Big perks in small doses
You’ll need little packing space to reap big benefits from a detangling mini-brush; a vest that air-conditions your dog by using evaporative cooling; a capacious water bottle that rolls up and a comfy backpack that shrinks to the size of a lemon.
Big little hairbrush
Small travel hair brushes touted as space-saving alternatives seldom measure up. The Tangle Teezer Compact Styler doesn’t have a handle, just a diminutive kidney-beanshaped base that nestles in the palm of your hand. Strong but flexible pin bristles combine with long teeth to detangle and short teeth to smooth the hair cuticle.
The brush comes with a matching plastic cover that clicks in place over the bristles, keeping out dirt. The brush comes in myriad colors and playful patterns; lawn flamingos, anyone? Cost, info: Tangle Teezer Compact Styler costs $16; tangleteezer.com/us
Doggone cool
If you’re hot, your dog’s hot, but he can’t take off his coat.
Ruffwear’s lightweight Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest takes the heat off your dog, thanks to a three-layer design that uses evaporation to mimic the cooling effects of sweating.
Just soak the vest in cold water, wring out the excess and drape it around your dog, securing it at the sides. Your buddy can stay chill for several hours.
The process pulls heat from your pup, transferring cool vapors through the vest’s dry-weave mesh inner lining. Higher heat and humidity will speed up evaporation, so you may need to “recharge” the vest with spritzes from your water bottle or a dunk in a creek. Cost, info: Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest comes in six sizes and costs $59.95; lat.ms/ruffwearswamp cooler
Roll-up bottle
Choosing a good refillable water bottle requires attention to details. It should be durable, lightweight and made of materials that won’t leach harmful chemicals (such as BPA and phthalates).
The new 25-ounce Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle is all that but weighs just 7 ounces and rolls into a pocket-size packet.
The screw-on lid, drinking spout and 1.9-inch-diameter mouth are made of a rigid BPA-free polypropylene plastic, as is a 2-inch-high sliding sleeve that keeps the bottle from collapsing in your hand as you drink and lets the container stand upright even when empty.
A hinged spout cover keeps dirt out and locks airtight using an integrated twist knob. The Nomader is freezable and dishwasher safe. Cost, info: Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle, in 11 colors, costs $24; nomader.com
Leader of the packs
A lightweight backpack can make a hike in the woods or exploring a new town a hands-free delight, and it can provide a handy out-of-the-way shopping bag for impromptu purchases.
The Bindle Daypack from Trek Light Gear, just 3½ ounces, manages to be spacious and strong. The pack, made of parachute nylon, is a roomy 18 by 12 inches with a wide doublezippered main compartment and a hidden zippered security pocket for valuables. The soft and wide adjustable back straps can help in hauling up to 40 pounds.
Empty, the daypack compresses to about the size of a lemon. Cost, info: Bindle Daypack, available in seven colors, costs $34.95; lat.ms/ bindledaypack travel@latimes.com