Collapsible Bottle
We all know the importance of staying hydrated, but carrying a water bottle can be darn inconvenient. Inventor Niki Singlaub’s solution is a collapsible bottle called the Hydaway.
The bottle collapses to a thickness of 1.25 inches — small enough to fit in a pocket. Made of food-grade silicone and plastic, the bottle is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. The bottle’s watertight seals prevent leaks, according to the Hydaway website. The Hydaway is available in various colors and two sizes: 21 ounces and 12 ounces. Each costs $20.
Hydaway
P.O. Box 1832
Bend, OR 97709
www.hydawaybottle.com
Eye Mask Headphones
The sad truth is that some people snore louder than a lawnmower. It’s one reason some of us have trouble sleeping. Annoying lights are another bother. The 1 Voice Sleep Headphones Eye Mask is designed to block distracting sights and sounds so you can get your Zzzs.
The velvet eye mask (available in black, gray, blue, or pink) is made of memory foam. It’s machine-washable and has an adjustable clasp, so one size fits all. The mask’s built-in headphones are compatible with any cell phone or MP3 player and do not need a battery. The price is $49.
1 Voice
www.1voicenyc.com
Portable Closet
You may be used to rolling up things such as shirtsleeves, sleeping bags, and newspapers. Now it’s possible to roll up what is basically a portable closet. It’s called Rolo. After you place shirts, pants, underwear, and socks inside Rolo, it can be rolled up to compress everything, and then carried by a strap. Rolo is said to hold about four days’ worth of clothing.
RVers might find Rolo especially useful for storing items in tight spaces. When Rolo is hung by its metal swivel hook in a closet or on a door frame, clothing stays organized, and the four mesh pockets (two large and two small) allow you to see what’s inside.
When rolled up and empty, Rolo is 17 inches long, 4 inches tall, and 1.25 inches wide, and it weighs 1.25 pounds. When unrolled, it’s 45 inches long and 17 inches wide. The cost is $49.99.
Rolo Adventures LLC
www.rolotravel.com
Hummingbird Feeder
Hummingbirds eat often. After all, it takes a lot of energy to flap those wings 80 times a second. When your motorhome is parked at a campground, you can enjoy watching the small, colorful birds at one of your windows by attaching a feeder such as the Jewel Box from Aspects Inc.
The plastic Jewel Box has suction cups that adhere to a window. With a bright red cover to attract birds, the feeder can be filled with up to 8 ounces of nectar and has three ports from which the small creatures can eat. The Jewel Box comes with a detachable ant moat that blocks crawling insects. The suggested price is $24.99.
Aspects Inc.
245 Child St.
P.O. Box 408
Warren, RI 02885
(888) 277-3287
(401) 247-1854
www.birdfeeding.com
Campfire Grate
Maybe you missed the Scout meeting on how to build a campfire, or you just want to ensure that your blaze burns long and strong. The IncinerGrate C4000 may be the answer. The collapsible, vertical fire pit grate forms a teepee shape — one of the classic methods of building a campfire — and helps secure the wood in place as it burns.
According to the product description, the IncinerGrate allows users to start a fire quickly and spend less time tending to it. And that, presumably, means you’ll have time for more important tasks, such as gobbling s’mores. The IncinerGrate C4000 comes apart in two pieces for storage. It is made of 1/2-inch steel bar stock. It’s 13 inches high and 13 inches wide, and weighs 5 pounds. The suggested price is $62.99. Two less expensive versions also are available.
FIREase LLC
8210 Nesbit Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30350
(404) 310-4922
www.firease.com
Silicone Tape
If we were to list all the possible uses of Permatex Self-fusing Silicone Tape, the text would spill off this page, into your lap, and onto the floor. The tape bonds to itself and instantly creates an airtight, waterproof seal, which means it’s handy for repairs on hoses, pipes, video and audio cables, wiring insulation, electrical connections, and more. Some people wrap it around tool handles to provide a better grip.
The tape has a tensile strength of 700 psi for use on pressurized hoses; is heat resistant to 400 degrees Fahrenheit; and insulates electrical wires up to 400 volts, according to product literature. It also withstands salt, acids, and solvents such as gasoline. One roll of black tape measuring 1 inch by 10 feet has a suggested price of $8.99.
Permatex
10 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06106
(877) 376-2839
www.permatex.com
Battery Charger
The Commuter is designed to bring power to the people. It combines an AC wall charger, a universal DC/vehicle charger, and an internal battery pack so that smartphones, tablets, and other devices can be charged almost anywhere by using the Commuter’s USB port.
The Commuter’s internal lithium-ion polymer battery is rated at 2,600 milliampere-hours. When needed, the AC wall plug and the DC vehicle plug unfold from the Commuter, which has a rubberized, nonslip coating. The device weighs 4.5 ounces and measures 3.6 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.8 inch, small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. A Micro USB cable is included. The price is $49.99.
Spyder Digital Research
213 Sterling Road
Suite 205
Toronto, ON M6R 2B2
(416) 769-0002
www.spyderstyle.com
Rotary Polisher
You want your motorhome exterior to look spiffy in a jiffy, right? The Dual Action Polisher Pro, from Shurhold Industries, is designed to cover a lot of surface quickly when you’re removing oxidation or applying a coat of wax.
A 900-watt motor powers the machine, which features an oscillating motion and a 21-millimeter orbit. Your thumb controls the polisher’s variable speed. A locking button assures that users work at a steady pace without accidentally turning off the machine. The polisher weighs 6 pounds and has a 20-foot power cord. A canvas storage bag is included. Polish pads are sold separately. The suggested retail price is $315.
Shurhold Industries
3119 S.W. 42nd Ave.
Palm City, FL 34990
(800) 962-6241
www.shurhold.com/rv
Jack Pads
No motorhome owner wants to experience that sinking feeling of jacks descending into unstable ground. That’s why jack pads were invented. Summit Products has been producing its pads in-house since 2001. They are made of ultra-high-molecular-weight plastic and are guaranteed for life.
Summit’s pads range in size from 12 inches by 12 inches to 48 inches by 48 inches. The pads are easy to clean and can be carried with an integrated handle. Summit officials recommend 16-inch-by-16-inch pads for most RVs. Pad thicknesses are either 0.75 inch or 1 inch; the latter are for motorhomes that exceed 33,000 pounds. A 16-inch-by-16-inch pad, 0.75-inch thick, weighs 7 pounds and is priced at $47. A 16-inch-by-16-inch pad, 1 inch thick, weighs 9 pounds and costs $57.
Summit Products Inc.
6750 N.E. 41st Ave.
Altoona, IA 50009
(800) 329-2958
(515) 252-0435
www.rvstainless.com