bltd

Here’s a smart solution for storing your house key when you’re out for a walk or a jog.
The gokey is a silicone wrist band that conceals your key safely and comfortably- no tying it to shoestrings or putting it in a pocket only to worry it’ll come loose. As the gokey is currently a Kickstarter project, you can donate $15 to receive a gokey in the color and size of your choice. Designed by Francesca Passoni and Cristina Cook.
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Travelers: if you’re often wondering if your bag is over the weight limit, do yourself a favor and carry a travel scale. If it doesn’t encourage you to lighten your load, at least you’ll be prepared for luggage fees. To use, you hook the strap around the carrying handle on your luggage and lift- you’ll get an accurate reading up to 88 pounds. For a non-digital scale, check out Kikkerland’s Travel Luggage Scale ($10).

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And you thought you were prepared for the apocalypse. “EDC” or Every Day Carry are the things you have on you each day, and if you want to be fully prepared for anything, getting out of a jam or away from zombies, this kit will have you two steps ahead of the game. These tiny, multiuse tools fit onto a keychain, all weighing less than 2 ounces combined. A pry bar, screwdrivers, precision tweezers, waterproof lighter and a titanium key ring are all included, or can be purchased separately, if you so wish.

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Clothing isn’t usually featured on BLTD, but this Travel Jacket from Travelteq deserves a mention. It’s a made from a navy blue light nylon and is reversible- one side has more distinguished pockets for a formal look while the other has stitched-on “sporty” pockets for casual outings. Both sides allow you to close the jacket either with a zipper or with buttons. One caveat, though, Travelteq is gauging interest before production, so, if you’d like to see it available for purchase, leave your email address on the product page and snag a lower price (€ 125) if it goes into production.

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Photographers: if you often swear at your velcro dividers while out and about, check out this TrekPak padded insert. A pin system provides fully adjustable dividers that look super easy to move around as you change out your gear. Durable and water repellant, the TrekPak fits into most backpacks and hard cases. Right now it’s a Kickstarter project, so get your pledge in before April 24 for the special prices.
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If your iPhone or iPad is continually short on battery life, pay attention. This “plug” charges your device without an electrical cable, so you can top up your battery on the go (or maybe keep it just for emergencies). It gives an iPhone 30% of battery capacity and fully charges an iPod to ~100%.

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Always forgetting to pay the bills or call your mom (or ‘mum’)? These rings will stay on your finger longer than a piece of string, and they spell out exactly what needs doing. They’re made from stretchy silicone, like the various bracelets that some people wear, and the set includes these inscriptions: Take Pills, Call Mum, Buy Gift, Return Book and Pay Bills. (It should be noted that it’s probably best to use these for the purpose in which they’re intended rather than some sort of fashion statement.)

Here’s yet another water bottle for your consideration. The Eau Good Water Bottle features a stick of ‘Binchotan’ active charcoal which purifies tap water for up to 6 months. The bottle is made from BPA-free plastic and has an indent to keep the charcoal in place (smart) while a cork stopper keeps the water fresh. There’s also a carry tag for convenience. There’s a short video below so you can see a little more of the shape/size/etc.
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Tiffin kits are a preferable way to transport one’s meal from home to work (or picnic), but this particular kit is all the more desirable for its natural materials. Similar to bento boxes and other tiffins, the durable ceramic bowls stack on top of each other and are held together with a cloth elastic strap. The cork top seal may also be used as a plate, so, as you unfold the kit, you unfold a table setting with your snack/meal neatly contained. Designed by Lorea Sinclaire, each is handcrafted and made to order.

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Hmm… a detachable electric motor assist bicycle trailer. Quite brilliant, I’d say! How come no one has come up with this before? Having the motor transmission separate from the bicycle means not having to commit to an expensive, clunky, full-on electric bicycle, or a third-party add-on motor to your bike. You get to keep the bike you already own, and your bike stays just the way it is. Ride it solo for short jaunts round town, and fire up the Ridekick for longer rides and hauling some cargo. It’ll whiz you round on the bike lanes at a steady 19 mph, and get up to 12 miles on a full charge. A weather resistant storage case with lock keeps your groceries dry.  For those not convinced on the lead acid battery, a lithium-ion battery version is currently being developed, stay tuned to their website for the latest updates.
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This sporty hip or shoulder pack looks to be the perfect size for a day trip, whether hiking in the wilderness or city sightseeing. There’s lash tabs for extra gear or bike lights, and a water-resistant inner liner just in case you get caught in a little rain. At 15”³w x 8”³h x 5”³d, there’s just enough room for necessities.
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Taking inspiration from traditional manila envelopes, this polyurethane iPad case has a string and button closure. The contrasting color string is an especially nice yet subtle touch- my favorite is the grey case with orange string. The case fits iPad 1 and iPad 2, as well as the iPad Smart Cover.

Available in grey, red, and black.
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Ooo, take a look at this very nice camera strap. It has an elastic shock absorber (it’s adjustable) to reduce neck and shoulder pressure as well as a few extra details that set it far above your current strap. There’s no plastic parts or connectors, and small leather discs pad the metal D-rings and protect your camera. There’s also a concealed neoprene neck pad for extra comfort. Oh, and, of course, it looks (and probably feels) expensive because it is.
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These tripods were released last year but have since flew under my radar until a recent visit to The Moma Design Store. Joby are the experts are in making compact, infinitely adjustable tripods. If you don’t know the name you certainly know the design. After expanding their market to carry bigger, heavier SLRS and video cameras, they’ve decided to size down for their next major product release. The Gorillapod Mirco is designed to always stay on your camera, prepared for any impromptu shot. Simply fan out the legs and prop on a surface. It’s quite remarkable that they were able to squeeze a rotating and tilting ball head into such a small design. Available in two sizes: the Micro 250 and the more robust Micro 800.
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In the interest of organization, these notebook paper pouches must be considered. Two sizes, machine embroidered, and entirely appropriate to hold pencils, pens, or whatever bits and bobs you might have. If you have a sewing machine, you could try to make these yourself, but we both know that the odds of that happening are pretty slim.

Small is 7″ x 9”
Large is 9″ x 10.5″ (fits an iPad)