Creature comforts galore
On your next trip, get a sound snooze, soothe your soles, go into the wild without fear of getting wet and connect — with your dog.
Dog power
Vacationing with your dog can strengthen your connection, especially if you’re connected by the Omnijore Dog Joring System from Ruffwear.
Jor-what? Joring is the sport in which your canine friend pulls you while you’re atop a skateboard or cross-country skis or other conveyance.
The system includes a specially designed, five-adjustment-point halter with a detachable girth strap for your dog; a beefed-up padded hip belt with multiple pockets and detachable leg loops (for stabilizing the hip belt) for the human; and a tow line.
The two of you are attached by that last piece, an extendable 6½foot tow line/leash with a shockabsorbing elasticized section, strong talon harness clips and a quick quick-release hip belt hook-up that lets you free your dog quickly if necessary.
My rescue hound Shayna seemed comfy yet controllable in the Y-style padded harness; unlike most harnesses I’ve imposed on her, this one didn’t irritate sensitive spots.
Cost, info: Ruffwear Omnijore Dog Joring System costs $174.95. lat.ms/ joring
Happy feet
After a day exploring the city or hiking in the wild, here’s a kindness to your feet: the Soapy Toes TravelSized Foot Scrubber from McNaughton Inc. It’s a smaller version of the larger mat and weighs in at less than 7 ounces.
The integrated polyvinyl bristles, bubbles and bumps clean, massage and stimulate like a team of personal spa attendants. All you add is soap and the “ahhh.”
Cost, info: Soapy Toes travel size comes in six colors and costs $12.95. lat.ms/soapytoes
Sleep-time sounds
Comfy memory foam Sleep Headphones Eye Mask from 1 Voice has embedded over-ear sound disks on each side that won’t poke when you roll over.
An integrated audio port connects to cellphones or MP3 players with the included audio cable with 3.5mm jack.
No battery is needed because your electronic device provides all the oomph. An inline volume control knob lets you turn the sound level up or down.
Cost, info: 1 Voice Sleep Headphones Eye Mask comes in black, blue, gray
or pink and costs $49. lat.ms/eye maskphones
For dry tootsies
Hiking or cycling on muddy trails, crossing streams or traversing snow, slush or ice usually mean wet feet, but not if you’re wearing DexShell’s new waterproof socks.
They have a three-layer design; the middle layer is a slim, flexible polyurethane micro-porous membrane that bars water. I tested them by standing in a tub of water for nearly an hour; when I peeled them off, my feet were dry.
The company makes 18 waterproof styles, from crew length to knee-highs, ultra-light to thick thermal. The middle layer is always the same waterproof membrane.
The outermost layer usually is made of a chemically treated waterresistant nylon elastine. It’s not waterproof but it is quick-drying.
The socks come in four unisex adult sizes; one style is sized for children.
Cost, info: DexShell Waterproof Socks cost $29.99 to $52.99; children’s socks, $20.99. lat.ms/dexshellsocks