Long security lines, packing restrictions, and limits on luggage all contribute to travel frustrations of frequent fliers. But how and what you pack can help manage some of the stresses of flying, says Evelyn Negrón, store manager for Innovation Luggage’s Upper West Side location in New York City. The following are her recommendations for products that can enhance your travel experiences. The Carry-on Tumi Alpha Frequent Traveler is a domestic carry-on–22 inches high, 14 inches wide and 9 inches deep (not including handles or wheels). The Continental by Tumi, designed for international travel, is 20 inches high, 15 3/4 inches wide. “It’s popular because it gives the same capacity as a domestic carry-on,†Negrón says. Front pockets can fit a 12-inch computer.
A tip for getting the most from your carry-on: “Choose bags that are square,†suggests Negrón. “Try to avoid bags with rounded edges, because you’re going to lose packing capacity.â€
Other recommendations:
Swiss Army’s Victorinox NXT 5.0 Mobilizer: “This product is roughly $200 less than Tumi and has a front pocket that can store a 17-inch computer.â€
Samsonite Black Label Cosmolite: A hard case from Samsonite’s premier line. “It’s not the hard case our parents owned. This is extremely light and durable.â€
Rimowa Salsa Business Multiwheel: “This is also a hard case on four wheels but is made from polycarbonate, which makes it extremely strong and flexible, but also very light. Hard cases tend to hold up better if you do a lot of international travel.â€
Packing
“The Eagle Creek Pack-It System offers different types of tubes and bags to organize everything from jewelry, toiletries, and electrical gadgets to socks, underclothing, sweaters, and suits,†says Negrón. “You can minimize wrinkles and maximize your packing capacity. They even have instructions on how to fold a shirt or blazer. Some of them can hold up to 10 days’ worth of garments–particularly if you know how to mix and match.â€
The large system can hold between 12 and 15 items, including jackets and sweaters.
To handle all your liquids, GoToob makes squeezable silicon bottles in three sizes–all meeting the TSA’s carry-on requirement of 3 ounces or less. The award-winning travel bottles feature wide openings for easy filling, no-drip caps, and ID windows with pre-printed labels such as shampoo and lotion or a blank space to write your own.
Hand Luggage
The Briggs & Riley Large Shopping Tote [pictured in olive] is large enough to carry a number of different items, yet small enough to fit under a seat. “You can pack your laptop, iPad, a medium-size purse, and even an extra pair of shoes. It’s made from ballistic nylon, which makes it extremely durable. But all Briggs & Riley products have a lifetime guarantee in which they will repair products that are damaged.â€