Product review: ZOOEASS woven cross-body shoulder strap for purse or backpack

 

 I really like the strap I got. The strap is woven. The strap is the same on both sides. It looks exactly like the stock photos. The strap feels sturdy yet soft. It is pleasant to touch when it comes in contact with the skin.
The hardware feels sturdy. It is thicker than I imagined. I needed silver hardware to match the purse's hardware and was able to find silvery buckles, which turned out to be a bit of a challenge until I found Zooeass straps.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Zooeass purse strap

Product review: TravelChair Slacker Chair Folding Tripod Camp Stool - one flaw and a fix for it

After several surgeries on my back I have trouble walking for a long time without sitting down for a few minutes to release the stress on my back. I purchased this chair so I would be able to walk without having to worry that I would have no place to sit down. This chair is almost perfect. It has only one flaw. Both the flaw and the solution to the flaw are detailed in the second half of the review.

The chair turned out to be more comfortable and more stable than I imagined from the photos. I sit on it as I would sit on a bicycle seat. My butt is on the wide part and it feels pretty comfortable. Not armchair comfortable but not unpleasant.

The travel chair is pretty light. It weighs 1 pound 14.1 oz. The feet of the chair have a pretty good friction and don't slide.

The chair is 24" long when folded. and when I wrap my measuring tape around its width the circumference is 7". When it is open, the seat is 17" from the ground. I am short and I find that height very comfortable. My husband thinks it is a little too short but not bad (he said it was like sitting on a toilet).

So now, the big flaw. What makes this chair valuable to me is the ability to carry it around. However the strap is too short to comfortably carry it over my shoulder even for small person like myself. And what I really wanted is carry it like a sling across my back. I want it rests on my back and be totally out of the way.

I     solved this problem by enlagring the strap. Before the alternation the strap is 21.5 inches long. The distance before anchors for the strap is 19". So you get only a couple of inches of slack. To fix this problem, I cut the strap I extended it with a regular black strap you can buy at any craft store.

The key to working with these straps is to singe the edges of them so they don't unravel. The strapping material does not burn, it melts. This forms a protective coating on the edges so you don't need to worry about them coming apart. Also it allows you to connected the two straps with minimum bulk, you don't need to fold them under.

After singeing all 4 ends I connected the two straps with my sewing machine. I made the strap long enough to be comfortable for both myself and my husband, which required doubling its original size. I can make the strap shorter by feeding the access strapping material into the buckle. I also attached an extra Velcro strip in case I wanted to tuck away the dangling strap while I am sitting in a chair and not bother with the buckle.

With this simple fix the travel chair is absolutely perfect! I can now take long walks like I did before my back problems.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Compression Packing Cube for Travel

I love traveling with travel bags to keep my luggage organized.  These bags are a little different from the other bags I own:

1) My other bags have mesh on one side, these bags are made out of solid nylon on all sides.  Nylon works better for comparision purposes as well as containing smells (so they would be good for dirty closing as you travel).

2) They have two zippers. One zipper open the opening where you insert your stuff.  The second zipper lets out 3" of height of the bag (similar to a feauture of some soft side luggage).  Then once you fill the bag you can use this zipper to shrink the bag and get a little big of compression. 

In my video I show before and after compression. The compression is small compared to vacuum bags, but every little bit helps when you need to fit a lot of stuff.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Little World Wheeled Backpack Carry-on Luggage with Removable Roller Frame

This backpack on wheels is unique because the roller platform is not attached to the backpack.  The backpack and roller can be used together or separately.

The backpack has three compartments. The large compartment is 18" tall, but narrows at the top. Inside the main compatment there is a pocket with a velco strap for the thin laptop, that pocket is 8.5" wide, so my large laptop does not fit, but my large tablet fits comfortably.

The roller has an extenable arm, which extends 38"5' inches.  I am 5'2" and the handle reaches my to about my waist so it pretty comfortable to roll.  When the handle is collapsed it can fit inside of the bag (this is how it is shipped), but when it is inside the backpack there is not much room left, so it defeats the purposes of the backpack.

The backpack attaches to the roller in two ways. There are velcro straps that go through the holes in the platform.  And there is a loop that goes over a special holder on the handle.  The velcor loops are a little fussy to attach especially when the backpack is full.

What I like about the roller is that I can use it for other things (like a shopping bag) not just the backpack.  The roller is not super heavy duty but sufficient for the backpack and grocery bags.

The velcro straps on the bottom of the backpack are handy for holding a jacket while I have the backpack on my back when I am not using a roller.

This is not a fancy backpack,  but I like the concept of having a frame that is separate.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: SINOKAL Elastic Dustproof Luggage Suitcase Protector Cover Fits Most 20" to 29" Bags

What attracted me to this cover is the thought of easily identifying my luggage on the airport carousel. I selected the "dreamy colors" because it was the wildest brightest design which I thought would stand out the most. The colors in the stock photo were accurate and it is as bright and as wild in person as you see in the stock photo.

I tried it on the two large suitcases that I travel with most frequently and both had some fit issues. I am attaching photos for each suitcases and will describe the issues so you can be the judge if they are deal breakers. One of my suitcases is green another one is red so you can match my comments to the photos.

Green suitcase
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Sinokal's bottom closes with a large Velcro strip and an elastic strap for extra security. The wheels fit fine, the suitcase rolls well. See green suitcase collage photos labeled 1 and 2.

2. The openings for the handles on the side and on top line up well. The handled are positioned in the center of the suitcase and that lines up with holes in the cover. See green suitcase collage photos labeled 3 and 4.

3. The fit problem is with the handle that extends to roll this suitcases. The handle on this suitcase spans the entire width of the suitcase and does not fit into the small opening in the luggage cover. See green suitcase collage photo labeled 4.

The fact that I cannot roll the suitcases when it case a cover on a serious problem. I would need to cut the opening to be bigger if I decide to use this cover with the green suitcase.

Red suitcase
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. The bottom closes with a large Velcro strip and an elastic strap for extra security. The wheels fit fine, the suitcase rolls well. See red suitcase collage photo labeled 1.

2. The handle that extends to roll the luggage lines up with the opening of the luggage cover perfectly. The handle is small and off center. It fits into the hole in the cover just right. See red suitcase collage photo labeled 2.

3. The fit problem comes from the position of the handles. The handles on this suitcases are positioned off center, so both the side and the top handles of the suitcase do not line up with the openings in the cover. See red suitcase collage photos labeled 3 and 4. However, they are close enough to the opening that I can reach them through the opening and the handles can be used.

The problems with the handles are minor, I can still use them. So overall, the red suitcase fits the cover better.

I received this luggage cover for testing and review. Bottom line: I love the idea of the luggage cover to personalize my luggage and make it stand out. It also provides protection for the suitcase which to me is secondary. However, the luggage cover is not universal. It fits best the suitcases with the following configurations:
1. the handle that pulls out has to be off center and not span the entire width of the luggage.
2. the handles on the sides has to be in the middle of the luggage.

Other configuration could work too, but you might need to do some sewing to enlarge the holes in the cover to fit your favorite suitcase.

You can find this luggage cover on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review

Product review: Lelec 7" Car GPS Navigation

As I write this review I have been using Lelec GPS for three weeks. It has many weaknesses (details below) and one key strength (the maps and the navigation itself). As I used it I found a way to solve the problem with the poor screen visibility in the sun which raised my overall experience to good. Note: the seller offers two products in this listing, I am reviewing the one without the rear camera.

As a background for this review I am a very experienced GPS user. We purchased our first GPS in 1999 and between my husband and I had chance to use a large number GPS units over the last 16 years. How does this GPS stack up? It is NOT the best navigation system out there, but it has several features that I do like. I hope the pluses and minuses I describe will help you in your decision of this GPS unit is a good match for your needs.

The best feature of this GPS unit are the good maps (provided by TomTom and dated June 2014). The weakest points are the user interface, which is uses the old technology for resistive touch screen and the screen visibility in the sun. The unit also includes several very outdated and primitive apps which decrease the overall impression of the unit, but they are optional so one can just ignore them.

THINGS I LIKE:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. The maps are fairly current (June 2014). The display shows 3-D like rending of the turns which helps to orient yourself in a complex intersections.

2. A 7" screen is large and easy to see even for someone with imperfect vision. The screen looks washed in the sun, good in the shade, and is superb during the night. My video shows the display as we drive under different conditions. I found a work around for the poor screen visibility in the sun by changing where I mount the screen. Instead of using the mount that comes with the GPS I mounted it using a Command hook and "TABI-Stretch it on!" mount over the screen of my car's built-in GPS. The maps on the built-in GPS are now out of date and TomTom maps are significantly better. Mounting GPS in this position puts the screen in the shade, gives me a great angle and does not block visibility out of the window (but does block the car's radio as well the old GPS screen). At the end of the video I have several shots of how Lelec GPS is mounted in my car.

3. The navigation system does not require cell coverage. Our favorite navigation system at this time is Google Navigation but it requires cell coverage, which means it does not work in some rural areas where we like to travel on weekend. There is no such restriction using Lelec system. Google navigation has a street view which allows you to see the actual street and buildings this feature is not available through TomTom maps used by Lelec.

4. The speaker is good. It has a good volume level and has a large selection of male and female voices to choose from. All of them sound natural, not like a robot. I include voice directions in my video with the volume set to MAX.

5. Destination can be saved to "Favorites". It is easy to do with just a few keystrokes (my video clip includes an example).

6. You can change units from metric (default) to miles. By default the GPS is set to metric measures.

THINGS I DO NOT LIKE:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. The touch screen uses the old resistive touch technology, where you need to press the screen very hard. If you are used to touch screens on the smart phone this type of the touch screen feels unresponsive.
On the positive side this touch screen user interface is easier to use than a joystick interface, you can enter destination by typing on the keyboard keyboard when entering destinations.

2. The screen is hard to see in the sun. The image looks very washed out and it is hard to read labels. The screen looks much better in the shade or in the dark. I was able to solve this by moving the GPS below the dashboard, but this may not work for some people as it covers the radio.

3. Screen does not rotate, you need to mount one specific way

4. Amazon description says the US maps are current as of 2015. The software says the maps are current as of June 2014.

5. There an option for traffic notification, however when we ran Google Navigation and Lelec at the same time Google was generating traffic warnings and Lelec did not. The overall result was that Lelec route took longer than Google route. In general, Google Navigation calculations of our arrival time were more accurate over a number of different trips we did with both GPS doing the routing.

6. In the navigation software there is information on how to get updates. When I went to that web site I had to enter the brand name of the GPS and Lelec did not match any of the devices for which I could get updates.
To see the web site where you can get updates: Show map - Destination - More - Updates and extras. When I contacted the vendor he told me that updates can be obtained by calling the Chinese company that manufactured the GPS. So I am not counting on getting updates.

7. In addition to the Navigation app this unit has a sreen full of other apps. All of them are very primitive and fall short of expectations for anyone who used similar apps on a smart phone. I don't plan on using them.

The strongest feature of this GPS is the map and the navigation. This is the most important part of the product, so even though it has a number of short comings this is a reasonable option for a GPS system if travel in areas without cell coverage or don't have a cell phone that can do Google navigation.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: VonHaus ABS 3-piece Small, Medium & Large Luggage Sets

This luggage is built like a tank. It is made out of hard plastic. This is my first set of hard shell luggage. It is beautiful, offers great protection for the content, but what I did not realize that these bags are quite heavy even when they are empty (see weight for each below). However when I roll the bags the rolling is smooth and effortless. Each suitcase has four wheels and all wheels have 360 degrees of freedom. This means they can be rolled upright and sideways so they would fit into narrow spaces like airplane isles as well as pulled by their handled when there is room to move around. The telescoping handle operates smoothly and locks in various positions. For each of the four bags the maximum height of the handle is 42". The handles are ergonomically shaped and don't dig into my hand. The zippers work well and have large pulls so they are easy to grab.

You can pack items in both halves of the hard shell. Items on one side are held in by the elastic gators, items on the other side are held in by the divider which is also a pocket.

I like that for storage the suitcases fit into each other like nesting dolls

One other nice thing is that they have built-in combination locks. Note they NOT TSA approved locks, if you want TSA locks you can find them in the premier version of this luggage VonHaus 3 Piece Extra Strong ABS TSA Luggage Set
Here is how to change the lock combination:
1) Open the lock (the original combination is 0-0-0)
2) Push and hold the main locking button away from the combo lock toward the edge
3) Turn the numbered disks to your desired combination
4) Release the main locking button
The lock combination can be changed again by repeating these steps

Large bag
External size 29.7" x 21" x 11.9"
Internal size 27" x 19" x 11"
Weight 9 pounds 7.5 oz
Length of the handle at max height 42"

Medium bag
External size 26.2" x 17.7" x 10.3"
Internal size 23.5" x 16" x 9"
Weight 7 pounds 19 oz
Length of the handle at max height 42"

Small bag
External size 21.3" x 14.1" x 8.3"
Internal size 18" x 12.5" x 7"
Weight 5 lb 10.5 oz
Length of the handle at max height 42"

If you have questions on something I did not cover post a comment and I'll do my best to answer it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Bags for LessTM Jumbo Sports Duffel Bag on Wheels, 30"

This rolling duffel would have a been a very nice bag if the wheels did not fall off in transit. I saw that another reviewer had the same issue when he took this bag on a trip, so I guess I was lucky to get an early warning. If the wheels do come off I rather have them come off before I took the bag on a trip. This duffel is so large that it would have been super heavy to carry without wheels. It has built in straps but for me it would be uncomfortably heavy to carry as a backpack if it was jammed packed.

The canvas bag construction is very nice and the duffel bag itself is very large, it fits as much as a large suitcase, except it is built as a duffel bag with two large compartments one on top of another. Its dimensions are 30" W x 14" H x 15" D. However, the plastic that holds the wheels is very flimsy. One wheel totally came off in shipment and another one had cracked plastic and was hanging on by one sliver of plastic. You can see the bag itself and the breakage in the attached video.

I received this bag with a request for a fair and honest review. If you are looking for a large duffel on wheels this is not the one to get.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Himal Folding Collapsible Ultralight Travel Hiking Trekking Pole

This is cleverly designed folding pole. It consists of 4 parts that snap together and a fifth part that telescopes. The folding mechanism works easy - easy to unfold and easy to fold as you see in the video.

The telescoping is somewhat limited and works best for tall people. I am 5'3" and at its shortest length is it a little higher than I like for a long hike especially uphill. The best height for pole is when you hand from elbow to the handle is parallel to the ground and for me on the shortest setting my hand is going slightly up.

However the design and strength of the pole is good. Being able to fold the hiking pole into a backward is so convenient! It also useful for travel, as these poles can fit into luggage.

The foam handle is comfortable and will not slip even when the hands are sweaty. The pole weighs 10.5 oz. The maximum height is 54", the shortest height is 44".

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Shacke™ Pak - 4 Set Packing Cubes - Travel Organizers with Laundry Bag

These nylon bags have a double zipper and they open flat. The top of the bag has 4 mesh openings, so you can see what is in the bag without needing to open them. The mesh also allows air to escape so the bags can flatten out nicely. Each bag has a handle. The nylon is of a nice thickness, not flimsy. The seams are double stitched. The packing cube feel like a good quality product that should last a long time.

The packing cubes came in a matching nylon bag. This bag can be used as a storage bag for the packing cubes when they are not in use and as bag for keeping your dirty cloth separate from the rest when you travel.

Size info:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
♦ Extra Large cube is 17.5" x 12.75" x 4"
♦ Large cube is 13.75" x 12.75" x 4"
♦ Medium cube is 13.75" x 9.75" x 4"
♦ Small cube is 11" x 6.75" x 4"
♦ Laundry bag 20.5" x 14.5"

When I travel dedicate each cube to a specific type of clothing. Even if I don't fill them to full capacity I use all 4 as it makes it easier for me to find what I need. The small one I use for socks, I was able to fit 10 pairs of socks. The medium one I use for tops (blouses, t-shirts). I can fit 11 or 12 of them into the medium bag. The large one goes for pants/jeans. The extra large is used for warm items such as sweaters, fleece jackets, turtle necks. I can fit one or two of each, depending on how lofty the sweaters/cardigans are. I still need another bag for the underwear, so I am using another bag for that.

Cleaning instructions:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
♦ Hand wash in cold water
♦ Line Dry in the shade
♦ Do not bleach, iron, or dry clean

Ever since I can remember I travel with all my stuff neatly packed in extra large Ziploc bags. Shirts in one bag, pants in another bag, stuff I need for sleeping in another bag, and so forth. I used to travel a lot and this allowed me to live out of a suitcase and quickly find everything I needed without turning my suitcase upside down or needing to fully unpack. And years later I began seeing packing cubes being sold to do exactly the same thing that I've been doing for years. I should have created this product 20 years ago! Darn!

All in all excellent this is an packing system for a traveller. They work better than my plastic bag solution because they compress better (air escapes from the mesh).

You can find these packing cubes on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Shacke™ Pak - 4 Set Packing Cubes - Travel Organizers with Laundry Bag

These nylon bags have a double zipper and they open flat. The top of the bag has 4 mesh openings, so you can see what is in the bag without needing to open them. The mesh also allows air to escape so the bags can flatten out nicely. Each bag has a handle. The nylon is of a nice thickness, not flimsy. The seams are double stitched. The packing cube feel like a good quality product that should last a long time.

The packing cubes came in a matching nylon bag. This bag can be used as a storage bag for the packing cubes when they are not in use and as bag for keeping your dirty cloth separate from the rest when you travel.

Size info:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
♦ Extra Large cube is 17.5" x 12.75" x 4"
♦ Large cube is 13.75" x 12.75" x 4"
♦ Medium cube is 13.75" x 9.75" x 4"
♦ Small cube is 11" x 6.75" x 4"
♦ Laundry bag 20.5" x 14.5"

When I travel dedicate each cube to a specific type of clothing. Even if I don't fill them to full capacity I use all 4 as it makes it easier for me to find what I need. The small one I use for socks, I was able to fit 10 pairs of socks. The medium one I use for tops (blouses, t-shirts). I can fit 11 or 12 of them into the medium bag. The large one goes for pants/jeans. The extra large is used for warm items such as sweaters, fleece jackets, turtle necks. I can fit one or two of each, depending on how lofty the sweaters/cardigans are. I still need another bag for the underwear, so I am using another bag for that.

Cleaning instructions:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
♦ Hand wash in cold water
♦ Line Dry in the shade
♦ Do not bleach, iron, or dry clean

Ever since I can remember I travel with all my stuff neatly packed in extra large Ziploc bags. Shirts in one bag, pants in another bag, stuff I need for sleeping in another bag, and so forth. I used to travel a lot and this allowed me to live out of a suitcase and quickly find everything I needed without turning my suitcase upside down or needing to fully unpack. And years later I began seeing packing cubes being sold to do exactly the same thing that I've been doing for years. I should have created this product 20 years ago! Darn!

All in all excellent this is an packing system for a traveller. They work better than my plastic bag solution because they compress better (air escapes from the mesh).

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Rick Steves Clothesline (braided rubber clothline rope)

This clothline is made out of three braids of rubber, which can be pulled apart to poke through a small piece of the garment you want to dry. This means you don't need to worry about cloth pins when you travel. This clothline works very well indoors, however the rubber braids are not strong enough to hold clothing outside in the wind or near an open window with strong gusts.

The length of this rope without stretching is 40 inches. Each end of the rope ends in a Velcro loop which I did not include in the 40 inch measurement as it will be tied around something. The stretchy part is 32 inches, and can be relatively easily stretch to 42 inches giving you a total of 48 inches. However, I would not stretch it any more than that as I ran into issues: either the pull moves the objects it is tied to (when I use two chairs) or the Velcro undoes itself. I was also worried about pulling out the rope ends from the rubber part and ruining the rope. My solution to a relatively short length is to pack a short rope with a loop on one end. When I need extra reach to tie the clothline I attach the Velcro tie to the loop of the rope. This extension gives me the extra length to reach another stationary object when needed.

I am attaching a photo  which shows a close-up of the rope with a pen sticking through the braids to demonstrate how it stretches. You can also see how solidly the Velcro ties are constructed. They are quite thick.

When I travel I always wash my items in the sink. This allows me to bring fewer clothes as well as have a minimum amount of dirty underwear in the luggage. Most things I have dry over night. Typically hiking socks are the only things that remain damp. This becomes a problem if you are moving from place to place, so I carry a spare plastic bag where the items that are not totally dry travel if we are switching hotel rooms. To do the laundry I use the shampoo (either the hotel's or the travel bottle I bring myself if we travel in places which do not provide toiletries).

I found having this travel rope makes laundry on the go easier, and I don't need to worry about forgetting to bring cloth pins or using up all hangers for hanging laundry instead of cloth.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Davidsbeenhere: Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag

When I travel and live out of the suitcase I like being organized. I typically travel with the content stored in various plastic bags to keep things organized. This Toiletry Bag is going to replace quite a few of my plastic bags! One feature that I really like that it has a hanger so you can hang it in the bathroom rod. This solves a problem with cramped bathrooms which do not have enough room to lay things out!

The bag is made out of light nylon. When it is empty if weights 7.9 oz. It has a total of 4 compartments.

I am attaching a collage of 4 numbered photos that I will be referencing in this review.

Here are the details about the bag compartments and dimensions:

1. Photo #1 shows bag closed with just the hanger pulled out of the middle compartment. I hang it this way in the hotel bathroom when it is not used.
When the organizer is closed it is 16" by 11" by 2" in size.

2. Photo #2 shows the expansion zipper. One of the compartments can be made bigger or smaller by use of this expansion zipper. It gives an additional 2.5 inches of room in one of the side compartments.
If the zipper is closed the right compartment is 1" (width) x 2"(height) x 10.5" in size, with the zipper opened it becomes 3.5" (width) x 2" (height) x 10.5". If you look at picture #3 and #4, this compartment is the first one on the right.

3. The second compartment from the right is 2.5" x 2.5" x 10.5"

4. The third compartment flips open and has two mesh pockets. One of the mesh pockets has a zipper, the second one ends with a rubber band. This compartment is 7" x 10.5" x 2" in size.
Photos #3 and #4 shows this compartment opened.
The hanging hook as well as the handle are attached to this middle compartment. The design is such that allows to hang the bag either opened or closed, which is pretty handy!

5. The fourth compartment (left most in picture #3 and #4) is sized 3.75" (width) by 10.5" by 2" (height).

I received an evaluation copy of this travel toiletry bag from Davidsbeenhere to write an honest and unbiased review.

I found it to be a well designed and thought through organizer. It is light, the zippers work well. It kept me well organized and made it easy to find things even when there was not a lot of surface area in the hotel bathroom. I have no hesitation in recommending it!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Davidsbeenhere: Travel Passport Wallet Organizer Davidsbeenhere: Travel Passport Wallet Organizer

This organizer really helps you keep organized. I am attaching a collage of three photos which I will be referencing in this review.

The organizer is made out light nylon and has 15 compartments.
When closed its dimensions are 5.5" by 9.5" inches. When opened it spans 10.75" inches by 9.5".
It has one outside compartment (see photo #3) where you can insert tickets or anything else that needs to be accessed quickly.
The organized has one big zipper that closes the organizer, and one small zipper that closes a small compartment on the inside. Bottom left of photo #1 and photo #2. I stored my earrings in that compartment when I was not wearing them.

On the left hand side:
1. The top compartment is very deep it spans the length of the entire organizer (in photo #2 I inserted a ruler into it so you can see that it is about 9 inches deep)
2. The next 4 compartments are shallow, the depth is good for credit card size items (in photo #2 I inserted a business card into one of the shallow pockets)
3. The compartment above the zipped pocket is 3.5 inches deep
4. The zipped pocket is 3 inches deep

On the right hand side:
1. The top compartment is a deep compartment which is 9 inches deep
2. Next we have a flap which is also 9 inches deep
3. The outside of the flap has 4 shallow compartments which hold credit card sized content
4. The last compartment is a clear pocket which 3.5 deep. I kept my passport in it (in photo #2 you can see how it fits).

I received an evaluation copy of a product from Davidsbeenhere to write an honest and unbiased review.

This is a well designed and thought through organizer. It is light, zippers work well. It kept me well organized, no fumbling around looking for stuff.
I have no hesitation in recommending it!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Davidsbeenhere: Portable Travel Digital Luggage Scale

To the chagrin of my husband I don't travel light.  This travel luggage scale will save me money by making sure I don't get hit by excessive baggage fees.

The scale is requires a 2032 Lithium Button Cell which is not included and needs to be purchased separately. You can find this battery on Amazon here.

I checked the accuracy of the scale by measuring my weight with and without a bag and then comparing it with the results of the luggage scale.  It was accurate within a pound. When packing I would stay a minimum of 1 pound under the limit.

The luggage scale battery compartment does not indicate how to insert the battery (no polarity shown).  I am attaching a collage of 4 photos under customers photos, photo #4 shows the battery being inserted into the slot of the scale in the proper orientation.
Photo #1 shows the scale with the battery compartment closed, and photo #2 shows the handle with the battery compartment opened.

The scale is shaped like a handle with a belt attached to it.  You loop the belt around the suitcase handle and back onto the scale so you can lift the suitcases using the digital scale as a handle. This handle is ergonomically shaped I was found it convenient to hold while lifting the suitcase. Photo #3 shows how it fits into my hand.  For size reference I have small size hands, glove size small.

The only negative I have to say that I wish the package came with the battery included.

I received a sample scale from Davidsbeenthere for evaluation and honest and fair review. I have described positives and negatives of my experience with this digital scale and if you have any questions on the features I covered I am always happy to respond to comments.

It works. It is fairly accurate. If you don't travel light this scale will help you stop worrying about excessive baggage fees.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Davidsbeenhere Inflatable Travel Pillow with Cloth Cover

I found this travel pillow very comfortable. The difference between this pillow and an old inflatable pillow I usually travel with is that the center part of this pillow is flat. This means the pillow does not push your head forward, it only allows you to rest your head to the side. This is a very good design!

This pillow's nozzle has a valve, so when you stop blowing into it it does not instantly deflate. However, this mechanism makes it a little tricker to let the air out. To inflate the pillow the instruction say to pinch the nozzle. The first few times I tried to inflate the pillow I had trouble doing so because I was pinching too low. I though the right place to pinch would be where the valve that holds the air is. Instead the right place to pinch is on the neck of the valve, at the very top. I found that the easiest way to squeeze was not with out hand, but with hands pushing the valve with my two thumbs. This way I could easily place my lips on the valve without my hand getting in the way.

And a final note on inflation, inflation gets easier every time you do it. Before I figured out the pinch method described above I used a foot pump to inflate it. If you have trouble inflating trying that one time, it separates the plastic sides from each other and inflating by mouth will be easier.

To deflate the pillow you also need to push on the valve right at the very top. To get all the air out I found that rolling the pillow while squeezing was the best way. When I wanted to make the pillow totally flat I used a small object to depress the valve directly while doing the final roll.

I am attaching a collage of two photos.

Photo #1 shows the pillow and the storage pouch it comes with. The pillow has a cloth case that can be washed.

 Note that Amazon sells two versions of Davidbeenthere travel pillow:  this one  and another one which is similar, more expensive, but without a case. I asked Davidbeenthere about the differences and he told me that the pillows are identical, but this newer model has a cloth case and a new pricing.

The second photo demonstrates the technique for quick deflating without pinching I described earlier.

The the pouch with the folded pillow is sized: 6 inches wide x 5 inches long x 2.5 inches thick (thickness depends on how well the pillow is deflated).

The pillow is 14.5 inches measuring the long end that goes behind the head, and 9.5 inches front to back.

I received a sample pillow from Davidsbeenthere for evaluation and honest and fair review. I have described positives and negatives of my experience with the pillow and if you have any questions on the features I covered I am always happy to respond to comments.

Overall, I find this that this pillow puts my head into a more comfortable position that the old pillow which inflates evenly without a flat part in the center. I recommend it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★