First-time travel trailer buyers quickly realize that RVs, motorhomes, campers, and travel trailers aren’t much different.

Purchasing your travel trailer is only the first step. Modern campers require a lot of extra “stuff” to ensure they’re comfortable, safe, and well-maintained.

We’ll assume you’ve already shopped the basics. Many — like safe drinking hoses, sewer hoses, and wheel chocks — are obvious. But, if you’re a new owner or just bought your first travel trailer, these are the must-have travel trailer accessories that may not have occurred to you.

This isn’t a fluff list of RV kitchen gadgets that we’re calling “essential,” but rather the must-have travel trailer accessories that we never leave home without. No matter where we’re going or for how long, we always pack these.

Electrical Travel Trailer Accessories

Surge Protector

The electrical systems in most travel trailers are complex and delicate. The electric systems at many state parks and campgrounds are (often) old, shoddy, and unpredictable. It’s a terrible mix.

Plugging your new or new-to-you travel trailer into shore power is always a gamble. All it takes is one incorrectly wired 30-amp socket to fry your trailer’s electronics, and you’re looking at a costly repair.

The solution: A surge protector designed specifically for travel trailers and RVs. This is hands-down one of the most important travel trailer accessories, as it acts as a “go-between” from campground power to your travel trailer. If something goes hinky with the campground’s electrical system, the surge protector will shut off before a potentially dangerous spike hits your rig.

For us, we love the Hughes Autoformers PWD30-EPO Power Watchdog Smart Bluetooth Surge Protector Plus EPO. At around $200, it’s the most expensive accessory we purchased for our travel trailer. But, we can’t recommend it more highly.

One really nice feature is that we can monitor the surge protector on our phones via Bluetooth. On the occasions where we’ve overloaded the circuit, the PWD30-EPO can be easily reset through the dedicated app. We don’t even have to leave our travel trailer.

If yours is a 50-amp rig, check out the Hughes Autoformers PWD50-EPO-H Power Watchdog Smart Bluetooth Surge Protector Plus EPO with Auto Shutoff.

Extension Cords

Depending on where you camp, extension cords are something you won’t need often. But, like RV insurance, when you need it, you’ll be very, very glad you have it.

For a 30 amp travel trailer, I highly recommend having at least a 10-foot 30-amp extension cord. A 25-foot cord is better. We keep a 10-foot 15-amp extension cord on hand as well.

LED Light Bulbs

Some would argue this isn’t completely necessary. They’re not wrong. You can certainly live with your factory-installed incandescent bulbs.

The problem is that they suck a lot of power — like a lot relative to their size and the function they serve. When you’re running a small, 30-amp travel trailer, every amp counts. I want every last bit of power available to me.

The solution is to replace the factory bulbs in your travel trailer with LEDs. For a small travel trailer, like our 17-foot Casita with around a dozen bulbs, that costs about $30. The bulbs are rated to tens of thousands of hours, so basically they’ll outlast you.

If you’re worried because you’re not handy, just know that replacing the bulbs in your RV is not much different than replacing the light bulbs in your home. Pop the old ones out, pop the new ones in.

It’s one of the most inexpensive upgrades you can make to your travel trailer, and it’s more than worth it.

Battery Tester

Travel trailer owners quickly learn that so much of their sanity and comfort while camping revolves around a healthy battery. Many RV and travel trailer issues center around the electrical system. So, when problems arise, the first and easiest thing to do is to check the battery.

Thankfully, testing your battery is as easy as, well, using a battery tester. Just plug this little device into a 12v outlet somewhere in your travel trailer and check the reading to ensure your battery is charged and working properly.

Water & Plumbing Travel Trailer Accessories

Water Pressure Regulator

The same reasons you should buy a surge protector — fragile travel trailer electrical systems and shoddy campground electrical systems don’t mix — are why you need a water pressure regulator.

Unregulated campground water pressure can vary between a trickle and over 100 psi. The latter is enough to literally break the plumbing in most travel trailers and cause a catastrophic flood in the process.

A water pressure regulator is an inexpensive metal piece that physically restricts the flow of water at the spigot. There are hundreds of options but we went with this brass model from Camco.

It’s less than $20 and dead-simple to use: Screw it directly to the spigot, then hook up your travel trailer’s water hose as usual. It’s factory set to no more than 50 psi, so you can rest assured it won’t break your plumbing.

You don’t absolutely need a regulator with a gauge. But, I like being able to see how strong the flow is. Plus, it means that I can get a visual reading on whether water is actually flowing without even leaving our Casita.

Water Filter

Campground water quality is often as questionable as the water pressure. If you’re planning to drink the tap water (or shower with, or do dishes with, or cook with, or brush your teeth with …), you’re going to want a water filter.

There are dozens of great RV water filter brands on the market. We went with Culligan, and have been very happy with it. The filters run about $25 and are designed to last an entire season. So, at the end of the year, just toss it and buy a new one next year.

Happy Camper Powder

Most travel trailer toilets are designed not to stink — as long as you take care of them. Febreze and Poo-Pouri will only take you so far before your camper-mates begin to hate you.

The dirt-cheap solution is Happy Campers holding tank treatment powder. Follow the directions on the package to the letter, and you’re toilet (and bathroom) will never smell. Plus, it’s biodegradable, eco-safe, and septic-friendly.

Everything Else …

Headlamp

Most people think to pack a flashlight. And you should. I love this multipurpose, solar-rechargeable light from Goal Zero.

But, I would strongly suggest packing a headlamp too. Despite our best intentions, we occasionally wind up pulling into camp after dark. A headlamp (instead of a flashlight) guarantees that I have both hands free while unhitching and hooking up our water, sewer, and electric.

Rubber Gloves

On a checklist of travel trailer accessories, rubber gloves might seem like just a “nice-to-have” item. But, trust me, they’re essential, even if you’re not a germaphobe. And especially now in the time of COVID-19.

When you’re hooking up at a dozen different campgrounds on your next trip, you’re going to be sticking your hands in some questionable places. There’s just no way around it.

Reusable gloves work just as well and are much better for the environment. But, this is one thing that I prefer to go the disposable route. I use one pair to hook up when we arrive at camp, and another when we’re breaking down. Finish with plenty of hand sanitizer, of course.

Bonus: Ceramic Space Heater

Travel trailer owners who camp in winter or anywhere that cold weather is an issue know that reliable heat is critical. Propane is dirt cheap and fairly reliable in most RV furnaces.

But, we’ve found that a ceramic heater is even better. They’re small, ultra-portable, and inexpensive. (Tip: Get one with tip-over protection, especially if you have pets.)

Plus, if you’re hooked up to shore power, you can use the campground’s “free” electricity rather than paying to burn your own propane. It’s also a great backup in the event that your furnace fails or you run out of propane in the middle of a brutal, 20-degree night in February in the Outer Banks when nothing is open for miles in every direction (ask me how I know …).

What are your most essential travel trailer accessories — those bits of camper kit you never leave home without? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Travel Trailer Accessories You Absolutely Need (Read This BEFORE Your First Trip) appeared first on Vagabondish.

Of all the things we had to learn with our new RV, figuring out how to safely travel with Lizzi the Travel Cat was the most stressful. After an eight-week, break-in road trip from Oklahoma to New England and back again, we learned a lot. Here’s the low-down on traveling with cats in a travel trailer (most of these tips apply to traveling with cats in a fifth wheel or popup camper too!) …

Make Sure the Tow Vehicle Is Comfortable

Because we’re traveling with a travel trailer (i.e., one that we tow, rather than drive), Lizzi travels with us in the 4Runner on travel days. Most days, she’s confined to the SUV for between two and four hours. That’s a long time for a cat to be stuck in a vehicle. So, we make sure that it’s as comfortable for her as possible. As I mentioned, I’ve written an entire post on traveling with a cat in a car because that’s worth a guide unto itself.

If you’re RV’ing with a travel trailer (meaning your cat will be with you in your tow vehicle at least some of the time), I’d highly recommend checking out that guide first, then coming back here. If you’ve already got that part of traveling with your cat sorted, carry on below …

Take It Slooow …

Cats are, of course, creatures of habit. They love the status quo: Same litter box, same bed, same food, same hoomans. So, introducing them into a completely new environment — like, say, a travel trailer — is stressful. It smells weird (to them), the layout is different than home, and EVERYTHING IS WRONG. The key is to take it slow.

Before heading out on a weeks- or months-long trip, find somewhere like a KOA or other easy, reliable campground near home for a quick overnight trip. Use it as a break-in (or “shakedown”) trip for your new travel trailer or RV. Don’t buy anything new just yet. Bring all of your cat’s usual, safe, comfortable essentials — the same litter box, their favorite toys, the typical food, etc. Don’t change a thing. Keep as much in their new environment as familiar as possible.

Introduce them to your new travel trailer, and sit with them. Pet them, speak softly to them, put on some soothing Yanni music. Reassure them that this new space is completely safe. And that everything is going to be just fine.

Thankfully, Lizzi takes to new spaces pretty quickly. So, introducing her to the Casita was surprisingly easy. Most cats, however, will probably need time to adjust. Once you feel like yours is a little more comfortable in their new digs, then it’s time to consider what new products you may need to buy to make traveling with cats in your travel trailer work for you.

Find the Right RV Cat Litter Box

Finding the right litter box for Lizzi somehow became the most challenging task about traveling in our new-to-us Casita. Cat owners with tiny travel trailers quickly realize the problem is two-fold.

First, you need a box that’s small enough to neatly tuck away somewhere in your tiny travel trailer. In our 17-foot Casita, the space is extremely limited. Because we’re keeping the rear dinette/bed combo down as a full-time bed, the total floor space is probably 30 square feet. So, our options were limited to:

• In our only storage closet: This proved unrealistic as we needed every cubic foot of that storage space. Plus, it would’ve meant Lizzi had to jump over a large (12-inch-ish), high lip to get to her box every time. The closet would also have been a trap for litter which I would’ve had to vacuum at least daily.
• In the bathroom: Also unrealistic as we didn’t want to risk cat litter getting into and clogging the RV’s shower and sensitive plumbing. Plus, frankly, there just isn’t enough room.
• Behind the forward-most captain’s chair: Because of the angle of the chair back, this wound up working great. There’s enough room behind the chair to put Lizzi’s litter box. At night, we can even slide the box out from behind the chair to give her more room to do her business.

This leads to the second and more important concern: The litter box has to be compact, yet still large enough to accommodate your kitty. If the space is too confined, it’ll stress the cat. They’ll end up not using the box at all or using it but “missing” half the time.

I should say that for travel trailer owners with average-sized cats, this may not be an issue. Most normal cats and especially kittens will have no problem using a standard litter box. Lizzi, however, is anything but “standard.” She’s a taller-than-average calico who, for whatever reason, occasionally stands in the litter box but hangs her butt over the side to do her business. Sometimes this results in pee winding up where it doesn’t belong.

Getting cat urine into the cracks and crevices and on the carpeted walls of our precious Casita literally kept me up nights. I had to find a strategy that worked.

For us, we went through three different litter boxes before finding one that worked. I can recommend all three as they’re all actually pretty good and will probably work for most cats. Unfortunately, only one worked for Lizzi.

The Best Cat Litter Box for RVs and Travel Trailers

I was this-year years old when I found out vertical-entry cat boxes were a thing. My initial reaction was, “There’s no way a cat would use that.” But, after reading reviews from tons of satisfied (and similarly surprised) cat owners who had tried one and loved it, I decided to give it a shot.

The Top-Entry or Vertical-Entry Cat Litter Box

The IRIS USA Medium Top Entry Cat Litter Box was the first one I bought. To my delight, it fit perfectly. It’s also made well and looks great — well, it looks great for a cat litter box — which made Kelsey happy. The sleek, curvy, white design blends pretty seamlessly into our travel trailer without the typical “cat box look.”

Sadly, Lizzi wasn’t having any of it. For a vertical-entry litter box to work properly, the cat needs to be able to jump on top of the lid, then down into the box. But, with the lid on, the inside of the box was way too small for her. She couldn’t even stand up in it. Which meant we had to take the lid off, which then meant she was skittish about jumping into it at all. Total fail.

That said, I’d still recommend this solution if you have an average-sized cat who is fine with using a lidded litter box. With the lid on, the sleek design hardly looks like a litter box. Plus, it’s fantastic at keeping litter in the box — which, if you own a small travel trailer (like a Casita or Scamp), you’re very familiar with having to constantly sweep or vacuum to keep your floor clean (more on that in a minute).

The High-Sided Litter Box

Try #2: Since the first IRIS litter box almost worked, but not quite, I decided to try another option from the company. This time, I went with the IRIS Shielded Litter Pan For Cats.

The white, curvy design is not quite as elegant as the first option, but it still looks better than a typical litter box. It’s also not enclosed (which Lizzi clearly hates) and the back has a higher side that, in theory, should help keep more pee in the box. Again, it also fit perfectly in the same space behind the captain’s chair.

Lizzi’s take? Nope. She would stand “backwards” in it to pee — meaning one paw on the high side with her butt toward the front — and go outside the box almost every time. Super total epic fail.

Actually, while this second option didn’t work inside the travel trailer, we decided to remove the high-backed piece and use the bottom tray as a second litter box for our tow vehicle. That way, we didn’t have to keep moving Lizzi’s one litter box between the 4Runner and Casita every time we stopped. There’s now always a litter box in each space.

I should take this aside to note that cat logic works exactly opposite of human logic. However you expect them to behave, they won’t.

The Plain Ol’ Tray-Style Litter Box

Third and final try …

Ultimately, after more hours of studying cat bathroom habits than I’d care to admit to, I learned that most cats need the extra space behind their bodies to not feel too confined in their litter box. A high-sided litter box can “scrunch” (that’s a scientific term) their tails while going to the bathroom, causing them discomfort and stress. For some, their solution is to turn around, facing their butt away from the highest side, and waste ending up outside the box.

So, in the end, the solution we decided on was a pretty standard, low-sided, tray-style model with normal proportions. I picked it up at Petsmart for less than $10. The most important component was just measuring to make sure it would fit behind the captain’s chair in our travel trailer. Lizzi’s taken to it just fine with minimal “accidents.”

If I had just done that in the very beginning without overthinking it, I probably would’ve saved myself $50 and a dozen hours of my life. But, again: cat logic.

… And Find the Right Cat Litter Too

Another thing we learned about living with our cat in a tiny travel trailer is that the RV interior can smell like cat litter very quickly. Kelsey and I aren’t down with the strong, “try-to-mask-that-odor-at-all-costs” smell of most scented kitty litters. So, we buy unscented litter to eliminate that problem.

More specifically, the small, 8.5-pound plastic jugs of Tidy Cats LightWeight Free & Clean. They’re lightweight (obviously), compact (important for anyone with limited storage in a tiny RV), and one jug contains enough litter to fill most typical cat litter boxes with a little left over.

Get Pee-Pee Protection in Place for Your RV

One product that’s helped me keep my sanity is puppy pee pads. I stumbled across these on a visit to Petsmart, and they’ve been a godsend. I pin one pad to the wall (the walls are covered in carpet in our Casita) using drapery hooks, then Gorilla Tape a second pad to the floor underneath her litter box.

She mostly — mostly — gets everything in the box now that we found the right one. But, on the rare occasions when she misses, the pee pads catch any excess. Once they get dirty, I simply toss and replace.

Scoop the Cat Box in Your RV Often

I’ve read some people go a week (or more?) without scooping their cat’s litter box. Frankly, that sounds disgusting to me. But, I don’t want to judge …

I’ll just say that, if you’re traveling in an RV or travel trailer with a cat, you’re going to want — even need — to scoop the litter box every day.

Smells accumulate fast in an RV. Particularly if you’re traveling in extreme heat or cold without the opportunity to open the windows, it can get stinky very quickly. So, for your sake — and your kitty’s! — scoop their litter box often.

Change Your Cat’s Water Often

We change Lizzi’s water often at home. But, in the Casita, we found that her water bowl collects bits of dirt and dust much faster than at home. With the three of us constantly moving around, and we humans going in and out of the trailer often, there are a lot more particulates in the air. So, we change out her water and rinse the bowl at least daily, sometimes more if it calls for it.

As an aside, it’s worth noting we only give her water from the same source we drink from. In our case, we don’t drink water that’s passed through the Casita’s plumbing (not necessary, but it’s our preference). We only drink water that’s been filtered at the spigot using a Culligan RV water filter.

Sweep Your Travel Trailer Daily

In an RV — especially in a small travel trailer — cat litter will get everywhere. Even with a vertical-entry or high-sided litter box, there’s just no way around this fact.

I got in the habit of sweeping the entire floor of our travel trailer every morning. It’s so small that, even with a tiny hand broom and dustpan, it takes less than two minutes.

… And Vacuum Too

You probably won’t need to vacuum daily. But, cat litter has a way of getting into every nook and cranny, especially in places where a broom and dustpan just can’t reach. We found our household Shark Rocket Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum to be perfect for traveling with. We’ve actually owned this model for a couple of years.

What’s great about it is that we take only the main body of it with us and leave all of the accessories and other bits at home. It’s affordable, lightweight, ultra-compact, and plenty powerful enough to clean the Casita in just a couple of minutes.

Keep a Close Watch on Your Fur Baby (or “How to Keep Cats from Escaping RV”)

Traveling and living in such a small space means our cat is always within just a few feet of the front door. If she wants to escape, it’s a quick hop or two to freedom.

Thankfully, Lizzi is perfectly happy indoors. She’s an indoor cat at home and doesn’t have much interest in straying too far from her always full food bowl and a soft, warm bed. Still, we spent the money (I think it was less than $50) to get her microchipped. It’s a small price to pay to ensure that, if she does get out, we have a good chance of finding her.

Of course, if your kitty has a knack for trying to escape, that’s a whole new worry. When we were on the road in our travel trailer, I always made sure to check where Lizzi was whenever I was going in and out of the trailer. If she was resting or asleep in a chair or on our bed (really, it’s her bed), I was confident I could safely go in and out of the trailer. But, I never just assumed where she was.

The same goes for closing the front door — I never assumed it was shut after leaving the RV. I would always push it closed, listen for the click, and push it again. Check and double-check. When you’re on the road, going in and out of the trailer at camp dozens of times a day, it’s easy to get lax about assuming the door is shut. It only takes a few seconds for your curious kitty to learn that it isn’t and make a break for it. Whenever you’re reentering your travel trailer, open the door slowly to make sure they’re not right on the other side waiting to bolt. Of course, a screen door is a big plus here.

One final tip: Keep a current photo of your cat on your phone. This shouldn’t be a problem for most cat owners who tend to take more photos of their kitties than of their kids. In the event yours ever wanders off, you can show the photo to other campers, campground owners, etc. to help you find them.

So, that’s about it. After a lot of trial and error, it seems we have a good system for traveling with a cat in our travel trailer. Probably … maybe. I know we’ll learn more as we go.

Are you an RV or travel trailer owner with a cat? What are your tips for traveling with your cat and keeping them happy, healthy, and safe along the way? Kelsey and I would love to hear your thoughts!

The post How We Travel with a Cat in Our Tiny 17′ Casita Travel Trailer appeared first on Vagabondish.

Before this COVID-19 mess started, we were looking into air purifiers for our apartment. After countless hours of research, we learned that HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are pretty much the gold standard for air purifiers. According to the EPA, they “can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).”

Many entry-level home air purifiers feature a HEPA-like filter, but that’s not the same. We knew we wanted a true HEPA filter. The problem is that purifiers with true HEPA filters are often expensive.

To be honest, the whole research process proved too confusing. I learned a whole lot of jargon and plenty of buzzwords, but nothing meaningful about which home air purifier we should actually buy.

Fast-forward to a month ago when Sharp reached out to us — somewhat serendipitously — with an offer to do an at-home test of the Sharp Air Purifier (FPK50UW). They didn’t pay for this review. They just sent us a sample, no strings attached. In return, all I promised them was an honest review.

Here’s what we found …

The Skinny on the Sharp Air Purifier (FPK50UW)

Here are the most important bullet points according to Sharp:

• Recommended for Medium Room Areas up to 259 sq. ft.
• Long-Life True HEPA Filter Lasts Up to 2 Years
• Plasmacluster® Ion Technology Eliminates Microscopic Pollutants That Traditional Filters Cannot Trap
• Proven Effective in Reducing Certain Germs, Bacteria, Viruses, Mold, and Fungus
• True HEPA Filter Captures 99.97% of Particles That Pass Through The Filter as Small as 0.3 Microns
• True HEPA Filtration is Ideal for Removing Common Household Allergens
• Three Manual Fan Speeds Plus Express Clean
• ENERGY STAR® Rated, AHAM Verified Tested, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Certified
• CADR: Smoke (167)/ Dust (171)/ Pollen (188)

Our Honest Take on Sharp’s FPK50UW Air Purifier

I should preface this by saying that we have no way to test a product like this in a scientific laboratory with beakers and Bunsen burners and graphs. These are only our subjective impressions based on using the FPK50UW in our apartment. It’s been running almost non-stop since we received it more than a month ago.

Setup was simple. The air purifier is a standalone unit that comes preassembled. We dropped in the two included filters, plugged it in, and turned it on. The entire process took five minutes.

Sharp bills this as an air purifier for “medium-sized rooms” of around 260 square feet. We set ours up in the master bedroom which is smaller than that.

This purifier is dead-simple to use. The photo above shows a close-up of the only buttons on the unit. After setup, we turned it on and hit the Express Clean button. This is like a “maximum” mode that activates Sharp’s own Plasmacluster technology.

According to the company, this:

… mimics nature’s own cleaning process, by splitting water molecules into positively and negatively charged ions, which spread throughout the room and actively break down pollutants like germs, airborne and surface-adhering bacteria, fungus, mold, viruses and clinging odors, and then return to the air as water vapor.

The purifier turns off this mode automatically after an hour. The air in our bedroom immediately smelled crisper, cleaner, and less “heavy” (for lack of a better word). We use this mode every other week or so, especially on days where we’ve had the windows open for a few hours and want to “scrub” the pollen and other allergens from the air.

On most days, we use one of the purifier’s main modes (indicated by the fan icon in the photo above). During the day, we run it on “low” mode which is very quiet. We can hear it running if we stand next to the unit, but the noise is low enough to sleep with if we needed to.

At night, however, we switch it to “night” mode. This turns off the indicator lights on the front of the purifier (which are normally quite bright) and switches the fan to its lowest setting. In this mode, it’s almost completely silent. I’m a pretty light sleeper and it doesn’t keep me up at all.

After more than a month of almost non-stop use, it’s still running quietly and consistently. A week or so ago, the red maintenance light on the front clicked on. This happens after a certain number of hours of use. I vacuumed the filter with our regular house vacuum, reset the light, and that was that.

Thankfully, I don’t have problems with allergies, so whatever is in the air rarely bothers me. But, both Kelsey and our cat do (we suspect the cat is allergic to herself — is that possible?). Since running the purifier, Kelsey noticed a significant decrease in her allergy symptoms. She also takes less Benadryl most nights. Lizzi the cat was having occasional sneezing fits for years — especially when the seasonal allergens really kicked up. Now, she has virtually none.

The Bottom Line

With its minimal, user-friendly design, compact size, and built-in true HEPA filter, Sharp’s FPK50UW Air Purifier is an affordable clean-air solution for health-conscious travelers.

Pricing + Availability

The FPK50UW Sharp Air Purifier officially retails for $229.99. Amazon often has it (along with other Sharp purifiers) for less.

The post Why We Made a Home Air Purifier Part of Our Travel Lifestyle appeared first on Vagabondish.

That’s the manufacturer’s claim for the new BioLite HeadLamp 200. And they weren’t wrong, as I found out the hard way while camping in Nevada recently. While removing my knit winter hat, I absent-mindedly forgot the headlamp was wrapped around it, and almost dropped it into my campfire on three separate occasions. Every time, I cursed myself and swore I wouldn’t do it again. And every time, five minutes later, I’d already forgotten the 50-gram lamp was on my head.

The Skinny on BioLite’s New HeadLamp 200

Here’s how BioLite bills the new HeadLamp 200 …

The Vagabond’s Take

For most folks, a headlamp is a headlamp is a headlamp. All include a stretchy band with a rectangular, usually high-intensity LED light that sits in the middle of your forehead to help you navigate dinner at camp or spot a bear leering at you from between the trees. Yes, BioLite’s newest headlamp does all that, but in a more streamlined, ultra-lightweight, comfortable package than most.

It offers a few seemingly minor features that have already made it a go-essential for my camping and car camping trips. The first is a moisture-wicking fabric headband that’s soft, comfortable, and stays dry no matter what I’m doing (all of which contribute to the “too easy to forget I’m wearing it” factor). The second is an easily articulating bezel for angling the light exactly where I need it with one hand.

But, perhaps most importantly, it’s USB rechargeable via an included micro-USB cable. I love being able to leave the standard alkaline batteries at home, knowing that I can top up the battery from my car or backup power bank on the road. It also features a clever lock mode so it never accidentally turns on in my pack and bleeds the battery dry. At its lowest setting, the 700mAH lithium-ion battery is good for 40 hours of burn time — plenty for a long weekend away, even without recharging. But, at least I know that I can recharge it from any powered USB port.

The BioLite HeadLamp 200 features four lighting modes: white strobe, white spot (with dimming), red flood (with dimming), and red strobe. I use the white spot mode 95% of the time. It’ll blast a 50-meter beam when I really need to hunt for something. But, even in the pitch-black Nevada desert, that was overkill for most tasks. It works just as effectively — and lasts far longer — at a dimmer setting. (If you decide you really need more, check out the BioLite HeadLamp 330 with nearly 50% more brightness.)

At 200 lumens, it certainly isn’t the brightest headlamp on the market. But, that modest illumination is plenty for almost any task at basecamp. For cooking, reading, finding a pee tree in the middle of the night, or searching for the right camera cable, it’s more than enough.

Pricing and Availability

The BioLite HeadLamp 200 is now available in four earthly colors: Midnight Grey, Ocean Teal, Moss Green, or Ember Red. At less than $45, it practically feels like a steal.

The post BioLite HeadLamp 200 Is the Featherweight Head Lamp You’ll (Probably) Forget You’re Wearing appeared first on Vagabondish.

The Best RV Kitchen Gadgets for Every On-the-Go Chef

Flexible Wood Cutting Board

The easiest way to keep the cabinets, countertop, and mise en place in your RV tight is by using compact, lightweight, and cleverly designed kitchenware. This flexible wood cutting board from The Grommet is all three. It’s lighter and more durable than most glass cutting boards, and thinner than traditional wood alternatives. We coated ours with food-grade mineral oil (because the surface is made with real hardwood), and the chopped food slides right off. Plus, the non-slip silicone backing ensures it stays in place while we’re chopping.

Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System

I’m not typically a fan of all-in-one systems that promise to do sixteen different things. The Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System is a rare exception. Fair warning: It’s pricey. But, I’m a firm believer in “you get what you pay for.” The pan + burner combo set guarantees powerful, precise cooking via a clever induction burner. The 11-inch pan is perfectly sized for couples, although the 5.5-quart chef’s pot is available for RVers who need to cook bigger meals.

The best part about the system, however, is that it integrates with the custom Hestan Cue Recipe App. The app provides step-by-step instructions that allow you to cook elaborate, gourmet meals with restaurant-quality taste.

All American Sun Oven (Solar Cooker)

Spend any time off-grid and you quickly realize that two things become quite challenging without ready access to electricity: Air-conditioning and cooking. The All American Sun Oven aims to solve the latter. It’s not an in-the-kitchen gadget, as it’s designed to be used outside.

Setup is straightforward — just unfold the reflective panels and point toward your nearest star. The sun’s concentrated rays can heat the inside to an incredible 400 degrees which is good enough to cook almost anything. While it sounds like a bizarre infomercial product, it really works. The company even includes a recipe book to help you perfect your oven-less solar cooking skills.

AeroPress Coffee & Espresso Maker

Devotees of AeroPress‘ wildly popular coffee maker will tell you it’s the best and only way to make damn good coffee. Unlike any other brewing method, it uses a rapid, total immersion process that guarantees a smooth full-flavored taste with little bitterness or acidity. Although it packs down small, it’ll pull up to three cups of traditional-style coffee in less than a minute.

While a French press can promise the same, the AeroPress uses a paper microfilter to eliminate grit and make for easy cleanup. Also: It doesn’t rely on electricity so it’s perfect for your RV kitchen while dry camping.

Lodge Cast Iron Pan

For cooking in your RV kitchen or by the campfire, there’s hardly a better tool than an old-school cast-iron skillet. We love Lodge — their products are durable, American-made, and they’ll probably outlast you. Despite the fact that they’re extremely heavy, they’re a perfect addition to your any RV kitchen in every other way.

Opt for a medium size (like a 10.25″ skillet) that’s well-suited for making almost any meal for two. Unless you’re traveling with a baseball team, skip the cast-iron pan sets. If you buy the right size, you shouldn’t need more than a single pan. This skillet from Lodge comes pre-seasoned and ready to use.

Clear(2)O® Water Filter

A water filter is hardly a “sexy” kitchen gadget. But, great-tasting H20 can make a big difference in your RV kitchen. For obvious reasons: It’s healthier for both cooking and drinking.

A decent filter like the CLEAR2O RV and Marine Inline Water Filter uses a solid-block carbon filter to reduce contaminants down to one micron (even many of the best filters on the market only filter down to 20 microns) — 70 times smaller than a human hair.

It even reduces herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial wastes, and perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOA’s) in your water. Plus, it’s inexpensive, easy-to-install, and lasts up to six months.

Planetary Design RV Kitchen Storage

Overlanders are a resourceful bunch. They often travel to places that even hardened dry campers won’t go. So, their tools need to work flawlessly and their kitchens need to be organized to a fault. The Overland Band Bundle from Planetary Design is a clever, foolproof gadget to keep your RV kitchen essentials in check.

The set includes two airtight food storage containers — a small, 4-inch and a medium, 7-inch — plus a durable rubber band to keep them together. (Bonus: The band can also be used to secure measuring spoons to the outside of the containers). It’s perfect for storing coffee, spices, pet treats, or baking essentials.

What do you recommend for the best RV kitchen gadgets? What tools make campfire cooking easier for you?

The post 7 Must-Have Gadgets to Trick Out Your RV Kitchen for 2020 appeared first on Vagabondish.

To be sure, this list has never failed me on trips to countless countries on all seven continents. This isn’t intended to be comprehensive, of course. No single list can simultaneously prepare you for Antarctica and South Africa, for example. The clothing you might wear on a polar kayaking expedition would hardly work on safari. But, I’m confident that packing and knowing how to properly layer these men’s travel clothes will prepare you to travel just about anywhere comfortably.

If you’re not interested in specific recommendations, these are the best men’s travel clothing brands I trust and recommend:

The Best Travel Clothes for Men

Best Men’s Travel Pants: Aviator

Maybe it’s the fact that my butt stopped growing at twelve years old, but I’ve always had a helluva time finding pants that fit well. I stopped buying jeans online because I returned every single pair I ordered. Aviator makes a big promise with their self-described Best Travel Jeans in the World. That’s literally what they’re called.

When they offered to send me a pair, I was skeptical. But, after just a few weeks, I can safely say they’re hands-down the most comfortable pants I own. They’re soft and made to stretch, which is why they’re now my go-to pants for long-haul flights. Three zippered pockets (one in the front, two around back) provide plenty of secure storage for a wallet, passport, phone, and maybe a switchblade to keep the muggers at bay. Plus, how rad is that rear leather patch?

They’re available in a variety of traditional denim washes, but I opted for the Khaki version. It’s a versatile design that’s dressy enough to wear to a decent restaurant, but lightweight and casual enough for day hikes and city exploration. Every pair is sold with a 34-inch inseam, but the company will tailor the length for a nominal fee.

Best Men’s Travel Shorts: Icebreaker Connection Commuter Shorts

Straight up, merino wool is the best material for active travelers. If I could pick just one material for every piece of travel clothing — shorts, socks, hats, underwear, lederhosen — that I own it would be merino. Icebreaker is one of the biggest and best merino brands in the world. Every article of theirs that I own still looks as new as the day I bought it.

That includes my pair of Connection Commuter Shorts. The materials are a mix of nylon/spandex on the exterior (for durability, water repellency, and stretch) and merino next to the skin so they’re ultra-comfortable and almost never smell. The Monsoon Gray color is casual enough for hiking and city exploring, but can also be dressed up for evenings out.

Best Men’s Travel Shirts

I like to travel with a mix of casual and active shirts. Both kinds are well-suited for specific purposes.

Casual Men’s Travel Shirts: Bombas

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt seen the avalanche of online ads for Bombas. You probably already have a drawer full of their socks.

What you may not know is that the company also makes awesome T-shirts. Crew neck, V-neck, pocket crew, pick your poison. They’re all made of high-quality Peruvian Pima Cotton that’s soft and has a cool (temperature-wise) feel to it. It’s also ridiculously, buttery soft compared to both merino wool and even traditional cotton. It’s the perfect material for long plane rides, casual city exploring, and the like.

On the downside, it is cotton. That means it wrinkles easily and dries slowly. So it’s not ideal for super active days which is why I always pack merino wool as well …

Active Men’s Travel Shirts: Unbound Merino

If you’ve been online in the last year, you’ve also no doubt seen plenty of ads for Unbound Merino. Their marketing is filled with a lot of tall promises. Phrases like: “the perfect travel shirt for men,” “the last travel shirt you’ll ever buy,” and “you NEVER need to wash it!” I’m paraphrasing, of course, but you get the gist.

Honestly, believe the hype. Their travel clothing for men is amazing. I own two Unbound Merino shirts — one short-sleeve crew neck in black, another long-sleeve navy — and both are fantastic. They’re soft, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, and dry quickly and easily. I pack one or both shirts for every single trip I take. Because merino wool naturally resists odors and germs, it’s possible to wear these shirts for days (even a full week) without washing them. The company doesn’t recommend that, but I’m telling you it’s totally possible.

The one minor note is that merino wool is not quite as comfortable as Pima cotton. That’s more an issue with the fabric itself than Unbound Merino. Don’t get me wrong, the shirts are very comfortable. They’re just not as comfortable as my Bombas shirts.

Best Men’s Travel Shoes: Astral Hemp Loyak

Of the brands on this list, Astral is the newest to me. I recently fell in love with their Hemp Loyak men’s shoes for travel. They’re lightweight, low profile, and surprisingly rugged. They can practically fold up in my luggage if I need them to. The rubber sole is flexible and thin, but in a good way — in a way that feels natural to wear as though you’re actually feeling the ground beneath you rather than being completely insulated from it.

Hemp is a great all-around natural material for clothing. It’s soft, comfortable, and breaks in a little more with each use. Plus, Astral blends the hemp upper with 23% recycled polyester, so every pair is ethically and sustainably made. They do run a bit narrow, although that hasn’t been a problem for me.

Best Men’s Travel Sandals: OluKai

I was a fan of Reef sandals for years. My last two pairs were possibly the most comfortable footwear I’ve ever owned. Both pairs, however, blew out in less than two years. If they weren’t nearly $100 per pair, I’d be fine with that. But, at that price, I expect more.

So, I recently made the switch to OluKai. The style, feel, and comfort of my new Alania sandals is similar to my old Reef’s, but the quality seems a tad better. These travel with me on every single trip. No matter where I’m traveling, I always have a use for them. From late-night bathroom runs at the campground to lounging around the ship on my Antarctic cruise to chasing raccoons off the porch of our Airbnb in Chattanooga, these have proven to be one of the most versatile pieces of travel clothing that I own.

Which brands do you think make the best men’s travel clothes? What articles of travel clothing do you always pack no matter where you’re headed?

The post The Men’s Travel Clothes I Pack No Matter Where I’m Headed appeared first on Vagabondish.

Cut me loose on a hike in the woods. Hand me a paddle and let me kayak the nearest river. Or throw me into the nearest lake or bathtub with a mask and snorkel, and I’m happy. But biking as a recreational activity never quite hooked me in the same emotional way that camping, paddling, or swimming does.

All of which is probably why I had no idea of the quantum leaps the bicycle industry has taken in just the last few years. I’ve been out of the loop, oblivious to the incredible folding bikes, electric bikes, and folding electric bikes on the market.

So, when Oyama asked me to check out their CX E8D Series II Folding Bike, my initial response was a shoulder shrug. I was a little curious, but again, I’m not really a bike guy. What convinced me, however, was the bike’s potential versatility and usefulness for road trips.

I’m hooked. It’s way, way better, cooler, and more useful that I imagined.

I think back on our recent drive along the U.S. East Coast, when we overnighted in tiny houses, campgrounds, and Airbnbs. To be able to park the truck in one place for a few days and explore the surrounding area on two wheels would have been a real treat. Plus, beyond the convenience factor, it would’ve been fun and a helluva lot more eco-conscious.

For the last few weeks, I put the CX E8D Series II to the test around Vagabondish HQ. If you’re not into reading, the short version is: I’m hooked. It’s way, way better, cooler, and more useful that I imagined. If you are into reading — particularly verbose, 1,000-word reviews about origami-inspired electric bicycles — read on …

Oyama CX E8D Series II Folding Electric Bike Review

The Skinny

In Oyama’s own words, they claim the Oyama CX E8D Series II folding electric bike takes their:

… original CX E8D model to the next level with upgraded components that provide a refined riding experience.

Riders will get the pedal assist they need to get where they want to go with this electric bicycle’s 350-watt hub drive motor, torque sensor, hydraulic disc brakes, and illuminated LCD display.

The Traveler’s Take

Folding bikes, in general, are incredibly versatile. Commuters, travelers, apartment dwellers, kids — just about anyone really — can find a use for one.

For my purposes, however, a folding electric bike is incredibly useful for road tripping. Our Toyota 4Runner is a medium-sized SUV with a decent amount of room, but it’s not huge. So, when we’re road-tripping, space is at a premium. One bike (and definitely two) is never an option for us. We just don’t have the room. The Oyama CX E8D Series II changes all that.

The Design

Straight out of the box, I love the design. The matte black finish is cool, stealthy, modern — very Knight Rider-esque if The Hoff was brazen enough to ride a folding electric bike.

It’s difficult to tell from just the photos, but the finish has a high-end feel to it. Instead of just slapping clear coat or a layer of paint on it, it’s evident the design team put some thought into the aesthetic.

Portability Through Foldability

The engineering of Oyama’s CX E8D Series II is nothing short of amazing. When folded, the bike takes up next to no room in the back of our 4Runner. It’ll easily fit into the trunk of most standard sedans with plenty of room to spare. Folding the bike down is a three-step process that takes less than 20 seconds:

1. Unlock the seat and push the stem through the frame to the ground
2. Unlatch the handlebars and fold them down to the side
3. Unlock the frame and fold the bike in half

That’s it. With the battery, the bike weighs 37 pounds. That’s not exactly featherweight, but it does make it easy for the average person to load in and out of a vehicle.

“Ride Wit Me”

Most folding bikes sacrifice comfort in favor of portability. Smaller seats, smaller tires, lightweight (in many cases, cheap plastic) components all help keep weight down. Oyama finds a good balance in the CX E8D Series II. Everything you’d expect to be metal is made of aluminum, so it’s lightweight and sturdy.

At 20 inches, the tires are a tad smaller than a traditional street cruiser (usually 24 or 26 inches). After five minutes in the saddle, however, I didn’t even notice. Overall, it rides like a typical street bike. Even after a few hours, it’s comfortable, smooth, and easy to control.

Roads? Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads

Take the battery out of the equation and everything so far makes this a great folding bike in its own right. Where the Oyama CX E8D Series II really shines — and the reason road trippers, RVers, va lifers are going to want one — is in the electric-assist motor.

The rear hub is powered by a 396-Wh battery. To put that in practical terms, the bike offers a maximum range of 40 miles. Ultimately, it depends on terrain, wind speed, how much you rely on it while riding, passenger weight, etc. For anyone looking to tool around their campground, make a quick grocery run down the street from their campsite, or explore the city for a day, it’s more than enough juice.

Power is regulated through a digital controller with a basic screen mounted on the handlebars. Eight speeds provide for a highly customizable ride that’s as tame (or not) as you want it to be. Based on the power setting and how hard you’re peddling, the bike intelligently senses how much assistance you want.

At the lowest setting (1), the electric assist is non-existent. At the highest level (8), the torque comes on smooth and strong. It’s never a sudden JOLT! of power, but rather a gradual increase as though a giant hand or a stiff wind is helping you forward. To be clear though, at max power on level ground, I’m easily able to push the CX E8D Series II close to 30 miles per hour without trying too hard. This thing seriously moves when you need it to. And the hydraulic disc brakes help you stop on a dime before things get too out of control.

Other (Literal) Bells & Whistles

A few miscellaneous thoughts:

• The luggage rack mounted over the rear fender is a nice touch. It adds greater utility, particularly for anyone looking to use this bike for running errands while on a road trip.
• The handlebar-mounted bell is a nice safety touch and one that reminds me of the first Schwinn I got when I turned six.
• The bike’s battery pack doubles as a backup power source for all your USB devices (which is pretty much everything these days). Not an essential feature, but nice-to-have if you plan on taking the bike to a campground or anywhere off-grid.

Pricing & Availability

The Oyama CX E8D Series II folding electric bike is now available with a retail price of USD $1,999. That’s certainly not cheap. But, if you’re reading this review, you probably already know that folding bikes, in general, and folding electric bikes, in particular, rarely are. Compared to its competitors, this bike is an incredible value at that price.

The list of available colors is short. As Henry Ford was fond of saying, “You can have any color you want, as long as it’s black.” But, honestly, the matte black is so damn cool, why would you want any other color?

A Second Opinion

The folks at NYCeWheels did a great five-minute review of the Oyama CX E8D Series II. So, you can judge for yourself whether it is indeed the best folding electric bike for travel.

The post I Never Thought I’d Want (or Need) an Electric Folding Bike … But This Changed My Mind appeared first on Vagabondish.

Just a few short decades ago, most car owners were lucky to find seatbelts, side airbags, and air-conditioning in their vehicles. Now, even some entry-level rides boast Bluetooth audio, heated seats, and touchscreen navigation (well, sort of …). One thing you won’t find, however, in all but the highest end luxury cars is a night vision system. In most cases, such tech is only available as an aftermarket add-on.

Enter Lanmodo: A company with a brief catalog of curious products designed to solve a variety of mostly car-related issues you never knew you had. Most notable: The automatic car tent.

Our introduction to Lanmodo came in the form of an invitation to test out the company’s Vast Automotive Night Vision System. The aptly named system is designed to do exactly as its name implies: It’s a purpose-built, all-in-one monitor-camera to help drivers see at night, in near-pitch-black conditions. They offered us a review model to see what we thought. Since it’s an interesting bit of tech for hardcore roadtripping, I was eager to take a look.

Lanmodo Vast Automotive Night Vision System Review

(One aside: This review is for the entry-level Lanmodo Vast Automotive Night Vision System, and not the upgraded Automotive Night Vision System with Rear View Camera)

The Skinny

First, let’s outline the two best selling points of the Vast Automotive Night Vision System in Lanmodo’s own words:

1080P and Full-color Image: LANMODO Car night vision camera is equipped with 8.2” IPS screen and presents 1080P HD full-color image even at night,helping judge the road conditions quickly when driving.

Wide-angle Vision, Long Distance View: LANMODO car night vision system is of 36° HD wide-angle vision, presenting a broader view of the road, night vision distance extends up to 300m, drivers will know the road situation in advance and take measures to avoid accidents.

The Traveler’s Take on the Lanmodo Vast Automotive Night Vision System

Installation & Setup

Straight out of the box, installation was a snap. Everything you need to get going (even a screwdriver) is included. I had the device unboxed, suctioned to the windshield of my 4Runner, and powered on in less than 10 minutes.

Two mounting options are provided: A traditional suction cup and a sturdy, and very grippy anti-slip mat. Both work well, but I prefer affixing it to my windshield for long-term use. One curious note is that the unit is essentially upside-down when mounted to the windshield, and the on-screen menus are too in this setup. There aren’t many options to change in the menus, so this isn’t a huge issue. Once you’ve initially dialed in your settings, there’s little need to tweak them again.

A traditional cigarette lighter cable is included, as is a separate cable for plugging into your car’s OBD port. I opted for the former, started my truck, and the Night Vision System powered on within a few seconds. I noticed two things straight away: The screen is bright and reasonably crisp and clear. There is a slight — very slight — but noticeable flicker. It might be a deal breaker for a home TV or computer monitor that you plan on staring at for hours on end. But, it’s mostly a non-issue with this product given that it’s designed to be glanced at for only a second or two at a time while driving.

Seeing in the Dark

The 8.2” IPS screen is quite wide, presenting a complete view of the road ahead. The rear camera can be angled slightly up, down, and to the sides to better capture your field of view. With the unit mounted square above my radio, I had to push the camera all the way to the left to capture the entire field of view — which it does. But, even at the extreme, the monitor faces the backseat more than it does the driver. For that reason, I wish there was a bit more play to push the camera farther to the left and right.

A series of buttons on the top of the unit are each dedicated to a specific function on the Vast Night Vision System. Customization is limited, but that’s by design rather than omission. There’s not much you’ll need to tweak. Power the system on or off, adjust the brightness and contrast to your liking, and decide whether you prefer the screen in full color or black and white. (I’m not sure why B&W would be preferable, but it’s there nevertheless …)

The Vast Night Vision System delivers on its promise. The photos below depict a visual test at dusk a few minutes for the sun went down near my house. The exposure, lighting, and color depicted both outside my truck and on the system’s screen are accurate to what I was seeing in person.

There’s a noticeable difference between the two with the Vast system greatly magnifying the available brightness. Because the system relies on at least some available light — no matter how minimal — it won’t work in complete darkness. Although, if you’re driving around in a pitch-black area with your headlights off, you probably have bigger problems than a night vision system can solve.

The Bottom Line

In short, the Lanmodo Automotive Night Vision System works and does exactly what it promises. It’s a niche product for sure, but it’s clearly a great alternative to much more expensive factory systems. If you’re in the market for night vision tech for your car, the Vast will absolutely do the trick.

In the future, it’d be cool if the front-facing camera could also record. Given the prevalence of dash cams these days, that addition would make this a true, all-in-one car camera solution.

Pricing & Availability

The Lanmodo Vast Automotive Night Vision System is now available with a retail price of USD $499 (without the rear camera). Add roughly $100 for the upgraded system with a 720p rear camera.

[amazon box=”B093WV9C46″]

A Second Opinion

Check out this complete video review of the Lanmodo Vast Automotive Night Vision System courtesy of Diablo Formula Racing:

The post Brighten Up Your After-Dark Road-Tripping with Lanmodo’s Vast Automotive Night Vision System appeared first on Vagabondish.

So, to be honest, I was skeptical of Airhook. At first glance, it seems to be an add-on accessory designed to do exactly what every airplane tray table already does. But, the more long-haul flights I take, the more its utility grew on me. Let’s face it: airplane tray tables are nasty, they’re rarely level, and they limit the already impossibly tight amount of personal space that economy passengers are forced to live with on most typical flights.

Airhook was kind enough to provide a second generation sample — the Airhook 2.0 — for me to review. Here’s what I found …

Airhook 2.0 Review

The Skinny

In Airhook’s own words, it’s designed as:

… a two-in-one solution for airplane travel comfort: a stable drink holder and a secure mount for an electronics device. The Airhook uses the tray table in its vertical and locked position as an anchor, rather than horizontally across your lap as a platform.

The latest version, Airhook 2.0, adds a few new features including a neoprene travel pouch and:

… a stabilizer bar that makes setup more secure, a convertible mode where the drink holder folds away when not in use, a separate device perch for full range of viewing, and integrated can support.

The Traveler’s Take

My first impression of Airhook was that it was larger than I expected. It makes sense considering that it’s designed to support not only smartphones but tablets as well. So, the design needs enough of a “framework” to support the weight and heft of a full-sized tablet.

For my purposes, I don’t travel with a tablet. When I do watch in-flight movies, it’s always on my smartphone. So, I wish Airhook had a more compact little brother — an “Airhook Mini” if you will. The current Airhook isn’t huge, but it is large enough that I know I won’t be traveling with it on every flight. I’m also borderline obsessive about packing as minimally as possible. So, for some, the size may be a non-issue.

That said, the construction is solid and sturdy with high-quality plastic components. It’s clear someone put thought into its production. The included carry case with attached carabiner also helps protect the entire affair when it’s not in use.

Setting up Airhook is simple, and the included quick-start guide (with links to relevant online videos in case installation isn’t self explanatory) makes setup a snap. It first clips to the back of any standard airplane tray table in the closed position. Two knobs allow for fine-tuning a snug fit and ensuring that your smartphone or tablet is angled the way you want it. Finally, a bungee cord and plastic clip secure your device in place. I found this to work very well even in modest turbulence.

That’s all there is to it. It works great as a simple support for your electronics device to keep your media at eye-level. But, the cupholder also adds a convenient perch for a standard airline cup or 12-ounce can. The design will hold a bottle as well, although it does get in the way of the device screen. The cupholder also folds away when not in use.

Pricing & Availability

Airhook 2.0 is available now directly through the official Airhook website for around USD $28 or on Amazon.

The Bottom Line

Though a tad bulky, Airhook fulfills its promise of freeing up your lap for a bit more in-flight comfort. It’s a clever, versatile, well-made alternative to traditional airplane tray tables.

The post Airhook Looks to Reinvent the Traditional Airplane Tray Table appeared first on Vagabondish.

Passport Renewal for U.S. / American Travelers

Before Renewing Your Passport: Guidelines & Considerations

A good rule of thumb is to always ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date you enter a foreign country. In the event that there are any issues with overstaying your welcome (or your visa), this provides a bit of “cushion.” This isn’t true for every country, but it’s a safe bet that I personally swear by. So, if the expiration date on your passport is less than six months away, now is a good time to renew. Especially if you’re eyeing any upcoming trips.

Be warned that any travel visa(s) currently attached to your passport will be voided, so plan your trip accordingly.

Step #1: Get the Correct Passport Renewal Forms & Documentation

Like all things with the federal government, make sure you’re starting with the correct forms. If you’re applying for passport renewal by mail, the form you want is Form DS-82: U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals (PDF).

If you’re applying in person (much easier since the clerk can verify you have all the correct paperwork), however, you’ll need Form DS-11. You’ll also need this same form in any of these cases:

• This is is your first passport
• Your last passport was lost or stolen
• Your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago
• Your last passport was issued prior to age 16

You’ll Also Need …

• Your old passport
• The appropriate passport renewal fee (see below)
• An envelope and stamps if renewing by mail

All applicants, whether renewing their passport or applying for a new one, also need two color passport-sized photos that meet these requirements:

• They must not be more than 6 months old
• They must be taken in front of a plain white background
• You cannot be wearing glasses or sunglasses
• No touchup software (i.e. Photoshopping or Snapchat) is allowed
• You can only smile “naturally” or not at all
• No selfies allowed
• The photos must be in pristine condition (no folds, stains, or tears)

These are available at most convenience stores, pharmacies, or photography stores. Here in the United States, AAA also offers passport photography services to members.

Because you’ll need to temporarily surrender your existing passport, that means you won’t be able to travel internationally while your passport renewal is being processed. You can, however, get a second U.S. passport assuming you qualify. If you frequently travel internationally, this is a great option that will allow you to continue to travel while your passport renewal is being processed.

Step #2: Renew Your Passport

Regardless of whether you choose to renew your passport at the post office or by mail, it’s a good idea to photocopy or take photos of all your documents. This is especially true for any original documents like your existing passport and proof-of-citizenship papers.

Online Passport Renewal

If you were hoping to renew your passport online, sadly, you’re out of luck. You can fill out the appropriate renewal form online. But it will still need to be printed, then mailed or submitted in person.

Passport Renewal at the Post Office (In-Person)

If it’s an option for you, renewing your passport in-person is almost always the best way to go. You’ll find passport renewal services at your local post office or at any official passport acceptance facility. This helps minimize transit times to mail your documents and allows you to ask the post office staff any last-minute questions you have before submitting your renewal application.

Passport Renewal By Mail

Renewing your passport by mail typically takes a few days longer. Only checks or money orders are accepted as payment; credit cards are not an option.

A few things to note before mailing in your forms:

• Use a trackable delivery method like USPS Priority Mail or Certified Mail.
• Use a larger envelope that can accommodate all of your paperwork without folding.
• There are different mailing addresses for normal (non-expedited) and expedited services. Be sure to address the envelope to the correct address:

Expedited Services (for all applicants — write EXPEDITE on the outside of the envelope):

National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955

How Much Does It Cost to Renew a Passport?

Whether in-person or by mail, renewing an adult passport book costs a flat USD $110. For expedited renewal, there is an additional $60 fee plus any additional expedited shipping charges (around $15).

You can score an optional passport card for $30. However, this can be only be used as identification for some domestic travel by air, and travel by land/sea in Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Just to be sure: while it’s a good backup, a passport card cannot be used to substitute a passport for air travel.

Step #3: Hurry Up and Wait … (But, Seriously, How Long Does It Take?)

The wait to receive your renewed passport can feel excruciating, especially if you’re itching to travel right now. But the federal government usually turns around passport applications fairly quickly. In general:

• Standard passport renewals: 4-6 weeks
• Expedited passport renewals: 3 weeks
• Third-party passport agency: Usually 7 business days or less

These can change based on several factors, including the time of year, how busy the government is, and whether your application requires additional processing or scrutiny.

If you require guaranteed expedited service, there are third-party passport renewal services that can handle the entire process for you with lightning fast turnaround.

The post Passport Renewal: Everything American Travelers Need to Know appeared first on Vagabondish.