Space saving Wondawedge also helps prevent back pain

RV living has its challenges. One is space. If you've followed the RVers old adage that for everything you bring aboard, something must go off, the Wondawedge helps solve a space problem and be a comfort-producing healthy addition as well.

If you relax or read in bed, at the beach, by a stream, or just about anywhere, the inflatable Wondawedge back support wedge will be your preferred companion. But it may also replace some of those pillows that you use in your RV to prop yourself up in bed to read. And since it was designed by a couple of physiotherapists to be a full-sized back support it is both comfortable and helps prevent back pain from poor posture (as when piles of pillows are propped up behind you) as well.

A nice--and useful--feature is the attached mat, so that your body weight (lying on the mat) prevents the wedge from slipping away or sliding out from under you. It is low tech, low maintenance, easily inflated with any hand, foot, or electric pump (not included), and deflates and stows away in a mini plastic bag for easy portability and stowage. For more information and where to buy, check the Wondawedge Web site.

Wondawedge is offering a 20% discount to readers of Great RV Gear and RVtravel.com. Your discount is redeemable at check out in their online store. Use Coupon code RV410>

Learn about Bob Difley's boondocking eBooks at RVbookstore.com

FoldTuk collapsible bakeware perfect for RVers

If you are both an RVer and a boondocker, the new FoldTuk line of cooking products are a good fit into your lifestyle. I liked the FoldTuk baking dish mainly because of the design feature that enables you to collapse the dish to one inch in height, requiring much less space in your cabinets when storing, always a good point in an RV.

But I found out it was a lot more also, each feature being an advantage to RVers and boondockers. For strictly convenience, the FoldTuk can be used in conventional, convection, infrared, and microwave ovens due to its green and petroleum free Ceramber material, which contains no toxic materials.

Ceramber, invented by an Ohio State University alumnus, Duncan Fung, is a ceramic/silicone compound that will not shrink or shatter (100% shattter proof) when moved from hot to cold conditions, allowing FoldTuk bakeware to move directly from freezer to oven. Also, because of the characteristics of its silicone base, food does not stick to the bakeware, meaning less effort and water needed for cleanup. It is also dishwasher safe.

What an advantage it is to be able to prepare a dish at home, snap on the air-tight lid and freeze it in the container you prepared it. When it comes time to cook, it goes directly from freezer to oven (remove the lid first), bake, and serve--in the same dish. If there are leftovers, simply snap the cover on and place back in the reefer or freezer.

For clean-up, most food will simple wipe out of the baking dish with a paper towel, making hand washing easy, or put in the dishwasher. For storing, collapse by pushing down on the top and snap the lid on and store. You can stack five FoldTuk baking dishes in less space than two similar capacity ceramic baking dishes.

You can find out more about FoldTuk on their Web site, where you can also locate a dealer.

Don't be in the dark: New led flash right at hand

If you're like some of us, you find yourself in the dark more often than you like--and usually without the benefit of a flashlight. We've got them stashed everywhere--in the glove box, the "junk drawer" and in the tool box. But none of them ever seem to be in reach when we need it. We've learned to take to flipping open a cell phone and allowing that feeble bit of light to help out.

Finally someone came up with a lightweight, small, but BRIGHT light that works. Mayfair Lane, an Internet retailer, brings forth Light Ups. These tiny (inch and a third by two and half inch) devices come on a clip that will stick to your belt loop, purse, or just in your pocket. No fumbling with a switch, just grab the Light Up and pull it away from the clip. The light divides into two pieces--a small portion staying with the clip--by way of magnetic attraction. Mayfair sent us a "Palm Tree" version of their Light Up and we've been using it for a few weeks.

The business end of the Light Up, as soon as it's parted from the clip, illuminates by way of three strong LED lights. These are bright lights, and they'll shine your path, help you spot the dog after it took off on your midnight walk, or brilliantly illuminate the keyhole on your RV. Once you're done with it, just move the light back into the vicinity of the clip and the strong magnet will "grab" the light, pull it home to its (if you will) docking port, and shut the rig off.

Unlike small, "toss it" flashlights, the Light Up is equipped with replaceable, long-lasting Lithium batteries, so if you get to like your Light Up as much as your tester does, you won't have to part with it. They also come in a wide variety of motifs. From pirate to palm tree, with a 23 other choices in between, you'll probably find a Light Up decorated to your taste. The company says they make a "fashionable key ring" but we're a bit more inclined not to add that extra weight to an already overloaded ignition switch.

Priced at $10 each, you can order them direct from mayfairlane.com.