Posts Tagged packing aids
eBags Packing Cubes Set
Packing for a long trip can be frustrating for a number of reasons. First, if you are traveling to destinations with different climates, it feels like you are double packing. Second, it is hard to keep things organized in your bag so that you can easily reach the things you need at each destination. It often seems that the thing you need most is always at the bottom of the bag and you end up wrinkling or shifting everything else to get to it.
These packing cubes from eBags are the perfect way to keep your luggage contents organized and your clothing neatly pressed and organized. It is also perfect for separating electronic devices and shoes from delicate clothes or for storing a sweater or charging cable that you might need to access in a jiffy on the plane.
Each durable, nylon pouch has a zippered top with mesh covers to keep the contents visible and well-ventilated. There is also a handle on each pouch making them easy to carry individually. A variety of colors are perfect for families who share a bag and want to color code their packing cubes. They are lightweight and add virtually no additional poundage to your suitcase.
The packing cubes keep clothing from wrinkling and moving around in your bag during transit. They are sold in sets with small, medium, and large cases making them great for both smaller, carryon bags or larger suitcases.
If packing for more than one person in the same bag, these cubes also help to separate things without splitting the bag into two sides. This allows for the most efficient use of space in your suitcase. It also serves a dual purpose because they can be used for laundry to keep your dirty clothes separated from clean clothes.
These make a great gift for busy travelers and are available on the eBags website or on Amazon. They run from $20 to $28 for a set of three, depending on size. They are always in my suitcase now making me feel more organized and keeping my clothes looking spiffy no matter how long my trip.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on January 23rd, 2012
Cram it all in with Space Bags
We review lots of lightweight, thin travel clothing products on here that help you pack light. But what do you do if you’re heading somewhere really cold and you want to pack sweaters, scarves, and down jackets? Well, you can cut the bulk down quite a bit by stuffing these things in a Space Bag.
Sure, a lot of “as seen on TV” products are a gimmicky joke, but these Space Bags have been around for quite a while and keep selling because they work.
The concept is simple but brilliant. You stuff your bulky items into a plastic bag, seal it like a Ziploc with a piece at the top, then roll downward to push out the air. Like magic, the air goes out the other end but none is sucked back in after. So what you end up with is a very flattened version of your clothing, minus all the bulk.
I will probably use these for when I head to where I grew up in Virginia for the Christmas holidays, but I tried them out recently for something less pleasant: a move. I was going from a temporary crash pad to a new house and had a lot of things to pack up in suitcases. I put all my sweaters and a few fleece shirts into a few Space Bags and was able to get twice as many things into one suitcase. They were in there a couple days before it was all over and no air got in. I can reuse the bags over again and considering they’re around 10 bucks for two or three of them, a good value. If you go to the ITW Space Bag website, for $20 you can get a whole slew of these bags plus a portable organizer.
These Space Bags come in multiple sizes, just like suitcases, but if you end up with one that’s too large, you can fold it or roll it as you see in the picture here. I was able to fit one of them in an outside flap pocket of a suitcase, with multiple items flattened inside.
Keep in mind though you’ll still have to stay under the airline weight restrictions, so using a really large suitcase crammed full of items in Space Bags is not a good idea. Packing twice as much in the same space only works if you’re not overpacking in terms of weight. See our reviews of lightweight luggage for help with that and it’s a good idea to have a luggage scale to make sure you don’t go over—especially in Europe.
When you’re not traveling, you can use these for winter storage as well: they’re good for compressing comforters, pillows, and other bulky items you’re going to pack away in a closet or attic.
See more at the Space Bag site or see a selection of the bags at Amazon.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on September 14th, 2011
Jet Bag “Wine Diaper” Review
The Jet Bag "wine diaper"
Scoring that prized bottle of wine in France or stocking up in duty free can be a challenge with security rules restricting the carriage of liquids to less than three ounces. What is a top-notch vinophile to do!? The Jet Bag is a convenient and light solution for packing fragile items like bottles of wine in your checked luggage.
The concept is a dual-pronged approach because the bag is designed to protect wine from breaking, but in the rare case that it does, it keeps it from ruining your clothes or other items in your bag. It is composed of a bio-degradable material that has a zip closure and is lined with the same absorbent material found in diapers.
Travelers can easily stash it away into a bag pocket and use it only when needed for items like olive oil, perfume, and liquor. Trips to prestigious vineyards can now be more enjoyable since you can save money by not shipping the wine home and carry it yourself. The reusable bags are perfect for cruise ships that permit you to carry aboard your own drinks and destination weddings where you may want to travel with a special bottle of champagne.
Testing it on a special bottle of wine was a cinch. I still wrapped the JetBag in a plastic laundry bag, but that was not necessary as the “wine diaper” has its own seal. Upon arrival, the bag and its prized contents were in tip-top shape.
Affordably priced, they can be purchased individually or in packs of ten. They make a great holiday or birthday present especially for frequent travelers to wine regions like California, Italy, France, Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, or South Africa.
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Posted by Ramsey in General Gear, Travel Light on July 11th, 2011
Five Things I Always Pack — Mike Barish
Mike Barish is a freelance travel writer and regular contributor to Gadling. He is a universally respected expert in the SkyMall catalog whose work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Budget Travel, World Hum and Intelligent Travel. He was also the host of Chevrolet’s Travel Cruze-arati web series. You can always see what Mike’s up to on his own site and on Twitter. Mike is based in New York City where he lives with his fiancée and their two dogs.
1. Merino Wool Underwear
Between sitting on planes for hours, going on hikes and layering various types of clothing to keep the elements at bay, my special areas can get a tad warm. My absolute favorite items for travel are Icebreaker’s Beast 150 Boxer Briefs with Fly. They’re breathable, don’t absorb odor and are phenomenally comfortable. I’m able to pack fewer pairs of underwear because I can wear these several times before they need to be washed and, if I do wash them on the road, they dry quickly. Speaking of which…
2. Liquid Soap
I refuse to spend time at laundromats while traveling. That just seems like lost time. Instead, I wash clothing in the sink at my hotel or, more often than not, the apartment that I’ve rented. Most of the clothing that I pack dries quickly, so sink washing and hang drying is my best strategy for keeping fresh and not wasting time. Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Soap isn’t too abrasive, can be used on clothing as well as body and, most importantly, is unscented.
3. Extra Batteries
Maybe I’m a jerk, but I always giggle when I hear someone moan, “Oh, crap, my camera battery is dead,” while I’m traveling. Whether you’re on a family vacation or searching for Dr. Livingstone, you know you’re going to be taking plenty of pictures. Don’t let an easily remedied issue keep you from capturing your memories. I shoot with a Canon PowerShot S95 and love my off-brand spare battery that actually lasts longer than Canon’s stock battery.
4. Collapsible Backpack
The quickest way to lose or forget your belongings while traveling is to frequently unpack and repack your bags. That’s why the bag that I use on the plane for my headphones, iPad, passport, etc never goes out with me on day trips. Instead, I bring a second, easy-to-pack backpack with me. My favorite is the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack. It’s a tad pricey, but it’s far more durable than other travel packs out there, has a few easy to access pockets and packs down to a fantastically convenient size.
5. Baby Powder
I’ll end the same way I started, by discussing my crotch. Whether I’m going someplace hot and humid or ice cold, I always bring some baby powder with me. If you’ve ever gotten a heat rash or – and let’s all behave ourselves now – crotch rot, you know how uncomfortable and trip-ruining it is. Rather than overpay for expensive talcum powders that often come in large bottles, I opt for a simple travel-sized bottle of Johnson’s baby powder or a store brand if they have one.
Curious about what other travelers have on their “Five Things” list? The entire series is here.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on July 1st, 2011
Packable Ultra-Sil Sling Bag is Tiny but Strong
We’ve reviewed a good number of Sea to Summit products here because they make a whole lot of practical travel gear and gadgets that won’t bust your budget. Since we also like to bring your attention to travel items that can pack up small, it’s time for their latest Ultra-sil product, the Sling Bag.
Once again, this packs into a tiny little pouch that you can wrap your hands around—that’s a USB thumb drive next to it in that photo. It’s small enough to hook onto a loop on your bag or it can easily stuff into a corner of a backpack. Pull out the insides though—magician’s dramatic flair optional—and you’ve got a useful messenger bag for shopping or sightseeing. Opened up it’ll hold a bunch of fruit or the day’s needs around town: guidebook, camera, journal, and some gadgets even.
The official capacity is 16 liters, and it just may actually be strong enough to hold multiple liters of your favorite beverage, but I wouldn’t recommend testing the limits. The seams are reinforced, but your shoulder is not.
It’s made of strong siliconized Cordura nylon and has a real zipper along the top enclosure so you can close it to keep the snow or rain out. But it weighs all of 2.2 ounces.
The Sea to Summit Ultra-sil Sling Bag is available in Green, Black, Blue, Red, or Yellow. The zipper, strap, and connected pouch are all the same color. The list price is $30 and I’d love to tell you what you can get it for on sale at retail, but it’s new and still hard to find. The only places I can find carrying it online so far are smaller outlets like Summit Hut and Moosejaw. Watch the Sling Bag product page at Sea to Summit for availability updates at other outlets.
See more reviews of Sea to Summit products.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on February 10th, 2011
