Feature: Packing Tips
Packing your equipment, clothes, toiletries, and other items for a business trip is an art form that, in all honesty, I've never perfected. There's always something I packed that I didn't use, something I didn't pack that I wished I had, or both.
But I have learned a few critical dos and don'ts along the way about taking computing gear on the road, which I share with you this week.
Wheel It On, Store It Under
Stay away from shoulder-strap or backpack notebook bags--they make long trips feel even longer. Ideally, find a wheeled bag that's narrow enough to be rolled down a coach cabin's aisle and compact enough to fit beneath the seat. That way, you can avoid the inconvenience and strain of having to lug your bag between connecting flights or having to heave it up into the overhead compartment.
One such bag I can recommend is the Travelon 14" Carry-On with View Thru Panels ($110 at EBags). Measuring 14 by 12 by 8.5 inches, the bag rolls down airplane aisles with ease and fits, in my experience, under most coach seats.
The Travelon bag isn't designed to store notebooks, but its roomy main compartment can accommodate a portable with a 15-inch or smaller display (just make sure the computer is well padded). The bag features lots of external zippered pockets, including a moisture-resistant compartment for a water bottle. The inside compartments sport see-through panels, so you can quickly locate your ear plugs when the inevitable infant wailing begins. And an external pocket on the back zips open to allow room for newspapers and magazines.
The Travelon has enabled me to often travel with one carry-on bag instead of my usual two, for which I am exceedingly grateful. One caveat: The bag's telescopic handle feels a bit wobbly, which makes me wonder how durable it will be over time. Travelon offers a limited lifetime warranty, however.
Tip: The area under an aisle seat in coach is sometimes narrower than the storage space beneath a middle or window seat. So to get the most room, stay away from an aisle seat.
What to Pack Overhead
Can't limit yourself to one carry-on bag? Then take some time to decide what you are most likely to need during a flight or train ride and pack accordingly.
For instance, there are some things I'm uncomfortable packing in my checked luggage for fear of theft or loss, such as my Palm PDA. So when I travel with two carry-ons--one for under a seat, the other for the overhead compartment--I pack my Palm in the overhead bag.
Other items you might store in an overhead bin include:
- AC adapters for your notebook and other gadgets. Why not pack them in your checked luggage? Because you may find yourself waiting in an airport or train station longer than expected, with your notebook, mobile phone, or PDA batteries beginning to fade. Why not pack them in your beneath-the-seat bag? Because unless the power adapters are designed to work with airplane power ports, you won't need them. (More on that topic in a minute.)
- A change of clothes and key toiletries, in case your checked baggage decides to take a trip without you.
- Coins, keys, belt, and other objects containing metal. Ideally, these items should be stored in their own compartment before you reach the airport security X-ray. The less metal on your body, the faster the screening process will be for you (and those behind you). Again, these aren't items you're likely to need in flight.
- Sunglasses, a jacket, and other items you'll need traveling to or from the airport but not in flight.
- Application and system-restore CDs, in case your notebook becomes ill during the trip.
What to Store Under the Seat
Here are some items you might pack in your beneath-the-seat bag:
- Your notebook, unless you don't plan to use it in transit. In that case, pack it in the overhead-compartment bag. You could pack it in your checked luggage, of course. Then again, you could also go for a drive on the interstate while blindfolded.
- An extra notebook battery, or if your plane has in-seat power ports, an airplane AC adapter. One such adapter I recommend is the IGo Juice (about $80). For my review of the IGo Juice, and more tips about airplane power ports, read "Mobile Computing: Power Outlets on Airplanes."
- Earplugs, if you plan to sleep, and/or earphones, for listening to music or DVD movies on your notebook. I'm particularly fond of Plane Quiet ($80), a noise-canceling headset that buffers a lot of background noise and enriches audio quality.
- DVDs and music CDs (or MP3 files on your notebook or portable MP3 player), because you can't work all the time.
- Newspapers, magazines, and books. See above reason.
- A nutrition bar, bag of peanuts, or other food--you can't count on being served food at all in flight, much less something edible.
- A bottle of water. Three things you should always do in flight: hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate.
More Tips
For additional tips on traveling with gear, read "Mobile Computing: Travel Tips for Notebook Users."
Have you got a packing tip to share with your gear-hauling comrades? If so, send it to me.
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