Simpler and Safer Food on the Road

Whether cooking food, transporting it or trying to eat it safely on the go, travelers can get help from products that make the process a bit easier. The following items may be available in stores. Prices do not include shipping.

Refreshing vintage: Keeping a bottle of wine cool just got easier with the Wine Cooler, an insulated nylon sack from the Container Store. The cooler’s drawstring cinch strap has an attached corkscrew to make the package complete. This makes a great gift presentation.

Wine Cooler Sack (item no. 026010) in a variety of colors is $19.99 from the Container Store; telephone (800) 786-7315.

Barbecue beam: Zelco, a maker of book lights, has branched out into the barbecue field with a little light that clips onto the side table of the barbecue, shedding a steady beam on the grill. (Remove the spring clip, and the light sits on any flat surface.) The heat-resistant lamp has an adjustable head and an arm that extends from 11 inches to 16 inches, then folds for storage. The light runs on four D batteries (not included) and has a replaceable bulb. Also works as a reading light in dim hotel rooms.

Zelco BBQ Light (10600) is $25 at gift shops and housewares stores. For a nearby store, call (800) 431-2486.

Campfire caution: Bic, the lighter people, have a nifty new child-resistant fire starter that’s as efficient as it is safe--and cheap. The SureStart Utility Lighter has a long metal wand (to keep hands far away from the fire) and a starter mechanism that sends a spark to the wand tip when the trigger is pulled. The lighter resets itself after each use. The visible fuel supply in each lighter shows when to replace the product.

Bic SureStart Lighter is $4.99 at hardware stores.

Safe water: Filtering water from questionable sources traditionally has involved a complicated mix of pumps, tubes and time. The simple new Urban Suburban from PurLife takes the hassle out by providing a 32-ounce plastic water bottle with a built-in filter at the end of the straw. Just unscrew the top, pour in untreated water and lightly squeeze the sides of the bottle as you drink. The microporous filter protects against protozoa such as Giardia and cryptosporidium, bacteria such as E. coli and shigella, organic toxins such as benzene and chloroform and pesticides like DDT, as well as lead, cadmium, mercury and chlorine. Each bottle will filter 300 gallons of water before you must replace the filter/straw/cap system (the water gets harder to squeeze out). The bottle comes with an insulated neoprene holder and adjustable carrying strap. On a hiking trip in Turkey, I used the bottle/filter and never got sick.

PurLife Urban Suburban water purifier (FH587) is $34.85 from Magellans; tel. (800) 962-4943. Replacement filter with cap and straw (FH587R) is $23.85.

Car picnicking: Back-seat eaters will have an easier time of it with Franzus’ new Auto Back Seat Tray. The lightweight 10-by-6-inch plastic tray attaches by an adjustable strap around the front headrest bar. A cup holder will fold down separately while the tray is up, and there’s a napkin holder, a swivel mirror and molded garbage bag tabs--plus one garbage bag to start you off.

Franzus Auto Back Seat Tray (TSA-166BT) is $12 at luggage and travel shops. For a nearby store, call (800) 706-7064.

Gear & Gadgets appears monthly.