Shopping for some frequent flyers? For the past year, I’ve been keeping track of all my favorite new travel bits and bobs, from techy gadgets to quirky comforts. Some of these I’ve tried, others I’ve coveted: in any case, I hope these ideas make your jet-setting friends’ holidays extra memorable.
Jump Starter
Frequent travelers know the fury of ever-dying batteries, but that’s yesterday’s heartbreak thanks to Native Union’s handy Jump Cable. Not only is the leather-clad pouch as classy as cable carriers come, but the two-in-one charger adds a 30 percent power boost to your device, offers a USB charging port, and even charges itself automatically.
$600 from Native Union, www.nativeunion.com.
Fast & Furrious
If you want to get some shut-eye on a long-haul, you may as well look as cute as possible. The panda eye masks from G.O.D. are equal parts hilarious and adorable—not to mention they’re actually pretty comfortable thanks to the furry ears.
$150 from G.O.D., G-1/F, 48 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2805-1876.
Flash Forward
Sony’s DSC-RX100M3 point-and-shoot digital camera sets a new benchmark. Thanks to a fancy Zeiss lens and a large sensor, it’s comparable in quality to a DSLR but way more convenient to carry around. It’s an investment, but I can’t recommend it highly enough if you travel or take lots of food photos. And who in Hong Kong doesn’t?
$6,290 from Fortress outlets, including Yu Sung Boon Building, 107-111 Des Voeux Rd. Central, 2544-4385.
An Apple a Day
Dress up your iPad and Apple devices with colorful and minimalistic origami VersaCover cases from Moshi. They fold in all kinds of unimaginable ways, so you can adjust your device to suit your activity. Moshi also produces some gorgeous iPhone covers, as well as industrial-strength glass screen protectors.
Cases starting at $580 from Case Collection, Shop 216-217, 2/F, Computer City, 130 Hennessy Rd., Wan Chai, 2838-0928.
#InstaPassport
We all have that jet-setting pal with envy-inducing Instagram photos. I have just the thing: this company called Printstagram enables you to create all kinds of cool gear from your friends’ Instagram collections—think tees, posters, collages, books, calendars, frames, or simple squares.
$93 for set of 24 squares from Printstagram, printstagr.am.
Make That Paper
Suggesting a Kindle may not be terribly novel, but the latest Paperwhite iteration is among my favorite belongings. The automatically adjustable backlight is a game-changer, because now you can read anywhere at any time. The touch-screen and Wi-Fi browsing makes shopping for new books a breeze.
US$119 ($922) from Amazon, www.amazon.com via shipping agent Borderlinx.com; or $1,060 from www.yohohongkong.com.
Yoga a Go Go
Lululemon’s “(Un) Mat” travel yoga mat is smartly designed: thin enough so that you can easily roll it up into your suitcase, while still comfortable for all your favorite postures. Plus the Drishti yoga mat tote is pretty cute too!
Both $450 from Lululemon, 53 Staunton St., Central, 2547-9231.
Bag it Up
There’s no reason your carryall can’t be as gorgeous as your destination: the Hartsfield Weekender tote from Want Les Essentiels de la Vie takes carry-on style to another level with an ergonomic handle design, an Italian leather base, and lots of room to boot.
$3,837 from Want Les Essentiels de la Vie, www.wantessentiels.com.
Zixag to Success
After a year of tripping over a cheaply made carry-on that I bought from the Lanes, I finally upgraded to Zixag’s Airbag, designed by homegrown talent Michael Young. It’s light, spacious, stylish—the whole package.
$1,600 from Zixag, 40 Sai St., Sheung Wan, 2743-2511.
This article originally appeared in my “Escape Routes” travel column in HK Magazine, in print and online.