When packing for a trip when flying, many people are constantly stressed about what to bring and what not to bring. With more and more restrictions being put on luggage, people are having elimination processes to see what does and doesn’t make the cut for packing. In North America , you can usually get away with 50 or less pounds per bag, though some airlines are charging extra for second bags and over-weight bags. But on other continents you are limited to 25-33 pounds per bag, and charged extra for every kilo over the limit. That’s why many companies are coming out with new double-duty travel gear that serves more than one purpose. Here are some examples of such items

One is Convertible pants. These are pants with zippers that allow them to be easily and conveniently transformed from pants into shorts, and back again whenever needed. The best you can find are usually light and equipped with many pockets. These come in handy for hiking or just sightseeing and are both versatile and durable.

A second is a Secret-stash money belt. Many companies are making belts that look ordinary from the outside, but have a zipper on the inside of the back, allowing you to store notes and money in the slot. This will allow you to travel without worry of losing all money in a foreign place if robbed. A major fear of many is being robbed when traveling to a large city and then being stranded without money. With this belt you can take extra precautions to prevent your fears from completely coming true and ruining your vacation.

And a third is a water bottle with a built in filter. In many parts of the world, the tap water is dangerous to drink, and you are forced to buy a large amount of bottled water. This can become bothersome and expensive. An alternative is the new water bottles with built in filters. With these bottles, you fill the bottle from the tap and as you drink it, the straw filters the water. But when doing this make sure you look into the bottle you buy, making sure it’s a trustworthy brand. A recommended brand is Katadyn.

And last, there are things you pack that you can make serve more than one function. An example of this is by categorizing your shoes. As one of the heaviest things in your luggage, the number of your shoes can always be minimized. You can do this by packing multi-function shoes. These would be shoes that can be used for both walking around and for fancy dress, or cross-trainers that will work for hiking, working-out and walking. And if you must bring heavy shoes, try and wear them during transaction.

These are just a few suggestions on lightening your load. There are many multi-function items out there, you just have to keep your eye out and pack light.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 at 11:50 am and is filed under Pack Lightly. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.