Travel Gear: space pen, blow-up sailing dinghy and mozzie repeller

Fisher Space Bullet, Tidal 3.2 Inflatable Dinghy and Thermacell Camp Lantern

Fisher Space Bullet with Stylus
Fisher Space Bullet with Stylus

Fisher Space Bullet with Stylus
The legend has it that whereas America spent millions developing a pen to work in space's low gravity, the Russians merely used a pencil. All I can say is I still get a kick out of my original Fisher Space Bullet, with its pressurised ink cartridge – meaning it can write upside down and even under water. Oh, and I tested that, of course. This is its Space Bullet with a silicon conductive stylus tip to use with your touchscreen tablet or smartphone. $22 from NASA via amazon.com

Tidal 3.2 Inflatable Dinghy
Tidal 3.2 Inflatable Dinghy

Tidal 3.2 Inflatable Dinghy
Tidal claims this the first high-performance inflatable sailing dinghy. A little over 3m (10.5ft) in length, it packs away into a pair of bags – for the hull and the sails – in about 20 minutes. Just throw them in the boot and you're ready to go. Able to take two adults or an adult with two kids, Tiwal's Dinghy adds a water sports option to any driving holiday. Some 50kg, it can put up to 7sq m of sail. Don't forget a pump, unless the kids could puff it up... From €5,500, see tiwal.com

Tidal 3.2 Inflatable Dinghy
Tidal 3.2 Inflatable Dinghy
Thermacell Repellent Camp Lantern
Thermacell Repellent Camp Lantern
Thermacell Repellent Camp Lantern
Thermacell Repellent Camp Lantern

Thermacell Repellent Camp Lantern
The downside of any al fresco dining at night whether camping or renting on the Med is the dastardly mosquito. Thermacell's water-resistant Camp Lantern doesn't just throw out up to 300 lumens of light, it also repels mozzies. The trick is a powerful bug repellent it heats to disperse at the same time, creating a 20sq m safe zone. $60 from thermacell.com

Tom Kelly is on Twitter @tomtomkelly