A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
As the temperature rises this summer, it’s important to keep your head cool especially while biking. For those planning their summer rides and bikepacking trips, aside from having a quality bike, one of the most important things you need to invest in is a proper cycling helmet. Travel partner Spyder Philippines just sent over their new Carve S1 Road Helmet for me to test out and use before they officially launch it this April 2019.
Everyone loves lounging in a hammock. It’s so much more satisfying taking an afternoon nap on the beach to the sound of the waves or waking up a view of the the mountains on a hammock than from inside a hotel room after a long road trip. Especially here in the Philippines where many beach destinations are just ideal for lazing around.
Continue reading “Review: 2-in-1 Travel Pillow + Hammock from Hammock Republic”
Whenever I travel, I always pick comfort over style. For the airport, city tours and general travel, I usually opt for sneakers or comfortable shoes rather than more stylish high heels or sandals. It always helps to be wearing something easy to take on and off, won’t keep your feet cramped and are easy to walk around in the whole day. Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort with the fun sneaker options available from Maz Brasil Philippines.
For regular travel, I usually just take photos with my SLR for print magazine features and the blog. Most of the time, I end up using photos and videos taken with my Smartphone for Instagram and social media. But for extreme adventures, motorcycling, biking trips and water-based activities, it’s essential to have an action camera. Video content and vlogs are becoming more popular these days on social media and action cameras can really really help you capture more dynamic content.
Isn’t it good to know that if you ever get marooned on an island and need rope, you can always take your shoes apart? Just like a paracord survival bracelet, Uneek is a pair of open-air footwear made from two cords and a sole. It’s one of the most unique-looking outdoor shoes I’ve come across.
Uneek is one of the newest products of Keen Inc., a company based in Portland, Oregon which manufactures footwear, bags and other hybrid products for outdoor enthusiasts. In the Philippines, Keen products are available in all R.O.X. stores nationwide. I got my pair of Keen Uneek sandals from R.O.X. in BGC a couple of months ago and have used it on a few trips, everyday casual wear and biking. Here’s a quick look of the footwear’s main features.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Keen Uneek Footwear”
Anyone who’s had to endure EDSA during rush hour knows that traffic really sucks in the metro. I always dread taking public transportation because it involves either: a) waiting in line and getting crushed like a human sardine in the MRT, b) multiple transfers on tricycles, jeeps or standing in the aisle for most of the trip in buses, or c) overpriced cabs. Biking is really one of the most sustainable forms of transportation and sometimes the fastest way to get to your destination.
The Nyfti folding bicycle was born out of the necessity of living in the metro and frustration over traffic. What’s great is that these folding bikes are proudly made in the Philippines! Nyfti is the brainchild of Pinoy bike enthusiasts and entrepreneurs Carl Mamawal, Isidro Marfori and Miguel Marfori, who designed and built their prototype bike through funding from Philippine-based incubator IdeaSpace Foundation Inc. While some parts and components are imported from all over the world, the team behind Nyfti assures that the final product is made and assembled here. (Read more about how Nyfti started here)
Continue reading “Gear Review: Nyfti Folding Bike”Lightweight, sporty and functional. The Deuter Spider 22L Backpack is exactly the backpack I need for my trips. German brand Deuter is known for producing quality backpacks for all types of outdoor adventures, including hiking, biking, trekking and mountain climbing. And while very compact, the backpack does not disappoint.
Losing important documents and gadgets while on the road is every traveler’s nightmare. To address this, different bag companies have come up with bags and backpacks with anti-theft features.
One such option is the Targus 15.6″ Citylite II Collection, a line of business backpacks that promise to give users peace of mind while traveling and commuting. There are four backpacks under the collection, namely the Citylite II Ultra Backpack, Max Backpack, SL Backpack and the Ultimate Backpack. The first three are designed to fit 15.6″ laptops, while the Ultimate Backpack can store laptops up to 17″.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Targus Citylite II Ultra Backpack”
It’s good to know that more companies are doing their part to help the environment when manufacturing products. The EcoSmart Emerald Green Messenger bag from Targus, a manufacturer of accessories for the mobile lifestyle, shows how companies are blending environmental sustainability with a functional product ideal for urban use. I was surprised to find out that the bag (along with other products in their EcoSmart line) is made from polyester material sourced from recycled plastic bottles and PVC-free material.
One of the most important safety gear to have if you’re a motorcycle rider is a protective motorcycle helmet. Wearing a high-quality helmet can spell the difference between leveling up on your road trip and “game over.”
Because of the passage of the Motorcycle Helmet Act at the start of the year, all riders are now required to wear helmets that have passed the standards of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and have ICC stickers. There are a handful of brands that are certified, including Spyder, a major sporting brand in the
country that specializes in high-performance athletic gear. Spyder helmets bear the marks of excellence and safety, so they’re a very good investment.
They promise safety above all, but they don’t scrimp on convenience, functionality and style either.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Spyder Reboot Motorcycle Helmet”
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