Camera Bag Insert
Your favorite backpack or handbag might not be ideal for protecting camera gear. But you can still carry your camera equipment in the bag of your choosing by using a BYOB insert — that’s Bring Your Own Bag. The inserts from Tenba feature soft shells that cushion camera gear and mold to fit the interior of almost any bag.
The BYOB 9 holds a mirrorless camera or compact DSLR with two to three lenses and accessories. Its suggested price is $39.95. Inserts in various other sizes are available, with prices ranging from $29.95 to $59.95.
Tenba
75 Virginia Road
North White Plains, NY 10603
(914) 347-3300
www.tenba.com
Bartending Too
Amateur mixologists who enjoy creating cocktails might enjoy this saloon joke: A group of fonts walk into a bar. “Get out!” shouts the bartender. “We don’t serve your type in here!”
Yes, a sense of humor comes in handy when mixing drinks, and the Bar10der might, too. It is 10 bartending tools in one: muddler, reamer, channel knife, jigger, zester, knife, stirrer, strainer, corkscrew, and bottle opener. The tool measures 9 inches by 1 inch by 1 inch and is made of stainless steel and plastic. It’s available in blue or red. The suggested price is $29.99. (Versions made of vintage oak or all-stainless steel are priced at $39.99.)
Quench Products
680 Main St., Suite 201
Stamford, CT 06901
(347) 836-4660
www.quenchproducts.com
Plate/Cup Holder
Ah, the perils of a potluck. You pile all that food on your plate while balancing a beverage to boot. Dare you risk a catastrophic spillage? There might be an easier way.
The Drink and Plate, from Pioneer Plastics, combines a plate, cup holder, and handle so that food and drink can be carried in one hand. All the better for using that second hand to dish up more bacon-wrapped jalapenos or to high-five your favorite cook. The Drink and Plate is dishwasher-safe. A package of six — two each of blue, red, and yellow — is $24.95.
Pioneer Plastics
P.O. Box 6
1584 U.S. Highway 41A N.
Dixon, KY 42409
(800) 951-1551
www.pioneerplastics.com
Portable Fridge/Freezer
Ice is nice, but it’s not always readily available. And even when it is, there’s messy meltage. An alternative is ice-free cooling with Dometic’s CFX series of portable refrigerators and freezers, which were honored as Best Overall Tailgate Product at the 2015 National Hardware Show.
All CFX models operate on 120 volts AC, 12 volts DC, or 24 volts DC. A quick-chill turbo function runs the compressor at maximum until the desired temperature is reached, from minus 8 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit; at that point, the unit draws 1 amp of power to maintain the temperature. Other features include a soft-touch digital thermostat; drop-down spring-loaded handles; removable baskets; detachable and reversible lids; a separate dairy compartment; and a USB port.
The top-of-the-line CFX-65DZ provides 42 liters of refrigerator space and 19 liters of freezer space. Its suggested retail price is $880.
Dometic Corporation
2320 Industrial Parkway
Elkhart, IN 46516
(800) 544-4881
www.dometic.com/usa
Heated Chair
Even with a chill in the outdoor air, you can be sitting pretty in the All-Season Heated Chair from Chaheati. The folding camping chair’s soft, pliable, heating element is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a life of approximately 500 uses. In 10 to 20 seconds, the chair heats up to a chosen setting — low, medium, high, or max — with temperatures ranging from 98.6 degrees to 145.4 degrees. On low, the chair provides heat for about six hours on one charge; on max, it heats for 108 minutes.
When unfolded, the chair is 23.6 inches wide, 23.6 inches deep, 36.2 inches tall, and can accommodate up to 280 pounds. Available colors are all black or red with a black stripe. The suggested retail price is $109.99.
Chaheati
P.O. Box 161
Columbia, IL 62236
(920) 543-4328
www.chaheati.com
Lantern/Mood Light
My, how things have changed since Thomas Edison patented his first light bulb almost 136 years ago. Among the latest innovations is CUBE, a personal, versatile LED mood and utility light from Hong Kong-based Enevu.
CUBE has low, medium, and high settings, with the latter producing 100 lumens of white light. (In comparison, a 40-watt incandescent bulb equals about 450 lumens.) CUBE can switch from white light and scroll through myriad colors, and you can lock on to the one that suits your mood. CUBE also can be changed from a lantern to a spotlight by removing its diffuser. In emergency mode it acts as a beacon for up to 48 hours. CUBE is powered by three AAA batteries, which are included. The splash-proof exterior includes a hanging hook. Available body colors are white, black, blue, and pink. The price is $29.90.
Enevu
Email: service@enevu.com
www.enevu.com
RV Water Filter
Water that tastes or smells funny is no laughing matter. Camco’s TastePURE KDF/Carbon Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector (product number 40043) is designed to improve the taste of good ol’ H2O while removing odors, chlorine, and sediment for approximately three months.
No assembly is required. Simply connect the filter to an RV’s drinking water hose. The flexible hose protector helps minimize kinking that could impede water flow. The filter uses granular activated carbon to remove particles as small as 100 microns. (In comparison, the diameter of the period at the end of this sentence is roughly 600 microns.) The filter incorporates KDF (kinetic degradation fluxion), which inhibits growth of bacteria and fungus. The suggested price is $27.45. A two-pack (with filters only) costs $36.10.
Camco Manufacturing Inc.
121 Landmark Drive
Greensboro, NC 27409
(800) 334-2004
www.camco.net
Awning/Siding Cleaner
As you say good-bye to 2015, you might also want to bid adieu to the black streaks and dirt that accumulated this year on your motorhome’s siding and awning. Korkay Awning Cleaner and Black Streak Remover, from Tate Soaps & Surfactants, is formulated to remove such grime, as well as bugs, tree sap, pitch, air pollutants, and oxidation.
Korkay contains no hard abrasives or solvents and is safe for use on aluminum and vinyl surfaces and rubber roofs, according to company representatives. It cleans RV decals, gel coat, fiberglass, and lacquer and enamel paint. Prices vary by distributor but generally range from $7 to $10 for a 32-ounce bottle, and $15 to $20 for the 1-gallon size.
Tate Soaps & Surfactants Inc.
1500 N. Webster St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
(765) 868-4488
www.korkay.com
Pest Deterrent
Pests such as insects and rodents may love your motorhome as much as you do. The Sniff ’n’ Stop RV Kit from Valterra Products is touted as a safe way to be inhospitable to these unwanted guests.
According to product literature, Sniff ’n’ Stop is neutral-smelling and works by emitting natural essential oils that cause pests to release pheromones, which convey a signal to members of the same species. In this case, the signal is: SCRAM. The kit contains one large pouch and six small pouches for indoor use; deterrent granules for outdoor use; and a spray bottle for indoor and outdoor use. The RV Aftermarket Association named Sniff ’n’ Stop one of the top products for 2015. The kit’s suggested price is $33.93.
Valterra Products LLC
15230 San Fernando Mission Blvd. #107
Mission Hills, CA 91345
(818) 898-1671
www.valterra.com