Destinations Where they went Travel gear Student travel Sensible traveler
Plump up your pillow, tires, and immune system
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 10/13/02
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Destinations Where they went Travel gear Student travel Sensible traveler
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Heidi Fogarty of South Berwick, Maine, started making her buckwheat pillows after trying one her daughter bought in Germany in 1997. She found she slept better and felt more relaxed than with conventional pillows, but thought the buckwheat pillows she found in stores were too small. Fogarty's own 20-by-26-inch creations hold a hefty seven pounds of organic buckwheat hulls, which she laces with dried lavender blossoms. They conform to the user's head and neck, lending just the right amount of support, and the hulls allow for air circulation and keep the pillows cool even in hot weather. Pillows such as these have been used in the Far East for centuries to provide relief from stress, snoring, headaches, and muscle pain; lavender has long been known for its soothing properties. Fogarty sells her pillows for $35 ($30 each for two or more); a 12-by-16-inch travel size is available for $15. Through March, $5 from each pillow's sale will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. For more information, go to www.l-oma.com; to order, telephone 207-384-2099.
Guard against deflation
Keeping your tires properly inflated can help you avert accidents and save fuel. This digital tire gauge from Frontgate measures to 150 psi, is accurate to within 0.5 psi, and is easier to read than standard tire gauges. The tip lights up to help you place it properly on your tire's air valve. The gauge is about 6 inches long, weighs about 8 ounces, and costs $29 through the Frontgate catalog (800-626-6488) and online at www.frontgate.com.
Hands-on germ fighter
Purell hand sanitizer is an alcohol-based gel that kills 99.99 percent of most germs in just 15 seconds. Squirt a coin-sized dab onto your hands and rub them together until they're dry to protect yourself from most of the germs you will encounter while you travel. It's as safe as soap and water, so you can use it as often as needed. A travel-size 2-fluid-ounce bottle costs about $1.70 at many grocery and drugstores, and online at www.cvs.com, www.walgreens.com, drugstore.com, and staywell.gojo.com.
Lylah M. Alphonse's e-mail address is lalphonse@globe.com.