The Eagle Creek Take 2 ORV Trunk caught my attention with its divided construction. With a top half that zips off (hence the name) and a main compartment outfitted with collapsible dividers for separating gear, this roller bag with integrated backpack straps is one of the more versatile pieces of luggage I’ve seen lately.

If you discover your bag is weighing in at the 50+ mark when you check in, no problem. Zip off the top and either check two bags or whip out the backpack straps and lug one half as a second carry-on. I also like the interior divider idea - great for keeping gym clothes or dirties separate from other stuff. Eagle Creek also makes lots of accessories that integrate with the ORV Trunk. I like the Pack-It Mud Box, which fits right into one of the interior compartments and keeps grungy boots, wet suits, pet items or sandy toys separate from the rest.

I’m loving the Patagonia Stellar Black Hole bag for its anything goes shape and in-your-face durability. It’s a serious contender on my “next bag” list - which, I assure you, is quite exclusive. Yeah, the potato sack shape may not be all that sexy, but it will lug your gear with the determination of a Russian peasant woman circa 1916. Made of non-toxic PVC, this bad boy has rounded corners and welded seams - which means less wear and tear on common stress points. In fact, Patagonia claims the construction makes it three times stronger than luggage with regular sewn seams. Webbed handles give you a choice of carrying options, so you can turn this baby into a makeshift backpack in a heart beat. While it won’t protect fragile items like a hard sided suitcase, it does look like it could double as a nice oversized pillow when you find yourself stranded in the terminal.

When I saw the Everglide Bike, a finalist in the 2007 Australian Design Award competition, it immediately snagged my traveler’s eye. The student who designed this fold-up bike describes it as, “an integrated solution for short distance travel and personal effects management.” But once you cut through the academic dork speak, you’ve got one seriously cool cycle that could - if it ever makes it from concept to reality - change the way travelers get around the urban destinations they visit. Not only is this clever invention completely collapsible and, therefore, easily transportable via airplane, but it also features a roomy backpack for stowing the rider’s gear or the bike itself. But wait, wait, there’s more. The bike has a built-in charging strip for iPods, cell phones and other handheld devices and allows users who don’t want to carry the collapsed version on their backs to wheel it around like a piece of rolling luggage. Let’s hope this one makes it to market.

AT&T has launched an effort to warn iPhone users of the high charges they may accrue when traveling abroad. Sure, the phone automatically works outside the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap. In fact, as AT&T makes clear in a letter I received yesterday, simply opening an email with a 5 megapixel image in it while you’re traveling internationally could easily cost you $40. And with the dollar being what it is (i.e. lame), American travelers abroad need all the help they can get. Am I right?

If you travel abroad frequently, then it makes sense to pay for one of AT&T’s Data Global Plans ($24.99 or $59.99 per month). But if you’re only getting outside a few times a year, it’s probably more sensible to just curb your phone use while you’re away. In the PDF doc below (it’s a large file and may take a second to load), AT&T outlines steps travelers should take to prevent astronomical charges. For example:

- Turn off data roaming function (and you need to have the latest iTunes software on your computer to do this, apparently)

- Turn off auto-checking for emails

To learn more, check the doc below:

iPhone International Calling Charges

While we humans groan at the thought of carrying a heavy pack, many dogs can’t wait to be put to work. Over the weekend, my husband and I invited a dog trainer friend over to evaluate our lovable, but somewhat neurotic pitbull mix. We were looking for pointers on helping her to become more relaxed in the many distracting situations that bombard a city dog each day, as well as friendly and confident around other dogs in potentially conflict-inducing places like other peoples’ houses, dog-friendly inns and hotels and the weekend getaway spots we often rent with our friends.

Our trainer’s solution? Well, there were many. But the one that I am most excited about is the doggie backpack. From now on, wherever she goes - on our daily walks, on hikes, on out-of-town weekend adventures - she’ll be dressed up like a canine mountaineer in Mountainsmith’s Dog Trippin’ Dog Backpack. I chose this model because it combines comfort features like padded, adjustable compression straps and a ventilated back (important for preventing hot spots) with its a set of dog travel accessories: two collapsible bowls, a fleece sleeping pad and a leash. I like the idea of her carrying her own supplies whenever we leave home, whether it’s for a 30-minute trek around our neighborhood or on the trip up the coast of Northern California we have planned for later this month.

Today, Gadling pointed us to UK company PHD Mountain Software and its new Design Your Own Sleeping Bag Service, a D.I.Y. approach to securing the perfect sleep sack for your outdoor adventures.

Okay, it’s not D.I.Y. in the strictest sense of the word(s). A computer does the work, but you get the joy and satisfaction of knowing your powerful little brain sat in the captain’s chair (mwuh-ha-ha-hah). You can choose bag length, width, minimum temperature (-58F to 50F), fabric, color, fill weight and comfort features like mummy hoods, collars, cords, draft tubes, etc. Great for gear nerds and outdoorsy travelers with a penchant for extreme activities (like those nutty ice climbers), as well as people who happen to be taller or otherwise larger than average (NBA players, you can finally camp comfortably). Cost depends each bag’s specifications, but expect to drop upwards of $500.

Design Your Own Sleeping Bag

Save a tiny bit of the earth every time you eat on the go with the eco-friendly Gaiam Cooler Tote. Each of these babies features a one of a kind exterior made with vinyl repurposed from old billboards. Interior insulation keeps draaanks cold and soup or coffee warm and toasty. The collapsible shape means this six-can carrier is as good for travel as it is for mother earth. Ahh, just looking at it makes us feel all positive about the world. If only one of my neo-hippie friends was somewhere nearby with a guitar right now. On second thought, maybe I’ll just stick with the tote. Cost: $28

You may not be able to get a hold of an Amazon Kindle, the hotter’n Hades electronic book platform that’s quickly becoming a must-have for frequent travelers who counting reading as their fave travel diversion. The $399 wireless devices are currently sold out on Amazon.com, and customers are placing pre-orders for the next available shipment.

But what you can get a hold of lickety split is a new case designed to protect your Kindle, whether you’re one of the lucky ones who already has one or whether you’re waiting for yours to arrive in the coming weeks. The slim Kindle Slip Case by WaterField Designs comes in an array of colors and features water-resistant material on its exterior, a padded scratch-free liner and impact-resistant plastic to protect the Kindle’s screen. After all, you wouldn’t want your new techie travel toy to get all scratched up like your reading glasses. Nerd. Cost: $27.

We know a good deal on cool travel gear when we see one. Today, I spotted the Burton AUDEX iPod AK Backpack for sale at the Snow Shack for $90. The pack retails at $279.95, though I found it for less on several web sites that I checked and available on eBay for $115. Still, Snow Shack is offering the best deal I can find.

Made for skiers and snowboarders with fun features like external pole and shovel storage spots and a panel for holding snowboards horizontally across the back, the Burton AUDEX iPod backpack would be ideal for frequent travelers who like to keep their tunes at the ready. An iPod storage pocket keeps your little white bundle of musical joy safe, while an iPod controller on the shoulder strap lets you, uh, control your music from the, uh, shoulder strap. No surprises there. The strap also has a headphone port. Plus, it just looks cool.

The creative chap who made the Duck and Cover Passport Cover describes this cheeky travel accessory as an, “homage to the asinine assumption that one might actually survive a water landing. Seat cushion as a flotation device? Yeah Ok.”

The padded case is made of sturdy vinyl and includes pockets for your passport, ID and money. Cost: $16.