Road Test: Reviews of travel safety devices

By Rosemary McClure, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer | Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 6, 2007

Do you worry about bad guys tripping up your trip? Enterprising companies are happy to come to your rescue with safety devices they say will help you travel more confidently. One problem: reliability. Two of the security alarms we ordered online were duds. One screamed constantly from the moment we put its batteries in; the other failed to scream at all. Here's a look at some of the winners.

First look: Here's a product that knows how to multitask. Sharper Image's Travel Companion Alarm Clock & Flashlight is not only both of those things, but it also has a calendar that shows the month and indicates the date — and tells the room temperature to boot. And, last but not least, it has an intruder alert.

Likes and yikes: The "alert" section of the unit separates from the clock/flashlight to hang on a hotel room door. If someone turns the knob, a 110-decibel alarm goes off. The unit is attractive, and the clock has a nicely illuminated flip-up LCD clock. The negative: The combined unit is larger than most travel clocks: 7 1/2 by 3 inches.

The 411: $39.95, from Sharper Image; (800) 344-4444, www.sharperimage.com.

First look: The Xscream attaches to purses, belt loops and backpacks. It sounds an alarm if a thief opens the snap hook in an effort to take off with a possession. The little item is advertised as a personal security device for kids and adults, "so cool kids will want to carry it." We're not sure about that, but it's lightweight and definitely works.

Likes and yikes: The Xscream won't help you in a hotel (unless you place it near your bed and set it off yourself if an intruder enters), but it might scare off a purse or backpack thief. It issues a 120-decibel scream.

The 411: $14.85, from Magellan's; (800) 962-4943, www.magellans.com.

First look: This thing looks like a cross between a typical doorstop and some sort of funky mousetrap. The Door Stop Alarm emits a piercing signal when a door slides against it. By virtue of its standard doorstop shape, it also wedges beneath a door as it opens, preventing entry. It takes two AA batteries. Don't forget to turn it on.

Likes and yikes: This device has a natural redundancy — the alarm and doorstop, a reassuring combo. If the alarm doesn't scare intruders away, the doorstop feature will keep the door from opening further. However, the alarm's trigger is a little touchy, and it took us about 20 minutes to set it properly the first time. A diagram would take a lot of the guesswork out of the process. Also, once you set the Door Stop Alarm in place, no one is getting inside — including paramedics or firefighters.

The 411: $12.85, from Magellan's; (800) 962-4943, www.magellans.com.

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Related topic galleries: Theft, Fires, Crimes

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