Or in the air again? Or do you just like to be prepared, like any good Surpie does, for when regular travel returns? This soft-sided, black vinyl bag is a compact 21" x 13" x 6", well within carry-on rules, and easy to toss in the trunk or back seat. Zippered around the outside, it has a 7" long pocket, a zippered side pocket at 15" x 7", and another 13" x 9" pocket. Includes a shoulder strap and carrying handle. Not a roller, but an easy tote at under 3 lbs tare weight. (That means "empty"--we learned it from the side of a truck.)

This 300 Lumen LED light is a mighty mite. Just under 4-1/2" long x 1" dia, you slide the sleeve and the beam zooms from a flood to a don't-stare-into-this focused spot. In black or gun metal anodized aluminum, it's weatherproof and shockproof with a latching button switch and a pocket clip. Depress the button halfway when it's on and it goes into a rapid-flash mode for emergency signaling. Visible for 275 meters. Five hour life with the included 1-"AA" battery and a 110K+ hour bulb life.

It's easier if you start off with genuine name-brand Sharpie® brand Sharpies like these. This set of (5) permanent markers includes (1) each in black, red, blue and green with fine points, plus an alarming neon yellow highlighter with a wedge tip. Pocket clips galore. And the packaging is in Spanish, so you’ll learn words like permanente and colores, but they write just fine in English.

It’s an educational air and water show! The Blow & Blast Bonanza™ from Scientific Explorer® teaches kids ages 12+ about air pressure, air density and buoyancy. They can mix chemicals that will inflate a balloon, make a lung-powered marshmallow shooter and a hover train, and test Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy. Kit includes baking soda, citric acid, (12) PVC pipes, (6) pom poms, (4) paper clips, (3) brass nuts, (2) balloons, (2) pipettes, (2) soda bottles & caps, a clear canister, a measuring spoon and an instruction booklet with (5) activities. Adult supervision is required but come on, you know it’s going to be fun for you, too.

From the Chinese military, this olive drab canvas recon chest rig is made for carrying SKS rounds. We think it’d also be great for fishing lures, balloons (if you’re a balloon artist or a water-balloon tosser), various nails and screws, bolts and washers and probably a hundred other uses. Business part measures 24" wide x 5-3/4" with (6) 4-1/4” deep pockets, (2) at 2” wide and (4) at 1-1/2” wide, all with flaps that close with little plastic clips. Has 4 holders for items in the 7" long range. (Photo shows 7" long tubes inserted) Fits via adjustable crossed shoulder straps and a buckle. We also think it would hold a nice assortment of snacks for hands-free hiking.

Not you—we were talking to your favorite kitchen knife, or the one that used to be your favorite before it got dull, and it said yes, it’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. It’s depressed, and it wants you to buy this Mozzbi tungsten and ceramic 2-stage sharpener. Self-adjusting for anything from paring knives to chef’s choppers, it can be used on any straight knife. A few pulls through the coarse side, and same on the fine side, and you’ll be slicing like d’Artagnan through Cardinal Richelieu's guards. Too soon?

Back by popular demand! Stick the dull, but leaded end of your wooden pencil into the left nostril of this nose and twist clockwise. You will be rewarded with a shiny sharp point on the pencil and a curl of shavings on your desk, lap or floor. Pretty good performance for a life sized, flesh colored piece of hard plastic!! We'll send you (3) in assorted skin tones. If you want to sharpen things up around the office or home, send for this item, and prove you have a nose for great deals!!

This buckish knife from Alpha Outpost is a heavy-duty—and weighty—single-blade pocket knife. Hang it at your side, but you might want to use the built-in belt clip so it doesn’t drag down your jeans. This is a solid piece, understand? Measure 8” long open, 4-3/4” closed with a 3-3/4” locking blade that’s 1” across at its widest. Handle is a wood-and-metal combination, and it’s got a hole to hang keys from.

It’s a two-part five-fer for the BBQ cook or the traveling chef. Measures 10-1/2” long closed, and it opens to 15-1/2”, in heavy-duty steel construction. Snap the pieces apart and one side is a fold-out spatula, the other a fold-out silicone basting brush and long meat fork. Plus, there’s a bottle opener and a corkscrew attached, so you’ll never forget where you put them. One gadget—many large, useful utensils.

Easy to do, and important these days. We’ve been pointing this non-contact infrared thermometers at just about every forehead we see. Reads in one second with a digital display in C or F. Measures body temps of 89.6 to 108.5 F (32.0 to 42.5 C) with a resolution of 0.18 F (0.1 C) and color changing backlit display to warn you when hot is too hot. Normal operating temperature (ambient air) range is 60.8 to 95 F (16.0 to 35.0 C), and the device should be held between 0.4" and 2" inches from those foreheads. Want to fry an egg on your car dash? Switch it over to surface mode to check, well, surface temps. Couldn’t be easier to use, or more important in times like these. Plus, when this is all over, you’ll never have to stick a thermometer under your tongue, or anywhere else, again. Approved by the FDA as soon as you add a pair of "AAA" batteries.

It’s like the Electric Slide, but with no dancing required. Our (6)-port USB hub turns your vehicle into an electric ride, providing device-charging for all passengers, even the ones misbehaving in the back. Plug the matte black gadget into the cigarette lighter port and charge away. Has (2) USB hubs in the plug itself, plus another (4) in a box that measures 4" x 1.5" x 3/4" and easily reaches into the back seat on a nearly 5-foot cord. Ignore the $19.99 price on the box--we’ll give it to you for half that.

And it’ll never smell like leftover pork lo mein again. The fridge, that is. We love this 4” tall penguin in the traditional black and white outfit just for the way it looks. But pull off the black silicone top, and fill the hard plastic bottom with baking soda, and the little bugger will deodorize your ice box for no additional charge.

No, but this chain will fool the eye of passersby and save you beaucoup bucks. Our each is (10) feet of #8 plastic chain with 2" long x 1" wide links. For decorative use, landscape and perimeter marking only. Won't keep out wildlife, but does has a maximum load of 175 lbs, so it won't break when you trip over it. You pick white or black chain.

We’re big fans of USB- and battery-powered gadgets, which is why we love this little dual-powered fan. It’s round, 5" dia, comes with a USB cord, tilts up and down like the lid of a waffle iron (and is the size of a large hamburger when it’s down), and has (2) speeds. If you don’t have a USB port handy, it’ll run on (4) “AA” batteries, which you provide. (We can’t give you everything.) In black or gray, with a blue front grill, and we’ll send you the color we think will go best with what you’re wearing the day it arrives.

Get off the grid and forget the batteries with this nice little dynamo flashlight with wrist strap. Measures a scant 3” x 1-7/8” x 1-1/4” with a folding crank. Has (3) white LEDs with single, triple and flashing modes. One minute of cranking translates to one hour of single-LED light or a half-hour of triple LED brightness. Toss it into the emergency drawer and forget about it. Almost makes buying batteries seem silly.

Rubber ducks are for toddlers' bath time and inner tubes are for amateurs. Real river runners jump on the back of a bald eagle and ride the waves in patriotic style. The bird's determined gaze will help tame the rapids, and the colorful American flag wings will make it easier for the rescue team to find you. On second thought, maybe just use it in your pool. It wouldn't make you any less patriotic. Measures 50" long x 40" wide (which is actually bigger than a real bald eagle) x 32" tall at the bald spot. Paddle not included.

We suggest you take this one. Made as a promotional device, it never got its promo logo and the light only shines for about 30 seconds, we think to highlight the absent logo. But it kept its ability to make your tablet stand up and be seen. The stand measures approx 5" long, and the light measures about 1.5" x 1". Comes with a 3.5" stylus nestled inside to give your finger a break, and a gray velvet pouch to store it in. Runs on (3) AG-13 button cell batteries, included, and you're welcome.

Bugged by no-see-ums? Turn on this rechargeable flashlight and see 'um--along with skeeters and other annoyances--then start waving the built-in bug zapper at your entomological nemeses. The COB LED shines at 1000 lumens with spot, flood or strobe modes, and the 2200 mAH battery charges via a micro USB. Weatherproof in aluminum alloy, it measures 8-1/2" long x 1-1/2" dia, and lasts up to (6) hours on a single charge. And guess what, a great flashlight like this works just as well in the basement or garage in the winter. Let there be light, even when there are no bugs to zap.

We thought of you when we saw this saw. See? Folds into a 2-3/4" long x 5/8" x 5/16" thick orange plastic cover. Inside is a 2" saw (see?) with (24) TPS (teeth per inch) and a second 2" long razor blade. Saw cuts most wood and metal on the pull stroke. Has a small hole so you can hang it on a key chain and always have it when you need it. Manufacturer suggests it as a skinning blade, but we like it for opening boxes with stubborn fabric tape because we don't skin much around here besides our knees.

Whatever “it” is—that’s your business. But there's always something, isn't there? This 9” clamp, in black and orange heavy-duty plastic, opens to approx 4”. Has soft pads that automatically adjust to whatever’s being clamped. The clampee? Curved inner jaws are serrated for getting a grip, which is something we all need to do at times. Having a few reliable clamps like these around the house, garage or workshop is a good start.

It’s cheaper just to buy your own messenger bag. This one is light beige polyester canvas, 10" x 13-1/2" x 3-1/2" with a front flap with a magnetic clasp and side zipper that opens a 10" x 7" outside pocket. Inside is a 7-1/2" x 10" pocket with another the same size on the back. Two 5-1/2” deep open pockets on the inside, plus another zippered 7-1/2" x 12-1/2" pocket on the inside back. And of course it comes with an attached shoulder strap, 70” long and adjustable, with a sliding shoulder pad.

Now put your tongue back in your mouth. These aren’t tongue depressors, they’re wooden craft sticks measuring 6” x 3/4” x 1/16” or 6" x 3/8" x 1/16" with rounded corners. (We stopped selling tongue depressors because we were tired of thinking about all of those unhappy tongues out there.) They come in assorted bright colors or your classic standard wooden look, with (40) per pack.. (Our choice, because that is how we roll.) Craft sticks are nothing but fun.

One of our all-time favorite items, back in neon colors. These surprisingly sturdy fly-swatters have plastic grip-handles, mesh heads and extendability. Measure 10-1/4” long when compressed, but pull the 4-draw handle and they extend to a fly-smacking 28”. Yours will be bright yellow, lime green, fuchsia or orange, but they’re all attractive, and the flies won’t care.

This political globe (i.e. with country boundaries) measures 11” dia, a tad larger than a standard basketball (which is 9.55” dia), and comes on a 7-1/2” base with latitude marked on its bracket. Shipped in two halves--all you have to do it push them together, although you should also feel free to use the halves as stylish bowls.

About 30-40 highly polished stones, all shiny, translucent, or brightly colored, ranging from 3/4" long to 1/8" long. Great for mosaics, jewelry, or aquariums.

Surpies rejoice! This might be our deal of the year. We recently acquired a bonanza of high-quality reading glasses (not cheapie five & dime store readers) in soooo many styles and colors, with magnification ranges of 1.00-1.75 and 2.00-3.00. Some are sunglasses, some have spring hinges, some have a case, and all originally sold for $10 to $30 each. So get this: we’ll send you (5) of them for less than $15. We promise you’ll get (5) different frame styles and at least (2) different magnifications. But remember: the styles vary wildly, from classic to eye-catching. With that in mind, remember: you get what you get, without throwing a fit. Isn’t surplus wonderful!

Just the one, actually, but it’s been sliced in half so the pair is perfectly symmetrical and mighty pretty. Although ammonites have been extinct for 65,000,000 years, we’ve got their approx 1” dia fossils for you. Our each is a book-matched pair of polished ammonites fossils of a single critter halved and polished to a bright symmetrical shininess. The colors vary from light tan to dark brown and we’ll pick because we have impeccable ammonitical color-shade taste. And yes, they’re just screaming to become cuff-links or earrings.

But here’s a nightlight for your driveway or backyard anyway! By iZoom®, and direct from the late-night infomercials, this quad beam solar-powered light has (98) white COB LEDs across its 4-faces and a rechargeable lithium battery inside. It’s motion and light-sensitive, and shines brighter when it senses motion . Measures 3-3/4" x 5" x 1-3/4" and comes with a self-adhesive pad on the back, plus screws and mollies. You supply the darkness. Sells for over $15 at a popular home retailer.

Like sweat pants. These self-adhesive and repositionable classroom aids will make geography and astronomy like two pieces of cake, or at least a box of cookies. You pick: the (2)-piece political/physical map of the United States, 36” wide x 24” tall when up; or the (22)-piece solar system, with pieces ranging from an 11”+ sun down to 1-3/16” stars and planets somewhat to scale. Put ’em up, take ’em down. They’re always there for you, like those old reliable sweat pants.

Super-long Q-type tips are for people who don't want to get too close to their ears. Actually, these are tech swabs with cotton tops and wooden sticks for lab work, so leave your ears out of it. Good for other body parts, though, and for too many craft applications to list. You get (3) packs, for a total of (300) 6-1/4" long fuzzy-topped sticks.

Okay, it isn't the cheapest magnet in the warehouse - but we pulled about 35-40 pounds with this 4-7/8" x 1" x 3/4" ceramic magnet,  and we think it's a bargain. It has a 6" bracket with mounting holes on 5-1/2" centers, plus a 1/2" ID eyehook bolted into the center of it. It's all set to troll the bottom of the lake next time your filing cabinet falls overboard.

Long nose, like Cyrano. Unlike Cyrano, these pliers measure 6" long in nickel-plated steel with mostly serrated jaws and a cutting edge near the pivot, where it ought to be. Handles are dipped in rubber to help prevent electrocution.

Our fashion buyers are just back from the shows in Milan with these brand new, nice quality, 80% poly/20% cotton lab coats. These are Euro-sizes, which generally (and generously) match chest circumference. The 42 has 34-1/2" sleeves, and the 48 has 36". All are about 39" long, which means fingertip length or mid-thigh, depending on how long you are. Think men's small and XL. They're all five-button, with one breast pocket and two large side pockets and have no name or embroidery added. Notched lapels, no vent-just what all the best-dressed technicians are wearing this season.

Start your children on the path to learning the basic concepts of solar tech. This multi-bot STEM education solar kit includes a 1.5V solar cell, a small DC motor and gearbox and a boatload of parts that will let you make (14) different comical and functional land and water solar-powered projects including: TortoiseBOT; SlinkerBOT; FourBOT; SurferBOT; PaddleBOT; WalkR-BOT; Big Wheeler BOT; CarBOT; TumblerBOT; BugBOT; K9BOT; MonsterBOT; CrabbyBOT and, you should pardon the pun, the RowingBOT. No, really--there's a row bot. Projects come in (2) levels of difficulty and include an 81pp graphic manual. You'll need a hobby knife or a pair of side-cutters, and sunlight. Most projects will be approx 5" tall when assembled.

Bigger than a baseball across the top, this is one ginormous jewel. You pick a clear or deep-translucent-blue, 24% lead crystal, cut-glass gem. It’s 3-1/8” dia at the top, tapering to point 2-1/8” deep. Could be mounted in a stunning, but really, really, really big engagement ring.

Work like a watchmaker with this extremely steampunkish clip-on triple loupe. In brass-plated steel, it clips on the temple of a pair of glasses with the three 15/16” dia lenses (2X, 2.5X and 3X) on 1-1/2” long arms that swing in and out and are adjustable via set screws. The spring clip for the glasses opens to 5/16”. Working distance is short like all loupes, but you’ll look extremely cool.

Originally a fire safety escape kit, you'll get a headlamp (which is the meat and potatoes of the kit) with (8) white LEDs on a pivoting bracket with adjustable elastic straps that are nominally approx 8" across and powered by (3) included “AAA” batteries. Also comes with a screw hook, a suction cup child locator, and (10) reflective 2" arrow stickers. But it’s the LED lamp, at our great price, that makes this one so attractive.

Cool kit to introduce the beginner (age 10+) to the fabulous world of electronics. You will learn the basics of putting together circuits through over 50 projects building actual devices like an alarm, a radio, a metal detector and much more. The simple but complete instructions explain voltage, current resistance etc. This kit from Elenco is a giant "breadboard" with wires that can be connected to form the circuits as explained in the instructions…and all without soldering! A fabulous educational item at a fabulous surplus price!! For ages 10+.

Couldn’t tell you, but it’s what soldiers put in this bandolier from the Chinese military. Measures 27” long x approx 5” high with (10) ammunition pockets at 1” x 4-1/2” (think Snickers bar size) with flaps closed by frog-like catches with wooden pegs. Includes adjustable 38” shoulder straps, too.

This 3/8" dia braided orange nylon tow rope is a tad over 13 feet, includes diecast 3/4” ID x 2-7/8” snap hooks at each end, with rubber non-slip grips and is rated for a max load of 1,760 lbs. Which while good for hauling many things, definitely won't budge the weight-class-leading 6,052-lb Rolls Royce Phantom EWB (Extended Wheel Base). Please note: The manufacturer has changed the max-pull weight of this item to 1,760 lbs