PACKING LIGHT: THE NEW REALITY

There was a time when traveling meant large, heavy cases that were designed to be handled by others and weight didn’t matter. Airline weight restrictions were an afterthought at best and luggage scales were an unnecessary item. Sadly those days are gone and now there is a new reality of ever shrinking weight restrictions and fees stacked on fees. For most airlines the standard weight allowance is 50 pounds, but for some airlines like Spirit airlines anything over 40 can lead to extra fees (some international airlines can be even pickier).  Fortunately, luggage manufacturers have come to the rescue with lighter bags. It is almost impossible to find 25’’ suitcases over 11 pounds or 28-29’’ suitcases over 12 pounds.

However the best way to pack light is to lighten your load. Traveling has become more casual so the need for formal clothes or multiple outfits a day has waned. Below are several tips to make your trip light and easy.

1. MULTI-USE ITEMS

Instead of taking multiple sweaters a zippered hoodie sweatshirt can save space and you can even wear that hoodie on the plane. Shoes are also bulky and add a significant weight, so consider shoes that work with multiple outfits. Also, if you do have to re-wear an item that got dirty emergency wash kits can be a lifesaver.

2. THE RIGHT SIZE BAG

Virtually all luggage manufacturers make a large suitcase (28’’+) that is much lighter than they used to be. However, this doesn’t mean that this should be the case for you. These bags when full can be easily overweight. Medium bags (25-26”) are a better idea.

3. BE ORGANIZED

Avoid packing at the last minute. Make a list of what you think you will need for your trip and go back a day or two later and revise the list. Do a practice pack and think “do you really need all that?” Chances are there is something you can eliminate. Packing cubes are also a great help because they can keep all like items together.

4. GO TRAVEL SIZED

Travel isn’t the time for your huge “Costco” sized bottle of shampoo. Buying the smaller sized toiletries or buying travel bottle kits for your normal toiletries can save both weight and space.

5. SOUVENIRS

Most items you see during your travel can be purchased online at home for a cheaper price and then you don’t have to worry about needing space in your bag. So go ahead and order that item online and have it sent to your house waiting for you when you get home. Don’t worry I won’t tell.

One final tip is to take a collapsible duffel or a zippered tote that can both be used for day trips and if you have extra items to take home. Hopefully packing light will help make your trip as stress-free as possible. Happy travels.

 

10 Items that Help You Travel Stress Free

Do you want to have a great travel experience and one that is stress free from start to finish? The following are 10 essential items that you should carry on your next trip:

1 – An anti-theft cross body bag or backpack is an essential travel item. Anti-theft bags are made with slash proof materials and RFID protected credit card pockets to keep your valuables safe and secure while you travel.

2 – A handbag organizer with several compartments for organizing credit cards, cosmetics, toiletries and other small items you want to carry along .

3 – Bringing your iPad or eReader? You’ll want to buy a padded iPad case to keep your device safe and protected. Your electronics are a big investment so it pays to invest in a quality case.

4 – A cosmetic bag or beauty case to organize your toiletries and makeup essentials; an essential travel accessory for every trip.

5 – A waterproof pouch. Whether is your iPad, eReader or phone, you’ll want to protect your electronics from water, sand or dirt while having fun outdoors.

6 – Bring a jewelry organizer case. This will allow you to separate your jewelry, keep it organized and together, and will prevent your items from getting broken and tangled.

7 – Antibacterial hand sanitizer and wipes. For your own safety, it is better to bring your own antibacterial hand sanitizer and wipes to make sure that you can protect yourself from germs while you travel.

8 – Laundry soap and a stain stick. There are travel size laundry soap packages you can pack in your luggage as well as stain sticks that will come in handy while you travel.

9 – Multi plug adapter. Be prepared to charge your electronic devices anywhere with the appropriate adapter. Make sure you are bringing a “worldwide” or “universal” plug so that you won’t have any problems charging up.

10 – Use packing cubes to organize your clothes and small items. Packing cubes are available in different sizes to accommodate larger clothing items as well as small items like socks and underwear. They save tons of space in your luggage because everything is contained and the cubes can be easily stacked and arranged in your case.

Top 10 Travel Essentials For the Holidays

Holiday travel is coming!  Here are our Top Ten Essentials to have in your luggage when you head out to the airport or on the road.  We cover a wide array of items from RFID blocking accessories to TSA approved laptop bags.  Are you prepared?

• Packing cubes are essential whenever I travel.  They are versatile in organizing/compressing clothes, functioning as a travel kit, consolidating souvenirs, and so many more applications.  They also act as a 2^nd barrier if something spills in your bag, adding just that extra level of protection and peace of mind as well.  Eagle Creek offers packing cubes that are just perfect to fit in luggage and hold your belongings.

 

 

 

 

 

• A speedthru laptop bag/case will make getting through TSA easier.  No fumbling around with your netbook in your carry on or messenger bag, a speedthru laptop makes accessing your electronics so much easier.  And it frees your hands up from holding your laptop while in line; easy in, easy out, easy through, and you can get to your shoes, belt, spare change, etc. a lot easier.

 

 

 

 

• TSA approved travel bottles allow you to bring some of the comforts from home with you, without risk that TSA might toss your amenities.  Travelon makes travel bottles sized to TSA security specifications; these bottles hold your shampoo, body wash, or any other liquids you may need from your home bathroom.

 

 

 

 

•  An expandable lightweight luggage carry-on, such as the Lucas Vortex Lite, is easier to carry than most other bags due to its lighter frame, but it can also save you on checked baggage fees!  4 Wheel Spinner luggage is easier to maneuver than other wheeled luggage, making the entire piece high on mobility, low on overall cost to you.  Carry more, spend less, and an even lower risk of your checked bag getting separated from you!

 

 

 

 

 

•  A luggage scale is another way to combat luggage fees, by addressing any weight limits for your airline.  The Victorinox Digital Luggage Scale is a good option to use when you want to avoid overweight luggage fees.  You can save yourself a few dollars and especially some time by testing your luggage before you leave for the airport, and meeting the necessary guidelines.

 

 

 

 

 

• A great anti-theft bag (especially the anti-theft bags made by Travelon) can be invaluable in this day and age.  Thieves employ more and more sophisticated methods to take your information or possessions, and you have to travel smart to be prepared for such instances.  Gain peace of mind that your personal electronics and items such as wallet and passport are kept safe in a slash-proof, RFID-protected, and securely fastened cross body bag or something similar.

For more information on RFID/Anti-Theft, see Travelon’s video on this anti-theft bag here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGehipX9hF4&feature=share

 

 

•  An RFID wallet is less visible than an anti-theft bag, but no less important to your safety.  It will keep your ID and personal information protected from IR scanners and other devices intended to pick up your info while you are unaware.  Definitely a great purchase if you don’t own one yet.  It would also make a great gift for someone else!

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sometimes an electric wall outlet just is not available while you’re out and about, or you have to recharge while on the move and cannot afford to sit still for 2 hours waiting for your device to charge.  A mobile charger/battery pack is an invaluable item to carry with you, to get your electronic device charged when you might need it the most.  In a pinch, you could reach who you need when you need, and that’s one less worry for you in an emergency! Irv’s Luggage offers a wide variety of tech accessories.

 

 

•   A waterproof bag for your iPad, cell phone, or any other electronics can handle inclement weather, accidents, spills, nature, the oceans, life and adds one more protective layer for devices necessary to you when you travel.  You wouldn’t have to be mindful of what’s in your pockets when caught in a downpour or dropping your phone in the snow, it would all be tucked away and secure in a sealed waterproof container.  There are a lot of preventable accidents that can disable one’s electronics while abroad, be ready for some of them and ultimately save yourself the expense and trouble of a replacement.

 

 

 

 

•  Personal organizers work much like the packing cubes, only a more proportionate size for what you need in it. A jewelry organizer would keep your earrings, necklaces, rings, and other assorted accessories together and matched up in one place without risking losing them in a baggie, dropping them somewhere, or breaking while sitting in your suitcase.  Toiletry kits are a necessity for keeping your bathroom amenities in one place and packed together tightly, rather than have your shaving kit or hand mirror sliding all over the inside of your luggage and at risk to spilling or breakage.  Everything is so much easier to find, keep track of, and travel with peace of mind regardless of how your luggage may shift.

 

 

 

 

These 10 items are our top picks for what to take on vacation.  They’ll make traveling more organized, efficient, smoother, less worrisome, and add to the overall experience for veteran and rookie travelers.  You can worry less about certain details and definitely enjoy and focus on where you are, what you’re doing, and the family you’re spending time with.  While you can’t always predict what will happen on a trip, these accessories will make sure you’re more prepared and organized for whatever may happen.

Anti Theft and RFID Blocking Wallets and More

 

RFID signals and RFID-Blocking wallets are relatively new compared to suitcase locks and spinner wheels, but in the realm of identity protection it is a very important concept to understand.  This video should help.

PacSafe and Travelon both offer a variety of RFID blocking wallets, travel handbags, passport wallets, backpacks, sling bags, and more in a variety of colors and styles, so you can have form as well as function.

 

Theft is a bit less techno savvy than RFID identity theft, but Pacsafe has a number of anti theft countermeasures (in addition to RFID blocking) to keep your personal belongings safe.

 

Luckily, the solutions are pretty simple as well with anti theft accessories.

PacSafe and Travelon offer anti theft bags, travel packs, and tablet cases to deter/hinder theft in a variety of ways.  While you should still be aware of your surroundings, these accessories can make things a little bit easier on you if that proves difficult.

 

 

But beyond the human factor, nature has a way of making a vacation go sideways.  Inclement weather, or in some cases, gravity takes over and your fabulous camera/electronic device goes into the water or something like it.  In such instances a waterproof pouch from Travelon is perfect to keep your devices protected from the elements!

As covered in a previous post, Packing Cubes and Packing Folders help keep your belongings and clothes orderly and clean.  With everything organized, it can also be a lot easier to fit more stuff into less luggage.

Travel Easier, Travel Organized.  But also travel safe and Travel Out Loud!

About Packing Cubes (Athalon, Eagle Creek)

I recently traveled on business to Philadelphia, PA for Irv’s Luggage.  The City of Brotherly Love, the birth place of the nation, all sorts of history just permeating the 5th largest city in the United States (who knew?)  Not known for the biggest population or overwhelming skyline, Philadelphia is however a city of firsts.  Rather appropriate, as this was my first true business trip.

But before I even got on the plane, I had to pack.  I needed to plan for casual, business casual, extra shoes, toiletries, business collateral, and anything else I might pick up along the way.  I needed a plan.

In recent history, I’ve become a big fan of packing cubes.  They fit together nicely in my luggage, keep my personal effects (from clothes to electronics) sorted, and overall just make keeping track of everything so much easier.  I find myself worrying less about if I packed all the socks I brought with me or that all my shirts are together.  I know, because using the packing cubes (in my case I use the Athalon variety pack) helps me eyeball everything instead of having to dig for what I have left.  Irv’s Luggage carries other styles from Travelon and Eagle Creek, so count on a variety of options to choose from, and each one worth it.

The key to the packing cubes (as any seasoned traveler might tell you) is rolling your clothes properly and tightly (refer to the video).  You can fit plenty of shirts and pants as opposed to bundling all your clothes loose and hoping they stay in one place.  Shoes can go inside your bag and a packing cube will make sure nothing gets on your other clothes (and that everything easily slides together.)  A carry on bag or an expandable luggage case all of a sudden has a lot more capacity than you originally thought.  You do it right, you just might save $25 on a checked bag fee.

The best part about having all your belongings organized?  Less time worrying about your stuff and more time spent on taking in the local sights –

 

 

 

Spring Travel – American Tourister Spinner Luggage & Anti-Theft Accessories!

As the weather warms up, the wanderlust is unavoidable.  You feel the need to travel, to go and see something new!

Make sure you’ve made the right choice with American Tourister Luggage.  With a variety of wheeled carry on luggage, spinner luggage,  and luggage sets, American Tourister is sure to have just what you need and Irv’s Luggage carries it.

We now have the American Tourister Colora Collection as well. Thanks to the spinner wheels, this piece is incredibly mobile.  Its vibrant colors assure how easy it is to spot and gives it a sense of of fun, along with plenty of room to pack for your trip.

After you’ve picked your luggage, packing comes next.  There’s the tried and true “rolling” method to save space, but recent experience has taught me the majesty of packing cubes.  Eagle Creek has a wide variety of packing solutions to keep your clothes folded neatly, (especially when it comes to button down dress shirts) your socks and undergarments organized and together, and your shoes covered and separated from the rest of your clothes.  Everything is clean, fits together, and saves you on wasted space which could lead to additional check bag fees.  These packing cubes can also organize your personal electronics and toiletries, an invaluable aspect when you really don’t want to lose anything.

And when you’re not just looking at the luggage, you have to keep in mind your personal effects.  When you travel, make sure you travel safely.  Pacsafe Smart Travel Gear offers a number of solutions to protect your personal effects when traveling, especially during the popular travel seasons, when it’s easy to find yourself a target for theft.  RFID-blocking wallets, and anti-theft bags with slice-proof panels and straps, mesh camera bag protectors, we carry a myriad of options to help you make sure your personal effects remain personal.

When all is said and done, enjoy your vacation to the fullest.  Preparation only goes so far before it begins to diminish the joy of getting away from it all.  Conversely, it does not pay to be reckless and lose common sense and self-awareness when on vacation.  Be safe and be smart, but most of all make as many memories as you can.