There is no shortage of tech gadgets designed to make travel easier, but equally innovative accessories have been few and far between. That is finally changing with an array of stylish options.
The luggage company Tumi, for example, has a chic ultralightweight Pax down jacket for both men and women. It is made of water-resistant nylon and does double duty as a neck pillow by folding into a hidden pouch and zipping into the collar ($195).
The Abia backpack ($90) from Lolë, a women’s activewear brand, is another two-in-one: The luminous nylon piece, available in several hues, is midsize and converts into a fanny pack.
Item m6, a line of compressionwear meant to minimize the leg swelling that can occur from flying, has a range of choices for both genders, including check-patterned knee-highs for men in three colors, like bright red ($55), and black shimmery tights for women ($82).
Davek’s Mini umbrella weighs less than a pound and comes in four shades, including a sleek black model that the company says is sturdy enough to withstand heavy winds and torrential rain ($49).
Rain also stays at bay with the durable women’s Tour Boot ($148) from Hunter, which can be rolled up and packed into a small space.
The French luggage brand Lipault has a 4.7-pound, foldable, two-wheel 22-inch carry-on in four shades. It collapses into a four-inch-high rectangle by releasing a locking mechanism in the wheels ($199).
And the travel pillow gets an upgrade with the soft Joy Mangano Comfort & Joy Memory Cloud Warm & Cool Travel Pillow, which is filled with memory foam clusters and has a plush warming side as well as a dotted one with a cooling effect ($14.95).
Mary Alice Stephenson, a stylist and fashion commentator, said the new travel accessories are a significant improvement over what was available in the past.
“A lot of gear used to have minimal aesthetic appeal and didn’t really make traveling efficient,” she said, “but the items today make trips more convenient and are also fun to use.”
[“source-nytimes.com”]
