Which Resealable Bag Works Best for Travel?

Just Zip It: How to Make A Clear Choice - washingtonpost.com

RESEARCH QUESTION: The Transportation Security Administration limits carry-on liquid- and gel- based toiletries to what can be crammed into one quart-size zip-top bag. Plenty more will be cruising the X-ray belts come Thanksgiving. Resealable bags are plentifully stocked in the aisles of supermarkets and other stores, and a few travel product companies sell heavy-duty bags, too.

We wondered: Which bag does the best job of not only keeping your toiletries secure but also acting as a toiletry kit for your travels? The store brand or the name brand? Regular or freezer? The one with a double zipper that changes color when sealed or the bag with the plastic clip? Or do you spring for a more expensive version from a travel goods company?

This article is a couple years old, but still very relevant. I recently purchased some assorted size Aloksaks to carry my toiletries and such, so I was curious to find out how they fared against the much cheaper grocery store brands. Follow the link to find out.



In summary, your priorities determine which bag is best. The Aloksak is the toughest by far, and when closed properly, watertight to a greater depth than you are likely to take it. But, the Aloksak also holds the fewest toiletries. In the first photo, you can see that I can't even close the top of the bag with my regulation size toiletries in it. Conversely, the Safeway freezer bag held the most items.



The bags resealed by sliding plastic clip are the least likely (at least of the grocery/drugstore variety) to tear at the seams with repeat closings. I have found that these Hefty Freezer bags with the plastic clip are quite sturdy, and seem to hold the most 2-3oz travel size bottles. In the second photo, I have all the same items, from the Aloksak photo, in the Hefty bag, and I usually add 3-4 more items to it when traveling (small toothpaste tube, sting kill, shampoo and conditioner in small bottles). It holds them all with ease.

Does Continental's Mobile Boarding Pass work?

Continental Airlines - Mobile Phone Boarding Pass

I gave this a try on a flight to Portland Or (PDX) from Newark Airport in New Jersey. The day before I flew, I checked in online, but instead of printing off my boarding pass to take with me to the airport, I had it sent to my mobile phone, in this case an iPhone. A link to a web page was sent to my phone via my email address. I clicked on the link, and there was my boarding pass, along with the scanable barcode.

The next day I showed up at the security screening area of the airport (a bit early, since this system seemed to good to be true) and showed the security agent my phone opened to the browser page displaying the boarding pass (I had already pulled this up before I got into line, to make sure I could access it). The security agent then scanned the barcode right from the screen of my phone, and I was allowed pass through. At the boarding gate, the attendant was waiting with a printed boarding pass, which she scanned directly and then gave me the paper stub. Success! And no boarding pass to misplace, which was the best part. Unfortunately, this is only available at a few Continental Airlines airports.

This worked very well and easily from my iphone because the screen display is scalable, and I was able to enlarge the icon for agent to scan. I would be interested to know how well this works on a blackberry, since it seems the barcode would appear very small, making it harder to scan. If anyone has tried the mobile phone boarding pass using a Blackberry, please let me know how it worked for you. See the link below for more details.

Introducing Truly Paperless Check-In

Ongoing Offer Posted Wed., Dec. 5, 2007

Mobile Boarding Pass option is currently available for Houston departures (Terminals B, C and E only), Newark Liberty departures, Boston departures and Washington, D.C. departures from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Customers have the option of Mobile Boarding on nonstop domestic flights and this option is only for single travelers. Now when you check in for your flight, you can choose to receive your boarding pass electronically on your mobile phone or PDA. Just display your barcode at the security checkpoint and when boarding your flight, and you're on your way. Tips for Using a Mobile Boarding Pass Know your e-mail address for your mobile phone and/or PDA. Save your mobile boarding pass to your phone to make it easy to retrieve when you get to the security checkpoint (check your phone/PDA manual for options on how to save e-mails and view offline). Make sure the entire barcode is visible on the screen of your phone/PDA (example: photo shows proper display of barcode). If the scanner cannot read your barcode, a paper boarding pass will be required. Turn the backlight setting for your phone/PDA display to the brightest mode. Continental is the first U.S. carrier to test paperless boarding passes. The paperless boarding pass pilot program is consistent with the global standard of the International Air Transport Association for bar coding of passenger boarding passes. This program also heightens the ability to detect fraudulent boarding passes while improving customer service and reducing paper use.

BugX™ Insect Repellent Towellette with Deet

These seem to be the best altenative for heavy duty insect protection. Not something I would use everyday, since I have a dog that licks my legs, but perfect for travel, since you can just throw a few packages in your carry on bag and walk right through security. Available at http://www.alltravelsizes.com

BugX™ Insect Repellent Towellette with Deet



BugX™ Insect Repellent Towellette with Deet provides over 7 hours of effective protection from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, gnats, no-see-ums, black flies, sand flies, and deer flies, biting flies, and stable flies. Water based, not greasy or oily. Deet based insect repellents such as BugX™ have been shown to be the most effective way of repelling mosquitoes and ticks and thus providing the highest degree of protection against vector borne diseases sush as LYME DISEASE, HUMAN GRANULOCYCTIS EHRLICHIOSIS (HGE), ENCEPHALITIS, MALARIA, DENGUE FEVER, SPOTTED FEVER, AND WEST NILE VIRUS. Licensed for sale (in accordance with EPA Regulations) in all 50 states.

Review: Soap Sheets

I have written about these soap sheets before. I think they were originally made for backpackers, but now they are a very appealing solution to the constant struggle with the TSA when going through security at airport. And if you are just trying to pack every thing into to one carry-on bag, these see like a great solution both weight and space-wise.

They are now being sold at many stores and online, including Flight 001, Magellan's and Target online (though for some reason they are $9.99 at Target, and 3.95-4.95 everywhere else ????) under the name soap sheets, soap leaves, paper soap, etc.

I purchased the shampoo, conditioner, and body soap sheets at Magellan's, my new favorite online travel store, and did a trial run at home to see if they work well enough to ake them on my next trip.

Hygiene - Magellan's Travel Supplies

Shampoo Sheets $9.85 Leave the shampoo bottle at home. First I tried a sheet of the shampoo, with little success, it seemed there was not enough to clean my hair.	Soap Sheets $9.85 Easier to carry than a bar of soap. With the body soap, I accidentally pulled out a couple sheets, and it worked great, giving me lots of soap after I ran water on the sheets and rubbed them together in my hands. I was finally getting the hang of it.
Conditioner Sheets $9.85 No need to pack a bottle of hair conditioner. One sheet of conditioner did not seem like it was making my hair silky at all.

After this first only semi-successful trial, I took a second look at the soap sheet dispensers, in other words, I read the directions on the back. There are amount recommendations. For instance, the shampoo (in yellow) says "Use 1-6 sheets, depending on length and thickness of hair." The 1 sheet i had used for my long hair was not enough.

I did a second trial the next day, this time with varying numbers of sheets, and had much better success. 3-4 sheets for the shampoo (do not expect a lot of suds, since this is environmentally friendly soap), 3 sheets for the conditioner, and 2 sheets for the body soap. Much better outcomes!

My thoughts on this type of product:

The toughest part is to take the sheets out of the dispenser with dry hands, as it says on the label. This is impossible once you get in the shower unless you take a towel in the shower with you and try to thoroughly dry your hands before extracting each different type of soap. Very tough to do. The obvious solution would be to remove the sheets before you get in the water, but all the sheets look the same, so if you remove them all from the dispensers beforehand, you get in the shower and don't know which is which, plus its not like you can lay the conditioner sheets down while you use the shampoo, they will get wet or drift off with the slightest draft. It would be nice if each product was a different color, but then I guess you are adding environmentally unfriendly additives.

I found the fragrances a bit overwhelming. To be fair, I am sensitive to scents, and usually use fragrance-free products, so this might not be a problem for others. Of course, some time later I saw a fragrance free version of the body soap at Magellan's. (Arrgh, why is this not on same page as the others?)

The best method for use seems to be to hold the sheets under a small stream of water to wet them, then rub them together in your hands to create a soapy residue to spread on your body and/or head.

Be sure to rinse very thoroughly. Combing through my hair after one of the trials, I found a tiny piece of white paper soap. Not attractive.

All in all, though the hair products do not leave my hair as silky as the home products I use, they will suffice for me on trips when between hotels with complimentary shampoo and conditioner, and when I am out on the trail.

Now I am wondering if I can replace all the liquids in my toiletries case?

Ginkgo Biloba for Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness?

Since I am headed to the mountains of Peru in September, I have been searching for ways to ensure that Altitude sickness, technically known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), does not mar my excellent adventure. A few people have offered anecdotal evidence of Ginko Biloba being an effective preventative for AMS, so I looked into it.

"Ginkgo biloba for Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness

Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Paul Auerbach, M.D.

The fourth issue of Volume 18 of the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine has recently been published. The lead article is entitled "Ginkgo biloba Decreases Acute Mountain Sickness in People Ascending to High Altitude at Ollague (3696 m) in Northern Chile," authored by Fernando A. Moraga and his associates.

The article describes a study, the objective of which was to determine the effect of Ginkgo biloba in preventing acute mountain sickness (AMS) at an altitude of 3696 meters (12,126 feet) in participants without high-altitude experience. Thirty-six persons who reside at sea level were transported by ground transportation over 8.5 hours to an altitude of 3696 meters. The study participants were divided into three equal groups of 12 persons each. One group received Ginkgo biloba in a dose of 80 milligrams every 12 hours by mouth, one group received acetazolamide (Diamox, a drug commonly used to hasten acclimatization to altitude or to treat AMS) in a dose of 250 milligrams every 12 hours by mouth, and the final group received a placebo (e.g., no active drug). Each group began its treatment 24 hours before ascending and continued treatment during the 3-day stay at altitude. A standard Lake Louise Questionnaire was administered to determine the Self-Report Score, which is an accepted method for determining the presence and degree of AMS. In addition, selected physiological measurements were taken.

The results are the most compelling data to date supporting the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba in prevention of AMS. The group taking the Ginkgo biloba had no increase in their AMS score (which is remarkable), while the acetazolamide and placebo groups showed increases of 36% and 54%, respectively. The authors concluded that their study provides evidence supporting the use of Gingko biloba in the prevention of AMS, demonstrating that 24 hours of pretreatment with Gingko biloba and subsequent maintenance during exposure to high altitude are sufficient to reduce the incidence of AMS in participants with no previous high-altitude experience.

No doubt, others will attempt to replicate this investigation. If the results are corroborated, then Ginkgo biloba may prove to be a very useful adjunct in the prevention and treament of AMS."

Ginkgo biloba plant image courtesy of www.artofbonsai.org

Here is more background info on Ginko Biloba from a very trusted medical website, MayoClinic.com (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginkgo-biloba/NS_patient-ginkgo) followed by their official stance on its use effectiveness in preventing Altitude Sickness.

"Background

Ginkgo biloba has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Today, it is one of the top selling herbs in the United States.

Ginkgo is used for the treatment of numerous conditions, many of which are under scientific investigation. Available evidence demonstrates ginkgo's efficacy in the management of intermittent claudication, Alzheimer's/multi-infarct dementia, and "cerebral insufficiency" (a syndrome thought to be secondary to atherosclerotic disease, characterized by impaired concentration, confusion, decreased physical performance, fatigue, headache, dizziness, depression, and anxiety).

Although not definitive, there is promising early evidence favoring the use of ginkgo for memory enhancement in healthy subjects, altitude (mountain) sickness, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and reduction of chemotherapy-induced end-organ vascular damage.

Although still controversial, a recent large trial has shifted the evidence against the use of ginkgo for tinnitus.

The herb is generally well tolerated, but due to multiple case reports of bleeding, should be used cautiously in patients on anticoagulant therapy, with known coagulopathy, or prior to some surgical or dental procedures.

Altitude (mountain) sickness

A small amount of poorly designed research reports benefits of ginkgo for the treatment of altitude (mountain) sickness. Additional study is needed before a recommendation can be made."

I am still undecided at this point, but feel that Ginko Biloba maybe worth trying, since at proper doses it does not see to be detrimental, and hey, if it helps with dementia, it may be a good idea anyway!

Size Matters; Guidelines For Carry-ons

Here is an extremely valuable domestic airlines Carry-on luggage policy chart I found over at www.TheTravelInsider.info website. Check it out if you are a flyer, frequent or otherwise. Lots of other good information on travel planning at TheTravelInsider too.

The standard size for carry-on luggage in the U.S. is considered to be 22"x14"x9", but as you will see in the chart, it pays to check the policy of your specific carrier. This may be of great interest if you are looking to spend a few bucks on a nice carry-on bag. You don't want to show up at your gate with a bag that is 2" longer (or deeper, or wider) than what you airline will allow, and if you are loyal to one carrier, you might want to buy a bag specific to their size guidelines. When you see a single number guideline, it is the measurement of the 3 dimensions (L+W+H) added together.

"Airline Luggage Allowance Policies and Guidelines

Domestic and International Carryon Luggage Policy variations:

International flights often have much stricter carry-on policies, particularly with regard to the weight of carry-on bags.

Although most domestic airlines have no limit on carry-on bag weight, internationally, you will find that some airlines set such ridiculously low carry-on weight limits (sometimes as little as 11 lbs) that the weight of an empty carry-on bag is more than the total weight you're allowed to take with you!

You need to be aware of these rules, or else the next time you see someone desperately unpacking and repacking their luggage on the floor by the checkin counter, that person might be you!

International airlines may have different size limits on your carry on bags, too - sometimes smaller in one dimension, even if perhaps larger in a different dimension. If you want a bag that is always accepted on both domestic and international flights, you'll need to choose a size or two smaller than the maximum allowable domestic sizes.

If your flight is on a really small plane, you might find that your luggage allowances for both checked and carry-on items are substantially reduced. For example, some light aircraft operators limit passengers to 20lbs of luggage (both carry on and checked).

General Notes about the Luggage Information Below:

This information has been taken from the various airline websites.

Policies do change. The information in the table below is shown as of 7/10/08.

Baggage rules can be complicated, and what is shown is a simplification and may not apply to your particular flight. For the absolutely most accurate information, you should visit the airline's website or phone the airline and get exact confirmation of your luggage entitlements before your flight.

The airlines are also moderately free to vary their carry-on rules as it suits them, and they sometimes do this, particularly on full flights. One reader told a story of being on an American Airlines flight where the gate agent announced that absolutely no wheeled items of any kind would be allowed on the flight!

The appropriate page of each airline website is linked to the airline name in the tables below to make it easy for you to conveniently check the current accuracy of the information shown here. If you should find something out of date, please let us know so we can correct and update this information."

Domestic Airline/Flight Policies - Carry On Luggage

Airline Allowance Max wt per piece Max size per piece AirTran 1 plus 1 personal item - 55" Alaska and also Horizon 1 plus 1 personal item - 10"H x 17"W x 24"L Aloha now ceased operation America West now merged with US Airways - see below American 1 plus 1 personal item 40lbs 45" ATA now ceased operation Continental 1 plus 1 personal item 40lbs 51" Delta 1 plus 1 personal item 40lbs All items must each fit in a 'Size wise' template, approx 22" x 14" x 9" Frontier 1 plus 1 personal item 35lbs 49" Hawaiian 1 plus 1 personal item 25lbs 45" or 22" x 14" x 9" JetBlue 1 plus 1 personal item - Carry on = 26" x 18" x 12" on A320 24" x 16" x 10" on E190 Personal item = 18" x 15" x 8" Midwest 1 plus 1 personal item - Carry on = not stated Personal item = 18" x 15" x 6" Northwest 1 plus 1 personal item - Carry on = 22" x 14" x 9" Personal item = 15" x 11" x 6" Southwest 1 plus 1 personal item - 24" x 16" x 10" Spirit 1 plus 1 personal item - 22" x 13" x 10" United 1 plus 1 personal item - 22" x 14" x 9" US Airways 1 plus 1 personal item - 26" x 14" x 11" Virgin America 1 plus 1 personal item 16 lbs 24" x 16" x 10" for overhead

Here is a link for international airlines carry-on luggage guidelines:

http://www.thetravelinsider.info/travelaccessories/internationalcarryonluggageallowances.htm

A One Bag Pro Packs His Gadgets (and Everything Else)

I just found a Flickr set called Lightweight Travel. On it people post photos of the contents of their "one bag" as it will be packed for a trip of 3 days or longer. On top of the photo, many people attach notes regarding what each item is/is for, which is very helpful/generous/anal-retentive. I love this!

I have not gone through every photo, but I learned so much from this one person, I just had to post his strategies and a link to his heavily annotated photo. This Flickr pool is brilliant, because it is theory put into action.

Please follow the link to his photo on Flick to complete this packing light lesson.

Red OXX Air Boss on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
My one bag carry on for a 14 day trip to the Middle East

Comments

Roscullion says: This is most of what I took in the Airboss. There was a 1 bag 7kg limit on carry on so I wore the vest and put heavy items in the pockets at check in. I wore Craghopper cargo pants and the laptop fitted into the leg pocket. (If you were behind me when I was walking along loaded up you may have thought I was trying to mix a coctail!). I wore the camera kit seperately. All essentials for the filght were packed in the day sack ready to pull if I was forced to check the bag in. (Liquids, Laptop, Ipod etc.) Once into departures I put it back in the Airboss and just had the camera seperate. 6 flights on this trip - got asked to put the bag thru sizing frame once and got it weighed once out of Doha (11 .5kg! - the guy asked if I had a laptop in there, I said yes and he waved me thru). Airlines: Qatar Airways, Oman Airways, Emirates. Clothes all synthetic type that wash thru and dry overnight in hotel sink. Not shown because I was wearing them: Nikon D50 & Tamron lens, Blackberry Pearl, CH cargo pants, CH long sleeved shirt, synthetic webbing belt with hidden pocket containing $100, sandals, socks, wallet. Also 1 short sleeved shirt and 2 pairs socks on clothes line drying over bath. This arrangement works well for travel to Middle East. Total weight of carry items approx 13kg so its a bit cumbersome when transiting or duty free shopping etc. I use Priority Pass lounges to help with this. The choice of clothes gives the ability to look smart - business casual style - and enough flexibiity to hike, do the tourist thing etc. Never been challenged about the Utilikey (which has a blade) on any flight including Far East, North America, Europe. Once they pulled my keys at the XRAY and asked "whats this?" It was the USB drive I explained, the utilikey was right by it!

Many Gadgets, One Carry-On Bag

I am doing a lot of research right now the one carry-on bag method of travel. This is like an entire philosophical system for some travelers, and many swear by it. However here is a recent account of a gadget man who did not take to the theory too well. I read his account at PC World with great interest, since I am a gadget woman who is going to attempt to "one bag it" on an upcoming trip.

PC World - Many Gadgets, One Carry-On Bag: "Many Gadgets, One Carry-On Bag
The practice of packing only one bag for air travel is gaining popularity--but has drawbacks, as Jim Martin found.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 01:00 AM PDT

One carry-on bag, zero checked baggage. The concept seems absolutely Zen-like in its simplicity. Given that American Airlines and other carriers now charge for every checked bag, the strategy can help cut your travel costs, too.

But for mobile professionals toting a laptop and other gear, how practical is the one-bag-only approach? For a recent trip from San Francisco to Charlotte, North Carolina, I decided to find out."