Gifts for the traveler on the go

There are jillions of presents you could get for the traveler on your holiday gift list. But think about your frequent-flyer friend or partner. If they're on the go, you want to give them something that will fit nicely into the Christmas stocking hung above the fireplace: small, light and easy to carry. Here are some of my top picks:

-- Wireless network card for the laptop. My bleeding-edge über-flyers have all but ditched their laptops in favor of their iPhones or CrackBerry devices. I'm not there yet. And my network card saves me time and money almost every day. No need to search for the coffee shop network, particularly if there's a gaggle of caffeinated teens hogging all the bandwidth. Say goodbye to ripoff airport wireless charges. Farewell to luddite hotel operators who insist on charging extra for a connection. My card is from GCI -- it costs $20 a month. But similar devices are available from ACS, AT&T and every major phone company. Take your pick. Make your cyber-surfer happy!

-- Spot Satellite GPS locator device. These things are about the size of a pack of cigarettes, but they can literally be lifesavers if you're stuck in the wilderness. You can quickly communicate with your contacts to tell them you're OK, or hit the emergency button to summon help. Perfect for excursions into the wilderness--even if it's just a hike in the woods. www.findmespot.com

-- Laser rescue flare. I've packed one of these for a long time. They're puny -- but you can see the laser light for miles. Developed by Alaskans, the Greatland Laser product is waterproof and the red lights last for a long time. The green lights are much more powerful, but the batteries don't last as long. These are very handy if you're in a boat, on a snowmachine or in an airplane. www.greatlandlaser.com

-- Portable headlamp by Petzl. My kids run away when I put this on -- but with its retractable strap and LED lights, this is a handy device, particularly if the light above your airplane seat is busted. Since we live in the dark for half the year, I keep this lamp handy for reading or walking -- at home or on the road. www.petzl.com

-- Check the Magellan's Travel Store website for lots of ideas. These folks, based in Santa Barbara, have all sorts of travel gifts. High-tech clothing, super-light luggage with lots of pockets and all sorts of doodads: luggage tags, electric converters, water purifiers, backpacks, the works. Check the website. I even made a video last month when I stopped by the store.

-- A point-and-shoot camera. The smaller the better. Many of your techno-geek travelers just use their smartphone as a camera. That's fine, but the true cameras are getting better and better. I carry a Sony Cybershot camera -- and I love it. It's not uncommon for me to drown the thing, though. So in our home, there are three or four of these cameras that work about 70 percent of the time. But mine has a big screen and it's super-slim. The smaller these cameras are, the more likely I am to carry it -- and to take pictures. On my list: the TX1, with a three-inch touch screen. Oh, it can shoot HD video, too. Amazing. www.sonystyle.com

-- Bose noise-canceling headphones. Perfect for air travel. These things actively block the engine whine (and lots of other whines!) while you're traveling. Plus, they plug into your iPod for great sound! And yes, you can use them on the portable DVD player, too. They're expensive ($300) -- and there are some other brands out there for about half as much. But I really like the Bose unit. www.bose.com