TrustyPony’s going on break until the new year—woo-hoo! I’m leaving you with my final reminder about the very worthy Passports with Purpose fundraiser, wherein you donate money to a fantastic world cause (Heifer International) in the form of $10 raffle tickets that could win you some crazy-awesome travel prizes—hotel stays, cooking lessons, camera gear, books and much, much more. All prizes were arranged by travel bloggers, and TrustyPony’s offering is this Solio magnesium, a solar charger you can hook to the back of your pack, or stick to your hostel window, or prop outside your tent to soak up the sun’s rays, which it stores to charge your phone, camera, GPS unit or similar electronic. That’s a $170 value for just a $10 raffle ticket, and not many people have signed up for the Solio, so your chances, right now, are very, very good. We’re just a couple hundred dollars short of our $5,000 dollar goal. Help us meet it! (Instructions on entering below.)

Enjoy these last few days of 2008, and check back for the scoop on great new gear in the new year. Happy holidays & travels!

To win:

1. Go to the Passports with Purpose website. Write down the code(s) for the prize(s) you want to win.
2. Head to the First Giving page before midnight on December 29th. (You can also get there directly from the PWP prizes page.) For each $10 donation you make, you’ll be entered into the raffle for the prize of your choice. Remember to enter the prize code in the “comments” field on the form. (The Solio is G02.) Also, don’t hide your email. We need it to tell you if you’ve won.
3. Pat yourself on the back for helping support Heifer International’s goal of ending world hunger.
4. Enjoy the holidays while you patiently wait. Winners chosen on December 30th.

Portable tablets that transform an unassuming glass of water into a great-tasting, electrolyte-laden, carb- and sugar-free drink. Like popular sports “ade”s, but without the toxic colors and sugars. They dissolve quickly, sans fizz, and travel fantastically in their little plastic tube, ready for any vacation hydration situation (extreme heat, illness, mega hike, hangover). I’m a big fan of the Orange Ginger flavor.

Plugs into a car or regular outlet to make wet snowboard or ski boots warm and dry for the next day’s runs.

(Via the NYTimes’ Shedding the Mud-Puddle Look).

To contain—or protect from—wetness in a pretty manner. Good for damp bathing suits, wet bibs, wee toiletries or small electronics. This one’s the smallest version, at just 8″ X 7″. Keep in mind that they’re all handmade, with lots of fabric patterns available.

The stackable, re-arrangeable aluminum pieces come in a little velvet travel pouch so you and yours can easily light up each night, no matter where you are. They double as Shabbat candlesticks, too.

Powered by water, not batteries, making it greener, cheaper and easier to run than your typical travel alarm.

Warm white wine? Puh-leeze. Deflates to pack flat.

Great for kids, yes, but also an eclectic addition to a grown-up seating area, too.

Easy to store. Those pouches at the bottom when it’s in an unfolded state could make this a stand-alone piece for a weekend traveler with mad packing skills. Comes in periwinkle, too.

It’s fundraiser Monday, again! Another reminder about the fan-friggin’-tastic travel prizes you can win for just $10 a ticket, all in support of a good cause. This time, I’m featuring a prize put up by Away.com: A big ol’ Eagle Creek Duffel with collapsible dividers, horseshoe zip-open, fleece-lined camera pocket and interior spill-resistant toiletry pocket. It’s got hideaway backpack straps, too.

Remember the drill?

1. Go to the Passports with Purpose website. Write down the code(s) for the prize(s) you want to win.
2. Then, head to the First Giving page. (You can also get there directly from the PWP prizes page.) For each $10 donation you make, you’ll be entered into the raffle for the prize of your choice. (TrustyPony’s got a fancy Solio solar charger up for grabs.) Remember to enter the prize code in the “comments” field on the form. Also, don’t hide your email. We need it to tell you if you’ve won.
3. Pat yourself on the back for helping support Heifer International’s goal of ending world hunger.
4. Cross your fingers and wait. Winners chosen on December 30th.