Car travel gets an assist from the these new products. The items have been tested by the author and may be available in stores; all phone numbers listed are toll-free.
WAY TO GO: How many times have you tried to figure out mileage on a road map by using your fingers as impromptu rulers in conjunction with the distance scales on the map?
No more. Next trip, take along the Map Mate Pro, a pocket-size, battery-operated, mileage/time calculator.
Open the flip-top cover and key in the map-scale size and the speed you are traveling. Run the tiny wheel at the corner of the device along the map route. As the wheel rotates, the LED display will show the distance. Press the "time" button and the display will show how long the trip will take at your current speed.
The Map Mate Pro runs on one included button battery. It comes with a carry cord and a small compass that attaches to the cord.
Map Mate Pro HU-3021 is $29.95 from TechnoScout; 1-800-704-1210; www.technoscout.com
SCENT-SIBLE CAR: Long drives can result in unpleasant odors inside the car. Drive Fresh, an air freshener that plugs into the cigarette lighter, is an inconspicuous substitute for those fresheners that hang from the rearview mirror.
The lighter activates the scent in a replaceable gel cartridge that slides into the unit. The newest Drive Fresh model has low and high settings, to regulate the amount of scent, and is compatible with the refills of popular home air-freshener plug-ins such as Glade and Renuzit.
The freshener, which comes with one scented cartridge, is available in a variety of colors, including a simulated wood-grain finish.
Drive Fresh is $7.95 from Aries Manufacturing; 1-800-959-2743; www.drivefresh.com
FOR INFLATIONARY TIMES: Sure, you could fix a flat tire the old-fashioned way, if you know how and have the tools. For a quick fix, especially at night, I prefer Fix-A-Flat, a tire-inflator in a can.
Shake the can for about 30 seconds, then screw the plastic nozzle clockwise onto the tire valve with the can upside down. The can's contents, a rubber compound that provides a seal on contact as it inflates the tire with compressed air, will automatically discharge (the rate slows as the tire inflates).
Unscrew the nozzle after the can has discharged. After making sure the tire rim has lifted off the ground, drive a few miles to allow the tire pressure to increase and the sealant to spread evenly. Then get the tire checked by a professional.
For bicycles and motorcycles, use Fix-a-Flat Bikes Only, which comes in a can safe for smaller tires.
Fix-A-Flat comes in several sizes, starting at $2.99 for a 12-ounce can. Bikes Only Fix-A-Flat is $3.79 for a 3-ounce can. Technical information: 1-800-416-1600; www.fixaflat.com
UP, UP AND ASLEEP: During family road trips, my folks often stashed an inflatable mattress in the trunk, to be used as an extra bed for the motel room. But some of those floors and rugs were too dirty to sleep so close to.
Aero, the company that invented the self-inflating AeroBed, has come out with a raised AeroBed that rises about 24 inches.
The electric-powered, integrated pump inflates the bed at the touch of a button in about three minutes, and a release valve deflates the bed in less than one minute. The mattress provides as much support as a quality bed, can be adjusted for firmness and comes with a mattress pad, dust ruffle and carry bag.
Raised AeroBed in twin size lists for $199.95; full, $249.95; queen, $299.95. Information: Aero Products, 1-888-462-4468; www.aerobed.com
WRITE ON: No matter how many pens I stash around the car for jotting down directions or messages via cell phone, I can never seem to find one when I need it. Now, there's always a pen on hand, or more precisely, attached to my key chain.
The Cross Ion is a fat little pen that attaches to the key chain by a quick-clip cap. The pen measures 3-1/2 inches collapsed and opens to 4-1/4 inches.
A translucent window displays the ink level so you know when it's time to get a refill. The pen, in a variety of colors, comes with one black gel-ink cartridge; refill cartridges are available in six colors.
Cross Ion pen is $25; refill, $3.50. Information: 1-800-282-7677; www.cross.com
