Fore Snacker Keeps Food Cold
The Fore Snacker is a small, insulated cooler bag that offers a great way to take beverages and food with you and keep them chilled. It is made of washable soft vinyl and measures four inches wide by nine inches long and expands to four inches high. It has a swivel spring clip that attaches to just about anything. The collapsible bag is also small enough to take to the office; it fits into a briefcase or tote bag. The top flap can be screen printed with a logo or name.

The bag keeps beverages and food chilled and accessible while traveling, hiking, walking, jogging, playing golf or riding a bike. Kids and parents on the go can use the Fore Snacker to take snacks to sports practices. The Fore Snacker also can be attached to a backpack and taken to school. The product is available for $14.95 plus shipping from ALHH Enterprises, Allentown, PA 18103. Phone (610) 435-2640 or see www.foresnacker.com

Portable Hot Tub Designed for RVers
The Elegant Comfort Spa2Go is an inflatable whirlpool spa that is more than six feet in diameter and can be transported in an RV. The spa holds 250 gallons of water that is heated and filtered by a 1.3 horsepower turbo blower pump system. It also has 127 turbo mini-jets designed to soothe tired muscles, rejuvenate skin and relieve stress.
The portable unit inflates and can be filled with a garden hose in as little as ten minutes and can be heated overnight. It can plug into a standard 110-volt electrical outlet or into any 15-amp outlet. For easy portability when deflated, it fits into a two-foot square storage box and weighs only 60 pounds. The hot tub carries a regular price of $1,299 and an introductory price of $899 at Fun Lifestyles, 660 Pracht St., Ashland, OR 97520. Phone (888) 488-3121 or visit www.FunLifestyles.com.

Book Explores Park Wildlife
Mammals of the National Parks is a large-format book that describes the wildlife found in each of America’s national parks and includes vivid color photographs by outstanding nature photographers. The first section of the book describes the history and landscape of each park, gives an overview of conservation issues and offers information on where animals might be observed. The second section describes each type of mammal and analyzes conservation concerns. The book covers every national park from Olympia in Washington to the Everglades in Florida, plus parks in Alaska and Hawaii too.

The 224-page book was written by John H. Burde, professor of forestry at Southern Illinois University, and George A. Feldhamer, chair of environmental studies and professor of zoology at Southern Illinois University. It was published in June by the Johns Hopkins University Press and is priced at $29.95. (For more holiday book ideas, see the RV Books & More column in this issue.)

Yakka Kayak Folds, Inflates
Bic Sport has introduced the Yakka, the first semi-rigid foldable kayak, a design intended to produce good performance on the water and a convenient package for storage and travel. The Yakka features a folding rigid hull that is matched to an inflatable soft upper deck. Once folded in two, the hull becomes a hard carrying case on rollers for easy transport. The Yakka’s folded length is four feet, eight inches; its open length is nine feet, four inches.

The Yakka can be set up for the water in less than five minutes using the supplied hand pump, according to the manufacturer. The rigid hull is derived from the Bic Sport trimaran design, providing glide and stability. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $599. For more information, visit www.bicsportkayaks.com.

Dispenser Keeps Food Handy
Zevro, which makes innovative kitchen products, has introduced the Indispensable Wall Mounted Dispenser, which is designed for kitchens with limited countertop room, such as those found in RVs. Canisters containing dry food can be mounted on a wall to keep a kitchen organized and the food handy. The system keeps food fresh for up to 45 days and dispenses one ounce of dry food with the twist of a handle.

The item is available in single and triple canister units at suggested retail prices of $24.95 and $49.95. For retail outlets and other information, contact Zevro, 2340 W. Touhy Ave., Suite D, Chicago IL 60645. Phone (800) 313-8588 or visit www.zevro.com.

Light Attaches to Rails
The RailLight is a solar-powered LED light that can be clamped to a rail, steps, a ladder, a table or wherever a light is needed on the outside of an RV or at a campsite. The RailLight is equipped with a clamp that adjusts up to two inches. The sealed epoxy and coated stainless housing sheds water, and the dual LEDs are rated for over 10,000 hours. No batteries or cords are needed.

A built-in sensor automatically turns the light off during daylight, and there is also a switch to turn off the light at night. The light will glow for up to eight hours with a full charge of sunlight, and can be seen up to a quarter-mile away, making it useful in an emergency. The light is priced at $27.95 and is a product of SolLight, P. O. Box 856, Hood River, OR 97031. For information, call (888) 557-6464 or visit www.sollight.com.

Chair Carries Insulation
If you want to sit on the ground during a winter camping trip but don’t want to get cold, Crazy Creek offers the Crazy Creek PowerLounger. It can serve as an insulated chair while sitting on the ground or can serve as a warm, insulated sleeping pad, depending on how it is configured. The back adjusts to a range of sitting positions, and the foam padding provides comfort.

The chair offers protection from the cold, even in the snow. The suggested retail price is $52. For information, contact Crazy Creek Products, P. O. Box 1050, 1401 S. Broadway, Red Lodge MT 59068. Phone (800) 331-0304 or visit www.crazycreek.com

Rattle Doll Plays Lullaby
If you are looking for toys that are out-of-the-ordinary, one source is Zebra Hall, an online toy store that specializes in unusual items, many imported from Europe. For example, Snowbell the Musical Lulla Baby is a rattle doll from Germany that nestles in the cup of a blooming flower and can be removed for play. Pull the ring attached to the flower, and it will play Brahms’ Lullaby.

The doll, just 3.5 inches high, has a hand-painted face and is handmade of organic cotton terry. It is washable. Zebra Hall sells the doll for $60. It is designed for children from birth to 5 years. For information, contact Zebra Hall, 1160 Battery St., Suite 30, San Francisco, CA 94111. Phone (800) 834-9165 or visit www.zebrahall.com.

Glove Monitors Health
The Power Glove from Impact Sports Technologies is an easy means of keeping track of the heart rate and the calories burned while exercising. The information is shown in an LED display on the back of the glove.

Sensors are imbedded in the workout glove to detect the heart rate, and the display shows the rate, the target exercise heart rate, to achieve fitness and fat burning, and the number of calories burned. Unlike some heart rate monitors, it does not require a chest strap. The glove fabric is washable. Suggested retail price is $59.99. For information, contact Impact Sports Technologies, 2101 Plaza Del Dios, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Phone (619) 322-7765 or visit www.impactsports.com

Lantern Includes Radio
The LED Radio Lantern uses white LED lamps to provide light and incorporates an AM/FM radio. It is sturdy enough for outdoor use and can be kept on a patio and taken along on camping trips. It also will come in handy in an emergency.

The radio lantern uses four AA batteries. It collapses to five inches in height for storage or transport, and opens up to seven inches, with an antenna that extends 15 inches for signal reception. The LED Radio Lantern is priced at $40. It is available in stores and online from Zelco Industries, 65 Haven Ave., Mt. Vernon NY 10553-4445. Phone (800) 431-2486 or see www.zelco.com.

Web Site Preserves Stories
Here’s a chance to preserve your family history. You can obtain help in writing an autobiography or in writing a biography of a family member through LifeBio.com, a Web site created by Lisbeth Sanders, who says she has helped more than 4,000 people share their life stories.

Sanders has devised 250 questions to prod memories and elicit life experiences. The Web site and a companion book, Memory Journal, guide customers through the process of creating a life story. The Web site saves the story in a digital file that can be shared, printed or e-mailed. Digital pictures can be added. The cost is $59.95 for a LifeBio.com membership that includes the Memory Journal, which is also available separately for $24.95. For an additional fee, a hardcover book will be printed. Gift certificates are available. For information, see www.LifeBio.com.

Wind Flag Aids Golfers
Golfers now have an easy way to find out wind speed and direction while they are playing. The calibrated Wind Speed Flag from Direct Hit Golf Flags does the job. The device consists of three flag panels, each sewn with a different weight of material. As the wind flows over the flag panels, a pressure drag is created, creating a flutter in the flag material. By looking at the panels, the golfer can see the direction and approximate speed of the wind and make the proper adjustments.

Two sizes are available in red, white and blue or red, yellow and blue color schemes for high visibility. The 14-inch by 20-inch flag is ideal as a replacement for pin flags or use next to the tee. The larger 30-inch square flag is perfect for mid-fairway placement, golf ranges or wherever high visibility over long distances is necessary. A new Portable Wind Speed Flag kit includes a 32-inch fiberglass flagstick and pony clamp to mount the flag on golf carts or golf bags. The Direct Hit Wind Speed Flag won a Best New Product Award at the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show. For information, contact Direct Hit Golf Flags at (877) 946-6263 or visit www.directhitgolfflags.com.

Street Atlas Updates Roads
More and more drivers are using GPS devices to find their way, and that requires up-to-date mapping information. Delorme has issued its new Street Atlas USA 2006 software, which has added more than 268,000 additional roads.

The 2006 edition also includes 4 million points of interest, including location data supplied by more than 90 national lodging, restaurant, gasoline and retail chains. Street Atlas USA 2006 is priced at $49.95. Another version that includes 147 million business and residential phone numbers is available for $99.95. A third version is designed for handheld devices, including Pocket PCs, Palm OS devices and Windows Mobile PDAs and phones. It costs $39.95. For information, see www.delorme.com.

Alarm Frightens Attackers
Doberman Security Products has created the Power Combo, two alarms that are designed to protect joggers, hikers and other active people. One is a shrill electronic whistle that includes a bright LED light and emergency flashers. The other is the power button, which has an adjustable strap and a button that sounds an alarm.

The Power Combo fits into a purse or can be strapped to a bag. For more information, contact Doberman Security Products, 700 Flower St., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Phone (213) 892-6378 or visit www.dobermanproducts.com.