Posts Tagged packing light
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
Wenger Patriot Rolling Laptop Case
Wenger, maker of the genuine Swiss Army knife, has experience in creating products designed with multiple uses and features. Its line of luggage does not fall short, but many travel companies have a fleet of bags for every need. My latest concern has been to find something that provided a happy medium between a full-size rollaboard and a briefcase.
I tried out their Patriot Case and was pleasantly surprised at how I could travel so comfortably with only the shirt on my back (plus one in my bag!), my computer and electronic gear, some toiletries, and a few magazines. Typical rollaboards are too big, and a briefcase is too small. Wenger’s bag is the perfect size.
It rolls with ease and features numerous pouches and compartments to keep things organized. The built-in laptop sleeve is nestled in the heart of the bag providing the ultimate protection and security. A Velcro strap keeps it from shifting and interior pockets for cords and PDAs are in the front section for easy access.
Small zippered pockets in the front hold cards, boarding passes, pens, passports, and keys without the need to fumble through large pouches to reach the smallest items. The second pocket features three dividers for paperwork, magazines, and files.
The largest section of the bag holds light clothing, electronic cords, and toiletries. This compartment makes this bag a hybrid between a briefcase and rollaboard and even fits into regional jet overhead bins when it is not overstuffed.
That is a big plus for me as I hate checking bags (even planeside). The trick is you have to squeeze the wheels into the bin first and make sure thick objects like magazines are removed. I am able to speed off the plane without waiting for a bag without sacrificing some of my travel necessities.
The long extendable handle reaches waist height to prevent even the tallest traveler from having to lean down to pull the bag, another pet peeve of mine. Bag handles should be like golf clubs and reach the appropriate height. The wheels on this bag are large and sturdy; they are better than what you find on most full-size bags.
Wenger’s lifetime guarantee based on reasonable use and durable fabric exterior are hallmarks of this business traveler favorite. Major retailers like Target and Amazon.com sell this bag for less than $100 in addition to Wenger itself. For a pint-size bag that packs a hefty punch, this is the perfect solution.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on March 14th, 2011
5 Things I Always Pack – Sheila Scarborough
Sheila is a three-time expat, wishes her passport had a LOT more stamps and travels light on planes and heavy in her car. She generally refuses to check luggage because she knows how to pack a carry-on, but on family travel road trips the minivan is stuffed (sometimes even with a fold-up futon for her son in case of “We only have King beds” hotel check-in moments. He kicks all doggone night, you know.)
1. Tapestry bags for jewelry
I picked up two Gobelins Art tapestry bags in Belgium because, hey, that plus lace and chocolate is what you buy in Belgium! One is small and zippered and takes a few necklaces, pins and spare watches (a Timex and Swatch that look fancier than they are) and the other is actually a snap-closure coin purse that I use for earrings. It keeps those small, frisky gold studs from wandering off and having parties with the missing socks from my dryer.
2. Folding umbrella
There’s no worse time for needing a decent umbrella than when you’re traveling and it starts pouring down rain. Mine is from the gift shop of Chicago’s Art Institute, and has one of my favorite paintings screened onto it – Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks.
3. Extra quart-sized Ziplock bag
Sigh. Liquids restrictions when flying are such a pain, and I don’t even use much makeup or girly potions. My bag has the logo for a long-time travel agent in Marble Falls, Texas: Susie’s Travel Time. It reminds me of simpler days, when I didn’t feel that I was at war with the airlines.
4. Japanese cotton handkerchief
Now, I’m a Kleenex kinda gal when it comes to nose-blowing, but every woman in Japan (and most men) carry a cotton handkerchief folded up in their purse or pocket, so I got into this habit when I lived there. I use mine for hand-wiping after the bathroom, because those blowing hand dryers suck….well, you know what I mean. Anyway, the handkerchiefs are sold in every color and design imaginable; my two favorites are a red one with a daruma doll pattern and a blue one with one of Hokusai’s famous woodblock prints of Mt. Fuji – the Great Wave off Kanagawa.
5. A boarding pass stub and a wristband
These are personal mementos that live in my toiletries bag. One is a boarding pass for a long-ago flight to Tokyo, for my last temporary duty stint while I was in the Navy. It’s to remind me how lucky I am to travel. The other is a wristband from swimming with dolphins at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii’s Big Island; I was also lucky to do that, but the experience also made me uncomfortable, so I keep the band to remind me that travel makes me think. As it should.
Sheila is a writer and speaker specializing in travel (as one of the Perceptive Travel blog co-authors and for BootsnAll,) the tourism industry and social media on her Sheila’s Guide blog and NHRA drag racing when she can get to the track. She’s the co-founder of Tourism Currents; online training in social media for tourism professionals.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on October 7th, 2010
Sombriolet Sun Hat from Outdoor Research
There are some travel clothing items that are going to brand you as a tourist, like convertible pants and yes, big wide-brimmed sun hats. But you can look cool and have a peeling face a week later or you can look not so cool and be protected.
This Sombriolet Sun Hat from Outdoor Research puts you in the latter camp, but it’s a fine travel hat if you really want to protect your face and neck from the sun. You get UPF 50+ protection from the sun’s rays, so you can pretty much wear this all day long and be fine unless you’re albino. It’s super-light, however, weighing in at only 3.1 ounces (86 grams), plus it stays wrinkle-free when you cram it into your pack between layers of clothing.
You stay cool with this on, however, because the Sombriolet has mesh vents placed around the top that will let some fresh air in—or allow the heat to escape. There’s the requisite dorky string to keep it from blowing off your head when riding a boat or hiking on a windy day, but the string comes with clips that enable you to remove it quickly if you don’t want it hanging around. And if it does fly off your head, the brim floats!
Made of ripstop nylon, I’ve found this travel hat to be somewhat water repellent, it won’t shrink when you wash it, and it dries quickly. It’s going to last for the long haul too: like other Outdoor Research products I’ve tested, it comes with an “infinite guarantee.”
The hat comes in three colors and three sizes and usually sells for around $35. Get the Outdoor Research Sombriolet Sun Hat at RockCreek.com
See other travel hat reviews.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on August 4th, 2010
Traveling Light Small Toiletry Kit from Sea to Summit
I’ve traveled with a lot of different toiletry kits over the years and I’m a big fan of the ones with multiple compartments and the ability to hang from a hook or towel rack. If you’re in cheap hotels, counter space tends to be at a premium—or non-existent. This compact Sea to Summit small toiletry kit is great for times when you only need a few items and packing space is limited.
I’ve now used this toiletries kits on two trips of less than two weeks and for that period of time it’s been fine. It has three mesh flap compartments that are about the width of a good toothbrush. Then at the bottom there are two compartments separated by a flap that can fit bigger items like deodorant and shaving cream. After about a dozen items it starts to get kind of tight, so this is not the right kit for a round-the-world journey (or a woman who uses lots of creams and make-up), but for a short jaunt it’s enough for the basics.
This Sea to Summit version is the lightest kit I’ve ever tried though, so if you’re trying to pack light it would be hard to do better. It’s a mere 2.8 ounces (80 grams), so it’s barely more than a few Ziploc bags. Plus you get a hook to hang it with, well-placed snaps, YKK zippers, and super-strong, water-resistant Cordura fabric on the outside. It comes in three different colors.
If there’s one drawback, it’s the price. At a list of $35, this kit is significantly higher than the price of others holding twice as much. Even from the same company, the one with twice the capacity but only 1.2 ounces more weight is only $5 more in price. When you ball this thing up into your fist, it seems like a lot of money for not much fabric. If you’re packing for a trip where every ounce counts, however, you’d be hard-pressed to find a lighter and more durable place to put your cosmetics.
Sea to Summit is an Australian company, so if you’re searching for this online, put an extra “L” into “traveling.” Or follow these links:
Get the Sea to Summit Travelling Light Hanging Toiletry Bags at RockCreek.com.
Sea To Summit small Toiletry Bag at Backcountry.com
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on July 28th, 2010
