Jim Eagles: A gadget-filled Christmas

There surely are some amazing travel gadgets around. I've scoured the world for interesting ideas for Christmas presents for enthusiastic travellers and the most entertaining I've found is the Knee Defender (www.kneedefender.com).

This cunning little device, which sells for around $25, was invented by a lanky Yank tired of having his knees crushed when the aircraft seat in front was reclined.

It consists of two little plastic gizmos which fit on to your tray table and prevent the seat in front from coming back at you.

As you would expect, use of this gadget has already sparked a bit of air rage. Can you imagine trying to recline your seat for a nap only to find that it has been locked in place by the passenger behind?

US airlines view Knee Defenders suspiciously and some have even banned them. Air New Zealand hasn't come across this gadget "and if we did, we'd probably take the lead of US carriers and discourage use in-flight" because "the design actually presents some health and safety risks", a spokesman said.

In any case, the airline says, a little boastfully, its seats - especially the new premium economy class on its 747s - offer passengers more leg room and comfort so there's no need for such devices.

It is easy to appreciate both sides of this argument. Clearly it is not on to stop someone from reclining their seat but there have been times when I have been trapped in economy class with the seat in front fully reclined for the entire journey, that I would have loved to use a Knee Defender.

A rather less controversial way of improving in-flight comfort is the 1st Class Sleeper (www.1stclasssleeper.com), a sort of inflatable seat back, invented by an airline pilot who had difficulty sleeping in aircraft seats.

You unroll it, place it against the back of your seat, blow it up, and, says the blurb, "lie back and relax. Your neck, shoulders and spine will be kept in perfect alignment, eliminating stiffness and pain, even on the longest flights, so you will arrive at your destination perfectly rested."

The 1st Class Sleeper, which sells over the web for about $60, has received rave reviews in several US travel publications and looks like a good idea.

But if that sounds a bit boringly practical then how about the new breed of electronic language translators?

These little electronic notebooks translate into the selected language the word you have typed in, spell it phonetically and then, at the push of a button, speak it.

The one I most liked cost $75 on the web (www.goplanmetgo.uk), translated 11 languages, and also offered 705 commonly used phrases in each language.

The idea of typing in "where is the nearest toilet", holding up the translator to a passing local and pushing the speak button is quite appealing.

Unfortunately, several reviews suggested that the translators have limitations, don't always translate accurately and their words are not easily understood by native-speakers.

But, hey, they're natty little gadgets, so does that really matter?

The best gadget I've used is the EzyDry, an inflatable, torso-shaped hanger for drying clothes.

As a great believer in packing light, washing clothes in your room each evening and drying them overnight is a boon.

When I hung my freshly washed shirts over this little doozy they dried quicker and had fewer wrinkles than when I used an ordinary hanger.

Former air hostess Jill Gardner, who now runs her own online travel accessories shop (www.travelcomfortable.com), designed the EzyDry after hearing grumbles from a businessman about how hard it was to get his shirts dry when he was travelling. Gardner sells the EzyDry for $14.95.

For those who really want to look smart while on the road, she also offers a travel iron with a folding handle for $59.95 and a travel clothesline, fastened by suction cups, for $8.95.

Another useful product from Travelcomfortable is the Caire Hand Sanitiser. In the past when travelling overseas, especially in places where sanitation standards are low and new bugs abound, I have relied on antiseptic handwipes to keep my hands clean.

But on a recent trip through Asia I took a little tube of Caire's antiseptic gel, which costs just $4.95. After going to the loo or before eating squeeze out a bit of gel and rub it into your hands.

I found it more convenient than using the tissues and, while it may be coincidence, I was one of only a couple of people in a group of seasoned travellers who didn't pick up a tummy bug.

I loved the sound of the special VIOlight toothbrush sanitiser for travellers, which sells for $43. After brushing, you pop your brush into this special battery-operated case and the UV bulb kills off any nasty foreign germs you may have picked up (www.violight.com).

The Swish massage pen vibrates soothingly when applied to aching muscles and sore pressure points (www.wishlist.com.au). It costs about $43 and also writes in blue ink.

Safe drinking water is one of the big health problems in many parts of the world. In most places you can buy bottled water, though it's important to check the seals because some unscrupulous stall holders fill discarded bottles from the tap.

Alternatively, you can drink through the natty FilterPen which sells for $49.95 and operates like a straw, with high-quality filters to remove all the nasties (www.travelcomfortable.com).

Another option, if you're a cheapskate like me, is to boil water from the tap each night, leave it to cool overnight and top up your water bottle in the morning.

And if the place you're staying in doesn't provide a kettle? You can always buy a compact travel kettle complete with stowable drinking cups for $59.95 (www.travelcomfortable.com). Or for $20 you could take your own immersion coil and boil the water in a cup (walkabouttravelgear.com). As a tea junky I can't live without one.

And, finally, let's not forget the armchair traveller. How about a Geochron? This is a sort of world clock, an illuminated map of the world showing where the sun is shining at any time.

These are really classy - Ronald Reagan gave one to Mikhail Gorbachev - and the standard model, measuring 87cm x 57cm x 12 cm, is available for just $3995 (www.mapworld.co.nz).

Imagine sitting and watching night and day progress across the world, and dreaming of seeing the sun rise on Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Taj Mahal, Canterbury Cathedral, or the Palace of Versailles, while sitting comfortably in your armchair and sipping a cup of Earl Grey.

Not a bad Christmas gift.

* If you've seen any good travel gadgets pass the information on to travel@nzherald.co.nz or Travel, NZ Herald, PO Box 32, Auckland.