Travel Gear Review

Sony Prs-505 Reader

Overview

The Sony PRS-505 is Sony’s second-generation e-book reader. It uses the popular electronic paper display format made by E Ink Corporation, displaying an image in 166 dpi resolution, creating a real paper look. The device reads both Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF text files, and can play MP3 format sound files as well as display JPEG image files. It comes with a standard 192MB memory, allowing for over 100 books to be initially uploaded, and supports up to 8GB memory upgrade with Memory Stick Pro Duo or SD Memory card media.

The software interface used in conjunction with Sony’s PRS-505 is called eBook Library and functions as a digital bookstore and file upload center.

The Pros

Sony’s PRS-505 is slim, sophisticated, and easy to use. The device is smaller and thinner than most paperbacks allowing it to be taken anywhere with ease. It’s cover fits well and it has a very sleek design. The button layout and display are very clear and concise, making navigation effortless between pages, books, or other medias. The ability to listen to MP3’s and display pictures is quite an added bonus and makes it a steal at the $300.00 price tag.

The eBook program allows for a simple and familiar sync to your PC and functions much like the program iTunes. You can simply drag and drop PDFs, Word documents, MP3s, or image files into the program and upon disconnecting view them on the reader. Purchasing books from eBooks is a quick process and they have an outstanding collection of titles.

The Cons

I have very few complaints about the PRS-505 but I mainly don’t like that is lacks a keyboard. Without a keyboard I am unable to make notes or annotations and cant highlight particularly important sections for future reference. It doesn’t come with an AC adapter standard so you either need to purchase one or be forced to recharge the reader from a PC’s USB port.

From a Traveler’s perspective

From a traveler’s point of view the PRS-505 is amazing. You can easily download all of your travel guides, books, and translation dictionaries, and put them on the reader, giving you freedom from the volumes of books carried along on trips. Whether on the plane ride, finding your way through a metropolitan city, or relaxing by the pool this device will serve as an ultimate travel tool.

Read more about or purchase the Sony Reader here.

Filed under: Uncategorized on June 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

LL Bean Quickload Full Review

LL Bean QuickLoad Full Review

Overview
The Quick load is LL Beans Answer to the convertible carry on. It is a handsome bag that is both easy to pack and spacious while staying within the size constraints of a carry on. It features a main compartment and a secondary compartment divided from the main compartment with mesh that covers the inside of the front of the pack. On the front of the pack there is gussetted pocket that is very good for carrying an extra pair of shoes or sandals. There is one more pocket on the front of the bag that is good for documents and has a key clip and an organizer pocket. On the outside of the pack there are 4 compression straps to help stabilize the load inside the pack. The Quickload is convertible and has a shoulder harness that zips away while not in use. On the back of the pack there is a built in luggage tag. The measurements of the pack are 21 3⁄4″H x 14″W x 9″D and it is 2,961 cu. in or 48 liters. According to LL Beans specs the pack weighs in at 2 lbs 2 ounces. The pack weighed in at 2 Lbs 7 ounces on my scale. The pack comes in 4 colors as well as Camo.

Packing
The Quickload is quite easy to pack. The wardrobe style opening really makes the Quickload a joy to pack. It has a spacious main compartment that easily held everything that I needed for 4 days, my laptop and some reading material. The pack has two internal compression straps to secure the laod into place. On the inside of the packs front cover there is a mesh compartment that is great for holding toiletries and other miscellaneous items or dirty laundry. I kept a pair of sandals in the gusseted pocket on the front of the pack.

Materials and workmanship
The pack is made of quality materials and is of typical LL Bean build quality. The pack is made of 420 denier nylon and is abrasion resistant, rugged and water resistant. The pack features locking zippers on the main compartment. At all critical connection points on the pack LL Bean used box stitching to add strength and durability. The quickload is a nicely padded with padding on the back, sides and bottom of the pack.

Carrying the Quickload

By the shoulder Strap
The Quickload comes with an adjustable shoulder strap that is relatively comfortable and has a grippy back that keeps the pack from slipping off your shoulder while carrying it. It is not on par with the Ultimate shoulder strap from Tom Bihn or the Claw shoulder strap from Red Oxx but it gets the job done in relative comfort.

By the handles
On the side and top of the pack there are padded carrying handles. Not much to say here it is your typical handle. However they fit in my hand pretty well.

Shoulder Harness
The Quickload is a convertible travel pack and has a shoulder harness that zips away while the shoulder straps are not in use.
The straps are contoured and pretty well padded. On the back of the shoulder straps is a moisture wicking mesh to keep the sweat at bay while carrying your pack. The harness system could use a few improvements though. I would like to see a sternum strap, internal frame or frame sheet and a simple hip belt. When the bag is fully packed and the compression straps are tensioned the back of the pack does not contour to your back very nicely. This is why I feel that a frame sheet or internal frame would be a nice addition to the Quickload. Perhaps if LL Bean would just use a thicker padding on the back of the pack it would suffice.

Conclusion

At $99 the quickload is a very good value. It is easy to pack and easy to carry. It is a handsome pack that will work well for both business or leisure travel. Even though I feel the pack could use some improvements made to the shoulder harness it certainly is a nice pack and is good for the lightweight carry on traveler. I would not hesitate to take this pack with me on a business trip or a family vacation. However the pack is not suited for adventure travel as I feel that the shoulder harness is just not up to par for trekking.

Do you like camo?

Check it out

Filed under: Uncategorized on May 30th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Off to Kentucky on business. Then two days in Tennessee

I am off to Kentucky for 3 days on business and I am taking the LL Bean QuickLoad with me. After that I am coming home for a day then heading to Tennessee for 4 days and I will traveling with an Eagle Creek Voyager 65L. I should have reviews of these packs very soon.

Filed under: Uncategorized on May 4th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

An Apology and reviews to come

I just wanted to apologize to everyone who reads Travel Gear Review as I have not been keeping up on the site as I should. I have some new reviews coming up. I will be doing the full review on the LL bean Quickload, Macpac Orient Express, and the Eagle Creek Voyage 65L carry on travel pack. I will also be reviewing Sony’s digital book reader. Again, I apologize for the lack of posts and follow up.

Filed under: Uncategorized on April 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »

So I had Lasik this morning.

I am planning on a Round the world trip next year and I don’t want to have to be dependent on glasses or contacts. So I just had Lasik this morning. My vision was -6 in each eye so I was pretty blind. The procedure went well and I am pretty impressed with the results so far. I had the procedure 11 hours ago and though my vision is hazy I can see without the help of glasses or contacts. I had the Intralase procedure where the cut the flap in my eye with a laser as opposed to a blade. All I felt was a lot of pressure. When they got to the laser part the smell of my eyes burning was pretty offensive and creepy. The whole thing took about 15 minutes. It was the most expensive 15 minutes I ever paid for! But so far I think it was worth it.

Adam

Filed under: Uncategorized on February 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

Happy Holidays

I just want to wish everyone Happy Holiday’s from Travelgearreview.com.

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 24th, 2007 | No Comments »

Red Oxx Sky Train full review

This is the latest offering from Red Oxx and is the convertible cousin to the Air Boss. Once again Red oxx does not fail to please! It has designed a convertible pack that is easy to carry and pack. It has met every expectation that I had and even surprised me in some aspects.

Fashion and function

This pack is built for style and comfort and is suitable for both leisure travel or business travel. Top off it’s great looks and functionality with 12 colors to choose from and you have a pack that will suit most any travelers taste.

Packing

Packing the Sky Train is easy. The pack features two main compartments and a zippered front pocket and a clam shell style opening providing full access to the bags interior. Foam padding is sewn into the pack to provide protection for your belongings. The main compartment features two internal compression straps to keep your clothes in place and wrinkle free. The main compartment is large enough to carry all of the clothing needed for a week long trip. The second main compartment is where I kept my Laptop with electrical cord, paperwork, some reading material, and my pda. My toiletries were held in the internal pocket that is located in the second compartment. The pack features a front pocket that spans the front of the pack. This is good for keeping airline tickets, and passports handy.

Carry the bag how you want to

You have 3 options to carry the Sky Train. The pack can be carried by the shoulder strap, carrying handle, or you can use the backpack straps.

On your shoulder

The claw shoulder strap is very comfortable and as its name implies it does not slip from your shoulder. The strap is padded nicely and is made soft polymer based rubber and 1” nylon webbing and it’s hardware is super durable stainless steel. Are you going somewhere cold? Well the claw shoulder straps rubber padding will remain pliable to 40 degrees below zero!

By the handles

The pack has two carrying handles that are made of Nylon webbing enclosed in clear rubber tubing. They are simple and functional and add a certain style to the pack that is pretty cool.

On your back

The backpack harness zips away into the back of the pack for safe storage when they are not in use. The foam that is sewn into the pack rests directly against you back. This combined with well padded shoulder straps provides a harness system that will carry a 20 lb load in relative comfort. When I tested the shoulder straps I packed the bag with a much heavier load than I will ever carry in my pack. People pack differently and some pack heavier than others, so I wanted to make sure that the shoulder straps are comfortable for the majority of people who will use this pack.

Put it in your will

The Sky Train, like all Red oxx products is overbuilt. It will stand up to years of abuse because Red Oxx uses the best materials that you can buy. The Sky Train is made from 1000 weight urethane coated, Dupont Cordura. Red Oxx double stitches and bonds all of its seams with super strong Solarmax thread. The zippers are heavy duty Ykk models and all of the hardware on the pack, shoulder strap, and shoulder harness are stainless steel. The construction of the pack and attention to detail is fantastic.

Conclusion

Red Oxx has done it again. They have designed a pack that is functional and practical. Whether you are a backpacker on a budget or a business traveler on a schedule the Sky Train will not hold you back.

Get more information here.

Main compartment Interior

Main compartment up close

2nd Compartment

2nd compartment up close

Filed under: Uncategorized on November 21st, 2007 | 8 Comments »

Red Oxx Sky Train Review coming up.

I have just received a Sky Train from Red Oxx today. I will be doing a full review of the pack shortly. My first impressions are quite good. The size of the pack seems just right and the build quality is every bit as good as the Air Boss.

Here are the specs from Red Oxx.

Claw Shoulder Strap
4 lb. closed cell foam padding
Fabric:1000 weight urethane coated, Dupont certified Cordura nylon
All zippers #10 YKK self locking
Thread:#92 bonded SolarMax nylon
All seams double stitched and bound
Zip knots
Heavy duty luggage tag
Embroidered logo
Double box stitch on carry handles
Available in 12 colors
Made in USA
Lifetime Warranty

Filed under: Uncategorized on October 30th, 2007 | 2 Comments »

LL Bean Quickload Travel Pack preview

I was on vacation in Maine last week and I stopped in at LL Bean. I found a very nice convertible travel pack called the Quick load. I liked it so much that I had to have one. I will be writing a full review of it shortly. It is available in 4 different colors. The pack is carry on sized and features clamshell style opening for easy packing.

Here is the what LL Bean says about the pack.

“Sleek styling and two carrying options make this lightweight, convertible pack a great choice, whether you’re navigating busy terminals or sightseeing on foot. Use the contoured padded backpack straps when you need hands-free convenience, or wear it over your shoulder with our Comfort Carry Strap. Hinged wardrobe-style opening lets you easily pack and access enough clothing and gear for a weeklong getaway. Mesh pockets inside separate smaller items or dirty clothing. Exterior panel is gusseted to accommodate shoes or other bulkier items. Pack straps tuck into their own pocket when not in use. Made of rugged 420-denier nylon. 2,961 cu. in. 21¾”H x 14″W x 9″D. 2 lb. 2 oz.”