Well, the connection isn’t exactly that obvious, but this summer we partnered with France Athlete Management, a sports agency that represents over 60 NFL athletes on 27 teams in the NFL. Each summer they send all of their clients a gift bag when they go to their respective training camps at the beginning of August. The bags contain a variety of products, and this year they included the tugo!

So we’re sure you’re wondering who the lucky players are that received a tugo in their bag. Well… we can’t tell you! The names are hush-hush, but you just may see your favorite player at an airport near you, enjoying their airport experience with the convenience of a tugo on their bag. They need an extra hand during travel just like the rest of us.

And if you do see your favorite, or even your not-so-favorite player using one, be sure to let us know!

Retail options now include the basic tugo, the tugo + h2otugo, and just the h2otugo if you already have a tugo but want the added convenience of the accessory. Available at: goodtugo.com/retail

See the tugo + h2otugo in action in our new video: goodtugo.com/whats-a-tugo

Now you’re REALLY good tugo.

…but leave it to them to come up with a new selling point we had not thought of: picking up chicks.

Find it on page 40 of the July 2010 issue; now available at newsstands.

A lot has happened in that year, and our blog has included some of the highlights, like in July when the tugo was featured on the Today Show, or in August when KLM Airlines’s iFly magazine included the tugo with such travel necessities as Dom Perignon and Chanel No. 5. Also prominent on our list of highlights were FOXNews.com listing the tugo as one of their “Five Travel Gadgets Worth Giving” and, most recently, a featured product on the Rachael Ray Show.

We look forward to the coming year as we get ready to launch our new accessory, h2Otugo, which will allow you to carry a water bottle, soda can, or potentially anything that fits that you want to have close at hand on your rolling bag while you travel. Stay tuned for more information!

Signing up for our newsletter (click here) is the best way to get the latest updates, including the h2Otugo scoop. We will also include travel tips, deals or specials, and information that we think you will find useful. We plan for a focus on the business traveler, but there will be a little something for everyone included.

Also look for a special deal in April to mark the one-year anniversary of our website!

Photo by Caribb via Flickr

Last year we asked for your “Worst Seatmate” stories, and we heard about fidgeting, fit-throwing, flatulence, and funky breath. In the leftover holiday spirit, now we want to know your best experience while sitting next to a stranger on a plane.

Did someone help you when you needed a hand, or show some generosity when you least expected it? We want to know your best airplane seatmate story! Leave a comment by 5pm PST on Wednesday 2/3/2010, and we will select someone at random to win their very own tugo luggage drink holder!

…and it was! The smell of fresh pulls started shortly before the doors opened each day, and lasted until the final attendees filtered out. The energy was high (perhaps due to the availability of caffeinated samples around each corner?!?) and the days went by quickly.
We each made sure to get a chance to wander the aisles and see what was out there. Following is my list of favorites:

• 

  Vessel's Terra Porcelain Tumbler

  Favorite mocha: Dilettante Chocolates. Conveniently located in the booth next to us at the show, their samples were smooth and chocolately yet not overly sweet. Dreamy! They have a Mocha Cafe location inside security (Central Terminal) in Sea-Tac airport that is open 24/7, as well as several locations around Seattle for you to try if you are in the area.

• Favorite mug: Vessel’s Terra Porcelain Tumbers look like the disposable cups, but much cuter and much better for the environment! Dishwasher safe, and the lid is made of silicone. My personal favorite (I had to throw a few elbows to come home with it!) was the Birds & Leaves style at right. They also have great stainless steel waterbottles.
• Favorite treat: Poco Dolce’s toffee squares are out of this world. That would explain why they quickly sold out. We got several tins to bring back to the family members with a sweet tooth. And we did have to go back for samples several times during the show.
• Favorite mints: Mints were a common offering, as they are a natural (and necessary) follow-up to the coffee, but I liked the Mirror Mints from Little i because the mints are small and powerful. Plus, the tin they come in has a dispenser inside with a mirror to check your teeth after getting your buzz on. Cute!
• Favorite non-coffee beverage: A tie between Pixie’s Lemon Ginger Black Tea Mate and Bellagio Sipping Chocolate from Caffe D’Amore. Both delicious but different, and a nice switch from the widely available coffee.
  

  XPress Lid by SmartCup

• Favorite cup accessories: Stickers to cover your coffee lid’s opening from CruzinCap. So simple, and prevents that common problem of sloshing during transport. Click here for a free cap sampler.
• Favorite new product: French Press XPress Lid by SmartCup, a single-use, single-serve, recyclable lid with a built-in press that fits standard 16 oz. hot cups. Since French Press is the only way to prepare coffee for serious coffee aficionados (or so I hear), this lets them get their fix on the run. Also great for tea lovers; just add hot water to the loose tea, then push the plunger when brewed to your liking.

As it was our first coffee-themed show, we signed up to participate in the “Tinker’s Minute” New Product Showcase held in the lobby before the doors opened on the first day. See the video of Megan and Kelli’s old-timey submission here. We didn’t win, but it was fun. Hey, fake moustaches are always cool!

Q: Does the coffee (or drink) slosh as you pull your bag?

A: There are several ways to minimize any spillage, although there is no way to make it completely spill-proof. We suggest using the same amount of care with the drink that you would use if you were carrying it in your hand.

Aim cup opening toward handle

If you aim the opening in the coffee lid toward the stem of the luggage handle (which is also toward the arrow on the tugo labeled “cup opening”), the forward and back motion of the liquid as you pull will keep the liquid contained in the lid.

Taking a sip or two off the top of the drink before inserting it into the tugo will also help minimize sloshing.

There are several products out there made to keep your drink in the cup. There are “sticks” that plug the oblong opening, and stickers that cover the hole. Both are great to eliminate slosh completely.

Q: Can I use the tugo for my waterbottle? What types and sizes of cups fit in the tugo?

A: Any size of coffee drink (hot or cold) will fit in the tugo, as well as small and medium (up to 20 oz.) fountain drink cups. A reusable mug that is similar in shape to a take-away cup will also usually fit. Most water bottles don’t currently work in the tugo, but the retro-fit mesh bag is on its way from the engineer that will make it possible to use the tugo for water bottles, baby bottles, and anything else (potentially a phone? but not at the same time as a drink!) that you would like to stick in it for quick and easy access during your travel. Join our mailing list to receive notification when the accessory is available or check back frequently.

Q: Can the tugo be used on other things? What about my bike/motorcycle/stroller/shopping cart?

A: The tugo was designed using the specs and measurements to fit between the handles of most rolling luggage. It’s possible it could work in other places; if you have used it in a unique way we want to know! Contact us or send us a picture!

Easy Storage

Q: I don’t think I would remember to use the tugo.

A: My tugo lives in the front pocket of my rolling bag, even when I return from my trip and store my bag. That way it is always there when I need it! Granted, this does not remind me to get the tugo out of the pocket, but I’m afraid we can’t do anything about that. The convenience the tugo adds to my airport downtime is enough of a reminder for me.

We hope this helps you get the most out of your tugo. If you have any other questions or comments, we want to know!

…Or get one to upgrade your own holiday travel experience! We always hope our travels are smooth sailing, but we all know the reality of traveling during the holiday season. With a tugo attached to your bag, any layover or delay will include the extra convenience of a “third hand.” Anything that can make a this stressful situation more jolly will be appreciated by all!

New, new, new! The tugo just came out this spring, so you can be the first to give this new and unique gift to the traveler that has everything. The packaging and weight make the tugo easy and cheap to ship, too.

Available on our website: goodtugo.com or at these retailers.

See  “Why do I love my tugo?” for more reasons the tugo makes a thoughtful gift. Or leave your own comments below.

Ben is a frequent blogger with a great sense of humor and is a contestant in the Ultimate Thailand Explorers Contest, which looks pretty fabulous. Please check it out and support him!

Following are snapshots of the company the tugo keeps. Allow us to walk you through KLM’s selections:

"Travel smart with stylish accessories. iFly Magazine introduces refined, luxurious, and practical Travel Goodies."

"Why is your phone always at the bottom of your travel bag when it rings? The fashion and jewellery designers at Dior have found the solution: A separate mini phone the size of a USB stick that is connected to its larger, diamond studded brother via Bluetooth. The mini phone offers all standard functions and can be easily attached to your hand bag. Recommended price €4000"

"Famed for making luxurious beds, Hästens now also offers the perfect way to fall asleep. The MindSpa is a high-quality MP3 player with an Auditory Visual Stimulation function. With sound impulses and subtle light signals emitted via the sleeping mask, the MindSpa stimulates brain frequencies that bring you into a deep state of relaxation, meditation or sleep. Ideal for travel! Recommended price €799"

"There may be faster ways to get around but there are few more romantic journeys than the Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul. Amélie actress Audrey Tautou took this celebrated train trip to promote the equally illustrious perfume No. 5 by Chanel. Romance is in the air, but will she find back her lover? Recommended price €90 - 7.5ml"

"It is always a treat to finally arrive back home after a long trip. To celebrate your return, open the six-litre methusalem bottle of pink champagne you placed in your fridge before leaving. Experts say that the 1996 vintage is the most delicious bottle of bubbles ever created in the cellars of the Hautvilliers Abbey. Mind you, quality does come at a price: This bubbly will set you back a cool 40,000 euros. Recommended price €40,000"

"Fed up with struggling through a busy airport carrying your bag, jacket, newspaper, and coffee? Let Tugo be of service: Simply attach the smart cup holder to the handle of your suitcase and never spill another drop while boarding. Recommended price €12"

"Take care of your skin when you're taking a long flight. La Prairie can help you with a possible answer. According to the cosmetics company, our skin often has a positive charge that attracts waste products. Cellular Cream Platinum Rare creme contains small platinum particles that recover the electrical balance of your skin. Recommended price 50 ml - €860"

Needless to say, we were tickled pink! So far we’ve only acquired one item on the list; how about you?