20 Travel-ready packing tips for travelling on short notice
Updated September 12, 2024 Are you ready to grab an attractive travel deal at a moment’s notice? Are you occasionally asked to pack your bags for an unexpected trip with little time to prepare? For these and other scenarios, a partially packed travel bag and other...
31 Cheap travel essentials on dollar-store shelves
Updated August 15, 2024 Shopping for a travel adventure doesn’t have to be a purse-emptying experience. It’s surprising how many items you’ll be able to scratch off your packing list by visiting a dollar store. And if you love travel gear hacks, feed your creative...
Designing the perfect travel purse
Updated August 8, 2024 Have you found a perfect purse for your travels? If so, congratulations! If you've experimented with anti-theft purses that are too heavy or struggled with others that are missing important features, maybe it's time to create your own. Designing...
12 Tested examples of packing cubes and other organizers
Updated August 1, 2024 These 12 tested examples of packing cubes and other organizers bring order, convenience, and efficiency to packed luggage. Squeezing socks, underwear, and charging cords into shoes or nooks and crannies can make great use of tiny pockets of...
The best compression packing cubes ever made
Updated July 29, 2024 When Ashley Dempster mentioned that she was able to fit everything on her packing list for Madagascar only because of compression packing cubes, I was intrigued. After purchasing my own and seeing how effectively they compressed various items, I...
Osprey Daylite Carry-on Wheeled Duffel 40 review of a hybrid travel bag
What’s better: a travel backpack, duffel, or rolling luggage? If you’re on the fence about which one to choose, why not consider a hybrid model: a rolling bag that can quickly convert to a duffel or a backpack when circumstances warrant? My Osprey Daylite Carry-On...
Packing list: 46 days of one bag carry-on travel by nesting
Updated July 14, 2024 Is one-bag travel realistic? It is for one-bag carry-on travel by nesting, a favourite among one-baggers. It allows them to pack their clothing, shoes, tech gadgets, and essentials in one bag for a long trip. I had the opportunity to test the...
Are you travelling with expired toiletries? 15 tips to avoid doing so
Updated July 12, 2024 Are you travelling with expired toiletries? If you’re not monitoring the expiry dates of the cosmetics, toiletries, and other beauty products in your travel bag, you could be. Risks of using expired toiletries and cosmetics Which products have...
How to use the pack-by-numbers system to pack light
If you’d like to find ways to limit the amount of clothing you pack, have you come across the pack-by-numbers system? It’s a strategy adopted by many travellers committed to one-bag or carry-on travel. What is the pack-by-numbers system? The pack-by-numbers system is...
Emergency preparedness toolkit for travel: 25 proven ideas
Updated April 10, 2024 Setbacks happen, even to the most seasoned among us. It's part of the travel experience. Having an emergency preparedness toolkit can go a long way to lessening the impact when adversity strikes. What’s your state of readiness for dealing with...
Osprey warranty review: I’m now a customer for life
Updated April 6, 2024 When I was thinking about buying an Osprey Farpoint 40, I wondered if the company’s highly touted warranty was any good. The warranty wasn’t the key reason I chose the Farpoint 40, but it was an important factor. Little did I know at the time...
33 features of a perfect carry-on bag: buying guidelines
Updated March 16, 2024 If you've experienced the benefits of carry-on travel, you'll appreciate the importance of choosing the right luggage. Making a list of the features of a perfect carry-on bag is a helpful step before making a purchasing decision. Learn from my...
50 Sustainable travel products to help you reduce waste
Updated March 4, 2024 Several reports in 2021 indicated that the pandemic has influenced people to travel more sustainably in the future. This includes packing sustainable travel products in our luggage, being mindful of what’s used and discarded along the way, and...
How to travel with just one carry-on bag using nesting
Updated February 7, 2024 One-bag travel means less stuff to manage and keep secure. It translates into being more mobile on travel days. But is one-bag travel realistic? In this post, I'll describe how to travel with just one carry-on bag using the nested style of...
How to use a bungee luggage strap with a rolling suitcase
As soon as I attached the GuanjunX bungee luggage strap to the retractable handle of my rolling bag, I knew I had found my new favourite travel aid. The GuanjunX bungee had my second bag securely attached to my wheeled luggage within seconds. I was in carry-on travel...
9 Tested reasons to carry laminated copies of your passport
Updated February 4, 2024 In my travels, there have been many occasions when I've been asked for my passport and a copy was all that was needed. As a result, I've learned that to carry laminated copies of your passport is a wise choice. It keeps a passport secure until...
Allbirds Merino Wool Runners Review of a Travel Favourite
One of the tenets of the packing light traveller is to limit the number of shoes taken on a trip. Therefore, versatility and comfort are crucial along with being as lightweight as circumstances permit. For closed-toe walking shoes, Allbirds has created a favourite...
A Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case Review for Travellers
Is the just another gimmicky travel product? Is the cost warranted? Is a zip-top bag just as practical for a fraction of the...
Top 20 tips on how to pack light
Updated December 23, 2023 For most of us, learning how to pack light, or lighter, is an evolutionary process. Getting it right takes experimentation, practice, and refinement. To help you on your journey, here are my top 20 tips on how to pack light. Top 20 tips...
A MacGyver kit for travel: 20 simple ideas
Updated December 18, 2023 If you could foil pickpockets, fashion makeshift packing aids, or repair travel gear with a few items weighing next to nothing, would you be tempted to add them to your packing list? If so, maybe you need a MacGyver kit for travel. Why...
90 Inexpensive, packable carry-on traveller gifts in 2024
Updated November 27, 2023 Perhaps a loved one or friend is planning a major trip. Or it’s on the eve of their adventure and you’d like to give them a small gift. Maybe you’re the one embarking on a journey, and you’d like to treat yourself. Whatever your reason for...
10 Essentials of packing for a travel medical emergency
Updated November 25, 2023 Stuff happens. These 10 essentials of packing for a travel medical emergency will prepare you for when it does. Stuff happens Here's a summary of my last 'stuff-happens' story. It had drizzled on and off during the four hours spent...
A detailed description of long flight carry-on essentials
What are your long flight carry-on essentials? With your checked bag in the cargo hold or your ‘standard’ carry-on bag in the overhead locker, what do you pack in your personal item, the one that fits under the seat in front of you. Or perhaps you wear some of your...
8 Proven tips on luggage tags, trackers and other tools
Updated October 29, 2023 It's not uncommon for another passenger to take the wrong bag from a luggage carousel or overhead locker. Or, for your checked or gate-checked carry-on bag to not arrive with you at your destination. The inconvenience associated with these...
7 Practical reasons to shrink-wrap luggage and 7 useful tips
Updated October 25, 2023 When flying home from Istanbul, one of my travelling companions decided to shrink-wrap her newly purchased bag. It was her standard carry on, weighing in at a few kilograms heavier than Turkish Airlines’ carry-on limit of 8 kilograms. Given...
Laundry packing list and laundry tips while travelling
Updated October 23, 2023 One of the strategies, and challenges, of packing light is to manage if, how, and when to do laundry. The clothes you aren’t wearing are the clothes you need to schlep around from place to place. An essential key to packing light is to pack...
18 Tips on organizing a 3-1-1 bag for toiletries and cosmetics
Updated August 5, 2023 Restrictions on liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes are an ally of the packing light traveller. Toiletries can be space and weight guzzlers, so it could be helpful to look upon the restrictions as additional motivation to pack light....
22 Best personal carry-on bags according to travel bloggers
Updated August 2, 2023 Most carry-on travellers have two bags. Their personal item is stashed under the seat in front while their standard carry-on bag is stowed in the overhead locker. For insights on the best personal carry-on bags, I reached out to travel...
14 Packing tips for travelling with glasses and sunglasses
Updated August 2, 2022 If glasses are an essential part of your everyday life, they will be just as necessary, if not more so, while travelling. If you're relying on eyewear to read signs or a menu, find your way in an unfamiliar environment, protect your eyes from...
15 Easy ideas on how to pack small things in your travel bags
Inexpensive pouches and other lightweight packing organizers offer simple solutions to how to pack small things in your travel bags. They'll keep small things organized, secure, accessible, and protected from damage. I’m talking about stuff like charging cords, lip...
10 Useful reasons to travel with dry bags
Updated May 5, 2023 A lightweight dry bag is a useful multipurpose item worth its weight in gold if you need to keep something dry. But what are the other reasons to travel with dry bags? What is a dry bag? Dry bags are designed to keep gear organized, protected, and...
Functional lightweight shoe bags for packing light travel
Many travellers use shower caps and plastic bags as shoe covers for packing shoes. For a more sustainable option, chose reusable lightweight shoe bags that deserve a permanent place on your packing list. Features to look for in lightweight shoe bags Choose fabric...
40 Proven ideas on multipurpose travel gear
Updated January 24, 2023 If it’s destined for your bag, it needs to earn its keep. Multipurpose travel gear allows you to pack less, and lighter. Gleaning as many uses as possible from each packed item means that other things can be left at home. Ideas on multipurpose...
14 Best standard carry-on bags according to travel bloggers
Updated July 19, 2022 What are the best standard carry-on bags in the 35- to 50-litre range? A standard carry-on bag usually rests in an overhead locker during a flight. It's different from a smaller 'personal item' that is typically stashed under the seat in front...
6 Disadvantages of the buy-it-there approach to packing light
Updated April 4, 2022 I’m not a promoter of ‘buy it there’ as a packing light strategy. There may be occasions when buying things at a destination makes sense, but for the most part, I find it’s a strategy with several flaws. Read on for my take on the...
Effectively tame dangling straps with Web Dominator
Updated January 23, 2022 If you've ever used a backpack, you've likely wondered how to manage all that excess webbing hanging from the pack. If so, wonder no more. Tame dangling straps with Web Dominator. What is a Web Dominator The [easyazon_link keywords="Web...
15 Reasons to pack light and enjoy carry-on travel
Updated April 7, 2021 Do you marvel at those who seem to effortlessly glide through their travels with just carry-on? Do you aspire to pack light (or lighter) but don’t know how to go about it? Getting in touch with the many reasons to pack light is a start. Some...
Pack light with bar shampoo
Choosing the right toiletries is a pivotal piece of packing light. If you’ve struggled with the challenges of carrying liquid shampoo, perhaps it’s time to pack light with bar shampoo. Advantages of a solid shampoo bar Compared to liquid shampoo, a shampoo bar...
Is a sling bag a good travel bag?
Is a sling bag a good travel bag? If you’re struggling to find the perfect combination of day bag and in-flight personal bag, a sling bag could be a good fit. I figured it was worth investigating, and here are the results. What’s a sling bag? It’s a one-strap...
Essential packing tips from Nomadic Matt
I recently had the good fortune to tap into the vast experience of one of the world’s foremost experts on budget and solo travel. Over the past two decades, Nomadic Matt has backpacked his way through over100 countries and territories with a carry-on travel bag. He...
A detailed packing list for a safari in Southern Africa
Everything I’d read pointed to a challenging experience pulling together a packing list for a safari in Southern Africa. Avoid black or dark blue clothing so insects won’t mistake you for a tasty buffalo? Skip rolling luggage in favour of a travel backpack? Treat...
A comprehensive packing list for Madagascar
Ashley Dempster is passionate about packing. So much so, if it’s a choice between what she looks forward to more – packing or the actual trip, packing has the edge. Preparing a packing list for Madagascar, and the packing experience itself, were both approached...
Packing list for New York City
I admit it. I’m a packing list junkie. I never tire of devouring other travellers’ lists for insights and ideas. The destination or length of the trip doesn’t matter, as I seem to learn something from each and every one. If you can relate, here’s one more. It’s an...
A detailed packing list for South America
Preparing a packing list for South America came on the heels of a seed planted in Dar as Salaam, Tanzania. A Consular Officer at the time, Dominique Lombard came in contact with many travellers on the adventure of their lives, and realized that doing something similar...
