Gear + Gadgets

Take a load off

Collapsible Micro Stool

By Judi Dash

Special to The Miami Herald

Take a seat. Whaddya mean, where? You could have one right there in your carry bag. Perhaps not the most ergonomic of chairs, the Grand Trunk Collapsible Micro Stool is nonetheless a fine alternative to standing. Just pull this little red stool out of its included 12-inch by 6-inch stuff sack, unfold, extend the aluminum legs, lock in, and plop down on the nylon seat. Expanded, the stool measures 9.5 inches by 9 inches by 10 inches high. It weighs just 10 ounces — and that includes the built-in mesh storage “shelf” under the seat. And it holds up to 250 pounds. No back support, but who gets so picky in a pinch?

Collapsible Micro Stool is $29.99 at www.grandtrunkgoods.com.

Read more Just In! | Travel News stories from the Miami Herald

American Queen Steamboat Co.

River cruise line adds a second vessel to sail Pacific Northwest

The American Queen Steamboat Co., which launched steamboat cruises on the Mississippi River last spring, has bought a second riverboat that will sail the rivers of the Pacific Northwest starting in April 2014. The company, named for its Mississippi River paddle wheeler, announced Tuesday it had purchased the former Empress of the North and will rename it the American Empress.
Gear + Gadgets

Got your backpack

Always improving its lines of luggage for the adventurous, Eagle Creek has fine-tuned its new Afar Backpack to be all business and a pleasure. About the dimensions of a standard wheel-aboard bag (12.5 inches by 20.5 inches by 8.5 inches deep), the Afar weighs in at a mere 1 pound, 11 ounces. It is equipped with a slew of great features: well-padded contoured shoulder straps, a tuck away padded hip belt, adjustable sternum straps, external compression straps and a sturdy top grab handle. A padded breathable mesh back panel makes for comfy cushioning. The back panel cleverly incorporates a zippered padded compartment for a laptop (up to 17 inches) that doesn’t broadcast your precious cargo to would-be thieves. The spacious main zippered compartment is blessedly unstructured, three roomy external mesh pouches are great for jackets, water bottles, snacks and maps, and a very well-designed zippered front organizer pocket has pouches and elastic slots for a cell phone, camera, sunglasses, pens and other essentials. Double-lock zippers, hidden slip pockets for documents, and reflective accents for nighttime visibility are smart security elements. Available in a dreamy slate blue, sunny ochre and basic black.
Viking Cruises

Company known for river trips announces ocean ship

Viking Cruises, a company known for offering river cruises, on Friday announced that it was launching a new cruise line for ocean-going trips.

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