Luggage and Travel Organizers: Traveling Light...Or Not

     Whether you're someone who travels light or not, it is always more convenient and easier to pack (and unpack) with travel organizers that keep things separate and easier to find. In addition, with luggage size and weight restrictions and the hefty baggage fees imposed by airlines for extra and overweight bags, it is not a bad idea to look for and purchase the lightest luggage you can afford that is durable enough to withstand rough handling especially by airport baggage handlers.

A. TOILETRY ORGANIZER BAG

My old Travelon Cosmetic
Organizer Travel Case

     I'm an organization freak and, admittedly, I can never travel light! I'm allergic to many beauty and personal care products (even those labeled "hypoallergenic" or "for sensitive skin" sometimes) that I always need to bring ones that I've tried and tested. I even bring my own hairdryer because my hair seems to be picky about this tool. Apart from that, I would rather spend my time visiting tourist sites than looking around for stores to buy toiletries and anything else I need for the whole trip!
     About 7 years ago, I started my search for the biggest toiletry bag I could find. I then found a cosmetic organizer travel case made by Travelon which has a strap at the back for suitcase handles. However, one end of the strap just recently tore off where it was sewn in place. The bag also has a removable shoulder strap that I have never used (I'm not even sure where it is now). The only thing I don't really like about it is its bulkiness which makes it not too easy to pack inside some suitcases.

Torn suitcase handle strap---hoping to
find someone who can sew it back on.

     Because of the broken suitcase handle strap on my old Travelon toiletry bag, I've started looking around for a new one. I found a newer version of the bag but kept looking. It didn't take me long to come across one also made by Travelon (called "Total Toiletry Kit") which, I was surprised to find out, could be laid flat inside a suitcase! I'm glad that Travelon found a solution to the bulk problem though that feature comes with a higher price tag. It can be hang when fully opened, has 4 organized sections, as well as 2 removable pouches. It is also water resistant and is easy to clean like my old toiletry bag. However, it doesn't have a strap for suitcase handles which I prefer for those times when I choose not to pack the bag in a suitcase such as when traveling by car.

B. LEAKPROOF TRAVEL BOTTLES
       
     It you prefer taking your own shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or body wash when traveling, it's a good idea to pack them in leakproof travel bottles (1 to 8 oz.) especially on short trips. However, it's also a good idea to label them to prevent confusion if any of your personal care products look the same. For extra protection against accidental leaks (pressure inside airplane cabins can cause that), you can pack them in small ziplock bags.

C. JEWELRY TRAVEL ORGANIZER

     For my jewelries (fine & fashion), I like storing them in a flat jewelry travel organizer which can be rolled. However, I cannot store bulky jewelries in it. If I want to bring some of my bulky jewelries, I simply wear them or pack them in separate jewelry boxes or pouches. I love my flat jewelry travel organizer because I can put it inside my huge black travel tote (which makes me look smaller, by the way, but I don't mind) without adding bulk. My oversized tote would also usually contain a small laptop desk, my iPad mini &/or Kindle e-reader, a small or medium-size purse, an envelope with our plane e-tickets and all other travel documents, things that I might need on the plane, other valuables, as well as my laptop until I get past airport security after which I put it inside my carry-on suitcase.

D. SHOE BAGS

     I like keeping my footwear separate from my clothes so I always pack them in washable shoe bags when I travel. Most of my shoe bags were given to me by a very thoughtful and dear friend as going away gifts before I immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines 9 years ago (very much appreciated because I was actually planning to put my shoes in Ziplocks!). They have drawstrings and one is made of printed cotton (for my slippers, she told me) while the rest are made of navy blue nylon-like material. Some of them are a little worn now having been washed so many times but I still get to use them every time I travel.

E. LUGGAGE

Rimowa Salsa Air --- 21"
Ultralight Cabin (ultra violet)
 & 30" (ice blue) Multi-wheel 

     I started looking for the lightest luggage I could find before our trip to Europe last May. I've known about Rimowa Salsa Air as one of the sturdiest and lightest luggage available in the U.S. market but it is quite pricey. I kept looking and found some luggages which were also very light and not as expensive but they didn't look sturdy and durable.
     After much thought and consideration, my husband and I decided to go for the Rimowa Salsa Air 30" Multi-wheel which weighs 7.9 lbs. Since we travel a lot and the Rimowa looked like something we could use for years to come, we thought that the bag was probably worth its price. Its very light weight allows for packing a few more pieces of clothes than other heavier luggages. It is very durable as it is made of the strongest polycarbonate material. It has a TSA combination lock and water-resistant zippers. The lightness of the bag makes it more convenient to move in and out of trains, and the 4-wheel spinners make the bag so easy to maneuver everywhere.
     However, some people don't like the luggage for several reasons: the fact that it doesn't have pockets (but their absence actually help lessen the weight of the luggage); it opens in the middle with clothes packed on each side that you have to open the whole thing 180 degrees with both sides flat on the floor to get clothes out (personally, I like that design better because I find it easier to pack and unpack clothes, as well as separate the ones you plan to wear for a certain number of days before moving to the next accommodation when visiting multi-cities); the surface can get scratched easily (but for me, that's part of wear and tear, and there are things you can do, as recommended in one of the booklets that go with the luggage, to remove the scratches or make it appear not too noticeable; you can also pick a lighter color like ice blue or aquamarine).
     I chose the 30" Salsa Air over the 29" (which weighs 7.1 lbs.) because I thought the latter was a little small. The linear dimension (the total of its length + width + height) of the 30" Salsa Air is exactly 62 inches, the size limit required by airlines. So much can be packed inside the luggage that even with its very light weight, a fully-packed 30" Salsa Air can exceed the 50 lb. weight limit required by airlines. I then realized that I probably should have bought the 29" Salsa Air instead so that I wouldn't have to worry about exceeding the airline weight limit even when the bag is packed tightly. However, I solved the problem by not packing heavy clothes like jeans in the 30" Salsa Air and not to pack it too tightly.
     Some airlines are also strict about the size and weight of carry-ons. The Rimowa Salsa Air 21" Ultralight Cabin Multi-wheel weighs a very light 4.3 lbs. that even a tiny woman like me would find it so easy to lift and store the bag inside an airplane's overhead bin as well as take it out. Some airlines have a 7 kilo (15.43 lb.) weight restriction on carry-ons which means that heavier cabin luggages will not allow for a lot to be packed. I have a carry-on that I bought in Hong Kong 10 years ago that's very sturdy and still looks good but weighs 7.5 lbs. That means I can put only 4 pairs of my husband's denim jeans, weighing 1.9 lbs. each, inside the carry-on which would leave it half-empty!
     I love our Rimowa Salsa Air 30" Multiwheel so much that I bought a 21" Ultralight Cabin Multi-wheel before we left Paris last May because we needed another bag to pack some souvenirs we collected from the trip. It cost a little more there than in the U.S. but since it was duty-free, it turned out $50 cheaper than in the U.S. once we got our tax refund. If cost is not an issue and you are concerned about luggage weight, I would highly recommend the Rimowa Salsa Air. However, If you find its price too prohibitive, you may want to take a look at the IT Luggage World's Lightest (available at Amazon and eBags) which is made of high density polyester. The 29" Packing Case weighs only 4 lbs. and 11 oz., much lighter than the 7.1-lb. 29" Salsa Air.

YouTube Video Review of the Rimowa Salsa Air Multi-wheel:

F. PACKING CUBES

     Personally, I'm not into packing cubes though I use small cosmetic pouches to store things like chargers and other small items I need when traveling. I do agree that packing cubes make packing and unpacking much easier, but for me, they just add more weight to check-in bags and they don't allow me to pack as much as I want inside a luggage. As I've said, I can't travel light so I do need all the space I can get. I always need to pack extra clothes and shoes just in case because my clothes and shoe sizes are hard to find in-store. I have my own way of packing clothes in a neat and organized manner that I don't even worry about my packed clothes getting wrinkled. The secret is just taking extra care in folding and packing clothes, inserting small items like socks and underwear around the empty sides once you've packed folded clothes like tops, shirts, sweaters or dresses side by side. I then usually pack jeans, pants, skirts, shorts and short blazers on top. However, if you don't have the patience for that, then packing cubes are for you!