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Seven Stocking Stuffers for Road Warriors
December 10, 2010 | Permalink
Most of us have a road warrior or two on our holiday gift list, and while luggage and laptops make wonderful gifts, they’re too expensive and too big to fit into a stocking. So what can the budget-conscious but thoughtful gift-giver tuck into the stocking of a frequent traveler?
- Travel apps. The first one is kind of a cheat – a cyber stocking stuffer. Apple makes giving these especially easy with their Gift This App feature, which also simplifies refunds if you inadvertently give someone an app they already have (or don’t like). We’ve covered many of the hottest smartphone apps in recent months, so if you’d like some more specific ideas, check our posts from 10/26/10, 9/13/10, 8/12/10 and 4/30/10.
- Replacement earbud sleeves. There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all earbuds. Some sets come with foam sleeves or tips of varying sizes to accommodate different ears, but many don’t. And then there’s the ick factor of repeatedly inserting and removing something from your ear canal. Fortunately, Scan Sound sells replacement rubber tips in three sizes that fit most earbuds for under $10/set.
- Global atomic clock. Sure, our cell phones tell time and have alarms and most rooms have alarm clocks to help you wake up for an early flight or morning meeting. But some of us just sleep better when we have an alarm clock we trust on the nightstand. Global atomic clocks automatically adjust to whatever time zone you’re in, so you can rest easy. Magellan’s has a spiffy little number in red (or black or silver). At 4” x 2 ½” it’s big enough to see without your contacts but slender and light enough to stash in your carryon. Added bonus: Its velour travel pouch means you don’t even need to wrap it for gift giving!
- Smartwool socks. Yeah, we know—socks are right up there with ties for boring and predictable gifts. On the other hand, everyone needs socks, and not all socks are created equal. Smartwool’s products are machine washable and non-itchy, even to the most sensitive skin. The choices range from lightweight dress to heavy hiking and skiing styles, and within each category are choices not only in terms of color and pattern but also in amount of built-in cushioning and cuff height.
- Pack-in-a-pouch rain poncho.Only total dweebswould wear a plastic poncho, you say? Well, in most cases we might agree. But how classy is the dripping and bedraggled look (and smell, if you’re wearing a wool coat)? Le Travel Store’s coated nylon poncho folds into a 6.75” x 5” x 1.25” pouch, easy to keep tucked (hidden) in your briefcase, to pull out when that unexpected downpour complete with gusting winds makes your umbrella a non-starter. At about $30, think of it as travel insurance: not pretty but useful in an emergency.
- Inflatable neck rest. Maybe the inflatable versions are a smidge less comfy than the bead or foam neck rests, but lugging those stuffed cushions is a major pain. We vote for Eagle Creek’s Compact Comfort Travel Pillow. Costing around $20, it inflates and deflates quickly and has a removable, washable micro-fleece cover.
- Food.And for those road warriors able to stay in hotels with real kitchens, consider adding, as a final addition to the perfectly stuffed stocking, a packet or two of gourmet, add-water-only mixes such as Northwest Harvest Red Wine Minestrone or Betty Crocker brownie bowls. Just the thing for the tired business traveler returning to the hotel after a long day..
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