Travel

Travel Gear: making travel easier

A bike case, wireless headphones and a flexible tripod that can hold a compact camera

The Topeak PakGo bike case is designed to covert it into just another piece of luggage

Tom Kelly
Sat Oct 7 2017 - 06:00

Topeak PakGo bike case

Travelling with a bike (when you’re not on it, that is) can be a pain. Topeak’s new PakGo X is designed to covert it into just another piece of luggage. It’s a rollable hard case that holds your bike securely, with an internal mount and bags for the wheels. Capable of taking 650 and 700 sizes, the outer shell is a tough polycarbonate and it comes with various spacers and sleeves to bundle up your love-bike. Completing the luggage fit-out is a built-in TSA-friendly lock. The price tag is aimed at the serous amateur, of which there appear to be more and more on our roads. Around €850, see topeak.com, available from Jan

Bose SoundSport Pulse wireless headphones

Bose’s SoundSport Pulse headphones don’t just deliver wireless music, they also have a built-in heart rate monitor

With Apple resolutely driving on wireless headphone use since its iPhone 7 dispensed with the 3.5mm jack port, all the audio players have specced up their wireless offerings. Bose’s SoundSport Pulse headphones don’t just deliver wireless music, they have a built-in heart rate monitor too. They pair by Bluetooth or NFC, with five hours’ playtime from the rechargeable battery. An inline mic keeps you connected (if anyone is taking calls anymore). Bose’s own app can manage all the data, but these can also sync with various popular fitness apps. And if even the wire between the ear buds is too much, that’s gone too in Bose just-launched SoundSport Free version. From €230 at bose.ie

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Splat flexible tripod

The Splat’s rubber-coated metal legs can bend around objects

Being blue and splat-like, one might regard this as a gimmick, but it can work surprisingly well as an alternative to Gorillapod. There are a couple of different versions. This is the five-legged one for compact cameras (under 500gms); anything bigger needs the DSLR option. The rubber-coated metal legs can bend around objects to rig-up a tripod. Do it carefully to avoid camera splat. €25 from connscameras.ie

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