Gift Guide: For the Road

Whether travelling to work, school or Bermuda, these portables will please any lucky recipient.

By Lora Kolodny and Kasey Wehrum | 
 

For 'Pod People

The iFM radio and remote control ($49) by Griffin Technology brings FM broadcasts to the iPod. The unit, which looks like a mini iPod Mini, plugs into the iPod's headphone jack to play and, should the occasion call for it, record FM radio. Speak into the unit and record memos, too. Or just use the iFM as a remote control. Nashville-based Griffin Technology, founded by Paul Griffin, makes an array of gadgets and accessories for iPods and Apple computers. The company designs each device in-house and sells them at Target, Best Buy, and other stores. www.griffintechnology.com

Pink Lady

Made of canvas with gingham and pink leather accents, Keri Golf''s Jane bag ($375) will stand out among the competition even if your swing doesn't. Despite its cotton-candy color scheme, the bag is built tough and is both stain and water resistant. Keri Murschell began developing her line of women's golf bags and accessories in 2003, after watching a segment of Oprah about following dreams. She quit her sales job at a technology consulting firm and started her own business. Each of the styles produced by her Haddonfield, N.J.-based company reflect Murschell's personal taste. Many of the golf bags and accessories are covered with pastel fabrics and polka dots or bright stripes. www.kerigolf.com

Rockin' Clock

Skullcandy's Macguyver wristwatch ($300) is an MP3 player with a USB-port connector hidden in its wristband. The watch can play both WMAs and MP3s and store a gigabyte of computer files of any type. It can also record digital voice memos. Skullcandy founder Rick Alden says the ski slopes near the company's Park City, Utah, headquarters inspired his creative team to design an MP3 player that wouldn't fall and break when things got a little rough. www.skullcandy.com

Kiddie Mobile

Parents reluctant to give children full responsibility for a cell phone may like this one from Chicago-based Firefly Mobile ($99). The phones, created by company founder Don Duebler, allow parents to restrict outgoing and incoming calls to certain numbers. The phones come with 30 minutes of talk time. Firefly sells additional prepaid minutes for 25 cents each. www.fireflymobile.com

Authors To Go

About the size of a deck of playing cards, Playaway self-playing audio books (about $35 each) come with headphones and work without any downloading or juggling of multiple CDs. Christopher Celeste, founder of Findaway in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, launched the Playaway line this October. Forty titles, by authors ranging from Jim Collins to David Sedaris, are available now at Borders bookstores in airports. Soon, Celeste plans to make a Playaway series for tourists, with audio guides to various locales. www.playawaydigital.com

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    • Kasey Wehrum

    Staff writer Kasey Wehrum has written for Inc. magazine on subjects ranging from the businesses behind professional bull riding to gadget inventor and father of the infomercial, Ron Popeil. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Worth, Budget Travel, and on MSNBC.com. He lives in New York City.


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