At best, a mosquito bite is an itchy annoyance. At worst, it can kill you (via malaria, or worse). In either case, being bit by a mosquito is sub-optimal. So on Spot Cool Stuff’s last trip to Thailand we tried out a shirt from Ex Officio’s Buzz Off clothing line. Our shirt contained “Insect Shield technology.” Basically, woven into the fibers of the shirt was Permethrin, a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants. The Permethrin is odorless; in addition to mosquitoes it also repels ticks, fleas, and flies. Our verdict: The Buzz Off repellent properties really work! None of the bites we received were near our shirt. We were so impressed that next month when we are head to Africa we will not only bring our shirt from Thailand (it’s repellent properties last for 70 washes) but also a pair of Buzz Off pants and perhaps a hat.
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We at Spot Cool Stuff see our fair share of gadgets that are more hype than, you know, useful. The Solio Universal Hybrid Charger is not one of those. What is so great about the Solio is that, well, it actually works. One hour of good sun charging time really can provide enough power to play your iPod for an hour or to talk on your cell phone for about 25 minutes. For reals! The beauty of the Solio, though, is that it comes with a battery. The solar panels charge the battery, the battery charges your electronics. Leave the Solio laying out in a sunny spot, tie it to your backpack or attach it to a window with the included suction cup, and let the Solio do its thing. Then that evening, or whenever it is convenient, you can plug into the Solio to charge your gadgets.
There’s something else cool about the Solio. The battery holds a charge for a full year and is powerful enough to recharge your average cell phone more than twice. The Solio can also be recharged from your old fashion wall outlet and comes with a slew of adapters for various phones, MP3 players, cameras and portable game players. Which means the Solio is also handy as a universal adapter even if you are going to, say, Sweden in December, when the Solio’s solar charging possibilities aren’t so great. Instead of bringing along outlet chargers for all your electronics you could bring only the Solio’s. $99 for the basic model, $199 for the ultra-rugged Magnesium Edition. PLUS GET 10% OFF when you purchase through Spot Cool Stuff and use the coupon code EcoGift10!
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We are often surprised how much effort travelers put into deciding where to go and so little into deciding when. The weather at a certain time of year obviously effects the travel experience but so do a lot of other timing factors — when that cool local festival is happening, when an attraction is overrun by other tourists, when that amazing waterfall is at its best or when the whales are jumping. Where To Go When is the Eyewitness Travel guide to the logistics of planning the perfect nexus of vacation time and place. The book is conveniently organized by month and includes some stunning photographs. And while there aren’t enough details in this book to plan your trip once you’ve settled on your destination you’ll find lots of inspiration within these pages.
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We travel a lot, and bring our laptop everywhere we go, so the new Seal Line computer sleeves are godsend for us. What’s great isn’t really the extra padding these sleeves provide (although that’s nice too) but the excellent water and sound resistant qualities. Plus, the sleeve culminate in a handle, so this is a sleeve you can use sans or avec laptop case. Available in small, medium and large sizes. $54.95.
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