Father’s Day Gifts for Traveling Dads

Peter Greenberg Worldwide

Father's Day Gifts for TravelersIf your dad is a frequent traveler, you know which aisle to hit this Father’s Day.

After test-traveling some items on a short trip to Asia, gadget and gear guy Phil Baker has this year’s picks for dad-friendly gifts.

Briggs and Riley 15.4″ Executive Clamshell Brief (KBC303) – This case is so nice that even the TSA screener shouted out how much she liked it (looks good under X-ray, I guess).

This is one of their latest versions of their durable ballistic nylon line of work cases. It provides ample capacity for a 15.4-inch notebook, other electronic accessories, books, papers, headphones, etc. The notebook compartment folds away from the main bag to pass through security without removing the computer.

When the brief is unfolded, a small mesh compartment is revealed for holding the contents of your pockets or your liquids, much like a small tray.  A new shoulder strap system provides a springiness that makes it comfortable to carry. $239; www.briggs-riley.com

More ideas for Dad: Gadget Reviews: Best Bluetooth Headsets.

Cabeau Travel Support PillowCabeau Support Travel Pillow – This pillow provides extra support around the neck that was quite comfortable over the 11-hour trip, particularly in one of the industry’s most uncomfortable business class seats, EVA. (The seat is more like an inclined slide in its sleep position. Whoever designed these seats had a bizarre sense of humor. But that’s another story.)

The Cabeau pillow is a cut above the quality of most with its memory foam, velour covering, iPod pocket, and a storage pouch that compresses the pillow to make it easier to carry. $35; www.completesupportpillow.com

Visit our Travel Gadgets & Gear section for more ideas.

Apple iPad – I debated whether to take my  iPad, but I was glad I did. I discovered one of its best uses yet: not as a notebook substitute, but as a personal movie viewer. I rented two HD videos for $5 each from the iTunes store before leaving. Once you start playing it on the iPad, it will delete in 24 hours.

Dad & Son Together - Father’s Day Gift Ideas The image and audio quality (using stereo headphones) were superb. Battery dropped down to just 68 percent during the entire trip.

I guess this is progress: A $500 iPad replaces a $100 DVD player. But seriously, watching an HD movie on the iPad has no equal. At home I can also stream movies from Netflix at no extra cost as a subscriber.

This is the first Father’s Day where the iPad is available. While it’s not yet a productivity tool, it’s great for the consumption of content, from movies to books. For Nook and Kindle owners, Barnes & Noble and Amazon each have iPad programs that let you read your purchased e-books on the iPad. www.apple.com/ipad

Mom feeling left out? Try Mother’s Day Gifts: Gadgets for the Traveling Mom.

Eagle Creek PackIt Double CubeEagle Creek has redesigned its pack-it line of cubes and folders, soft zippered containers and folders used to neatly pack and organize your shirts, pants and other items into their own case.

I used three of the new Pack-It double cubes and a Pack-It Folder 20 that fit perfectly into the Briggs & Riley 20″ Carry-On Expandable Wide-body Upright that I recently purchased. I also took along a large Pack-It compression sac as a laundry bag. For packing, you roll it up and squeeze the air out of the bag to reduce the volume. Prices range from $10 up; www.eaglecreek.com

Seiko QXE011JLH Ultimate Alarm Clock – Sometimes technology isn’t the best answer to solving a problem. I’ve been looking for a battery-operated alarm clock that’s easy to read and to set and mistake-proof to use at home and on the road.

Seiko Alarm Clock - Gifts for DadMy search led me to the Seiko QXE011JLH Ultimate Alarm Clock. It has a large easy to read analog dial and is simple to set without fumbling with tiny controls on the back. The alarm is set with a large wheel on the front and it’s turned on and off with a large switch on the side. There are LEDs that softly illuminate the dial at night. The illumination is green if the alarm is set and amber if it’s off. The clock is battery operated and comes in black or white and it’s absolutely silent.

According to the clock shop in North Carolina, where I finally located one, they’re very scarce because of the huge demand from hotels. While it’s not compact it packs well and sure beats asking for a wake-up call in a strange hotel and hoping for the best. About $45

Levenger’s Bomber Jacket Passport Wallet – This is a combination wallet-passport holder. Constructed of soft brown pebbled-grain leather, it has a large currency pocket for foreign-sized bills, an ID window for quick retrieval, a side pocket for quick retrieval, and plenty of space for credit cards. $79; www.levenger.com

To all dads, have a happy Father’s Day.

By Phil Baker for PeterGreenberg.com. Read Phil’s blog at blog.philipgbaker.com, and check out his book, From Concept to Consumer: How to Turn Ideas into Money, available at bookstores everywhere and as an e-book on the Nook and Kindle.

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