6 Things Our Editors Bought and Loved This Month

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

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From luggage to gadgets, these are the six things that our editors bought, loved, and can’t stop talking about this month.

Eagle Creek Expanse

“After my cheapo carry-on died mid-trip, I decided it was time to invest in a higher-quality bag. I opted for the Eagle Creek Expanse, which is a definite upgrade. It’s lightweight but sturdy, with heavy-duty wheels and a handle that telescopes smoothly. I also like that it doesn’t have too many unnecessary bells and whistles—just a few handy compartments, plus grab handles on all sides. I hope it lasts me many years to come.” —Sarah Schlichter, Senior Editor

Hydro Flask 12 oz Travel Coffee Mug

“I bought a Hydro Flask coffee mug this month and it’s made my tea consumption go up, which means I’m more hydrated. I see it as a healthy win! The Hydro Flask keeps your coffee or tea hot (or cold if you are an ice coffee person) for up to six hours, ensuring that I’ve always got a cup of hot tea parked at my desk.”—Noemi de la Torre, Photo Operations Lead

Black & Decker Stick Vacuum

“I recently moved to an apartment that’s not compatible with my beloved robot vacuum (too many stairs and high thresholds), so I had to invest in a new vacuum. I got this surprisingly affordable Black & Decker Stick Vacuum that’s made vacuuming almost as easy as a robot doing it for me. At less than three pounds, this lightweight vacuum feels like a toy, but sucks up dirt and hair as well as a bigger vacuum. It can be used as a hand-held vacuum as well, which has made me more inspired to vacuum the small spaces I might otherwise skip.”—Caroline Teel, Senior Editor

Lunya Restore Pocket Legging

“In hopes of elevating my loungewear, I recently bought Lunya’s Restore Pocket Legging. I was most intrigued by the claim that they’re made with a special fabric that increases your blood flow to ‘help you restore, recharge, and regenerate while you sleep.’ It’s a supima cotton blend fabric and boy, does it work. The leggings are super soft and after wearing them to bed for about two weeks, I do have to say they help me to have a deeper sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. The only con is that it’s harder to get out of bed. But when you do, you can keep them on for hanging around the house or grabbing a cup of coffee (I deem them acceptable to wear in public for errand-running or a long flight). Oh and the pockets! Pockets are always a major plus on any clothing item, and these leggings got ‘em.”—Ashley Rossi, Editor, Content & Social Media

Portable Hand Crank Radio and Phone Charger

“Last month I purchased a Portable Hand Crank Radio and Phone Charger–partly to keep in my car for emergencies and partly because it seemed like a neat thing to try out. By cranking the handle, you can receive AM/FM radio frequencies and charge your phone. It’s also equipped with a solar battery and a flashlight feature. It’s like the Swiss Army Knife of emergency equipment. I’ll definitely be taking this on my next camping trip.”—Carol McPherson, Video Editor

Glerups Slippers

“I’m nearly a year into an obsession with Danish slipper brand Glerups. I have two pairs of these wildly comfortable wool slippers: a traditional slip-on with leather sole, and a more rugged, wear-them-at-the-campsite-or-just-in-the-backyard rubber-sole shoe. And in the last two months, I’ve purchased three pairs to give as gifts to friends and family. Each person I’ve gifted a pair to has fallen in love with them as well. Now I’m eyeing the Glerups boot with a darker rubber sole, which can pretty much pass as shoes. Because while I’m not willing to be a person who runs errands in slippers that look like slippers, I’m totally onboard with running errands in slippers that look like shoes.”—Christine Sarkis, Executive Editor

More from SmarterTravel:

Caroline Morse Teel is a Senior Editor at SmarterTravel. Follow her on Instagram @travelwithcaroline.

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