» What it is: An easily transported collapsible plastic bowl to accommodate pets when traveling.

» How it works: The bowls, which come in 1- and 3-cup sizes in a variety of colors, collapse down to less than a half-inch. That makes them easy to pack or even store in the glove compartment. We tested the 3-cupper on two large German shepherds. The first time they saw it, they gave it the perfunctory sniff test before slurping away. They reported no problems.

» The good: These save a lot of space (the 1-cup version is small enough to fit into a back pocket or purse). They’re also dishwasher safe and seem pretty durable. As a bonus, they don’t have that strong plastic smell. In fact, there was no smell at all.

» The bad: One 3-cup bowl might not be enough if you travel with multiple dogs. A couple of thirsty dogs can consume three cups of water pretty quickly. Better to get each dog its own bowl.

» Cost: $8.49-$12, but you might find lower prices by searching online

» Available from: petco.com, shoponlinepetstore.com and various other sites

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