travel neck pillow, it doesn't even make any anatomical sense

 

[Fantic125]

I'm thinking the travel neck pillow, it doesn't even make any anatomical sense

They actually work better if you use them back to front, with the opening at the back which reduces pressure on your neck, and the thicker section then supports your chin.

They do make your neck hot though.

Of course if you travel in J or F they're irrelevant.

 

[Shelf]

My best and worst purchase is the same item - A waistband wallet.

I was at KUL in 2004, about to fly back to ADL when, for some reason I was challenged at the gate by a very officious looking gent. He asked to sight my passport, which was secured in the wallet...

In order to produce my passport I had to fossick at the front of my pants for about a minute. Upon producing my passport, the guy wasn't very interested in sighting/inspecting/handling it

 

[11sjw]

What is a "boarding bag"?

Something like this: Crumpler Boarding Bag | Hunt Leather

Not what I was meaning. Mine was a clear plastic bag containing some 100ml containers that was purchased at a chemist.

 

[Jleno]

Best - Bose QC15s and iPad 2. Question is, if you could only take one of these two, which would it be? If it was just for the flight, then the QC15s win by a nose. the iPad 2 wins otherwise. The other important thing I put in my QC15's case (which is annoyingly large) is some disposal earplugs. The combination of disposable earplugs and QC15s are as close as I've come to blocking out crying baby symphonies.

Curiously, has anyone tried different noise cancelling headphones to have come across any in-ear headphones that works better than or as well as QC15s? As good as the QC15s are, they're difficult to sleep in, and if any part of the headphone touches the seat, you do get noticeable acoustic noise reverberations.

I enjoy catching up on TV shows on my iPad on long haul flights (a good season's worth can make passing the time on long haul flights so much more enjoyable). I did find trying to watch Game of Thrones on the plane a little awkward though...

Worst - neck pillows as well. The only way I managed to make it useful is to use it in reverse to reduce instances of sleeping in the neck down, mouth open and drooling position. It's otherwise a pretty useless bulky waste of (precious) space.

Wanted - some good quality eye masks that are soft, comfortable and importantly, totally block out light. Haven't managed to find any.

 

[JessicaTam]

<snip>
Curiously, has anyone tried different noise cancelling headphones to have come across any in-ear headphones that works better than or as well as QC15s? As good as the QC15s are, they're difficult to sleep in, and if any part of the headphone touches the seat, you do get noticeable acoustic noise reverberations.
<snip>

I have found the QC2 have the same problem, but the new QC3 do not. Worth a try.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Wanted - some good quality eye masks that are soft, comfortable and importantly, totally block out light. Haven't managed to find any.

The old BA F ones are superb. The current QF F ones a close second

 

[dodgeyhack]

Best is easy. Sennheiser PXC250 NC headphones by a long margin.
Also very fond of my Bellroy passport wallet.

Worst is tough.
Probably the deoderant that I took on my last flight that leaked. Lucky it was in the fluids bag.

 

[serfty]

The old BA F ones are superb. The current QF F ones a close second

FWIW, I keep going back to a pair of dun green CX J masks from 2005 ... easy on the ears, full blocking, lightest, most perspiration friendly I have come across.

 

[Travel Guru]

Wanted - some good quality eye masks that are soft, comfortable and importantly, totally block out light. Haven't managed to find any.

The best eye masks you can get are those with cut out eye sockets as they leave the eyes room to move and you're more likely to achieve restful R.E.M. sleep while wearing them (the soft padded ones while feeling nice stop eye movement while sleeping and don't allow that deep sleep that leaves you rested).

Mine is an Eagle Creek one though have yet to find another one and the current Eagle Creek ones are different. Magellan's in the US sell one for about $15 (was in their Santa Monica store last week and picked one up as a spare) - Good Night Sleep Mask &ndash; IF707 | Magellan's Travel Supplies

Both do a great job of blocking out light.

TG

 

[k3nnis]

is the iPAD 3 better or iPAD 2 ?