Travel Gear, Travel Gadgets, Clothing for Travel

Amazon Kindle

15 May 2008 in Books, Gadgets by adam

The new Amazone Kindle is the iPod of books. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both “lefties” and “righties” can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, this is a pretty powerful travel companion.

$399 |Kindle: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device

Matador Shirt of the Week: Rockin’ It Right

8 May 2008 in Clothes by Ross


Help support Matador, spread the word about your community and rock it right with this fresh T.

$14 to 25 |ALL SIZES AND COLORS

If you’re an artist and you want to put your design on a Matador shirt, please submit it to us at info@matadortravel.com

Best Lightweght Shell Jacket: Arc’teryx Beta AR

8 May 2008 in Adventure Gear, Clothes by Ross

I own this jacket and I can tell you it’s the single best piece of outdoor clothing I have.

From islands to rivers, to snow capped mountains, it will keep you and anything attached to you, bone dry–yet it’s super lightweight and durable. Arc’teryx created the Men’s Beta AR Jacket for mountaineers, skiers and adventurers who want the performance of Gore-Tex Pro and top-notch durability without a laundry list of un-needed features.

The Beta AR Jacket includes polyester-reinforcements on high-abrasion areas like the shoulders and elbows to increase its lifespan. Pitzips help you stay cool when the going gets tough, and WaterTight zippers combine with the waterproof breathable material to provide moisture protection when the weather turns nasty.

What this Arc’teryx jacket doesn’t have is a million pockets, a heavy zip-in liner, fancy electronics pockets, or any other weight-adding bells and whistles you don’t want. Hold on to this one for life and it’ll be the best money you ever spent.

$399 |BUY

Best lightweight backpack for skiing and riding

13 Mar 2008 in Adventure Gear by Ross

The Osprey Switch 26 is the perfect pack for the powder-passionate. Whether you’re hiking in the backcountry for a day or hopping on the first lift up the mountain, this pack has everything you need and nothing you don’t.

The switch has a sleeve for a Camelback-like hydration system, a place to keep avalanche beacons and other electronics separate from wet clothes and other gear, and a protective pouch in the top compartment for your goggles.

Another thing we like about this pack is that it’s got a very lightweight waist strap equipped with small pockets so you can access sunblock, chapstick or a flask of whiskey–without taking off the pack and reaching into the main compartment.

$129 | BUY

80 GB iPod: The ultimate travel companion

13 Mar 2008 in Gadgets by Ross

Photos, music and video, this sexy little gadget has got it all–and a lot of it. You’d be hard pressed to fill up all 80 GB with music and photos–we’re talking in the neighborhood of 14,000 songs and 1000 high res photos! So why not throw some movies on there; with the bright, wide screen, and increased battery life, this iPod will get you through everything from the boring layover at JFK to the 30 hour bus ride through Peru. Make sure to grab a case to keep it dry and in one piece; this is a gadget you want to get some mileage out of, but it’s worth every penny.

$240 | BUY

Best all-purpose, lightweight headlamp

12 Mar 2008 in Adventure Gear by Ross

The Petzl TacTikka Plus Headlamp is your best bet if you’re in the market for a great, versatile, lightweight headlamp. This thing weighs 2.5 ounces, burns bright for 150 hours on AAA batteries and is completely waterproof, making it the most reliable headlamp on the market. Instead of using one big ’spot light’ lamp, it’s made with four powerful little LEDs, giving you a broad source of light perfect for climbing, cycling or setting up camp. There are three brightness settings so you can crank it up to charge up the trail in complete darkness or use the red fold-down lens to read a book in your tent.

$42.95 | BUY

Best Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera for Travelers

12 Mar 2008 in Gadgets by Ross

The Nikon Coolpixs S50c 7.2 Megapixel Digital Camera is an excellent choice for any trip. We’ve taken this thing from Bangkok to Bogotá and all I can do is rave about it.

The lowlight setting which eliminates flash and reduces shutter speed, takes amazing shots in twilight conditions and both the 3X optical zoom and digital VR Optical Image Stabilization allow you to get sharp shots when you or the subject are on the move.

It’s got a huge, bright 3 inch LCD screen and if you want to go huge, the new ones even have built in Wi-Fi.

This camera is easy to use, lightweight, and a sexy addition to your bag of travel gear. It has come down a lot in price in the last couple months and is actually quite a bit cheaper than comparable models from other brands.

$179.00 | BUY

Red Hot and Riot: Fela Kuti Lives!

12 Mar 2008 in Music by Ross

All Red Hot projects raise money to fight HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and all over the world, but never has there been a more appropriate Red Hot tribute than this one dedicated to the music of Afrobeat founder Fela Kuti, the Nigerian legend who died from AIDS-related complications in 1997. Fela’s music has been refashioned and remixed, together here with some of today’s most gifted artists, nearly 40 in all, covering a broad musical spectrum: hip-hop (Blackalicious, Roots), jazz (Roy Hargrove, Archie Shepp); soul (Sade, D’Angelo), Afrobeat (Tony Allen, Femi Kuti), world music (Baaba Maal, Jorge Ben), electronic music (Mixmaster Mike, Money Mark) and rock (Nile Rodgers). It’s fun to hear all of these artists mix in their own styles with the god father of Afrobeat, himself since many of them have undoubtedly been heavily influenced by his music.

$18.98 | BUY

Best women’s climbing harness

12 Mar 2008 in Adventure Gear by Ross

Girls love this Petzl Women’s Luna Harness because in addition to the signature Petzl DoubleBack buckles, it’s got easily adjustable leg loops and perforated foam padding around the waist that makes it super comfortable. This is a versatile harness, which works with multiple layers in the cold, or shorts when it’s hot, will keep you safe and comfy at the climbing gym or in any outdoor environment.

$79.95 | BUY

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