Therm-A-Rest trail seat
Hill-walkers and hikers will know it’s surprising unpleasant to find one’s self with a wet arse after stopping for a coffee break out in the wilds. So those in the know will appreciate a trail seat. This one is a fancy self-inflating version, but there are rubbery pads that work just as well too. Around €25 from Great Outdoors and other great outdoors stores.
SealSkinz waterproof socks
And staying on the theme of the outdoors and rain, a pair of waterproof socks like these from the positively hydrophobic SealSkinz brand are mightily useful as a packing option. I’ve seen a friend wade through a shallow glacial Icelandic stream in a pair and emerge dry as a bone. These feature super-fabric Merino wool. Around €45.95 from Basecamp and other good outdoors stores
Garmin Vivosmart HR+
Wearable tech, like fitness trackers, continues to proliferate and it’s hard for anyone to know what’s a better piece of kit. Garmin’s Vivosmart HR+ has lots of fans with GPS, heart-rate monitoring and 50m waterproofing. Costs €155 from Argos and others good electronics and sports stores
Roberts Stream 107 portable internet radio
Plenty of plug-in internet radios around, but not so many that have a battery option too for travelling. As well as DAB and WiFi radio connectivity, it’s got FM and can stream sources like Spotify if you’re a subscriber. No MW or SW though, for hard core travellers. Around €160 from Harvey Norman and other good electronics retailers
Impossible I-1 analogue instant camera
Okay, so it’s not the most practical camera for travel compared to a digital compact with a 30 x optical zoom, but it’s old school fun and charm, spitting out real analogue snaps. Instantly. It even uses 600 film if you have a stash. And even pairs with your smartphone for creative picture noodling. Costs €350 from Conns Cameras and other good camera stores
Happy and safe travelling over the festivities. @tomtomkelly
