Best New Products Featured at the International Travel Goods Show
By Heather Newgen
Every year the top travel companies attend the prestigious International Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas to reveal their newest products to retailers and press. An estimated 300 vendors come ready to promote everything from luggage to the latest trends in travel gear, which is exciting to see. For three days I walked the massive convention center floor, weaving my way through the aisles of countless booths taking it all in. After testing and examining hundreds of items, here are my picks for the essential, unique and worthy must haves.
Let’s get real for a second. How many times have you traveled or been at an event and were completely grossed out by the bathroom? Or maybe there just wasn’t any toilet paper and you didn’t realize it until it was too late? The Restroom Kit solves that issue. The small package includes a padded oversized toilet seat cover that covers the entire toilet, three feet of toilet paper, a hand wipe and a tissue wipe.
“Once you start using them, you’ll never leave home without it. It’s a no brainer. Travelers will have a more sanitary product when you go into the restroom and you’re guaranteed to have what you need,” Founder William Massey told The Voluntourist.
I love this idea and Massey explained how he came up with it.
“The concept comes just from being out and about with my kids. Using the high trafficked public restrooms in the D.C. area where we live weren’t always stocked with everything you need. After it happens to you one or two times, the third time you come up with an idea.” He added, “The Restroom Kit has everything you need for any bathroom.”
Where to buy: www.therestroomkit.com
Price: The Restroom Kit starts at $10.00 for a three pack.
Lug bags and accessories are created for anyone who is on the go, which is most of us. I have the Lug Puddle Jumper backpack, as well as the packing cubes, and both products are high quality, well made and items I use almost every time I travel. Now I’m adding one more Lug bag to my list of travel essentials–the Boxer 2.
It not only holds everything you need for the gym, weekender or child–yes it can be a diaper bag too, but it has hidden straps that turn the Boxer 2 into a backpack. It has several compartments that help keep your contents organized and it’s comfortable to wear. Plus it was the official gift bag at the 24th Annual SAG Awards, so chances are you’re favorite celebrity owns this stylish and practical bag.
Where to buy: Lug
Price: $120.00
Stow N Go Hanging Portable Luggage
I’m a really organized traveler in terms of planning the perfect itinerary, but when it comes to packing, I need all the help I can get. I literally throw as much of my wardrobe that fits into a suitcase and sift through it all later. Don’t judge! So when I saw this Stow N Go Hanging I knew I had to have it to keep my items neatly packed. I like it because there are three separate shelves that hold more than you would think and a laundry compartment. It doesn’t take up much room in your carry-on and once you get to your destination, you hang the item in the closet and you’re done unpacking. It’s quick, easy and you’ll never want to travel without it.
Where to buy: Amazon
Price: $29.99
I admit it, I’m obsessed with compression socks. I never travel without them. Before you would only hear about them on late night commercials that were targeted for people who already had health issues and for an older demographic, but that’s changed.
“Compression socks are great for anyone with a lifestyle of prolong sitting, prolong standing, travel, exercise and recovery. They’re tighter in the ankle and loosens as it goes up, so it pushes the blood upward toward your heart and keeps the blood from pooling in your feet. So it reduces swelling and increases circulation and reduces fatigue. You’ll feel better wearing these at the end of a long day,” Emily Yann, National Sales Manager said.
And it’s true. I not only wear compression socks when I’m on a flight, but when I’m doing anything for extended periods of time. My only complaint was while they were effective and comfortable, they weren’t that cute. Then I found Sockwell and I’m now hooked on their fun colors, patterns and cozy fit.
Sockwell uses a wool that’s treated in a specialized way, so it’s not itchy. The socks also regulate your body temperature, so you’ll never hot and your feet stay dry.
“Our dream was to take medical technology and combine it with world-class color. So we’re a positive company. All of our patterns and colors are optimistic and uplifting. The fit and feel of the sock is designed to help you feel better in style, Mercedes Marchand, the VP of Design and Merchandising told us.
Where to buy: www.sockwellsocks.com
Price: $24.99
Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow
As a frequent traveler I’m always trying new travel products and I haven’t found a neck pillow I love until now. Since I fly economy most of the time I’m already uncomfortable as is with the lack of space, but attempting to sleep with the wrong pillow makes it that much more challenging.
Where to buy: www.Cabeau.com
Price: $39.99
As traveler who is always on a budget, I do allow myself to splurge on a few things and good luggage is one of them. If you invest in anything travel related it should be durable luggage because you’re throwing your money away by purchasing cheaper suitcases that don’t last. You’re better off buying something that will hold up for years and that’s why I love Zero Halliburton.
Any piece in their timeless collection is worth the price, but the one I’m loving right now is the Classic Aluminum 2.0. The vintage style latches and handles give it a chic cool look, while the tough aluminum makes it resilient and long-lasting. Inside there are mesh compartments to organize your items and the Classic Aluminum 2.0 comes with a 10 year warranty and TSA approved locks.
Where to buy: www.zerohalliburton.com
Price: $950.00
Everyone wants more space when sitting in economy, or anywhere on a plane, and spAIRtray has a quick fix. The easy to install tray effortlessly slides into the window shade track, which you can use for snacks, drinks your phone or tablet. It doesn’t interfere with the tray attached to the seat in front of you, so you have additional space to use.
What’s clever about the spAIRtray is that there’s a pad that keeps your items in place so there’s no chance of spillage or things sliding off. The spAIRtray is lightweight and fits easily into a laptop case, backpack or carryon. This is a new product I know travelers will love!
Where to buy: Amazon
Price: $24.95
I’m that person that frequently loses my keys and anything else that isn’t in my sight constantly. So when I heard about Return Me–cool tags that allow others to help you find your missing things, I knew I had to check it out.
So how does it work? Suhail Niazi, Founder of Return Me explains.
“Each tag says return me for award, has a toll free number, website and code on it. So when the customer gets it, they go online and activate the code with their name and number. It takes 30 seconds and that’s how we know who it belongs to. In the unfortunate event that you do lose an item, the person who finds it can call the toll free number. We have agents 24/7 and once we know the code then we will either arrange to have the item shipped back to the owner or connect them to the find and they can pick it up themselves. We’re like a proactive lost and found concierge service. We help people get back their lost items.”
He added, “We have retail products on our website and the finder gets a $40 voucher that they can use on our site.
They can protect their own items for free.”
Where to buy: www.return.me
Price: Individual tags range from $9.00 to $12.00