Help With Meandering Meals, Portable Potables

When taking sustenance on the go, travelers will find help from several new products. They may be available locally; prices do not include shipping.

Cool tool: The Food Tool, a kind of Swiss Army knife for picnickers, is housed in a light, 6-by-1 1/2-by- 3/4-inch aluminum base and has a sharp knife, can opener, bottle opener, screwdriver, Teflon-coated corkscrew and refillable plastic salt and pepper shakers.

Food Tool (item No. 14000) is about $30. For a nearby store, call Zelco at (800) 431-2486, Internet https://www.zelco.com.

Coal comfort: Barbecue lovers will be glad to find this sturdy portable grill. At about 15 pounds and made of 16-gauge steel, the Porta-Q is not something you are likely to lug along on a hike, but it certainly may rate a spot in the car trunk on the next excursion. Just slide out the 19-by-12-by-3-inch-deep base from its cloth case (optional), attach the legs, adjust the grill level and get cooking. An optional wind guard protects coals and food from gusts.

Porta-Q grill is $29.95; carrying case, $11.95; wind guard, $11.95. For a nearby store, contact the manufacturer, Mark IV Metal Products; tel. (800) 663-4760, Internet https://www.portaq.com.

Canine and able: In a new twist on its pioneering collapsible cloth dog bowls, Ruffwear has introduced a bowl with a fabric cinch top, so the bowl becomes a food-carrying case as well. Fill it with kibble, pull the drawstring and head out. Made of polyester pack cloth with a waterproof nylon liner, the bowl can also hold water.

Collapsible Cinch-Top Dog Bowl is $19.95 for 2 1/2-quart size; $18.50 for one-quart size. For a nearby store, contact Ruffwear; tel. (888) 783-3932, Internet http//www.ruffwear.com.

Waist water: Years ago the innovative camping gear manufacturer Cascade Designs introduced the Platypus, a featherweight plastic water carrier that folds flat when empty. Now the company has created a waist pack, called the Swallowtail, that incorporates a Platypus and extra space for other items. A foam panel inside the insulated zip cargo compartment separates the water holder from other contents. A 40-inch plastic drinking tube makes for quick quenching.

Swallowtail 1 Waist Pack (holds 35 ounces of liquid) is $45.95; Swallowtail 2 (holds 60 ounces and more accessories) is $54.95. Contact Cascade Designs; tel. (800) 531-9531, Internet https://www.cascadedesigns.com.

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