WELLNESS-MINDED TRAVELLER
Great Stocking Stuffers for the Traveller on your List
by Taylor McKinnon
We sifted through more than 100 travel gadgets and products to compile our list of top ten travel gift-ideas for the wellness-minded traveller. We selected items to make packing easier, help you stay fit and healthy, help you travel comfortably and arrive looking your best, and generally make any trip a bit less stressful. We know you'll find something here for any traveller on your gift list. Good for the holiday season, or anytime...we want them all! (All prices are in U.S. dollars)
MicciMicci Clip-It Bag
We love these adorable – and oh-so-practical - pouches. With a retractable leash and a clip that attaches to any purse or carry-on luggage, they make the days of lost passports and holding up the line while you dig through your bag ones of the past. Just zip up your boarding pass, ID, cash and makeup, and you’re good to go! Check out the variety of cute prints here. ($24.95 for the passport size as pictured.)
Elizabeth Grant Eye Pads
We try to treat ourselves to a touch of pampering as often as we can, and Elizabeth Grant eye pads fit the bill. Pop a pack in your purse for a portable-spa moment on a long flight and you’ll be bright-eyed and refreshed when you reach your destination. The pads come in 4 varieties – our pick for travel is the extra-indulgent Caviar Rejuvenating Eye Pads for nourishment and moisture replenishment. ($35.00 for a 6-pack.)
Yoga Paws
We love yoga, but there’s no way we’re going to waste packing space on a bulky mat when we travel. Enter Yoga Paws. The gloves (for both hands and feet) have a padded, high-grip bottom, allowing you to practice yoga on nearly any surface (hotel room floors, poolside…) sans mat. Genius! Although don't ask us to do any handstands in waterfalls just yet... ($34.95 for a set of Yoga Paws and free DVD.)
Flingz Travel Thongs
Nothing like a pair of uncomfortable undies to make for an extra-fidgety flight. Fast-drying and easy to pack, these enviro-friendly thongs are individually packed in 2 x 3 inch clear bags. Plus, they’re breathable and super comfy to keep us "sitting pretty" on trains, planes or long-haul road trips. $22.50 for the “Weekender” three-pack.)
EBOOST Drink Mix
Celebrities like Heidi Klum and Kelly Ripa are fans of EBOOST, and we get why: the drink mix is a portable pick-me-up, and all you need to reap its benefits is a glass of water. The brainchild of two frequent-flier businessmen, EBOOST comes in orange and pink lemonade flavours and contains vitamin C, B12, Folic Acid, Zinc, and green tea extracts among other natural ingredients. We think it’s an easy – and tasty – way to keep our energy and immune system up while travelling and flying. ($28 for a 24 pack of powder mixes or $14.99 for a tube of 10 tablets.)
Sony Reader Pocket Edition
This little device (which, true to its name, will fit in your pocket) can store up to 350 books. Crazy huh? Browse any e-bookstore pre-flight and download your choices from the computer to your Reader to save a few trees – and the energy you’d normally spend lugging a boatload of beach-reads. ($199.99 each.)
Catching Fireflies Luggage Tags
Crowded airports, long-haul flights and extended delays can turn even the most lighthearted passenger into a bit of a grump. Catching Fireflies’ cheeky luggage tags remind us to keep our sense of humour intact - after all, they say laughter is good for the soul. Added bonus: their bright colors make them easy to spot on a crammed conveyer belt. (Set of 6 for $12.50.)
FitBit
This tiny gadget may just become your new best friend. Using a 3D motion sensor, FitBit accurately tracks steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled, and even quality of sleep! Clip it to your belt or place it in your pocket, and every time you walk past the wireless base station (you can plug it in in your hotel room) your data is silently uploaded to fitbit.com. Anything that lessens the stress of maintaining our health while we’re on the road gets top rating in our books. ($99 each.)
City Slips Foldable Ballet Flats
Not only are these ballet flats uber-comfortable (elastic backing ensures that they fit perfectly) but they’re also foldable, so you can carry them in any clutch or purse. Perfect for an impromptu airport-dash or days when you chose high heels in the morning but are regretting them by mid-afternoon. Even better, they come with a pouch that can convert to a larger tote bag to store those posh-but-painful heels. ($24.99 with pouch.)
Healthy Highways
A handy reference for any wellness-minded traveler, Healthy Highways boasts more than 2,800 listings of healthy eateries across the U.S. at the flip of a page. Perfect for road trips and vacations – and it even gives directions to each venue. We only wish we could sample all their suggestions! ($18.95 per copy.)
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Taylor McKinnon is an editorial assistant with Travel to Wellness.
