Subscribe
Tips, special
announcements
via email
Other sites by
Lani Teshima:
• PILOTLITE.ORG
• THE TRIP
PLANNER at
MousePlanet.com®
Winter 1999 Webzine
In this issue: Baglady Boarding Pass | Monthly Travelite Tip| Overseas Carry-On Travails | Tech Review | Web Site Review
Monthly Travelite Tips
November 1999: Zip-Loc Baggies
This month's tip returns to a familiar topic for many traveliters: Plastic self-sealing storage baggies.
Most of us use Ziploc baggies as part of our regular travel kit. Whether you toss in your dirty laundry or your liquid-filled bottles, these plastic bags are probably one of your best friends. Ziploc bags are made by SC Johnson, but there are other companies that make these, including Glad (be warned: this site loads slowly).
Both Glad and Ziploc bags come in various sizes, from pint, quart, half-gallon, gallon to two gallon jumbo bags with Ziploc. Glad also makes snack-sized bags that are half the height of a pint-sized Ziploc bag.
On feature I particularly like are pleated bottoms. Ziploc makes a couple of models with pleated bottoms, including a handy half-gallon, and a sandwich sized bag. These add a tremendous amount of space to the bags, and you will have a much easier time stuffing these. These pleated-bottom bags are great for storing your toiletries or stashing your socks and underwear.
The other favorite of mine is the Ziploc two-gallon storage bags. Ziploc makes them in both regular, and freezer style. Unfortunately, these tend to be hard to find in the stores. The Ziploc web site however, does tell you that you can order these directly (SC Johnson Direct Mail Order Service. Credit card orders call 1-800-848-2588. Or fax orders to 1-414-260-4805).
The two-gallon sized bags are large enough to fit several thin items of clothing, and will even handle a thick sweater. Even with the various packing-gizmo thingies I've used over the years (Eagle Creek's Pack-It System comes to mind), I often fall back to using two or three two-gallon bags in my carry-on to carry my clothes in instead.
As many of you have figured out, you can press these bags and express as much extra air out as possible. How to do this with a two-gallon bag? I usually place the baggie on a table, with the open side facing away from me. I then literally lean over, and squish the baggie with my upper body. Yes, I realize this creates a really hilarious pose, but it works really well! Start by leaning over and sandwiching the baggie between the table and your abs, then slowly bending over as you continue to press the air out of the bag. Once you're bend at a 90-degree angle, you will have pressed most of the air out that you can. Without getting up, use your hands to squeeze the locking part of the bag. It may take you a few tries, but be patient. You'll be pleased with the results. Once you're pressed the air out, these baggies get kind of stiff and boardlike, and become very easy to pack.
Take an extra two-gallon baggie or two with you for storing dirty laundry, etc.
Finally, don't save your storage baggies for travel alone! Do you normally shelve your bathing suit and sunscreen unless you're going on a vacation? Do you hide your travel-sized toiletries away in the bathroom closet until the next time you hit the road?
Consider putting together travel kits and storing them in your baggies. How many kits you put together or how complete they are can depend on your style, as well as whether you also need to use some of the items regularly.
Take an empty copy paper carton box. Most people can pick these up at their office, but if you don't have ready access, check with your local copy or stationery store. Mark the box "Travel Kits" and just leave the box in your closet. Now, think of the various types of kits you might put together and have handy. You might already have a toiletry kit you always use. Toss that in to your box. You might want to put a bathing suit, sunscreen, flip-flops and a towel in a two-gallon bag and label that "beach kit". Enjoy going to a sporting event regularly? Stick into a two-gallon bag your binoculars, favorite team's baseball cap, windbreaker, etc. You get the picture.
Then when it comes time for the trip to the shore, or to attend a Saturday afternoon baseball game, you know exactly where your things are. Just take the two-gallon bag of the appropriate kit, and toss it in your day pack!
What to do if you need to take something to the beach (such as your cooler) and it won't fit in the kit? Take a permanent marker, and jot down the items you normally take with you. When you pull the kit out of your travel box, you will know immediately what you need to gather. As your needs change, add more items into the bag, onto the list written on the bag, or cross them out.
When you get home and you need to wash your swimsuit, just leave the beach kit bag somewhere where you wont' forget. Once your suit is clean, pop it back in the kit and back into the box it goes!
Back to top.
Base URL: http://www.travelite.org/
Contents © 1996 - 2002 Lani Teshima. All rights reserved. Travelite®
is a registered service mark owned by Lani Teshima. Send email
to the author.