We have to couch our review of the AlcoMate Revo portable Breathalyzer with the obvious caveat that we in no way condone irresponsible drinking. That said, a big part of why we travel is the opportunity to cut loose a little bit and maybe ask for that third (or fourth) cocktail we'd normally turn down. In fact, some travel destinations - Napa Valley, Las Vegas, New Orleans - embrace that bacchanalian spirit in their marketing.
But how do you know when you've had too much? What's the best way to figure out when it's time to put the keys in your pocket and call an Uber? Enter the AlcoMate Revo.
Small, compact and lightweight, the AlcoMate won't take up too much room in your pockets. An optional carrying case gives you a padded place to keep the base unit, plus a supply of spare mouthpieces (they swap out to keep things sanitary), but you can get by with just the unit and your personal mouthpiece.
Operationally, it's pretty simple. You stick the mouthpiece in the side, turn it on, and blow. A beep will let you know it's reading, then a nice satisfying click just moments later lets you know you're ready to read your BAC. Anything north of .08, call a cab.
Rigorous, um… testing has now raised the question of whether we can expense a bottle of bourbon, but has yielded satisfactory results that this thing is pretty darn accurate. Readings were skewed shortly after a fresh nip, but otherwise set us straight on how much we were bent.
At a retail of $219.95, the Revo sits towards the top of the pack for AlcoMate's offerings (the Accucell runs $299.95, while the base model AL2500 runs you $59.95) but it's well worth the extra scratch, considering how much getting into a car when you shouldn't would cost you.
Fast and accurate, this is the drinking traveler's must-have accessory.
Scoring: Each category is scored between 1 and 10 for a maximum score of 50. Products scoring 48.0 or above earn the label of Gadget Guy Platinum Pick.
Products detailed above were provided to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Barry Kaufman and have not been influenced in any way.
Have a cool travel gadget we should review? Email me at [email protected].
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
