Product Reviews
MY BAG by KUSHIES
I was recently introduced to a product called “My Bag” by Kushies. It’s a great overnight bag but most importantly, I don’t know how any mother with a child in day-care has lived without this bag. Not only is it adorable, lightweight and easy to carry, but it is filled with those ‘make-your-life-easier’ accessories that you need but never take the time to buy. For instance, it includes an insulated medicine box and an insulated food/snack box. It contains four handy bags - one for clean clothes, another for dirty clothes, another for soiled clothes and a bag for shoes! It also comes with a comfy pillow and blanket. Available in both pink and blue, I was impressed with how functional and useful it was. My son immediately filled the side pockets labeled “My Stuff” with his favorite toys and put it by the door (as we do right before a trip) ready for our next road trip. It is the perfect overnight bag for children! For more information on “My Bag” by Kushies, visit www.kushiesonline.com. Enter GTMT10 for a special 10% discount for Guide to Military Travel readers at checkout.
REVIEW POLICY:
We, at Guide to Military Travel.com often receive questions about travel products and requests for recommendations. We already review hotels and restaurants. We thought that travel/family products were a natural follow-up. We don’t review any product that we don’t believe in, wouldn’t use or wouldn’t recommend to our family. These are all products we have personally used and/or tested. In some cases we have been provided the product at no cost or at a discount from the company in question or the company is an affiliate of GuidetoMilitaryTravel.com; however, these are not advertorials (paid reviews). We do not get paid for our reviews nor do we feel any loyalty to any company or particular product. We offer you our unbiased opinion of products we ACTUALLY use in our family. If you have any questions, contact us.
Travel Kiddy
In my family, road trips are common. As members of the military, long road trips while PCSing are very common. During these times, we run out of ideas to entertain our kids. Movies on the van’s DVD player eventually end and you can only listen to the Wheels on the Bus song so many times before you want to hang yourself. I have found the perfect answer to the how-do-we-keep-the-kids-busy dilemma. Travel Kiddy is a self contained travel kit that has a variety of fun activities to keep your children entertained for hours. It comes in a durable canvas bags and when traveling round trip you can order their Ultimate Package that comes with a separate kit for the return trip home. What I found to be the most noteworthy is that it is affordable and replaceable. You don’t worry about your kids losing toys or finishing the activity books. You can just order a new refill for the next trip. My son had a lot of fun playing with his during our last weekend road trip (and it can sometimes be hard to keep him entertained). They have different packs depending on the age group. For more information, click here for more details.
Joovy Caboose Ultra-light Stroller
During a recent trip to Disneyland Resort, I noticed that many moms were using stand and sit strollers. For those unfamiliar with the concept (as I was), one child sits in the front seat just like a traditional stroller, and there is a platform between the seat and the handles for a second child to stand and ride. The idea seemed fantastic. I was eight months pregnant with my second child at the time, and wondered if this was a product I would need one day. With the summer travel season upon us, that day has arrived and with the amount of traveling that my family does (and the amount of visits to amusement parks), a stand and sit double stroll was on my list of purchases before our next trip.
After reading many reviews and trying several strollers at local stores, I settled on the Joovy Caboose Ultra-Light. As the name suggests, the Caboose Ultra-Light is a solid and well engineered stroller, but weighs only a modest 21 pounds, which my husband appreciates. It is much easier for me to load and unload from the back of the family minivan than other strollers we have used, especially when my husband is not around. The stroller is easy to fold and unfold, and stores easily. It also has a padded and sturdy platform where my son can sit when he gets tired of standing. Besides being well built, the best praise I can give this stroller is that my two year old loves it. Being able to stand behind his brother while we stroll gives him a sense of empowerment. When he rides, the look on his face tells me that he thinks he is the king of the world, and for me, that is the highest praise I can give any product. I found a great website that sells these strollers - www.stroller.com. They have the best price I have found, offer free shipping and they are part of CSN Stores, the third-largest online retailer of home goods in the U.S. (and my favorite online shopping websites). With active kids like mine, I'm so thankful that I finally found the perfect stroller!
I have a family policy that I don't put pictures of my children on this site, but I just couldn't resist this one time! I figured the best way to show you how much my kids love this stroller was to show you the happy look on their faces.
Several years ago, before extra baggage charges had become the norm, I was checking in for a flight from St. Petersburg, Russia to Vienna, Austria when I was informed that my bag had exceeded the 20 kg limit allowed by the airline. I was caught completely by surprise, and worse, as a traveling college student, the hefty penalty hit my tight budget hard. Had I known my bag was overweight, I could have mailed my souvenirs home for much less than I had to pay to board the airplane.
Today the airline travel minefield is often much trickier to navigate than it was then, and baggage fees have become commonplace. One travel tool that I have found irreplaceable is a travel scale. The Travelite Company has produced an exceptional example that is compact and easy to carry. Roughly the size of a flashlight, and with an LED flashlight built in, the scale will easily fit in a corner of your luggage. When it comes time to pack, simply attach the handle of your suitcase to the strap on the scale and lift it off the floor. An LCD screen will tell you the weight of your bag, to the nearest 1/10th of a pound and either a green or red LED will light, depending on if your bag is under or over 50 lbs. For international travelers, the scale will also display kilograms. At a modest $24.85, this scale will more than pay for itself the first time you use it, and like me, I’m sure that soon you won’t travel without it. For more information or to purchase this product from Magellan’s Travel Store, click here.
Travelite Scale
Every now and then a travel product comes around that I wish I would have invented or thought of myself. When I saw GoPicnic products on morning news television as one of the summer’s must haves, I knew I had to try them for myself. GoPicnic meals are the ultimate boxed lunch. Each one contains a mix of 5 – 6 healthy snacks plus plasticware and a moist towelette, all in a box small enough to slip into a purse or backpack. Each meal is between 340 – 550 calories and are gluten free, and GoPicnic offers a large variety of special dietary meals, including kosher, halal, vegetarian and vegan offerings. My favorite thing about GoPicnic is that they offer kids meals. My two year old loved the meals he tried (and getting him to eat is no easy feat). These meals are perfect to stowaway for your diaper bag in case of those inopportune "Mom, I'm hungry" moments.
After my family tried out almost every meal on their menu, I can tell you we are officially hooked! What a great concept. Food - individually wrapped, packaged and ready to be transported in your lunch box, briefcase, suitcase or picnic basket without needing to be refrigerated. My family and I travel often and we have found that airport food is among the most expensive and least healthy that we have found anywhere. Worse yet, in these dismal economic times, airlines are now charging exorbitant fees for a small snack while you fly. Discovering GoPicnic has solved all these problems for us. I will now never travel without a few meals in our carry-on luggage. GoPicnic also offers a “Thank you Troops” care package, which feature three of their most popular meals. My husband has already put in a request to include these meals in my care packages during his next deployment. For more information on GoPicnic or to place an order, visit their website at www.gopicnic.com. Enter MILITARYTRAVEL at checkout and receive 20% off. What a deal!
GoPicnic Meals
Very often we get opportunities to review the latest and greatest tech gadgets on the market today, but every once in a great while we are dazzled by ideas so simple that they are genius. The Jimi Wallet falls into the second category. We have all heard horror stories of travelers losing or getting their wallet stolen, losing all cash, credit cards and ID while far from home, forfeiting the balance of their trip while dealing with banks and the stress of being without money. The Jimi Wallet offers a great solution to the problem.
The Jimi Wallet is a small travel wallet designed to hold up to four credit cards and a limited amount of cash while you are traveling. It is made of a durable, yet comfortable hard plastic that is available in a variety of colors, and can be carried in a pocket or attached to a lanyard around the neck for security. The Jimi Wallet allows you to carry a couple of credit cards, ID and cash while leaving your wallet in the hotel safe. It’s sleek and slim, making it easy to fit in any bag or pocket and securely holds your money until you need it, utilizing a unique locking design. Although it isn’t waterproof, it is water resistant and will keep its contents dry unless you fully submerge it in water.
The Jimi Wallet is an item we will definitely use again and again when we travel, and even when we are at home. My husband tells me its slim profile fits great in a flight suit pocket, and keeps its contents from getting sweat-logged even on the hottest of days! At only $14.95, it’s an investment that will pay off in spades even if you don’t travel often. Visit www.thejimi.com for more info.
Jimi Wallet
I admit it. I am a social media junkie. I love the tweeting and making friends on Facebook, but more importantly, from time to time it introduces me to products I might not have heard of otherwise. Kuru Footwear is a perfect example! I had heard the buzz but was eager to try them for myself. I am always hesitant to order things online for fear of the return policies if they are not the perfect fit, so the first thing I noticed about Kuru Footwear is that they have 100% free exchange policy, ensuring you find the perfect pair of shoes. I was immediately drawn to their travel shoes so that I could tell you all about them, but all their shoes are designed to be perfect for long walks, long days in an amusement park or any activity that requires durable and comfortable shoes. I rarely share anything personal about myself but I will tell you this – I have a medical condition that at times makes walking long distances a challenge. most of the time I can count on renting a wheelchair for days at amusement parks which saddened me this year since I was taking my kids to Disneyland for the first time this summer. Fortunately, for this trip I was armed with my Kuru shoes and can honestly tell you that I felt better, stronger and more comfortable in these shoes than I have felt in a long time. Most importantly, I was able to enjoy Disneyland without having to rent a wheelchair. My feet felt cradled and secure in a way they hadn’t felt before. I have tried every kind of expensive shoe with all their of promises and none has ever worked until now. I am proud to recommend Kuru Footwear to anyone who walks! Your feet will thank me. Kuru Footwear is offering GuidetoMilitaryTravel.com readers 10% off by using the code MilitaryTravel (Valid until Christmas Day). Visit www.kurufootwear.com to order yours today.
Kuru Footwear
Titan X2 Flash Luggage
We travel enough at our house that it seems that our luggage is always wearing out and we’re always in the market for new luggage. Recently my favorite Mickey Mouse luggage rolled off the airport conveyor belt covered in TSA tape with my unmentionables hanging out of an enormous tear around the zipper. I finally got fed up with soft luggage being ripped, torn, squashed and mangled by airline luggage handlers and decided I would give hard luggage a try. I searched through countless manufacturers’ websites on line, but it was Titan luggage that finally caught my eye.
Unlike most luggage, the Titan X2 Flash luggage is bold and modern, available in a wide assortment of colors, from traditional black and silver to the eye catching fuschia, red or, my personal choice, yellow (actually more of an orange than yellow). No longer do I stand at baggage claim watching hundreds of nearly identical black, nylon bags parade by checking each tag for my name. When the shiny, yellow suitcase slides off the conveyor belt now, there’s no question.
I will admit I was initially a little put off by the price tag, but after I read through the features and warranty, I quickly realized that Titan luggage is a pay-it-forward good deal. Titan X2 Flash luggage is made from an ultra-strong polycarbonate that will give even the roughest baggage handler a run for his money. With the exception of the beauty case and laptop case, all
members of the X2 family utilize a four wheel system with wheels that rotate 360 degrees, which makes navigating busy airports and crowded aircraft easy. Titan luggage also comes standard with TSA locks built in, making it easy for me to lock my bags again. Most of all, though, Titan’s lifetime warrantee sold me on their bags. No matter what happens to your luggage, Titan will repair or replace it free of charge. As I add up all the luggage I have gone through in the last ten years, some lasting only one trip, it is clear to me the lifetime warranty on this luggage is a bargain if you travel even just a couple of times a year. Since that applies to most of us in the military, Titan’s X2 Flash luggage has earned my highest recommendation and is an investment you won’t regret. Visit www.titanluggageusa.com for more info.
MD MOMS Baby Silk Suncreen Towelettes
I was recently introduced to a line of skincare for children called Baby Silk by MD MOMS. Ever since having kids, I’ve been searching for the perfect sunscreen for my active boys. I tried many products but most were either greasy or didn’t last long enough to give my boys the kind of coverage needed for their sensitive skin and sweat-filled outdoor adventures. I finally found the perfect fit in Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes with SPF 30. MD MOMS was founded by two pediatrician moms that recognized a need for a personal skin care line gentle enough for little babies. Enriched with vitamins and plant extracts that are good for my children’s gentle skin, one towelette covers them from head to toe and offers lasting coverage. Sweat proof, water proof and hypoallergenic, the towelettes come in a pocket size package that contains 15 towelettes and fits conveniently anywhere (including your purse). After trying the sunscreen, I am anxious to try the rest of their products and plan to be a regular customer. They have some great gift packs available that make the perfect gift for any mom this holiday season. You can read more about their products at www.mdmoms.com.
In today’s age of cell phones and text messaging, it would be easy to assume that the days of the 2-way radio are behind us, but as we’ve traveled we’ve found that statement couldn’t be farther from the truth. Whether it’s keeping groups together at Disneyland, hiking in the Rockies or coordinating between cars on a PCS move across the country, 2-way radios are a great investment for any traveler or outdoors enthusiast. At the top of the list of today’s competitors is Motorola, offering a wide variety of capabilities to fit any budget.
We recently had the opportunity to try out a set of Motorola’s Talkabout MJ270R, a radio from the middle of their lineup. On opening the packaging, I was genuinely surprised at the list of features included on these radios. Transmissions are crystal clear thanks to Motorola’s Quiet Talk filter system and interference elimination codes, which block interference from other radios. The radios also feature a hands free VOX function, scan capability, weather alerts, access to 11 NOAA weather radio channels, an emergency alert function and a built in flashlight. Swiss Army Knives aren’t this cool. These radios aren’t toys, as evidenced by the quality of transmissions and 27 mile maximum range, and in fact an FCC license is required to use several of the 22 available channels.My favorite feature of these radios is the availability of interference elimination codes, or privacy codes as Motorola calls them on their website (www.motorola.com). This radio has the ability to select from 121 analog and digital codes to eliminate interference from other radios operating in the same frequency range, which is cool by itself, but the astute observer will quickly pick up that these codes act as a sort of encryption ensuring that no one else is listening in on your conversation.Though not Motorola’s top of the line model, these radios offer professional quality and an excellent features at a very affordable price, and are widely available at most retailers, from Walmart to Amazon.com. This radio will soon become not only a part of your family’s emergency preparedness plan, but also a great way to keep connected on the go! You’ll be surprised how versatile they are and how addictive instantaneous communication can be.Motorola Talkabout Radio
Britax Marathon CS Car Seat
When I got pregnant with my first child, the first question I asked other mothers was "Which is the best car seat you can buy?" The answer was always the same - the Britax Marathon CS! After hearing such high recommendations from my friends, I knew I had to try it for myself. With side impact protection and a five point harness system, it immediately became apparent while mothers valued this chair so much. What I love about it the most is that it can safety hold my child from birth until 65 pounds without ever having to transition to a booster seat or additional chair. It features the Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator—an audible aid that provides extra assurance when the harness is within range of appropriate snugnessIt comes in a variety of colors and is available at most popular retail stores. It is easy to move in and out of the seat when we travel and fits conveniently into our universal car seat travel luggage (sold at Babies R'Us). It also has rear and forward facing recline for my second son who's quite the nap taker while traveling by car. The car seat is loaded with those extra safety features that mothers appreciate. For more information on the Britax Marathon CS Car Seat, visit www.britaxusa.com.
