Toiletry Kits | Practical Travel Gear

High Sierra Pack-n-Go Duffel is a Steal

Your second bag and a toiletry kit—for 20 bucks?

For this travel gear blog we get excited about different things than reviewers focused on the latest $500 suitcases and $300 laptop bags. When we find something that works well and is bargain-priced, we’re all over it. This High Sierra Pack–n-Go Duffel seems too good to be true. It’s a workhorse duffel bag that can qualify as a carry-on, but it folds up into a little pouch. Not just any pouch though: the case is a toiletry kit. How cool is that? To see it in action, check out this video demo.

All parts of this work better than you would expect. The toiletry kit is good on its own, with a loop for hanging, a loop with a clip to hang it from a towel rack or shower bar, plus a zippered pouch and several mesh compartments inside.

Then you pull out the duffle bag and it over-delivers as well. It’s got an adjustable shoulder strap plus hand straps with a Velcro handle fitting—all solidly stitched. Those straps are adjustable too so you can convert this to a backpack in a pinch. The zippers are strong and they move smoothly, plus they’ve got sizable openings at the end for locks. There’s an extra zippered compartment on the side. It’s made from 600-denier “Duralite” nylon that looks like it’ll hold up for the long haul.

The one I’m showing off in the demo video is basic black, but this Pack-n-Go duffel comes in a variety of attractive solid colors and patterns, like the one you see here to the right.

It also comes in larger sizes: 24, 30 and 36 inches, each of them still stuffing down into a flat pouch that’s easy to pack. You will have to check the others if you’re flying, but it could be worth it to fly somewhere with one bag, come back with two, especially if you’re buying nice things. It’s still usually cheaper than shipping, especially internationally.

This 20-inch Pack-n-Go duffel shows an “original price” anywhere between $24 and $60, but you can easily find it online for around $20. The actual retail prices generally work out to a dollar for each inch of length: the 36-inch one goes for $36, for example, which is still a great deal. Check prices at eBags, Luggage Guru, and Amazon.

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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on April 26th, 2012

bags, carry-on bag, duffel bag, High Sierra, luggage, toiletry kits

3 Comments

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.