SteriPEN doesn’t need my endorsement to let you know that its UV water purifiers work. You can read the scientific information about how and why ultraviolet light works, and you can see the company has been around since 1999 as a testament to its effectiveness. What I can offer is the first-hand experience of carrying the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 with me to South Africa, using it when we were told the tap water was iffy, and not getting sick.

On a previous trip to another country where drinking the water is sometimes a no-no, I’d borrowed a water filter and pump from my intrepid traveling mother. It turned out I didn’t need it, and I’d reserved quite a bit of space in my bag for this bulky piece of equipment. (And yes, the fact that I couldn’t use that space for a bottle of tequila on the way home was regrettable.) When I got a SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 sent to me by the kind folks at SteriPEN to take on my South Africa trip, I was immediately very pleasantly surprised by its small size. Even if it turned out not to be a life-or-death requirement, I wouldn’t resent having it in my bag.

Then I tested it out at home, and I can’t help it – I giggled.

See, the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 is designed to be used in plaster water bottles and even in canteens. You fill the bottle with water, you put the tapered end of the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 into the mouth of the bottle (firmly, to seal it around the rubber part underneath the light), you turn the whole thing upside-down and you push the button. The light on the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1, which is now inside the water bottle, turns on and, thanks to the water, kind of makes the whole thing glow.

It’s fabulous.

Okay, I know, it’s not a toy, and it’s not a disco light. Also, you don’t get to enjoy the glow for very long, since you have to make sure you’re swirling the water around the light for the whole 48-90 seconds it takes to purify (depends on whether you’re purifying 16oz or 32oz). Then the show’s over, the light’s off, and your water is ready to drink. It seems a bit like magic – a light making impure water safe for consumption – and with the lava lamp effect, it actually kind of looks like magic, too.

Here’s a video showing how the SteriPEN Traveler Mini works (it’s a different model than the one I had, but the same facts about how the UV light works apply):

The SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 isn’t the smallest SteriPEN they make – there’s a newer model that’s about the size of your iPhone – but this one certainly earns its place in your luggage at only 7.5 inches long and 5.7 ounces. SteriPEN recommends using Lithium batteries with it instead of regular ones (it takes 4 AA-sized batteries, which aren’t included), as you’ll be able to purify about 100 liters of water with the Lithium batteries and only 10 liters or so with the regular ones, but both will work.

You need to make sure water is touching both of the metal points (one on either side of the light) for it to work, so if you’re using it in a regular glass or a wide-mouthed bottle that won’t seal over the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 so you can’t turn it over, you’ll just need to make sure you’ve immersed the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 enough so that the light and those points are under the water for the whole time.

>> The SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 retails for $49.95, but you can buy it on Amazon.com for $43.99.

As with anything travel related, it all depends on the traveler. We all travel differently, so what’s good for one may not be for someone else. There are plenty of RTW travelers who would rather not bring anything tech related, arguing that is precisely what they are trying to get away from. Many have been tethered to their smart phones for too long, so the last thing they want to do is bring it with them on their RTW trip.

But others want to have that convenience. Some work while on the road, so a laptop is a necessary item to have. Even if you don’t have to work while traveling, many RTW travelers like to have something like a laptop or an iPad to store photos and still have a connection to the outside world. Our sister site over at BootsnAll has several articles discussing things like what tech gear to pack on a RTW trip, so be sure to head over to their revamped RTW planning guide and see what they have to say.

Photo credit: 1

But for some of us the holidays are a bit more stressful. The holidays mean racing around town and battling the crowds in search of that perfect gift for the hard-to-shop for person on your shopping list.

Well we’re here to make life easier on you by coming up with tons of gift ideas for the traveler in your life. We’ve scoured the web and talked with many world travelers to find a wide selection of gifts that meet the needs of many different types of travelers.

Gift Ideas for Adventure Travelers

Adventure travelers have very different travel gear needs than say your average business traveler. Thriving on adrenaline, adventure travelers prefer to see a place by climbing its mountains, rafting its rivers, and hiking its backcountry trails. Coming up with gift ideas for adventure travelers is pretty easy, all you need to do is pick up the latest new fangled piece of outdoor gear and you are sure to see a smile on their face come Christmas morning.

Recording one’s adventures is important to most adventure travelers so a waterproof camera that can endure extreme conditions or a compact helmet camera that can record in wind, rain, and snow would make a perfect gift. A handheld GPS is perfect for the backcountry traveler that wants to know where they are at all times and a SteriPEN Water Purifier ensures that your traveler will have safe drinkable water wherever their travels may lead.

>> See more gift ideas for the adventure traveler

Gift Ideas for Backpackers

Backpackers are about as easy to please as adventure travelers. You pretty much can’t go wrong with the latest and greatest sleeping pad, a cozy fleece jacket, a SteriPen Water Purifier, or a gift certificate to REI, Eastern Mountain Sports, or Backcountry.com.

For the backpacker that has everything, how about giving them all the tools they need to be a backcountry chef with the Harmony House Backpacking Kit or get them started in making their own camp foods by getting them a food dehydrator and a copy of Food To Go, a cooking e-book for the outdoor adventurer

>> See more gift ideas for backpackers

Gift Ideas for Round-the-World Travelers

Is your traveler planning a round-the-world trip?  If yes, there are plenty of items out there that will help keep your traveler more organized and comfortable on the road. Packing cubes and compression sacks keep your clothing organized and help maximize the amount of space in your pack or suitcase, which is very important for world travelers. Packing organizers come in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles so world travelers can never have enough of these guys.

Travel hammocks make great gifts. They are incredibly lightweight, durable, and easy to rig up plus they can substitute for a tent for those around-the-world adventure traveler types. Quick drying, lightweight travel clothing is also invaluable on the road.

>> See more gift ideas for round-the-world travelers

Gift Ideas for Techie Travelers

The best gift you could give your tech savvy traveler is a protective case for their electronics. Perfect for digital cameras, the Otterbox 2000 is a totally waterproof electronics case that can be fully submerged up to 100 feet. The Pelican 1010 Micro Case is crushproof, dustproof, and water-resistant and fits a cell phone, iPod, or small digital camera.

Personally I am hoping to find an iPad under the tree this year so I would be happy with any of these iPad travel accessories.

>> See more gift ideas for the techie traveler

Stocking Stuffers for Travelers

Besides the usual socking stuffer ideas like candy canes, lip balm, and movie tickets, we’ve thought up some practical stocking stuffer ideas for travelers. With all the limits on carry-on liquids these days, GoToobs are the perfect solution to that 100ml or less liquid rule. These BPA free bottles are leak proof and no-drip with a large opening so they are easy to fill.

Travel undies and socks make great stocking stuffers. ExOfficio Underwear wicks moistures and dries quickly after sink laundering and Goodhew socks have amazing moisture management and antimicrobial properties. You can get away with going days without washing these babies and they too dry fast after a wash in the sink.

>> See more stocking stuffers for travelers

50 Gift Ideas Under $50 For Travelers

Finally, we’ve come up with a list of 50 gift items for travelers that all cost under $50. From backcountry medical kits and bear bells, to travel chairs, hammocks, and waist packs – we’ve thought of all the best budget gift ideas for travelers.

>> See 50 gifts under $50 for travelers

And one last piece of advice, shop early and shop online.

Photos courtesy of Joel Bedford, Jhong Dixon, and Marshmallow

If all else fails you can always get the backpacker on your list a gift card at REI or Backcountry.com and they can pick out their own new piece of gear if none of the following 10 great gift ideas appeal to the backpacker on your list.

SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier System

The SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier System has everything a backpacker needs to safely purify water from rivers and streams during backpacking trips. The Journey uses ultraviolet light to purify water protecting you from 99.9% of protozoa, bacteria, and viruses.

The Journey is fast and easy to use and one of the best hiking water filters on the market.  It takes only 48 seconds to purify a half-liter of water and all you need to do is press a button, insert the SteriPEN into the water, and stir.

>>Buy SteriPEN Journey Water Purifier System

Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee

Starbucks has pretty much revolutionized camp coffee with their release of VIA Ready Brew, instant coffee that tastes just like freshly brewed Starbucks.  Now available in vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and mocha, VIA makes a great stocking stuffer for travelers. Flavored Starbucks VIA would be perfect for a winter backpacking trip and their Italian Roast and Colombian Brew would be great anytime.

>>Buy Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

Sea To Summit Compression Sacks

A backpacker can never have too many compression sacks. Compression sacks pack sleeping bags and clothes down to next to nothing by squeezing all the air out with compression straps. Compressions sacks maximize the amount of space in your backpack and help keep your gear organized. They come in a variety of different sizes and colors and some are waterproof and ultralight. The Sea To Summit Ultra Sil Compression sacks are extremely lightweight, durable and water resistant.

>>Buy Sea To Summit Ultra Sil Compression

Jetboil Flash Crunchit Cooking System

The Jetboil Flash is the perfect all-in-one cooking system. Combining a cooking burner and cooking pot in one, the system lights fast and easy with the simple push of a button and can boil two cups of water in just two minutes. The cooking burner and fuel canister store easily inside the 1-liter cooking cup and take up very little space in your pack. The new Crunchit Cooking System includes the Crunchit, a tool that punctures fuel canisters so that they can be recycled.

>>Buy Jetboil Flash Crunchit Cooking System

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2

Hardcore ultralight backpackers often travel with a tarp system for a shelter, but if the backpacker on your list prefers a tent and finds the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 under the tree, they will surely be jumping for joy. Using the latest in ultralight materials, fabrics, and aluminum poles, the Big Agnes weighs in at just a little over 2 pounds. This durable, waterproof tent is completely freestanding with room enough for two. The Fly Creek is also one of the best tents for travelers, since you don’t have to worry about the tent taking up lots of space in your backpack.

>>Buy Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2

Patagonia Fleece Jackets

Fleece jackets are an invaluable piece of outdoor gear for backpackers and Patagonia undoubtedly makes the best fleece jackets on the market. The Patagonia Men’s R2 Jacket is a mountain man classic. This super lightweight and compressible fleece makes a great stand-alone jacket in cooler temps or a great insulating layer underneath a shell. The Patagonia Women’s R3 Jacket is Patagonia’s warmest fleece, plus it is super soft and lightweight too.

>>Buy Patagonia Men’s R2 Jacket
>>Buy Patagonia R3 High-Loft Hoody Jacket

Open Country Food Dehydrator

After reading Food To Go, a cooking e-book for the outdoorsy type, I realized that a food dehydrator is a must for any serious backpacker. By dehydrating foods you can make your own lightweight backpacking food, rather than relying on expensive pre-made meals. The Open Country Sportman’s Kitchen dehydrates foods like fruits, vegetables, soups, and sauces fast with its 700 watts of power. The dehydrator comes with a detailed instruction booklet with recipes to get you started.

>>Buy Open Country Sportman’s Kitchen Food Dehydrator

Harmony House Backpacking Kit

If yor don’t think your backpacker would ever dehydrate their own foods and they eat nothing but Ramen on the trail, the Harmony House Backpacking Kit is a great gift idea. The kit includes 18 pouches of dehydrated vegetables and beans from bell peppers, sweet corn, onions, and potato dices to lentils, red beans, and pinto beans. All you need to do is add one part dried veggies to two parts water, soften, and eat. You can also add them to soups, pastas, and stews and simmer until done.

>> Buy Harmony House Backpacking Kit

Exped Down Sleeping Pad

With its compact, lightweight design, and 700-fill goose down, the Exped DownMat9 Air Pad is one of the most comfortable and warmest sleeping pads on the market. A built-in hand pump makes it easy to inflate and lets you adjust the air pressure to your comfort. The Exped’s superior warmth makes it perfect for winter backpacking adventures as well as year-round trips.

>>Buy Exped DownMat9 Air Pad

Sierra Designs Coffee Sling

The Sierra Designs Coffee Sling is perfect for the backpacker that has everything. Every backpacker knows what its like to spill coffee or beer all over the inside of their tent and the Coffee Sling prevents that from ever happening again. The slings hang from the tent’s gear loft loops and accommodates a wide array of beverages like water bottles, beer bottles, and even small boxes of wine.

>>Buy Sierra Designs Coffee Sling

[Photo courtesy of pagedooley]

Compared to coming up with gifts for the backpacker or round-the-world traveler, I think finding gifts for the tech-savvy traveler is the easiest because there is always some new technological device out on the market that makes traveling easier and more efficient.

Here are 10 great gift ideas for the techie traveler:

1. Helmet Cameras

A compact, lightweight helmet camera can record all your biking, skiing, surfing, and zip lining adventures. These wearable camcorders can secure to your bike helmet, ski helmet, handlebars, or wherever else you can think to stick it and film all of your outdoor adventures. The Contour HD 1080P is the world’s first and smallest wearable camcorder to shoot 1080p high-definition video.

>>Buy Contour HD 1080P Wearable Camcorder
>>Read more about the best helmet cameras

2. Solar Chargers

There are all sorts of solar powered devices on the market now for outdoor adventurers who would like to keep their devices charged. The Power Traveler Powermonkey is a solar powered charger for mobile phones, iPods, and PDAs.  The Powermonkey charges your device anywhere you have sunlight plus it can also charge from a USB port or outlet. The Brunton Solaris is powerful enough to charge a GPS or laptop computer.

>>Buy Power Traveler Powermonkey
>>Buy Brunton Solaris Portable Solar Charger

3. Netbooks

If I could recommend just one item for a techie about to hit the road, it would be the Netbook. Netbooks are super portable, lightweight, energy-efficient laptops perfect for browsing the Internet, e-mailing, word processing, and uploading photos on the road. The most up-to-date netbooks, like the Toshiba Mini NB305 Netbook, weigh in at less than 3 pounds and boast over 8 hours of battery life.

>>Buy Toshiba Mini NB305 Netbook
>> Buy 32GB Apple iPad 2
>>Read more about the best netbooks for travelers

4. Waterproof Cameras

A waterproof camera is an amazing gift. I know because I would love one. The Olympus Stylus Tough series cameras are built seriously tough and designed to withstand abuse. These waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof cameras are built for the action-packed lifestyle and take excellent photos to boot.

>>Buy Olympus Stylus Tough 6020
>>Buy Olympus Stylus Tough 8010
>>Read more about the best waterproof cameras

5. iPod Speaker Cases

The iMainGo2 is a super compact speaker system that is compatible with the iPhone, all iPods, and most other MP3 players.  You simply zip open the case, plug in your iPod, secure it with a strap, zip it back up, and you’re ready to rock. The Eco Proof is a similar item but super rugged and waterproof so it would be a great gift for a boater or beachgoer.

>>Buy iMainGo2 iPod Speaker System
>>Buy Eco Proof Waterproof Speaker Case

6. 4-Port USB Chargers

A 4-port USB charger charges up to four of your mobile devices at the same time. Charge your smart phone, iPod, and PDA all at the same time with just one charger. This is great for when you are at a coffee shop and you want to charge all your devices, but don’t want to look like an outlet hog. Plus it keeps all your devices organized and in the same locale.

>>Buy Kensington 4-Port USB Charger for Mobile
>>Buy 4-Port USB Car Charger by XTG Technology

7. Travel Adapters and Converters

Travel adapters are necessary for anyone traveling over seas since plug shapes are not universal. Apple makes a great World Traveler Adapter Kit that has everything you need to charge your iPod, iPhone, and Mac computer anywhere in the world.

>>Buy Apple World Traveler Adapter Kit
>>Read more about travel converters and adapters

8. iPad Accessories

Does your techie traveler have an iPad? Well then there is a host of fun accessories you could get them. A compact charger and sync cable are perfect for minimalist travelers and a portable keyboard is a great when using the iPad for word processing and writing long, elaborate e-mails.

>>Buy Macally RESYNCCABLE Retractable Cable for iPhone and iPad
>>Buy Macally DUALUSB Charger for iPhone and iPad
>>Buy Apple iPad Keyboard Dock
>>Read more about the Best iPad Travel Accessories

9. Portable External Hard Drives

You can’t backup your computer enough, especially when traveling. The Toshiba Canvio Plus is pocket-sized for easy transport yet can hold up to 750GB of your files, photos, music, and movies. The portable hard drive also has a shock sensor for added protection on the road. The Oyen Digital 500GB External Hard Drive is about the size of an iPod Touch and holds a heck of a lot of data too.

>>Buy Toshiba Canvio Plus External Hard Drive
>>Buy Oyen Digital 500GB External Hard Drive

10. Protective Camera Cases

Electronics and adventure travel usually don’t mix well. I’ve lost more point and shoot cameras than I can count from water, sand, and even a drink powder mishap. Well know there are all sorts of cases out there that can protect your electronics from water, sand, dust, falls, and other catastrophes. LOKSAK bags are the only waterproof, sand-proof, and humidity-proof re-sealable bags on the market.  These bags are super light and ultra durable and were tested and approved by the US Navy. Pelican also makes some great cases that are crushproof and water resistant.

>>Buy LOKSAK Bags
>>Buy Pelican Case for iPhone/iPod

[Photo courtesy of Marcopako]

What tech gadget would you like to see under the tree for you this year?

Stuff Bak Lables – A cheap form of travelers insurance. These lables adhear to just about anything and imporve the odds of getting back lost stuff durring travels.

Backpacker Firts Aid Kit – Top quality first aid kit deszigned especially for travelers and backpackers. Its compact design won’t take up much room inside of a backpack.

Money Belts – Stylish money belt any traveler is sure to appreciate.

Digital Camera Case – A compact digital camera case thats perfect for traveling and sightseeing. Hold camera, phone, and more.

52 Card Games – These card games are a great way to make friends or just keep from getting bored while on the road.

From practical items like headlamps and Swiss Army Knives to more fun items like ultralight hammocks, travel clotheslines, and a game of Rubber Neckers, we have thought of something for every type of traveler.

Stuff your travel fanatic family member’s stocking with these great gift ideas for travelers.

1. Stuff Sacks

Stuff sacks are a highly underrated gear item in the travel community. Don’t want your dirty shoes mixed in with your clean clothes? Just stash them into a stuff sack. Need more room in your bag? Compress your clothes super small with a compression stuff sack.

Stuff sacks have an endless amount of uses for travel plus they are small enough to fit in a stocking. The Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Compression Sacks are incredibly lightweight plus they are water resistant. I also love the Outdoor Products Dry Sacks that come in a variety of colors and sizes.

>> Buy Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Compression Sacks
>> Buy Outdoor Products Dry Sacks

2. Headlamps

Every adventure traveler needs a good headlamp. The best headlamps are ultra compact and super bright. The Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp weighs only 3 ounces with batteries and is water-resistant too.  The Black Diamond Ion is even more compact with a budget friendly price.

>>Buy Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
>>Buy Black Diamond Ion Headlamp

3. Moleskine Journals

Moleskine offers a gorgeous yet simple collection of notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks. Moleskine notebooks are incredibly durable with thick acid-free paper and a high quality binding.

Giving the gift of a Moleskine journals ensures that your traveler will have a place to write their thoughts, experiences, and dreams wherever their travels may lead them.

>>Buy Moleskine Pocket Journal

4. LOKSAK Waterproof and Sand-Proof Dry Bags

I am in love with these high-tech ziplock bags. They are waterproof, humidity proof, sand-proof, and dustproof and weigh next to nothing. LOKSAK bags come in a variety of sizes so you can use the bags to store anything you want kept dry like cash, passport, iPod, clothes, food, batteries, and more. They are great for fishing trips, river trips, at the beach, and anywhere else you might get wet.

>>Buy LOKSAK Dry Bags

5. Eye Masks

Eye masks can help you sleep on the plane or block out early morning light in the tent. Some eye masks are even scented with relaxing aromatherapy scents to help keep you calm during unexpected turbulence.

>>Buy Bucky 40 Blinks Ultralight Eye Mask
>>Buy DreamTime Lavender Scented Sleep Mask

6. Ultralight Travel Hammock

The new Ultralight Travel Hammock by Hammock Bliss weighs only 13 ounces and is ultra compact. The hammock is perfect for camping, backpacking, and traveling. With super tough climbing rope included, it is easy to set up just about anywhere.

>>Buy Hammock Bliss Ultralight Travel Hammock

7. Swiss Army Knife

Every traveler can use a Swiss Army Knife packed full of tools. I personally prefer the kind with every tool imaginable like the Swiss Army Ranger. The Swiss Army Climber is a bit more compact than the Ranger yet still has the necessary corkscrew and bottle opener.

>>Buy Swiss Army Champion
>>Buy Swiss Army Climber

8. Travel Clothesline

I would love to see one of these in my stocking this year. On a recent trip to Kauai, we set up a clothesline with some webbing, but didn’t have any clothes pins and I ended up chasing my undies across the beach when the wind picked up. If I had only had the nifty Sea to Summit Lite Line Clothesline that secures your clothes to the line, I wouldn’t have had to chase my unmentionables across the beach.

>> Sea to Summit Lite Line Clothesline

8. Travel Underwear

Speaking of undies, I don’t now if it is customary to get new underwear in your stocking like it is in my family, but if it is check out ExOfficio’s sweet travel underwear. Exofficio underwear wicks moistures and dries quickly after sink laundering.  Every traveler needs at least one pair of these babies.

>>Buy ExOfficio Underwear

9. Would You Rather & Rubber Neckers

These travel-sized games are not just for kids. Would You Rather is great for car rides, plane rides, or kicking it in the hostel and Rubber Neckers will ward off that terrible “Are we there yet?” syndrome in the car.

>>Buy Would You Rather
>>Buy Rubber Neckers

10. GoToobs

I am totally sick of my carry-on toiletries leaking all over my pack, so thank goodness for GoToobs. These BPA free bottles are leak proof and no-drip with a large opening so they are easy to fill. Suction cups let you stash them on the shower wall and integrated labels let you mark the contents.

>>Buy GoToobs

Need more gift ideas for travelers? See 50 Gifts Under $50 For Travelers.

[Photo courtesy of Jeff Turner]

GoLite Footwear Spring Lite Running Shoes

Why go barefoot when you can GoLite? With barefoot running being the latest rage, many shoe companies are releasing minimalist running shoes that stimulate a natural stride while offering your feet some protection from the hazards of the trail.

The Spring Lite Women’s Trail Shoes feature GoLite’s BareTech design. This zero heel drop design promotes a natural stride – similarly to how you run when barefoot. Traditionally running shoes have been built with a 12-15 mm heal to toe differential and recent studies have suggested that a raised heel encourages heel striking which leads to running injuries. Running shoes, like the GoLite Spring Lite, with a nearly level heal to toe difference are thought to allow the body to move in the most natural way.

The Spring Lites fit my relatively wide foot well as is, but you can customize the shoe to your foot with GoLite’s “Precise Fit” system. By easily removing or adding a pad to the insole, you can customize the shoe’s forefoot volume to get the perfect fit. This is a great feature if you have slightly different sized feet. These shoes are also the lightest I’ve ever owned and I can barely notice the weight of them on my feet. Only downside is their lack of traction. They are perfect for hardpack but just didn’t give me enough traction to feel confident on steep rocky descents.

Also it is important to note that if you’re transitioning from traditional running shoes to minimalist shoes you’re going to want to ease into it. When I first starting running in the Spring Lites my achilles felt really tight and I had some new pains pop up in my shins. With minimalist shoes you will engage different muscles in your feet and lower legs since you’ll be landing less on your heel and this can take some getting used to.

The Quick & Dirty

Where you can find one:
Altrec: $109.95
Amazon: $110.00

Why they rock:

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 9 out of 10

The Spring Lites are lightweight, comfortable, plenty roomy, and anything but bulky. I’ve been running in them for about a month and a half now and they truly make my feet happy. If you’ve been thinking about trying out minimalist trail shoes I highly recommending giving these babies a try. For you guys out there looking for a great minimalist shoe, check out GoLite’s AmpLite.

Looking to buy? Here’s where you can get one:
Altrec: $109.95
Amazon: $110.00

REI members can save 20% on one full-price item online or in the store with coupon code ANNV2011.

The REI Half Dome Tent is marked down to only $134.99 and Big Agnes and Marmot sleeping bags are marked down huge. Save over 25% on the SteriPEN Adventure Opti Water Purifier, the Eagles Nest DoubleNest Hammock, and all CamelBak Packs and Accessories. Also save 25% on the Garmin Forerunner GPS Watch.

As far as travel gear goes, you can save 25% on all Eagle Creek Pack-It items like Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes or Eagle Creek Pack-It Folders. You can also save on ALL Timbuk2 Bags and Sherpani Bags. Save 25% on REI luggage and accessory items like the REI Shower Kit and 25% off all solar chargers.

More Sale Items:

• Save 25% on Sea to Summit Dry Bags
• Save 25% on all Pelican & Otterbox water-resistant camera cases
• Save 20% on all Smith Sunglasses
• Save 25% all Mad Rock Climbing Shoes
• Save 20% all Thule Racks, Roof Boxes, and Accessories
• Save 25% all REI Brand and Adventure Medical Kits
• Save 25% all Ruff Wear
• Save 25% select REI backpacks and Deuter Child Carriers

If you’re not an REI member, you can sign up and save! Members can also enjoy free shipping on orders over $25 through June 6, 2011.

Remember you can get free shipping if you have your order delivered to an REI store. You can also score an extra 15% off REI brand gear by signing up for REI’s Gear Mail. Check out other recent REI coupon codes and deals.

Timbuk 2 Kickstand iPad Stand

Finally an iPad case/stand that is both functional and sporty. Makers of extraordinary messenger bags and urban adventure accessories, Timbuk2 just released two iPad stands – the Timbuk 2 Kickstand and Popup Case.

The Timbuk2 Kickstand will surely become one of the best iPad cases for travel. The case folds out and then internal attachments hold your iPad in place giving you full access to the on/off switch, volume button, and ports.High density foam and a plush faux fur lining protects the screen and back when tossed into your bag.

When you’re ready to use your iPad, just open the case and voila you can fold the case into a typing stand or a standing viewing mode for watching movies and cruising the web. Only downside is that you can’t use the camera in the iPad2 without removing it from its case, but I don’t know if there is a case out there that both protects your iPad completely and offers access to the camera.

The Quick & Dirty

Where you can find one:
Altrec: $48.95
Timbuk2: $49.00

Why they rock:

• Fits the iPad and iPad 2.
• Internal molded attachments for securing your iPad and iPad2.
• Folds to viewing mode and typing mode.
• Luxurious faux fur lining protects the iPad’s precious screen and sexy back.

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 10 out of 10

You can never go wrong with Timbuk2. Their bags and accessories are designed to hold up to the commuter life and they stand 100% behind their products. If there is any sort of defect in your product that will repair it or replace it for you.

See our other Timbuk 2 reviews: Timbuk2 iPad Scuba Sleeve and Timbuk2 Zeitgeist Backpack.

Looking to buy? Here’s where you can get one:
Altrec: $48.95
Timbuk2: $49.00