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freebie alert : handy mesh bags

Posted by avirosemail (northern CA) on 11/27/25 05:55 AM

We've mentioned on the forum how the annual membership renewal in many earth-friendly organizations include freebie bags and flashlights etc. that can come in handy on travel. After a few years you accrue all the renewal gifts and have to find new uses or give them out to others.

I'm just now working my way out of the headlamp and messenger bag groove with Sierra Club and got instead their reusable produce shopping bags for this year's free gift. I pull these out of the mailer and darn if they aren't the spittin' image of the RS handy mesh bags that come with the luggage orders!

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/small-mesh-bags

The Sierra Club set includes one small, two medium, and two large. Sweet.

What's been your favorite freebie to add to your packing arsenal?

Posted by Laurie Beth

Twin Cities, Minnesota

11/27/25 02:50 PM

2391 posts

Avi, what a great post. Actually those mesh bags are probably my favorite. I use them for so many things: a bag of things I want on the bedside table, my socks, my undies, etc. It is so great because you can stuff a lot of them in to small spaces in your luggage.

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

11/27/25 05:14 PM

9190 posts

We received those RS mesh bags with our RS luggage which was also a freebie addition when we signed up for our first RS tour back in 2003. So a freebie inside a freebie! We signed up while attending their weekend of tour guides meeting up in Edmonds for their annual planning, so maybe that was why the suitcases were free. I used my suitcase for several years, & the mesh bags, until the telescoping handle wouldn’t reliably retract.

Another free item category I have used a lot are the free zip bags that occasionally come with a Clinique makeup promotion. I still use two of those - one if it’s just a weekend local trip and another one if paring down to the lightest possible packing is critical.

Our local RS travel group here in North Idaho occasionally have some travel items we offer to the group. I have one of Pam’s scarves. : )

Posted by doric8

11/28/25 12:36 AM

1579 posts

Does a sheet of twist ties count? (To secure my zippers?)
Sorry I could never get into Rick's mesh bags.... they recently went into a donate box.....

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