AAs you recharge via any powered USB port to use hundreds of times over. Note they take five hours to fully charge, but you can always top them off to nab an hour or two of life here and there.

The makers of the sanitizing toothbrush cases have just launched a similar product for your preferred shaving utensil. Prevents skin bumps and irritation by zapping, with UV light, up to 99.9% of your razor’s bacteria between uses. Sleek. Super sanitary.

Switch out the smooth protective back for the hinged one when you travel, so you can prop your iPhone up on your tray table and enjoy wide-screen video viewing. Because having an iPhone is no longer cool enough. You must also house it most effectively.

Yet another handy luggage scale to help you craftily dodge at least one of the airlines’ ever-multiplying fees. Luggage scales help you pack appropriately on the way out and then spread the souvenir weight out accordingly on the way back, making for a nice, streamlined process that doesn’t involve crossing your fingers and/or desperately rifling through your overflowing luggage in front of a line full of impatient fellow travelers. Side note: This one is sold by my favorite new online travel goods store wejetset. Check it out.

A full-sized, stainless steel fork and spoon are hiding in there, alongside your standard pocket knife, file, bottle opener and corkscrew. A budget backpacker essential.

Wakes you up with an explosion sound, which you stop by unplugging the correct colored-wire connection, thus diffusing this “bomb.” (The diffusion code resets randomly after each use.) Clearly not your best choice for carryon.

(via Gear Diary)

Lately, I’ve gotten inquiries about travel sound-therapy systems and so ferreted out this gadget. It caught my eye because it’s small, doubles as a travel alarm, and has 18 lovely sounds to choose from, including thunderstorm, hidden cove, northwoods, night train, and one designed to combat jet lag (listen here). Comes with a travel pouch, too.

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.

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

Yet another way to avoid purchasing the dreaded convenience store plastic water bottle, even when you’re away from home—and your usual filtration system. This brand new unit, made of food-grade silicone, squishes into popular wide-mouth bottles including Nalgene and Camelback, making tap water cleaner and better tasting. Comes with two filters, good for about 100 liters each.

Between now and December 18th, use the code “tapguard” during checkout on Guyot Designs’ site to get 25% off your entire order.