Provisions: Cool stuff for travel and recreation

A guide for what you need to buy, read or consume to enhance your recreation and travel experience

I’ll Fly Away Non-Toxic Bug Repellent

$5.50 (2 ounce); $12.50 (8 ounce)

Those who abhor the prospect of slathering chemicals on their skin to protect themselves from mosquitoes – DEET detractors, let’s call them – might want to check out this nontoxic blend that’s generated a social-media buzz. It smells like eucalyptus, tea tree and citronella and has some aloe vera mixed in to moisten the skin. The makers even recommend you spray the repellent on your hair, promising it won’t ruin your ’do.

Matador Pocket Blanket

$29.99; $19.99 (mini); http://matadorup.com

Shrinking stuff to fit in your pocket is all the rage in outdoor marketing. Now, there’s a pocket blanket that folds into a size of a smartphone. When unfurled, its measurements are 44 inches by 63 inches, big enough for two picnickers. It’s made of water-repellent, puncture-resistant nylon, with weighted corners. Total weight: 88 grams. There’s an even smaller version, too: the mini, which is 28 inches by 44 inches.

“10 Foods You Should Never Eat Overseas”

www.smartertravel.com

1. Local hooch (“Questionable water, storage and alcohol levels”)

2. Unpasteurized dairy

3. Salad (“can contain dangerous microorganisms”)

4. Fish and shellfish

5. Buffet foods (“present a series of logistical food-safety challenges”)

6. Raw eggs

7. Certain fruits (“Avoid fruits that don’t come with a built-in thick peel”)

8. Undercooked meat

9. Bush meat (“monkey, bats and wild game”)

10. Frozen pops (“poor-quality water, fruit without thick peels, and unpasteurized dairy”)

Compiled by Sam McManis/smcmanis@sacbee.com

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Provisions: Cool stuff for travel and recreation."