Packing can be one of the most stressful aspects of travel. Business or pleasure, we’re checking our itineraries, the weather, matching shoes with outfits, figuring out what outerwear to take and, for many of us, inevitably over packing.
I am an over packer. Not by a lot, but I always take along a few items I never use or need; pulling along the extra weight in the chance I might need it.
But, in my defense, I am a very organized packer.
For years I have used eBags Packing Cubes making the process of living out of a suitcase an art form. Packing cubes come in a variety of sizes. I think of them as mini dresser drawers: one for tops, another for undergarments and pajamas, and so forth. After packing the cubes, they fit neatly into my suitcase. When I am at a hotel looking for clothes, I simply take out the cube, get what I want and put the cube back; no fuss, no muss, no stress.
As simple as the idea of packing cubes is, it is amazing how many people have never heard of them. I am often traveling with friends and family members who, after seeing my organized suitcase, immediately order packing cubes for their next trip away from home.
And they are made so well they will virtually last forever.
Padded Pouches
As much as I have long been a fan of packing cubes, a new product I purchased before setting off to Europe for three weeks recently was eBags Padded Pouches. I wanted a certain size to protect my spare camera (a little point and shoot just in case something happened to my DSLR). But, the padded pouches come in a set of three, so I tossed the extra two in my suitcase “just in case.”
As it turns out they came in handy for two delicate souvenirs I purchased that needed a little extra TLC. I felt they would be protected and they were, arriving home safe and sound.
My last recent discovery was a much larger acquisition — and worth every dime! When I first saw the eBags EXO 2.0 Hardside Spinner Mobile Office (say that three times fast!), I knew I had to have it.
For years I have been hauling my laptop around in a shoulder bag. Add to that my camera bag and purse and I felt like – and looked like – a pack mule.
I used the mobile office for the first time while in Europe. In addition to a secure place for my laptop on one side, the other side is a generous compartment where I put important carry-on items such as an extra set of clothes in case my luggage was delayed, my medications and my jacket. There was no need to drag along an over-sized purse to stuff all these things in.
As I traveled the rails in Europe, I had my suitcase, my rolling office, my purse on one shoulder and my camera on the other — very manageable because the suitcase and mobile office both have spinners making them easy to propel just about anywhere, even cobblestone streets in Germany’s medieval cities.
With a little planning and preparation, the packing process and living out of a suitcase become a lot easier.
For more information on all eBags products, check the company’s website.
