Just when I thought it was almost winter and time to pack
away the picnic gear, I got the nicest surprise; a box on my front porch,
containing some new goodies to try out from Liquid Solutions.
New gear energizes me, excites me, delights me, and piques
my curiosity. It’s better than a first date and the prom all rolled into one.
At least, what I remember about either of those things…
The first item out of the box was a Sof-flex water bottle.
This was fun. It holds 16 ounces, so it’s only good for short hikes (always my
first thought with any item-how many days can I stay out on the trail with
it? Will it help me survive Armpitageddon?). But it has great urban application- the neoprene sleeve has a hand strap
that holds snugly to my hand, and a tightly closed Velcro pocket to hold a key,
loose change, or a Starbucks card, depending on your priorities.
The neoprene sleeve kept my water cold for the full 45
minutes of my run. My run took 45
minutes because mostly I walked, but that has nothing to do with the bottle. The
bottle is BPA free, dishwasher safe, and the whole thing can be rolled up to
stuff in a pocket. Can’t you see me carrying this around in case I get an urge
to go jogging and need a water bottle?
No? Me neither. I would, however,
carry it in my bag when I teach. It’s
more acceptable than a flask.
The sleeve and bottles are sold separately. A two-pack of
the bottles is $5.99 and the neoprene sleeve is $9.99
Item number two: dinnerware made from bamboo and corn. Cool
eco-friendly idea. This stuff will biodegrade in a compost pile within a year,
according to the company statement. This would make it into my car camping box.
It feels very sturdy and survived my drop test. Knowing the high “oops” factor
my family has, I tested the bowl and cup on the concrete. Dropped 10 times
each, there was no cracking, no splitting, no chipping, only very minor
abrasions on the lips and bottom edges. It definitely passed the toughness
test.
If you host outdoor gatherings, you might really love using
this dinnerware. Downside: you can’t put
it in either the dishwasher or the microwave and the product insert states ‘use
only with cold foods’. I did put a piece of grilled chicken on it with no
damage to the plate, and warm soup (not boiling) in the bowl with no problems. Steam will make the dinnerware delaminate.
That’s a big word for ‘come apart’. You
CANNOT use a steak knife on it. It cuts right into the plate. However, it gets
points for heft, for good looks, and you
get points for using something that’s good for the environment. It’s brand new
and the price is not yet listed on the shopping page.
Item number three out of the box- oh my, can you say
commuter love at first sight?! It’s
called a brewing mug, and I am determined to take a backpacking trip JUST to
take this along and be the coolest hiker out there….
This double-walled mug keeps your tea hot and hands cool.
But it’s not just any mug- it makes your brew with loose leaf tea. I’m sure
this is going to be a part of my daily commute all winter. By the way, what do you call a comedian in a
tearoom? A brew-ha-ha. Sorry. I’m out of pun prevention pills. Back
to brewtal seriousness. Sorry. Again.
Simply put loose tea in the little basket in the top of the
mug, pour in hot water slowly until the basket is half-submerged, screw on the
top and jump into the car. If your mornings are like mine, those three minutes
of brew time is the difference between getting your kid to school on time and
having to make up an excuse to the principal about why she’s late. I usually go
with a sob-story like “I ran over the cat.” The principal asked me once how
many cats we have…
I can see one potential problem- I’ll take the tea basket
out and leave it somewhere. Stuff like that happens after you have children
because your brain cells are what feed the fetuses. Fortunately, the company sells replacement
parts for brain dead-mothers and absent-minded professors (actually
replacements for the mug parts, not people parts). They sell replacements to other people too,
but I know who the main target audience is…
For $17.99, it’s going to make a tea snob out of me, and
will probably find its way into several Christmas stockings this year.
The company website is http://liquid-solutions.com/Index.html
and the shopping site is http://shop.liquid-solutions.com/
