The best travel gear from 2014

I get a lot of products floating over my desk as Gear Editor and looking back over a great year of adventure this is my favourite travel gear from 2014 – practical products I use in my travels most.

Disclaimer: Although numbered, there is no hierarchy to these awesome pieces of travel gear. Prices correct as of January 2015.

1. K-Way Down Vest

R899, Cape Union Mart

Soft to the touch, incredibly toasty and you can pack this down-filled vest down to the size of a toilet roll. I pack it for every trip because it takes up little space, looks good and regulates temperature well.

Down garments have never been prominent in South Africa because even in freezing Sutherland winters they’ve proven too warm, but technologies have advanced to produce lightweight down jackets and body warmers with thinner, down-filled channels (you can read more about down properties here). It’s also 100% wind-proof and has a water-resistant coating

Want proof? It came with me to Lesotho during snowfall and I wish I had a pair for my feet because All Stars do not lend themselves to below freezing temperatures (pictured here I was wearing far more appropriate boots after the first day’s lesson hit home).

Buy it: R899 from Cape Union Mart

2. Coverderm Filteray Body Plus Spray

About R250, Coverderm 

This great sunscreen contains Aloe Vera after sun protection, keeping your skin hydrated and simultaneously defending it with high SPF protection blocking both UVA and UVB rays. It smells like a summer island, is water resistant and sinks in nicely so sand doesn’t stick to you.

Buy it: R250 from Coverderm or Dischem

3. RED-E Powerbank

R699, Action Gear

I never leave home without this.

Charge your phone or GoPro with the portable RED-E Powerbank. Available in three battery capacities, the Premium Edition 6 000mAh pack is best. The LED indicator lets you know how much charge is left and comes with four adaptors for different devices in a sleek package no bigger than your iPhone. It’ll charge your phone about three times when you’re on the road.

Buy it: R699, from Action Gear.

4. Falke Thermal Hiking Socks

R80, Takealot.com

Falke’s TK2 thermal trekking socks are anatomically designed for each foot with reinforced toes, great wicking capabilities and cushioned edges. After my close call with (what I convinced myself had to be) frostbite in Lesotho I kitted up with these guys and haven’t worn anything but these during winter.

Buy it: R80 from Takealot.com

5. Checkers coffee goods

From R50, Checkers Hyper

I’ve had this travel mug for three years and it’s still the best I’ve tested.

It fits into the cup holders of most cars and keeps your drink hot after three hours. There is a push-in top to release the beverage and the mouthpiece is easy to drink from once you’ve timed it well enough not to burn yourself.

Buy it: About R50 from Checkers Hyper

 
This year, when I put together a feature on the best coffee gadgets for travel I returned to Checkers and found this Two-Cup Aluminium Espresso-Maker.

I suspect its good looks will be tarnished after a bit of time on an open flame, but this coffee gadget works like a dream on a gas cooker and is ideal for hiking or camping. I love the slick design featuring a non-drip spout and the convenient lightweight travel size.

Buy it: R80 from Checkers Hyper

6. Tracks4Africa app

R800, Tracks4Africa

Tested in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana in 2014 this is a must-have app.

The maps that come with Garmin and TomTom devices, although sufficient for navigating most South African regions, are inadequate when heading off road in Southern Africa. Supplement them with Tracks4Africa, says local expert Kevin Bolton of NavWorld store. ‘Anyone leaving South Africa without Tracks4Africa should be shot before dawn. My honest opinion,’ he says.

You could forgo a GPS altogether if you have a smartphone or tablet. The Tracks4Africa Overland Navigator app works offline using a built-in 3G transmitter. It includes practical points of interest such as petrol stations and a near-exhaustive directory of accommodation as well as detailed, accurate maps. But it doesn’t comprehensively cover big cities with lots of streets such as Joburg; in these instances it’s best to use Google Maps.

Buy at: Apple app store. Available soon on Google Play store.

Visit the Tracks4Africa site for more info.

7. RAM Tablet Mount

About R1600, RAM Mounts

The robust, seriously sturdy seven-inch universal X-Grip tablet holder comes with a lifetime guarantee. Four spring-loaded, rubber-tipped arms grip the device and there’s little chance the suction mount will fall off the windscreen. It’s bulky on your windscreen, but it’s still my pick of the lot. The mount is detachable, so you need only buy the arms when you upgrade the device. Available for all smartphones and tablets.

Some of the time, I’m incredibly lucky and get to keep gear items I’ve tested, other times, sadly I only get to touch a cool gadget for about a week or so, which makes me want it to more. This is one of those items.

Buy it: About R1600 from RAM Mounts.

8. Instalens

From R299

Designed and developed in Cape Town this piece of affordable mobile photography gear has made Instagramming all the more fun. There is a large range of lenses available but I tested the wide angle/macro lens. You simply put a magnetic ring around the camera on your phone and attach the lens when you want to create some magic shots.

It comes with a great little bag which doubles as a lens cleaner and spare magnetic rings so you can use it on your tablet or another mobile device too. The wide angle gives off a great fish-eye effect similar to a GoPro perspective and you need to unscrew the upper lens to use the macro option.

I keep this lens in my handbag and it comes out too often to be shameful about it.

Buy it: From 299 from Instalens

9. GoPro Hero

R1 999, Most outdoor or camera stores

I tested this guy out on a recent diving trip to Sodwana Bay and was super impressed at the new entry-level GoPro model.

Known as the GoPro Hero this simple action camera finally is an affordable and gimmick-free option for travellers. It’s got simple entry-level specs for the HD video and 5-megapixel stills and gets the job done.

Unless you absolutely must have WiFi app connectivity or need to immensely slow down your movies it’s the perfect entry-level camera (which happens to be the product motto actually).

Read more about the GoPro Hero specs here.

Buy it: R1 999, Trappers

10. Coleman 28-Quart Xtreme Cool Box

R799, iWarehouse

The redesign of the classic Coleman cool boxes caught my eye because they performed so well in the comparative ice test we conducted in 2013. They are by far still the best value-for-money buy because they truly work and keep your goods cold unlike other cheaper options out there, which have inferior insulation.

For me, it’s Coleman or bust. This one holds 36 cans, holds two-litre bottles upright and looks ultra-modern.

Buy it: R799, iWarehouse

11. Rare Earth Scarf

About R180, Poetry

On a trip to find the best great-value destinations around Johannesburg I played model posing at some of the locations. I was waaaaaay out of my comfort zone but came away with the best scarf in the whole world.

It’s soft and large made from sheer fabric and is a vital piece of travel I cherish. It has wrapped my camera up protecting it from sand, worked as a sarong and temporary hat-cum-turban as well as a window shade and, um, a scarf.

Buy it: About R180, I couldn’t find the same print I have, but Poetry, Old Khaki and Cape Union Mart all stock similar items and you can find a selection of beautiful scarves online here.

12. Sappi Bird Guide and Callfinder

R650, Exclusive Books

My brother bought my technophobe Oupa one of these for his 80th birthday and I’ve raved about it ever since. You have to see it to believe it because this nifty bird book is incredibly smart.

Thanks to new-fangled printing technology the Callfinder (a battery-operated electric toothbrush-like device) plays birdcalls when pointed at the photograph of a particular bird species in the Sappi Bird book because of the data embedded in the image. No Internet is required and it’s easy to operate – simply power it up, point at the pictures and it plays the species’ birdsong.

Buy it: R650, Exclusive Books

13. Undercover camera bags

From R1 800, Zavi Traders

Even though it’s my job, I despise looking like a tourist. This nifty camera bag soothes the sting and there are plenty of options for all tastes.

A little hipster, a little classic and, uh, little. The compact Double Green Canvas camera bag is a trendy travel option for toting your DSLR and one extra lens.

A back outer pouch is made for stashing a small tablet and two front pockets hold smaller accessories such as spare batteries. Removable padding quickly transforms it into a handbag.

Buy it: R1 800, Zavi Traders

The Zavi Traders website is not available until February, but you can check out some similar options from Kiekie Kit in the meantime.

14. Country Road Tote Bag

R499, Woolworths

The iconic tote is available in an assortment of colours and designs – from plain black canvas to geometric patterns such as this green striped option. The size of a large gym bag with few frills save for one outer pouch, it’s the perfect weekender bag great for a spontaneous trip.

Or a budding travel journalist. This is my go-to travel bag.

Buy it: R400 from Woolworths and Country Road

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