Travel Products for Rural Areas

Get an Emergency Radio with Cell Phone Charger & Travel Alarm Clock

Oct 27, 2008

Travel size products are helpful when trekking through rural areas of Western Canada.

Choosing which travel products to buy on a trip to rural areas is a vital part of trip planning. Things like emergency radios with cell phone chargers, travel alarm clocks and luggage scales will all help to make things go smoother outside of the cities.

In remote parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and especially up north in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, travel size products can really lend a hand when the going gets rough.

Below are reviews of products from Magellan’s Travel Supplies Company (1-800-962-4940).

Emergency Radio with Cell Phone Charger

There’s often no electricity when travelling in rural areas. The AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Mobile Phone Charger gives adventurers an LED flashlight, cell phone charger, flashing red light and emergency siren. The great thing is that the radio can be charged by the side crank if batteries run out, giving just under an hour of power for a minute and a half crank.

For a smaller but similar unit, there’s also the Red Cross MicroLink Emergency Radio. This hardy device has a flashlight, AM/FM radio, NOAA weather bands, FCC and EAS public alert systems and a cell phone charger. The biggest plus? It’s solar powered but can also be powered by crank, rechargeable batteries or an AC adapter. This one is a lot more compact but needs a bit more cranking to get it powered up.

Travel Alarm Clock

The fun Nature Sounds Alarm Clock is a hit with this writer. This fold up alarm clock gives its wake up calls with calming sounds like a babbling brook or rainfall. It keeps tabs on the temperature in the room and has a digital photo frame. This neat frame holds up to 70 photos that rotate through and can be the perfect loneliness quencher on long trips. Note that the photo frame must be charged through a USB cable (included), so electricity is necessary.

For a simpler and smaller clock, try the Smart Lite Travel Alarm Clock. This mini tool is perfect for throwing in a suitcase and getting out once the tent is pitched. The backlight turns on when darkness is detected and the functions are completely straightforward. The slide cover makes it durable and large numbers are good for those who need “larger print.” The batteries also last longer in this one, as there are less bells and whistles.

Luggage Scale

Increasingly important with today’s travel restrictions, the Easy-Grip Luggage Scale weighs bags up to 75 pounds. Just attach luggage to the build-in strap and wait for the digital scale to beep. Un-attach and the weight appears. It’s really quite genius.

Another option is the basic Luggage Scale. This analogue scale does the same thing and is about the same size, but doesn't have digital parts (so there's less to break). Attach luggage to the hook and the hand moves around like a clock to determine the weight. An additional pro is the built-in measuring tape, so bags can also be measured before arriving at the airport. Both of these products are sure to eliminate those pesky excess baggage fees.

The copyright of the article Travel Products for Rural Areas in W Canada Travel is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Travel Products for Rural Areas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.