(photo: tatejohnson)
There I was feeling angry, sad, violated, and with deep disappointment in humanity all in one second. Someone had just stolen my wallet in a crowded train, and I noticed as soon as I got off. I have a habit of checking my belongings every time I leave a place, and my bulky wallet that was sticking out of my front pocket was gone. I looked at the thief in the eye as he calmly boarded the same train again. I froze for a second, the doors closed and he was gone.
I was on a trip at the time, so my IDs and credit cards were the most important thing to me. On the bright side I had another thin front pocket wallet with all of this stuff, and some backup money. I’d never run into a pickpocket before, but being prepared ahead of time saved me from wasting precious travel time calling banks, and lining up in queues with my documents.
The moral of the story:
Men’s credit card wallets can save your life, and you should always keep them in your front pocket.
This is especially true in travel. Ideally, you would keep your passport in an entirely different place, but I won’t get into the details here. Just for laughs, if you’re ever in this situation, buy a cheap wallet and put it in another pocket, stick it out a little and place a small note that says: “ha-ha”. A little humor never hurt anyone.
Why I love credit card wallets
They’re:
- Comfortable and easily accessible – They leave plenty of room for other stuff to put in your pockets, and they never get in the way of anything.
- A great way to keep you organized – I only keep three things: credit cards and IDs (which take most of the space), receipts, and money.
- Life-saving backup wallets – In case you skipped my rambling above, read it.
- Simple – There’s just no way I can fill it up with crap.
- Safe – I’ve never had a credit card, ID or money slip out, and I’ve walked away with the important stuff safely from two muggings.
- Durable – I’ve had the same wallet for about three years now, and I could easily go another three.
- Do you need more? Get one now
How I organize stuff in my front pocket wallets
Yes, plural, as in I always carry two wallets. Why? a number of reasons:
- This may sound paranoid, but you never know when robbery might strike while you travel (or even walking in your own hometown). There’s a 50/50 chance that the mugger will leave with my bigger wallet, and leave me with my credit cards, IDs and most of my money. Trust me, it’s wise to split your cash in at least two different places.
- Tradition, comfort and, well, I just like it. Personally, I don’t find it uncomfortable to have a wallet on each pocket. That’s because both of them are relatively thin, and not filled with crap.
- It helps me control my spending by deciding in advance what I’ll spend for the day and putting it in the larger wallet. I keep the emergency cash in the other one.
So what are some of the best front pocket wallets for men?
I can’t tell you that I’ve tried every wallet in the market, and give you a comparison chart. What I can say confidently though is that I love my two wallets for the reasons I’ve already mentioned. They don’t match, and they’re not even from the same brand, and frankly, I don’t care. The important thing to me is that I feel safe about my cash and cards. You might differ with me on this. If so, I leave it to you to find the best front pocket wallet, but here are the two best options I’ve considered because of their good reviews:
Geoffrey Beene Men’s Mirage Slim Passcase Wallet and Slimmy Wallet Alternative
The credit card wallet I have is actually part of another wallet. It was removable, and having it in the other wallet made it too bulky, so I took it out. The other wallet was stolen (with nothing but $5 in it), and my small credit card wallet survived. I can’t find it anywhere online, but this is an even more compact version of it. It has the same number of compartments, and half the width.
This is my regular wallet. I love it.
I’m willing to explore the world of wallets in more depth and report back to you in another post. There’s all sorts of names and flavors such as front pocket wallets for men with money clip or men’s wallets with change pocket. I think it’ll be interesting, so expect one of these in the future. Also, if you want to help me and you have any experience with those let me know in the comments.
And what if you lose your precious thin front pocket wallet?
Well, stuff happens. Nothing in life is certain, but you can plan for the worst and hope for the best. So, I truly hope this advice serves you, and you make the choice that works best for you.
(photo: MARLIES-)
The last flight I took was a 7 hour trip from NYC to Dublin. I wondered the entire way why I hadn’t looked into inflatable travel pillows. I guess I wanted to take the minimum luggage possible. I’m taking another long flight soon, and I’m not making that same mistake. How much space can an inflatable travel pillow take? I don’t think it even weighs a single pound. That’s why I decided to look into it this time.
Starting With the Basics: Inflatable Neck Pillows for Travel
These are the standard u-shaped travel pillows people often picture, and they’ve been around for a while, so it must be because most people find them comfortable. Personally, I think they’re OK pillows, I prefer a wedge travel pillow, but we’ll get to that in a second. Here’s a list of popular and bestselling neck pillows that I’ve found great, some based on experience, and others on a ton of reviews I’ve read.
Eagle Creek Comfort Travel Pillow
Travelrest Inflatable Travel Pillow
The Unconventional (but comfy) Inflatable Wedge Travel Pillow
Quite honestly, there’s only one wedge travel pillow that’s worth mentioning. I first saw the Skyrest Travel Pillow
What I love about this particular travel pillow is that you can use it anywhere, and if you don’t believe me, check this guy’s pictures. He loves and promotes his pillow so much that he should be endorsed by Skyrest. Anyway, you should definitely give this blow up pillow a try.
Finally, the Inflatable Lumbar Travel Pillow
This type of pillow can work as an add-on for neck pillows or used by itself, and it’s not only useful for travel, but for everyday use as well. I personally haven’t tried this particular pillow, but after thorough research I would consider taking a look at the Back Booster.
So Which Blow Up Travel Pillow Should I Choose?
There’s no universal answer to this question. Every person has different sleeping positions that are comfortable to them, and anything from simple preference to an aching back will determine this. The best thing you can do is simulate the position each different pillow offers. This sounds very basic, but think about it, you can figure out which travel pillow will work best for you before purchasing anything.
There are basically three possible ways you can sleep on a plane or car: leaning forward, tilting your head back, or resting your head on one side. Approach each one of these with curiosity and mindfulness, your ability to rest depends on it. The simplest solution is often the right answer, so don’t complicate things. Try resting by leaning forward on a filled backpack or a big enough cushion. If after 5 minutes of this position you can’t take it, you know it’s not the answer. Same goes for the other two, take something that simulates the position of the pillow you wish to buy, and hold it for a few moments. Easy right?
Besides a sleeping posture, one important aspect to consider is the shape and fabric of the pillow. Avoid potentially bothersome sharp edges, and look for a smooth surface that you find pleasant. Pick a pillow that’s it easy to blow up and deflate, and invest in a good quality item, it’s a pain to end up with a deflated pillow. It’s a plus if it comes with a travel case in order to avoid puncturing it.
The truth is that you can read all the reviews you want, but in the end your personal experience outweighs every review out there, so have some fun picking out the best inflatable travel pillow for yourself.
Twin air mattresses are great to use at home or during camping. They are fine spare beds for guests, and there are people that use them as their main bed when they’ve just moved in to a place. You can find them for as low as $10, but the most common and better reviewed ones range from $40 to $50. You can also find a few “premium” ones between $100 and $150. Leading brands for these products are Coleman, Intex, Aerobed, Wenzel and Texsport. Please read on to find the best twin air mattress for you.
Well reviewed and bestselling twin air mattresses
Coleman twin air mattress
What makes this air mattress outstanding is its versatility. You can modify it to have two twin beds, a single king-sized bed, or a raised twin air mattress. Unlike other mattresses that might be short, this is a perfect extra long twin air mattress for taller people (it’s 74″ long). You won’t have any trouble with air leakage, you can use it for months without re-filling it any air. The downside is that it doesn’t come with a pump, so you have to purchase one separately. An electric Coleman pump usually go for $20, but they’re worth it, because it fills it up in no time leaving it firm.
Intex Deluxe Pillow Rest Rising Comfort Twin
Intex twin air mattress
The beauty of this twin air mattress is the fact that it comes with a built-in electric pump that will get the job done in a few minutes. You’ll save yourself the hassle of buying one separately or manually pumping air into it. Another plus is that it’s a raised bed, so it’s more comfortable to get in and out of. One thing people can have trouble with is the pillow rest. If you want a flat surface to sleep on because of a medical condition or just because you like it, you’ll find it uncomfortable. If not, you can expect this to be a comfortable bed.
Aerobed Guest Choice Inflatable Bed
Aerobed twin air mattress
Reviewers have found this model to be durable. This air bed is intended for those who seek minimalism. It’s small, so storage and space won’t be an issue, it has an integrated AC pump that inflates it under a minute, and it deflates in seconds. It’s a practical and comfortable bed, but some buyers indicate that it will deflate a little after a few days. If you think about it, a twin size blow up mattress is the perfect balance between size and price. They are very affordable, you don’t have to pay more than $50 for a quality product.
How do you plan on using it?
Depending on what you intend to do with it, some models may be more appropriate than others. For example, a built-in electrical pump is great, but if you’re camping and you need to plug it in to work, you won’t get to enjoy it. Make sure that whatever your buying will work for you.
Benefits of twin air mattresses
The main benefit of a twin air mattress is that it’s easy to use and it’s versatile. You can easily put it away and it won’t take up much space. This is a plus if you’re hiking, because it will be much easier to carry around that a queen-sized air mattress. It’s extremely easy and fast to set up, especially if you compare it to a fold-out bed, in case you have guests over.
Twin air mattresses are not for everyone
If you have a hard time sleeping on small surfaces, we would recommend a king or queen size air mattress. Maybe the Coleman 4-in-1 can work for you. If, in general, you have trouble sleeping on blow up mattresses we wouldn’t encourage you to buy one of these. But, then again, it’s better than a sleeping bag or any other hard surface. You should be careful when handling them, the fun can be spoiled if you puncture it, and find yourself on the floor in the middle of the night.
5 helpful tips on a twin air mattress
- Look for trusted brands such as those mentioned above
- If you have trouble with a bed that’s too close to the ground we recommend a raised twin air mattress
- Choose an air mattress based on where and how you plan to use it, especially if you want it for camping. Consider getting a manual air pump, because you can pass out from blowing air into it.
- For camping: use a thick blanket or some sort of padded base to avoid puncturing it.
- Be careful not to overfill your mattress. Adjust the firmness to your preference by inflating or deflating accordingly.
(photo: Vicious Bits)
I like to travel a lot (hence the name of this site), and it sometimes involves camping or staying over at someone’s house. I also love using CouchSurfing, and this means that I get to host travelers from all over the world in my home, as well as, spending some days with kind people who welcome me to theirs while I’m abroad.
What does this have to do with finding the best blow up mattress out there? Well, I want to make sure that my guests have a comfortable night’s sleep, and while traveling, I want to feel energetic as I wake up ready to hike into the mountains or walk around the city.
There’s an air mattress for each scenario, and it’s my purpose to show you what I have found, whether you need a great blow up mattress for camping or the best air mattress for guests, you’ll find some good information here. I will be updating this post frequently, and make it more and more complete over time. I hope it helps hunting down the best blow up mattress for you.
Twin Blow Up Mattress
The following twin air mattresses are bestsellers and come from the top manufacturers, but you should be aware that they are not the best for a prolonged use. They are best for camping or for guests who are spending a few days, but people with back problems or who have trouble with sleep will benefit more from sturdier, bigger beds. That being said, you can find ways to enhance these air mattresses to make them more comfortable (read 3rd paragraph of Coleman 4-in-1).
Coleman 4 in 1 Quickbed ($40 – no pump included)
On the cheaper range of blow up mattresses, this is one of the best. I don’t get why it’s called the 4 in 1, because you can use it in one of three ways: you can have two twin mattresses, one king size or a raised twin air mattress. Having a raised mattress is especially helpful for people with knee problems, or who would otherwise have a hard time sleeping so close to the floor.
I particularly like that it holds the air incredibly well, but be aware that you need to fill it up when you get it, and over the next few days you need to refill the air in order to stretch the material. This way you won’t end up with a deflated mattress in the morning.
When it comes to how comfortable this mattress is, you need to consider a few things. If this is a bed you plan to use at home for guests or for yourself I would highly recommend to add a comforter, or some sort of padded surface on top (some foam top and a mattress pad would be excellent). It’s not that it’s uncomfortable on its own, it’s just that it really makes it that much better, and you have a great guest air mattress for cheap. Another important aspect is that if you join them together to form a king size air mattress you might find yourself falling into the gap that’s between them. This can easily be avoided by using a fitted sheet, and you can also try a comforter on top if you like.
An advantage I enjoy when you zip the mattresses together is that you can make each side as firm or soft as each person likes, and no matter how much you toss and turn you won’t disturb your neighbor. This is a good choice if you want an extra long twin air mattress. It’s 74″ long, but if you’re looking for even more length, the Intex Airbed below is 80″.
This is a good blow up mattress for camping, but you should know that it doesn’t come with a built-in pump nor is an electric pump included in the pack. You could buy a separate hand pump for $10 or so, or for around $20 you can get a Coleman electric pump that fills it up in a zinch. It’s also easy to store and it takes up very little space.
10%-15% of the people who reviewed this in Amazon complained that it came punctured out of the box or they got a leak shortly after buying it. This was not true in my case, so I wouldn’t worry about getting a defective product.
Intex Pillow Rest Twin Airbed ($40 – built-in electric pump)
A few advantages over the Coleman is that this air mattress is 80″ and it includes a pump for the same price, although you don’t get as much versatility as with the 4 in 1. The pump allows for quick inflation and deflation, and it’s a bit loud, so you might want to consider that if noise is an issue.
Just like the Coleman, it holds the air quite well, it’s a great quality air bed, and the fact that it has a low price makes it even better. Comfort is subjective, but I can tell you that if you can’t stand even the slightest degree of a water bed feel you might find it to be a bit mushy even if it’s filled to the max capacity. Even so, you can be sure that it won’t deflate during the night.
I would suggest using this air mattress for residential purposes, and go for the Coleman if you plan to use it for camping. This is because the built-in pump makes it more difficult to fold and store, so it ends up giving you a bit more bulk.
If you pull out the mattress for guests several times a month you’ll want to be extra careful when storing it. If you try to force it into the box or treat it roughly this might result in accidentally puncturing the fabric with the internal motor or external control panel. Considering that it has a 90-day warranty this is an important issue.
I’d say that this air bed is right for occasional guests or as a temporary solution for weeks at a time. If you think that you’re not very picky, this bed will provide a comfortable sleeping surface, and even if you are, you can always make it better by adding a comforter or some other padded material.
What to Look for in a Blow Up Mattress
Comfort
People have different levels of comfort they require. Some are more demanding or sensitive than others. If you want the closest thing to a real bed, then you’ll most likely want features like adjustable firmness, or a raised air bed. This way your back won’t hurt the next day. On the other hand if you can tolerate things like squeaking sounds or sleeping close to the ground, then you’ll do fine with an inexpensive option.
Durability
There’s to sides to durability. You want a blow up mattress that can last you years without giving you trouble. Also, you want one that doesn’t deflate in the middle of the night, or that you have to keep pumping air into constantly.
Ease of use
How long does it take to set up? This will depend on a number of things. Does it come with a pump? Is it a hand pump or electric? The last thing you want is to pass out by inflating the mattress yourself. If it doesn’t come with a pump you’ll have to purchase one separately or you can use your hair dryer.
Storage
A blow up mattress should be easy to put away, and it should take the least space possible.
Please let me know if you have had any experiences with those blow up mattresses mentioned here or other models in the comments section. It would provide a helpful discussion for future readers. Thanks!
For most men a black or brown briefcase will suffice, but when it comes to women, designers know they have to account for style, quality and usability. While some women may be comfortable with a standard briefcase, others will find it dull. The important thing is that you make it fit your lifestyle and your look. These tips will help you pick the perfect briefcase for you.
How will you use it?
Will you be carrying a lot of documents, folders, maybe your laptop. Think of getting a briefcase that has as many compartments as you need. Cellphone, keys, money. You can even get a briefcase that doubles as a purse. Your briefcase doesn’t have to look like a briefcase at all.
Will you be traveling a lot? think of durability and size. You’ll want a piece you can take with you as carry-on. If you plan on taking many items, you want to make sure that the straps are strong enough. If travel is your thing, consider looking into rolling briefcases for women.
How do you want to look?
There are many designs out there. You already know your style, so you’ll want to get something that easily combines with the rest of your wardrobe. The sense of style of a briefcase is important. If you want to look professional, perhaps classy leather briefcases for women will work for you. This is a matter of personal taste, so it’s entirely up to you, but know that you shouldn’t feel limited.
Look beyond the price tag
If you want a quality and stylish bag, you should know upfront it probably won’t be inexpensive. This is especially true when it comes to designer briefcases for women. Instead of shopping based on price, set an acceptable budget in your mind, and look for briefcases that jump out at you. Make sure the materials are of high quality, and it’s preferable if you can get a lifetime guarantee.
Buying the right briefcase doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with many options, but it’s important to remember that your briefcase is an investment you want to feel comfortable with for years to come. It says a lot about you, so look at different models, and buy one you absolutely love. Base your decision on looks as well as functionality. Consider using it as a purse or even a travel bag. Make the choice that makes the most sense for you.
Laptop bags for ladies come in many forms today, so you don’t have to worry about being limited. There are so many shapes and colors that it’s easy to get overwhelmed with options. Here are some simple pointers to keep in mind when shopping for ladies laptop bags.
Choose your style
The look of your bag is one of the most important things to consider. Think about what you want: maybe you want a professional briefcase type of bag, or a designer bag. Perhaps a modern design. In today’s market, anything you want has probably already been made. Solid colors, faux animal prints (think croc skin), and a lot more.
Make it fit your lifestyle
Usability
Think about how you will use it.For example, will you be traveling frequently? In this case, a bag that makes it easy to check through airport security, fits fine underneath airplane seats are points to be considered. Getting the right size is important as well. Maybe you need to carry extra stuff, like books, along with your laptop.
Durability
Do you think you’ll be bumping your bag into places? Be honest with yourself, if this is the case you’ll need extra padding to protect your laptop. Consider the weather in your area, maybe you need water-proof material. It’s important to invest in the bag’s durability, but if you don’t think you’ll be putting your bag through rough scenarios, then likely a lighter, fancier laptop bag will suit you.
Distances
Will you be walking long distances? Consider getting a rolling laptop bag. You can place other things on top and move around with least effort. Maybe a backpack type of bag will work for you if you’re in a student environment.
Accessibility
It depends on your lifetyle, but have you considered having a laptop bag that also works as a purse. Some designer models look like bags, and have compartments for your laptop, and any other gadgets you might carry around with you. Maybe all you need is a sleeve for your laptop. Think about your daily life and see yourself with a bag that’s helpful rather than bulky and uncomfortable.
Check your budget
You can expect to find ladies laptop bags from $30 all the way into the hundreds. After thinking about everything we talked about in the previous paragraphs, you’ll know if you need a simple but efficient bag or a more stylish option that fits your needs. This is an important investment, so make sure you are satisfied with the manufacturer’s warranty.
There are a lot of things to think about, but you can be sure that no matter what you need you will surely find it in today’s market. There are many options, and many of today’s ladies laptop bags can be easily disguised as backpacks or purses, so after knowing what you want, you’ll make that invesment much more confidently.