Running has opened up a new world of friends, conversations and the need for some new gear!

In the process of filling up my new “running drawer,” I discovered Howler Brothers and the Loggerhead Longsleeve Shirt.

This version of their popular men’s design is made of a quick drying polyester with UPF 45 sun protection. It features a feminine cut with a stand up collar and zipper neck. The sleeves have thumb holes (why this is my favorite feature I know not) and there’s a rear stash pocket for your keys and ID.

I happen to heart monkeys, so the fact that the Howler logo is a monkey, prominently displayed on the front, is bonus.

The shirt does all a workout shirt should do – it keeps me dry but also cool during my (now) 4-mile runs. I’m looking forward to some sunshine to test out the UPF

The Loggerhead comes in Aquamarine and Diamond (off-white). Available on the Howler Brothers site for $65.

Travel Well,

Beth

Related links:
Ibex OD Lyric Shirt
Krimson Klover Sweaters

I think Dovetail Travel in Peace might have come up with what I’ve been wishing for for years.

There are 2 body bands that are part of the Dovetail collection. They include a waistband that wraps around your hips (left) as well as the wing in which you insert your arms through the loops and the pocket sits against your back and over your bra.

I’m not sure that either of these are meant to replace your money pouch (which you normally would want to have easy access to) but both are great options for times when you want to keep your valuables safe and won’t need to access them at places like border stops or in a bank.

I can already think of times in the past when I wished I’d had something like this:

• On my motorcycle trip through Central America when I stashed money in a half dozen places in case a thief discovered one (or more) of my hiding spots.
• During overland trips in Papua New Guinea.
• Walking around markets in Paris, Rome, Saigon and Delhi – where pickpockets run rampant.

While the body bands look small right out of the package, each of these stretch enough so that a passport can easily fit inside.

So… wanna win your own?

Throughout February, you can enter to win your very own set of Dovetail Body Bands. Three lucky winners will be chosen on March 1, 2012.

You have TWO CHANCES TO ENTER!

1) Sign up for the Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter. This goes out just once a month and your information is never shared.

2) Sign up for the RSS email feed (see the “subscribe me” box at right) to receive an email each time I post to this blog (usually no more than 3x per week).

Subscribe to both and you’ve got 2 chances to enter this month.

Oh, and be a good egg… forward this along to someone whom you think might like to enter and win their very own set of Dovetail Body Bands.

Approximate Value: $48/set

This contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on February 29, 2012 and the lucky winners will be chosen on March 1. We can only ship to North American addresses (sorry!).

The winner will have 3 days to respond before another winner is chosen.

Good luck!

Travel Well,

Beth

I would never have guessed that this bag is an IGLOO!

True. I recently became acquainted with a whole new line of their products and have found all sorts of uses for them.

The Igloo Shopper Tote 30 is an insulated, no-leak bag with a heat-sealed liner. It’ll keep your cold items chillin’ and your warm lunches toasty.

It’s actually quite a bit larger than it looks. It can hold 30 cans (hence the name Shopper Tote 30) and has a flat bottom so that things won’t spill. (Even if they do, it’s easy to clean with a wet sponge.)

My preferred uses for this?

• Add a bag of ice and it’s great for a day at the beach with bottles of ice tea, sandwiches and more (despite living in Seattle, we have a beach about 5 minutes away).
• Fill this up and we’ve got a weekend’s worth of food for the mountains or cabin on the coast.
• Perfect for wine, cheese and crackers at outdoor concerts.
• Great for families, too, since there’s plenty of room for all sorts of goodies.

I love the whimsical colors that this bag comes in. It’s so NOT my dad’s cooler! And it’s available from Igloo for only $15!

Here’s another Igloo bag that gets my vote…

The Igloo City Tote is a bit smaller than the Shopper Tote 30. It holds its shape well, unlike the Shopper which is a bit more pliable.

This will hold 24 cans and/or plenty of food for a picnic.

Among other colors, it comes in PURPLE so that makes me an automatic fan.

But despite the color, it’s still a totally handy bag for the uses I outline above for the Shopper. I might caution that it would be a bit small for a family of 4 if you were trying to fill it up with a day’s worth of food.

It has double tote straps as well as a shoulder strap, making it easy to carry.

Available on Amazon for about $30.

Travel Well,

Beth

Related Links:
Ibex OD Lyric Shirt
MPG Synergy Jacket
Krimson Klover sweaters

This is the latest and, in my opinion the best, from the SteriPEN folks. This version is their first rechargeable water purifier and it’s also the smallest and lightest.

If you’re not familiar with SteriPEN, here are a couple of basics:

• These are small, easy to carry water purifiers.
• The UV light used in SteriPENs kill 99.99% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.9% of protozoa (i.e. Giardia and Cryptosporidium).
• You simply turn it on, dip the SteriPEN purifier in water and stir Within 48 seconds, you’ve got drinkable water.

Most importantly to me, however, is the fact that:

• You’re not contributing to the piles of plastic bottles that get left behind in so many countries that do not recycle.
• You’re saving money by not having to purchase all that bottled water.

So… wanna win your own?

Throughout December, you can enter to win your very own SteriPEN Freedom. One lucky winner will be chosen on February 1, 2012.

You have TWO CHANCES TO WIN!

1) Sign up for the Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter. This goes out just once a month and your information is never shared.

2) Sign up for the RSS email feed (see the “subscribe me” box at right) to receive an email each time I post to this blog (usually no more than 3x per week).

Subscribe to both and you’ve got 2 chances to win this month!

Oh, and be a good egg… forward this along to someone whom you think might like to enter and win their very own SteriPEN Freedom. At the very least, you might alert someone to this fantastic product that should be in the luggage of every traveler!

Approximate Value: $120

This contest closes at 11:59 pm PST on January 31, 2012 and the lucky winner will be chosen on February 1. We can only ship to North American addresses (sorry!).

The winner will have 3 days to respond before another winner is chosen.

Good luck!

Travel Well,

Beth

We had a good 3 – 4 inches over the weekend and, hold on to your cape, Batman, reports today say we are supposed to have 5 – 10 inches (though the forecast keeps changing and the snow appears to have stopped).

In any case, I finally got to wear my Rockport Katrina boots traipsing around downtown over the weekend as snow covered the city – making it beautiful and reminding me why I love it here so much.

Here’s what I dig about the Katrina’s:

• Their Hydro-Shield waterproofing ensures no wet feet. You’ll notice that the rubber sole wraps up around the foot keeping my feet nice and dry.
• The fleece-lined inside keeps feet warm.
• Excellent traction on the bottom means no slipping and sliding.
• These are true to size, an 8 fits me perfectly (I require and 8.5 in many shoes).
• The slim styling means they aren’t clunky.

As our (hopefully) 5 – 10 inches piles up, I’m hoping to run around the ‘hood in these today. If not for errands, then just for the fun of it

On sale at Amazon for almost 1/4 of the original price – just under $60.

Travel Well,

Beth

Related Links:
Ibex OD Lyric Shirt
MPG Synergy Jacket
Krimson Klover sweaters
O Waho Olukai boots