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PacSafe’s LS450 Backpack Is Ultra-Secure And Pretty Useable Too

by Anil Polat | Sep 24, 2020 | Luggage, Pictures and Video, Security, Travel | 0

Combining storage and security isn’t easy when it comes to something that needs to be as portable as a backpack. The MetroSafe LS450 Anti-Theft Backpack gets closer than most in a very capable backpack with security features – still a divide in usability you’ll have to navigate.

You can watch my full review of the MetroSafe LS450 in the video above or read on.

Bag Basics

Made by PacSafe, a company known for making secure travel gear, the LS450 is on the bigger side of 25 liters. There are three compartments, one main and two smaller organizational pockets on the front. You won’t find a traditional quick grab pocket on this backpack, mainly because of the fortified design. All of the zippers can be latched to the bag to prevent pickpockets, although you’ll have to get used to the few extra moments it takes to get into your bag as well.

Pacsafe Metrosafe LS450 25 Liter Anti Theft Laptop Backpack...

The exterior is made of 210D nylon, with a slash-proof mesh underneath. Still, despite the extra padding, the LS450 remains light at only 840 grams.

Comfort Conversion

In some ways the LS450 is a very comfortable backpack to wear. The straps are soft and padded with a contoured back to keep your back cool. It’s here where some of the security features interfere with pure design. To prevent slash and grabs, PacSafe have hidden the straps of the LS450 in a protective cushion. Those cushions make it so adjusting the straps while you’re wearing the LS450 isn’t really feasible. Also, the material used on the straps is a bit sticky to clothing and may cause pilling.

A thicker band around your neck too isn’t entire comfortable during hot weather – again another security design trade-off. One trade that’s pretty easy to make is the right strap being lockable. Basically allowing you to lock the strap around a chair, table, or other stationary point preventing someone walking off with the bag when you’re distracted.

Security Aside

Overall, the LS450 on its own is a good backpack. It’s large enough to be a capable day pack for school or work commutes. You can find comparable bags for less without the built-in safety features but for travelers who don’t carry a lot of electronics, the MetroSafe LS450 would make for a good everyday carry – especially if you’re looking for the added protection it provides.

WiFox Automatically Gives You Airport WiFi Passwords On Your Phone Upon Arrival

by Anil Polat | Sep 22, 2020 | Air, Security, Tech, Travel | 0

WiFox, the app that contains the airport wifi passwords to over 1,300 airports, has been updated so those passwords now automatically appear on your phone upon arrival. In the biggest update to WiFox since its launch, the app now notifies you of the wifi network name and password when you’re in an airport. And of course, WiFox still works completely offline.

Land And Connect

Imagine all the times you’re on a flight and land for a layover. You’ve probably had the experience of fiddling around trying to find network connections, see which ones might be authentic, figure out what the password might be… only to just make it to your next connection. WiFox Premium will, as soon as you land, give you the best network name and wifi connection password so you’re ready to get online once you’re in the airport. Again, all of this works completely offline, without the need for an Internet connection.

New Upgrades And Rating System

WiFox has also been improved with a new connection rating system. The passwords delivered to your phone are automatically sorted by connection reliability and strength so you’re always connected to the fastest networks.

WiFox Premium users can also see individual network ratings as well as add their own upgraded feedback, in addition to the real-time information verified from other travelers, pilots, and other reliable sources.

This new rating system already improves upon the previous generation. When I developed WiFox I wanted to make sure the passwords were updated in real-time but also were as accurate as possible.

Other WiFox Features

WiFox is now faster than ever and comes with a number of other useful features.

Copy Passwords Directly – You can choose between several networks in an airport to use lounge and other passwords to paste directly into your phone’s settings.
Unlock Time Restrictions – Access points with time limits are also shown but WiFox shows you how to get around time-based restrictions.
Updated In Real-Time – WiFox works completely offline but updates password information and connection information once you’re online.

WiFox And WiFox Premium Available Now For iOS (Android Version Coming Soon)

WiFox is now available available on iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) for the special price of free on the App Store! You can upgrade to WiFox Premium within the app, which unlocks all of the features described above and more. Your feedback is important to me so please send any feedback or feature requests you have for future updates. Ratings on the App Store are also important, so if you’re happy with WiFox, I would appreciate your 5-star ratings!

I’ve appreciated your support for WiFox (and an independent developer like me!) since its launch and look forward to hearing from you when the latest version is in your hands. As always, travel smarter. -Anil P.

Download WiFox, Available on the App Store Here

New Balance Made A Waist Pack For Runners That Actually Carries Your Stuff

by Anil Polat | Sep 17, 2020 | Health and Fitness, Luggage, Pictures and Video, Travel | 0

Finding a waist pack that’s comfortable while running is one thing but most are ultra slim, making it hard to pack in a modern smartphone with anything else. The New Balance Performance Waist Pack… uh, balances both concerns surprisingly well as you can see in the video review above.

New Balance Men's and Women's Performance Waist Pack/Fanny Pack...

For those of you looking for a waist pack that can comfortably hold a wallet, keys, and large smartphone, with pockets to separate them to avoid scratching, take a close look at the Performance Waist Pack.

Best Way To Get A Taxi In Istanbul, Turkey

by Anil Polat | Sep 15, 2020 | Advice, Car, Pictures and Video, Security | 0

Finding a taxi in Istanbul, Turkey, isn’t difficult but just hailing any cab off the street is a risky move if you don’t want to get ripped off. Istanbul taxi drivers don’t have the best reputation and since Uber is virtually non-existent in the city, here’s how to make sure you get where you need to go without overpaying.

Use The Right App For The City

Free for Android and iOS, BiTaksi works similar to ride sharing apps you may be familiar with but is exclusive to registered taxis. You’ll want to set up BiTaksi before arriving in Turkey because the app requires a phone number for verification. (Probably easier to deal with in your home country.) After setup, you can then use BiTaksi to call a cab in Istanbul or Ankara, like you would using Lyft or Uber. You can see you driver’s rating and license plate to make sure you hop in the right car.

Once you call a cab, you’ll be shown a few different route options through BiTaksi, so you can watch to make sure your driver is taking the right route. You can also, through the app, specify the route you want the driver to take. Additionally, BiTaksi let’s you send your ride information to a friend or family, so they can watch your progress and know when you’ve arrived safely at a destination.

You can see the entire setup of BiTaksi in the video above and if you happen to be headed to Serbia, here’s the best way to order a cab in Belgrade.

Jabra’s Elite 45h May Be The Smartest Headphones Under $100

by Anil Polat | Sep 10, 2020 | Pictures and Video, Tech | 0

Jabra’s Elite 45h aren’t the best on the market – there are much more impressive and expensive headphones – but rather than water down premium features, the 45h have come up with their own. At less than $100, Jabra’s 45h are carving out a niche in the mid-tier headphone space for anyone shopping in this price range.

You can watch the full review in the video above or read on.

On The Surface

The Jabra Elite 45h come with a USB charging cable and carry case, neatly fitting inside since the ear cups can be turned 90 degrees. (Though oddly to only one side; when worn the ear cups face away from your body. Still, and improvement over the Jabra Move.) Those ear cups are comfortable, resting on your ears but softened with memory foam. In my use I was able to wear the 45h for about an hour before needing to readjust, though your use may vary if you’re already accustomed to on-ear headphones.

Jabra Elite 45h, Copper Black – On-Ear Wireless Headphones with...

The ear cups provide “passive noise cancellation” which is essentially very good noise isolation (not to be compared to active-noise cancellation). The speakers in the Elite 45h are 40mm, largest in this class and the battery life is a very impressive 50 hours. A quick charge of 15 minutes will give you 10 hours of use; otherwise a full charge requires 90 minutes.

Jabra’s Clever Features

Out of the box, the Elite 45h have slightly above average sound quality, leaning toward being a bit bass heavy. They’re solid for this price but the real magic happens when you run MySound. Buried in Jabra’s Sound+ app, also very feature rich with a manual equalizer and custom sound presets, MySound is takes customization to a new level. Bringing in Jabra’s experience with microphones and hearing aides, MySound runs a series of hearing tests to turn the 45h’s sound to your ears.

It works by entering your gender, age, and then plays a series of tones to your left and right ear. When you hear a tone, you tap the screen. The entire test takes about 2 minutes and once it’s over, the change in what you hear is dramatic. Music sounds louder (it’s not) and richer. You can make out more nuance from what you’re hearing, it’s like having a different pair of headphones.

On Ear At This Price

The Elite 45h aren’t perfect, for example the microphones often produce some mild feedback during phone calls, but they excel in new ways with features not seen thus far on sub-$100 headphones. New to the headphone space Jabra keeps innovating and the Elite 45h are a big step forward.

What It’s Like To Travel Through Istanbul Airport Right Now

by Anil Polat | Sep 3, 2020 | Air, Health and Fitness, Luggage, Pictures and Video, Travel | 0

Traveling is well, weird right now. Sputtering amid a pandemic major international hub Istanbul is open and Turkish Airlines has resumed flights (still no refunds) meaning a larger portion of air traffic is flowing through the world’s largest airport these days. Having recently made such a journey, here’s what you can expect if you’re flying through Istanbul Airport.

Packing

For those of you flying out of Istanbul Airport be aware there are new packing restrictions mainly around carry-on luggage. The weight is restricted to 4 kilograms (8.8lbs) for carry-on luggage; so for those of you who travel with electronics, camera gear, or other heavy equipment, it will have to packed into your checked luggage. Carry-on bags weren’t routinely weighed so you may be able to get away with a heavier backpack but there are no guarantees.

Getting There

For starters, you’ll need to wear a mask during your entire time in the airport. All the airlines operating out of Istanbul Airport recommend arriving 3 hours before international and domestic flights. You’ll notice long lines at check in starting 4 hours before most flights and keep in mind there’s security to get into Istanbul Airport. The domestic terminal was operating at what seemed like normal capacity but there was clearly less activity in international departures.

Passport Control And Security

Going through passport control hasn’t changed due to COVID-19, there was already a plastic barrier between passengers and customs officials. Once past there the security lines enforce (to vary degrees) social distance in the line but take one person through every 10-15 seconds. Tray tables are individually cleaned by staff after each use – nice touch – and overall the process carefully considers sanitary concerns.

In Istanbul Airport

Once you’re past security you’ve got a few options. Since the gates aren’t all full, you can find a quiet place to sit with a bit of searching. Oh, there’s no free wifi but WiFox can help you get online. Every other seat has a sign on it to enforce social distancing and the lounges are open as an alternative. No matter where you sit though, keep your mask on and wear it properly. Staff zip around on Segways to enforce the rules.

Some of the shops and cafes are open, though I wouldn’t hang around them too long as they tend to get crowded.

On The Airplane

Once you’re in the air your flight may be empty or full, depending on sales not enforced distancing. I’ve seen it both ways but in either case you’ll need to wear your mask for the entire flight. Turkish Airlines will supply extras in hygiene kits along with hand sanitizer and wipes.

One thing that is different, is how often the bathrooms are cleaned. Flight attendants were sanitizing the bathrooms and doors, leaving them spotless at least once an hour. Unfortunately, on the flip side, the food was limited to lunch boxes without any beverage service. I’d recommend bringing your own snacks from the airport unless you want to be stuck with stale sandwiches and juice.

Should You Fly Right Now?

Upon arrival, procedures will vary based on the destination. In some ways flying now is more comfortable, with extra sanitation measures reminding you how dirty planes have been in general. Still though given the added hassle, potential for canceled flights, and ever-changing pandemic situation unless you really have to fly somewhere, it’s best to wait for less turbulent times.

About Anil Polat

Hi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More