When we first saw them years ago, we immediately bought two. However, we only used them once as they were not all that comfortable and very bulky to carry around.

Win a Cabeau Travel Evolution Pillow — See below…

During our visit to the recent LA Times Travel Show, Carol stopped at a booth claiming to have the best travel pillows in the world.  Knowing how uncomfortable it can be to grab a few good hours of sleep on an airplane, Carol inquired and they gave us a media sample to try out.

Above is a photo of Carol snoozing, using the pillow on our way over to Hawaii. She absolutely loved it.

Features of the Cabeau Travel Evolution Pillow:

• COMPACT TRAVEL BAG which allows the pillow to compress to half its size for quick and convenient packing.
• HIGH IQ DYNAMIC DENSITY MEMORY FOAM offering long-lasting, comfortable head support. The memory foam can be surface cleaned by hand and is wrapped with a removable and machine-washable super-soft velour cover.
• LATERAL HEAD STABILIZATION SUPPORTS to prevent your head from falling sideways. If your head tends to fall forward, spin the Evolution Pillow™ around backwards and you have a chin rest with full frontal support.
• DUPLEX SLIDE-LOCK TOGGLE that can be adjusted to hold the pillow in place and provide additional head support.
• MEDIA POUCH to hold your mp3 player or cell phone while you listen to music hands-free, lap-free, and pocket-free.
• DELUXE EAR PLUGS made of memory foam to help ensure peaceful travel.

Carol liked this pillow so much that she was reluctant to let me try it out.  Only after insisting that I couldn’t write an honest review without trying it out, did she relent.  Even as I’m writing this, she’s shouting from the kitchen, “make sure you let them know that I’ll never fly again without my Evolution Pillow”.

It really is remarkably comfortable, and it smooshes down to a very compact size when not in use.

As is our custom, when reviewing travel products and gear, we always try to get one to give away to our readers as well.

So without further ado

All you have to do for your chance to win the travel pillow is sign up for our Rewards Club. It’s completely free and chock full of awesome travel tips and deals. If you’re already a member, sit back and cross your fingers, you’re already entered to win. We’ll be picking one lucky winner from that list on Friday, March 16th at 5pm MST so make sure to sign up by then!

The Polar FT7 Training Computer

For the past two years, we have greatly enjoyed taking our readers to wondrous destinations.

We’ve shared with you some of the world’s most luxurious resorts, the cuisine from a few of the world’s best chefs, scenery that makes the jaw drop, and adventures certain to make memories for a lifetime.

Win a Polar FT7 Fitness Training Computer!  See below…

However, on a far more personal note, all of this has caused Mr. Roaming Boomer’s waistline to grow to proportions never before seen.  I must now do battle with my genetics, our new lifestyle of travel, and my untold hours of time spent sitting in a chair typing words like these on my computer’s monitor.

If you remember, back in September we were in Tucson learning healthy lifestyle habits from the folks at Canyon Ranch.

Confession:  I’ve backslidden, I’m afraid.  

Well, in the spirit of onward and upward, the cool folks over at Polar have sent me this nifty, bright-red training computer to review.

The Polar FT7 Training Computer, is the perfect tool for baby boomer travelers who would like to keep a better eye on their fitness levels.

While disguised as a watch when not in use, this mild-mannered little computer, after programming in some basic information about yourself, will monitor your heart rate (coupled with an included heart-rate chest band) and report back to you some pretty cool information.

Polar FT7 - Black

Here’s a short list of just some of the many features of this watch/training computer:

Body Measurement Features

• Average and maximum heart rate while training
• Based on preset target zones, the training computer will provide visual and audible alarms if you stray to high/low.
• Number of calories expended during training.  You’ll understand how much work it takes to burn off that piece of Tiramisu from the night before.

Data Transfer

• If you like, you can upload your recorded data to your computer through an optional Polar FlowLink.
• Polar Flowlink also gains you access to polarpersonaltrainer.com for even more training features.

Recording Features

• Even if you decide to forgo the optional Polar FlowLink, the training computer will store up to 99 sessions, and provide you a weekly history.

Watch Features

• Besides being your fitness companion, the Polar FT7 is a fully-functional watch loaded with features.
• The watch is water resistant to 30m.  That makes it wonderful for swimming laps, or water aerobics.

My Recent Results

I’ve got about 10 sessions recorded on my Polar FT7, and have found it very easy to use, easy to read, and a motivational boost as I record my progress.

Just two days ago, Carol and I were out hiking one of the wonderful trails here in Scottsdale, Arizona.  When we started our relatively short hike, I turned on my Polar FT7 and learned the following from our hike:

• Our hike was 1:18:53 in duration.
• I burned 603 calories on our hike.
• My average heart rate was 119.
• My maximum heart rate was 142.
• I was in the “fat burning” zone for 11:48.
• I was in the “fitness” zone for 1:06:54.

Active baby boomer travelers find it important to be able to maintain their regular daily oral hygiene while on the road.  For those who have come to depend on a Waterpik water flosser in their day-to-day regimen, carrying around the company’s flagship product was not a viable option.

That all changed a few months ago when the Waterpik® Traveler™ Water Flosser was introduced.

The folks at Waterpik recently asked us if we would like to try out a free sample of their new product.  Being regular Waterpik users, we eagerly agreed.

The Waterpik^® Traveler™ Water Flosser (WP-300) is 50% smaller than previous models with a reservoir that inverts for compact travel and has a premium travel case included. It features 4 unique tips, a pressure control system with 3 settings, is energy efficient and quiet; offers global voltage compatibility, and has a 2-year warranty.

We loved the compact styling, the separate slots for the various attachments, and we didn’t notice any reduction in water pressure.  Plus, with the unit only weighing just over a pound, and with dimensions of 5 x 4 x 4.25, it will easily fit into carry-on luggage.

Benefits

• Clinically proven to be 2x as effective as string floss at reducing gingival bleeding and up to 52% more effective at reducing gingival inflammation
• Specially designed Orthodontic Tip with tapered brush is clinically proven to remove three times as much plaque biofilm and significantly reduce bleeding in orthodontic patients versus string floss
• Removes 99.9% of plaque biofilm from treated areas
• With the Classic Jet Tip, a solution will penetrate on average 50% of the depth of a pocket
• The Plaque Seeker Tip™ is designed to access stubborn plaque around implants, crowns, bridges, veneers, and other areas that are especially susceptible to plaque accumulation
• Massages and stimulates gingival tissue

Features

I was recently driving the freeways of Los Angeles when I was invited to hang out with a hundred space nerds at a NASA TweetUp at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Win a Garmin GPS App!  See below…

Like a complete dingbat, I assumed that I was going to simply input the address into my iPhone and it would magically guide me to my destination.

The reality was, I was driving in eight lanes of very busy traffic trying to find my destination whilst trying to follow a stupid little blue dot on Google Maps.

Never mind the fact that it was ridiculously dangerous taking my eyes off the busy highway while trying to follow the blue dot and frantically taking my reading glass on and off my head.

People were honking horns at me, I missed three turns, and I certainly could have caused an accident.

So, the shocking truth about your smartphone’s GPS is that it sucks!

Let’s explore the GPS functions on the three major platforms:

• Apple’s iOS5 – We just discussed that.  You’re going to use Google Maps and try to follow the little blue ball.
• Windows Phone 7.5 – This isn’t much better.  The difference is, you’re going to use Bing Maps instead.
• Google’s Android – Google gets the prize for the best on-board GPS because its integration with Google Maps will give you turn-by-turn voice navigation.  However, the interface is very clunky.  There have been countless times where Carol had completely given up trying to find the voice navigation using our former Droids.  Plus it lacked all the much-loved visuals of our Garmin GPS

Now, let’s be clear, having a GPS activated map is a wonderful thing.  But, trying to use it while solo driving is a dangerous thing!

Nikon D7000 – As I sit here mulling over what to say about the Nikon D7000′s capabilities for travel video, the first thought that comes racing to my mind is to remember who I am talking to.

Our audience is primarily baby boomer travelers who want to know if the Nikon D7000 might be a good choice for them to capture the memories of their various adventures around the world.

Therefore, this article is not going to join the throngs of complicated photographic techno-babble that exists on the Internet.  Nor will I be comparing one camera manufacturer against another.  There are plenty of excellent resources for that type of thing.

My purpose here, just as with any article that we may write, is to do one thing:  share our experience with you.

I have long been a fan of Nikon cameras, and therefore must confess a certain long ago determined bias that began way back in my college days.

Furthermore, you should also know that Nikon USA sent me this camera to use for a month in hopes that I would have nice things to say to our baby boomer audience about its performance.

Having said all that, here is a video that we produced for AARP that we shot entirely with the Nikon D7000.  In this feature you will find stills, B-roll, and a short stand-up (actually sit-down) with Carol.

Thoughts about the Nikon D7000′s Video Capabilities

• Professional videographers still have a few beefs about today’s DSLR video technology, but as you can see, the Nikon D7000 is capable of producing stunning HD video.  You should see how this video pops in full 1080p on my iMac.
• For the vast majority of baby boomer travelers, the on-board microphone will do a wonderful job capturing sound.  However, for those desiring professional quality sound, there are a whole host of options available.  For this shoot, we used our wireless lavaliers to reduce ambient noise.
• One of the most immediately noticeable differences between professional and consumer video is the up-and-down movement caused by hand movement.  This is a new consideration for still photography shooters.  You will definitely want to use a tripod to capture the best video.  I shot this video of Carol using my tripod, and the rest of the video was shot using my monopod.  Today’s monopods fold up very small and will easily fit into your day bag.
• I can’t tell you how many times I have said to Carol, “I wish I had my video camera with me”.  When shooting with a Nikon D7000, I would always have my video camera with me.  SaaWeet!

Here’s the bottom line, the Nikon D7000 is an amazing prosumer DSLR.  I am currently shooting with a Nikon D80 and the D7000 has completely blown away my D80 in a number of situations.  First of all, it shoots amazing HD video.  Let me say that again.  A DSLR that shoots amazing HD video.  Yabba Dabba Doo!

Secondly, the D7000′s upgrades for low light, focus features, and much more makes it an excellent piece of equipment for the baby boomer traveler.  I will be talking about this camera’s still photography features in a few other posts, but there isn’t much that this camera can’t do.

For the amateur baby boomer photographer, this is one sweet little baby!

For just under $1,200 (body only), it is simply amazing what this DSLR can do, and the photographs and video that you come home with will blow your mind.

It is with great sadness that I must box up my test version of the Nikon D7000.  WAH!  You can rest assured that one will be in my camera bag very, very soon.

PS Stay tuned for a number of articles about using the D7000 for still photography.  I can’t wait to share with you some of the photographs we shot in Alaska using this camera.

PPS The D5100 is Nikon’s newest DSLR and is aimed at those photographers who desire to step up from their current point-and-shoot cameras.  With a price point under $900 (body only), this camera is selling like hotcakes and very, very hard to find.  When I can get my hands on one, I will share our experience with you.

It seems that the creators of The Go Caddy may have touched upon a pretty cool solution.

Look at the Go Caddy’s features:

• Holds a variety of bottle sizes up to 1.5 liter, of your favorite beverage. (Bottle not included). Size: 4” dia. x 10” tall.   BONUS! A water bottle cooler sleeve is included!
• Comfortable 1″ x 54″ adjustable strap. This extra long strap allows you to wear it over your shoulder or sling style. Our unisex Caddy makes it perfect for the whole family!
• Pleated deep front pocket with flapped Velcro closure easily fits a cruise ship pass (if you are on one), charge card, money, license/identification, etc. NOW with an additional hideaway interior pocket lets you store any valuable you may bring along. Size: 4 1/2” wide x 7” tall.
• Elastic back pouch is roomy enough so you can bring your cell phone, camera, a map and glasses. Size: 4 3/4” wide x 7” tall.
• Stylish and durable metal clip to hold keys. There is an additional “D” ring for the little extra you may want to clip on such as an eyeglass or pill case.
• Manufactured in luxurious Microfiber with a rubber backing. Packs flat for traveling.

The folks at Go Caddy sent us a free sample to try out.  Here, you can see Carol wearing her Go Caddy as she checks out home-made jams on Hawaii, the Big Island.

We like the Go Caddy.

While I’m carrying a bag full of camera equipment, Carol is able to carry water, keys (I hate stuff in my pockets), lipstick, cellphone, and other small items necessary to a baby boomer traveler.

Besides all that, it’s only $19.99!

Disclosure:  the cool folks over at Go Caddy sent us a free sample looking for our endorsement.  We liked it, and recommend it.

Our luggage got lost for two days when we made our 25th Wedding Anniversary Caribbean Resort Tour somewhere between St. Thomas and St. John.

Unfortunately for Carol, all of her facial products were in containers larger than 3 fl. oz. and packed away in our checked luggage.  That meant that she didn’t have her special cleansers to wash her face at night, and didn’t have the goods to add that special little touch to her already angelic face in the morning.

Let’s just say that mama was unhappy for two days! 

Furthermore, on another trip, we had witnessed some poor gal having to throw away all of her personal products because they were all larger than 3 fl. oz. and stowed in her carry-on luggage.

TSA rules for carry-on liquids.

But alas, here comes the company 3floz.com to the rescue.  Every single product that they carry is designed to be the best in the market and 3 fl. oz.

How cool is that?

Here is a recent interview that I did with the owners, Kate and Alexi:

Find a need and fill it!  Who, and specifically when/where, came up with this idea?  Middle of the night inspiration?

Alexi: My now business partner, Kate, and I used to work together at Archipelago Botanicals where I was Brand Manager and she was Sales Manager. We’d travel all across the country together for trade shows, meetings etc. and it was comical how I would show up to the airport 45 minutes before the flight with my small duffel to carry on and Kate would get there 2 hours before with (no joke) 2 suitcases to check. I wasn’t willing to risk lost luggage or deal with the hassle of checking a bag and thus I succumbed to using my non-preferred products while travelling, while Kate was not willing to give up her beauty routine even if it meant having to check a bag and get to the airport earlier. We came up with the idea in early 2009 and wrote a business plan by summer. In November the two of us moved from LA to New York to get working and the site officially went live in February 2010.

Most will have an idea, but never act.  Why did you?

Kate: The reason I insisted on checking my suitcases was that I feel my best when I’m using my products. As much as I adore traveling, there are so many things about it that “throw you off your game”. There’s time differences, there’s different water (both pressure and minerals etc.), different beds…why deal with dry skin, brittle hair or anything else because you couldn’t bring your own products with you because of TSA regulations? The plane ride alone can parch your skin, so it’s important to rehydrate in the air as well.

Alexi: Once we started looking into what products our favorite brands sold in 3 fluid ounces or less sizes, it was just obvious that these products needed to be aggregated somewhere so we could do the work for everyone else out there. Our brands won’t be found in the bins at drugstores, and for so long that had been the go-to for people who insisted on carrying on their bag.

How’s it going?

Alexi: There was definitely a void in the market because the response since we’ve launched has been amazing. We just added baby products to our offering so the mom and family travel crowd is loving us. We are very popular with business travelers too (we were actually voted “Best Store for TSA-Friendly Toiletries” by Inc. Magazine in their Business Travel 50!) and I think this is because, to Kate’s point above, you feel more like yourself and more confident when you’re using your own products and that’s really important when you’re traveling for business to attend meetings, meet clients, close deals…whatever it is!

Kate: We’re also really happy with the array of brands that we have and how we’ve grown since our launch in February. While we are consistently adding brands, we’re being sure to stay niche and to offer people’s favorites, but also introduce our customers to brands that we love while we’re travelling or at home.

Kate and Alexi sent us a few of their products to sample which arrived just in time to throw them in our carry-on luggage and zip away on another trip.

We received:

• The Art of Shaving Kit for men.  Awesome products and now my very favorite shaving products.  The first time I used them, I went rushing out to Carol, “Touch my face, it feels as soft as a baby’s bottom”.
  
• Supergoop! Sunscreen.  Three fluid ounces of course.
  
• Yes to Carrots products.  Who knew that a carrot would make a good lip balm.  The only complaint I have is that suddenly bunny rabbits seemed to be following me around.

Hop on over to 3floz.com and try out their extensive line of products, all three ounces or less!

Gogo Inflight Internet

For me, hands down, it is Internet connectivity.

Aboard our recent Delta flight to Orlando, for the AARP Orlando@50+ National Event, I noticed a Wi-Fi decal on the plane as I entered the door. 

Cool, I thought, I can get some work done!

After we climbed to 10,000 feet, the flight attendant made an announcement that we could now use our electronic devices, and that we were also now at an altitude where Gogo Inflight Internet connections were allowed.

I quickly pulled out my MacBook Pro and searched for the Gogo Wi-Fi signal.

As soon as my computer booted up the signal was visible, and in less than 60 seconds, and $12.95 later, I was connected to the Internet.

Nice!

As I entered my e-mail in-box, I noticed an e-mail from Gogo asking me to let them know how my experience was.

Brilliant!

Here’s my answer:

• I love the service.  It was very easy to connect and the speed seemed more than adequate.
• For me, the $12.95 was a no brainer.  I could easily get $12.95 of value out of the next four hours.
• I lost connectivity for about 45 minutes somewhere over New Mexico.  That wasn’t very fun.  What’s with that?  There must be holes in the service in certain parts of the country.
• Reconnection was easy once a new signal was later obtained.
• My biggest bummer was actually delivered from my Delta flight.  You see, we were back in coach for this flight, and when the gentleman in front of me decided to lay his chair back, he immediately greatly impinged on my workspace.  I was now forced to tilt my notebook up to a 45º angle to work.  ACK!

Will I use the service again?

Absolutely!  As long as I feel I can get a return for my $12.95, you will find me gleefully connected to the Internet at 38,000 feet.

Thanks Delta and thanks Gogo Inflight Internet.

I have been using Canon products for my point and shoot camera for quite some years, but they don’t currently offer a reasonable solution for a point and shoot underwater camera.  As I began my research, I quickly learned that most camera manufacturers rely on bulky clear plastic  housings to obtain underwater capability.

This just didn’t seem plausible for a couple of roaming baby boomers.

Happily, I learned about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 and made a purchase from Amazon.

Here are a few of the things that appealed to me about this particular underwater camera solution:

• This baby is waterproof down to 10 feet, and pulls this off without any extra equipment.  You pull it out of the box and jump into the ocean with it.  Cool!
• It’s bright orange.  If I drop it in the ocean, I will be able to see it down below.
• The unit is also shockproof from falls up to 5 feet, and dust-proof.
• At only 5.8 ounces, and 2.5 x 0.9 x 3.9 inches, it is easily transportable.
• It is the world’s first waterproof, shockproof and dust-proof digital camera to also feature AVCHD Lite High Definition (HD) video recording capabilities. Nice!
• It has also received a fair amount of praise for its photographic capabilities that are far too numerous to mention here.

There is currently a newer version of this camera available, but I didn’t see the benefit of spending nearly $100 more for the latest model.

My hope is that this camera will give me spectacular photographs in situations where it isn’t practical to carry around my Nikon D80, and offer me the ability to capture a completely new world of underwater photography.

I will come back and report to you my findings in a future post.

For now, I can’t wait to go jump in the pool with this baby! 

Note:  The Roaming Boomers, LLC is an Amazon affiliate.

I can hear it now.

Why on earth are The Roaming Boomers talking about a desk chair?

Well, two reasons really:

• It is not unusual for me to spend upwards of 12 hours at my desk these days.
• I have a lot of friends who spend a great deal of time at their desks.

Years ago, when we bought my home office desk chair, we never dreamed that I would be spending so much time seated in it.  Therefore, our home decorator was the primary influence of our buying decision.

Warm and cozy she called it.

Nowadays, I rise at 5ish each morning, and other then the time that I spend with Carol doing our water aerobics, you will find me daily sitting at my home office desk working on our various media enterprises.

After a few years, that warm and cozy home office chair started killing me.  It simply wasn’t designed to be plopped in for such extended periods of time.

Determined to save my derriere from further abuse, I set about on a major quest to replace my home office chair.

After a sufficient amount of roaming on the Internet, and talking with friends and colleagues, I settled on the Herman Miller Aeron Chair.

I have been enjoying my new Herman Miller Aeron for a week now. Here are a few of the things I am enjoying:

• Breathable mesh seating.  It gets hot here in Arizona.
• Nearly infinite adjustments to tilt the chair up, down, backward, and even forward.
• Amazingly comfortable even after hours of use.
• The chair is so stylish (for a chair that is) it has it own place in the Museum of Modern Art.

From Herman Miller:

The Aeron chair didn’t end up in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection just because it looks cool. Although it does. Its looks are only the beginning. Aeron accommodates both the sitter and the environment. It adapts naturally to virtually every body, and it’s 94% recyclable. Even if it’s black, it’s green.

So, there you go.  That’s my show and tell for today.

Oh, I nearly forgot.  I hooked up a very special deal with a Herman Miller distributor. In fact, the deal was far better than I could find on the Internet.  Even more cool, they drop shipped the puppy directly from Herman Miller to my front door.  And best of all, no assembly required!

“Why would they offer such a nice deal”, you ask?  Because I promised them I would share my story with you.

Therefore, your buns can profit from my scouring the earth for the world’s best chair at a great price.

If you want a Herman Miller Aeron chair for yourself, drop me a note and I will put you in touch with my source.

Update:  I just received a note from the giver of the good deal, and she said that she would be happy to help any of you who might also be suffering from sore buns.  Please contact Jacqui Montano, Sales Manager, Goodmans Interior Structures, Phoenix, (602) 263-1110.

Note:  I am not receiving any financial gain from any purchase you might make.  I am simply sharing this with you as a friend.  Cool?