Many of us do our best to travel light. We may not be in a competition to travel as light as possible, but every little bit helps.
I'm strarting this thread hoping we could share products we found that are small and lightweight yet serve a purpose.
I'll start with the first response to keep this original post from being too long.
Many of us use daybags for out daily outings. Some use their personal item. Others use a packable backpack.
My personal item is too large to use as a daypack. (No, I can't take a smaller one.) I needed to find something small.
I have a few packable one but even they took up too much space.
Then I found the Nanobag Daypack.
It weighs just over an ounce, can hold up to 66 pounds, and folds up into practically nothing. I wouldn't use it for a hike into the woods, but to carry the basics while sightseeing, it does the job.
I also have one of their Nanobag Standard Totes to use as a shopping bag. It's about the same size and weight as the daypack and can hold a surprising amount.
I use a standard sized "sonic" electric toothbrush at home. Carrying it around when traveling is kind of a pain. I was very happy to find small, affordable toothbrushes with replaceable brushheads that either took a single AA battery or charged by usb. I've tried several, I think I've decided the rechargeable is my favorite. They aren't quite as good as the full size but still work fine. There's more than one brand, so I won't make a brand recommendation. They're almost the size of a "manual" toothbrush and weigh very little.
I like to bring a small power bank with charging cable(5000 mAh), it's super convenient and not so big.
That nanobag looks like a great bag to use for toting groceries if carrying in the hand is not practical (too heavy for hands but not too heavy if on one's back). I always carry my reusable shopping bags when making purchases in Europe - ones that fold up and are as light as the nanobag. I'm typically walking back to my lodging if I've bought a few groceries but it would be nice to put some items on my back. Thanks for the link for that bag.
Frank the enabler: I just ordered the Nano Daypack.
I like these little chargers for a quick top up of my phone or iPad https://amzn.to/4zaz4Cn. Fits easily in my purse and weighs little. Enough for a top up on longer daytrips.
This European power strip is my favorite purchase by far. I bought it about two years ago and take it with me on every trip. It's very lightweight, and you can wrap up the cord around it to make it as small as possible when packing.
The best thing about it is that it comes with an EU plug, so you don't have to worry about bringing an adapter for it. It does include a US adapter and a UK adapter, though, so you can always add those if needed.
It's great for places where there are limited outlets and you need more. It has three regular outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. It's really handy, and honestly, I don't feel the need to bring anything else. It's especially nice if you have a CPAP machine or something where you need electricity in a certain spot, like the nightstand.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJ5VLWMY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1
EDIT: ...............................
I'm going to add this one as well, because I think that this is probably the handiest power bank I've had, and I've had several. It's made by Anker, which is a great brand, but it's smaller than most other power banks and is more of a square shape rather than a long rectangle like most of them.
It's still a bit on the heavy side, but you're never going to get away from that. However, its best features is that it has a retractable cord, so you don't need to carry an extra cord or have one that you wrap around it.
It will charge both USB-C and USB-A devices, and it's really handy. I bought it on the Costco Next site, but I don't think they carry it anymore. However, you can still find it on Anker website—and it comes in five colors:
https://www.anker.com/products/a1638-10k-45w-power-bank
I love the nano bags and have both a tote and a sling. They are so lightweight and tiny when they are in the pouch. We also have some other similar bags (Chico bags) that we have traveled with for years. Last year we spent a month in Paris and had to buy bulky things like toilet paper and paper towels. The sling bag held those things and more, which was very convenient since we had to walk 10-15 minutes to reach the store.
Well, I have several items that fit the assignment.
Rechargable Night Light: There is another thread about this as well, but these little things are great. I usually pack 2 - one for the bathroom, one for the room if needed. The charge lasts for months.
Daypack: I just got this for a recent trip to the Galapagos. Folds up very small, is water-resistant, weighs about 8 oz, 15L capacity so my "good" camera fits just fine. Even has loops for hiking poles. Liking it so far!
3-in-1 charging stand: this is another recent purchase that should cut down on cords, etc. Folds up and comes with a case and charging brick and cord. Charges the phone, the watch, and ear buds (which I don't have). Been using it at home, works great, charges fast. Only complaint is the magnet doesn't always hold the phone when horizontal for bedside table mode, but that isn't a dealbreaker for me.
I suppose a yellow polka dot bikini is out of the question?
https://youtu.be/5SkrJr-yXCY?si=OPRvvM8WrjdXbTQZ
I can't think of any specific products that I bring, but what I don't bring include toothpaste, shaving cream, shampoo, etc. I buy when I get there, and don't bring it home. Having said that, it was more or of necessity because I don't get a liquid bag because my wife needs two.
I am actually currently traveling and brought this new backpack.
https://a.co/d/0hGLOUha
It’s not quite as small as the above mentioned nano bag (it’s 4.4 ounces) but it does have two great mesh bottle pockets which work great. Sometimes the bottle pocket is so small bottles fall out and these are mesh with elastic and work fantastic.
I don’t usually use backpacks but I am a convert now!
I really like the Matador Flat Pack both for liquids and the bar soap. They use much less space than the 3 oz travel bottles and soap dishes. They cost the same from our sponsor’s travel store and Amazon.
For my items it’s much more about what I don’t bring that keeps my weight down. But here’s a couple of itsy bitsys that might be helpful:
My TSA quart Ziploc isn’t full even for a month’s trip. Here’s a few helps:
if you google “Clinique White Sample Jar”, you can see the very tiny jar I bring of SPF foundation for my face. That very small amount will easily last me a month in Europe.
Travel toothpaste- the little tubes aren’t full. It’s easy to put a regular size tube “nose-to-nose” to it and fill it up. During a month’s trip I stop into a grocery store and purchase their small local toothpaste.
I use this as a hair conditioner since many hotels just provide shampoo but not conditioner. These are the size of a tiny travel toothpaste & one lasts me a month:
Pantene Hair Mask Miracle Rescue Shots, Intensive Repair Treatment for Damaged Hair, 4 count 0.5 oz Each
This one may sound a little odd. I like a specific deodorant/scent that doesn’t come in travel sizes. So I bought a different brand travel size, screwed out that stick of deodorant and swiveled in one of mine that was half-finished. Now I have what I want in a smaller plastic container.
I did bring a bikini to the Adriatic! ; )
My "tiny" item is my mini-laptop with an 11" touchscreen. The footprint is about the same as an iPad, but it almost 0.8" thick and weighs about 3 lbs. I have lugged a laptop of one form or another for almost 2 decades and I find them indispensable.
I use it to research, organize and record my travel. Every night, I download 300-400 photos from my phone, edit and organize them. I use it to do work remotely, email and have video conferences with clients. The small screen is barely tolerable and it only has a N100 processor which is slow, but the battery life is excellent. It gets the job done and it was less than CAD$300. If it is lost or stolen, it would not be a big financial hit.
I also carry a 100W GAN charger which has different detachable adapters for world travel. It is powerful enough to charge the laptop, so I do not need to lug the OEM laptop charger. This single charger can also charge my phone, power bank, watch and earbuds.
I have the Lovebags Crossbody Stash-It. Someone on this forum recommended them.
This style has a zipper.
The pouch is attached inside the bag.
My husband and I have both used the daybag that PandaBear provided the link for 4 years and they come on every trip with us. They stuff into a pouch that is about twice the size of a nano bag, so small and very lightweight.
Frank the enabler: I just ordered the Nano Daypack.
Frank may be giving Mardee a run for her money in the enabler department :)
My tiny/lightweight travel things:
I've been using the Nanobags for over a year and love them. I always carry one in my crossbody daybag during outings when traveling. Then I use it to store purchases or a bottle of water or snack that I don't want to be holding with my hand. I've brought the drawstring backpack style one in past trips, and I use the tote at home for grocery shopping, and I recently ordered the larger backpack with zipper/daypack (though I still prefer the original drawstring one).
As for small useful things, I use contact lenses holder to bring creams like hydrocortisone or prescribed ointments that usually come in larger tubes. I use different color one than one I use regularly for my own contacts!
My phone takes a USB-C port, but I've come across planes that only had either the port A or C, so I bought this cable that I bring along and can be used in either scenario: https://a.co/d/0i4Z4WDe
And I got a portable rechargeable fan last year for my trip to Morocco, and it was a hit. It also works as a flashlight: https://a.co/d/01KCKjg1
My Anker Power bank died recently after many years, it was getting slow and heavy anyway. I got this new one and very pleased with it: https://a.co/d/0fTrGca2
@jean - this is genius! "This one may sound a little odd. I like a specific deodorant/scent that doesn’t come in travel sizes. So I bought a different brand travel size, screwed out that stick of deodorant and swiveled in one of mine that was half-finished. Now I have what I want in a smaller plastic container."
I'll to try it out next week for my upcoming trip.
Oh, forgot to include this - elastic clothesline. We do a lot of handwash when we travel. Love it when we have the heated towel racks, but not all European hotel rooms have those!
For those unaware of this company, Minimus.biz sells literally thousands of travel size products. I've ordered from them a few times.
How did I not know about the Nano daypack? I have the regular bag and the cross body bag and have used them as gifts for friends since I discovered them. I just purchased a smaller lightweight daypack a few months ago for my upcoming trip, but I like the Nano much more so just ordered it. Does everyone have a collection of various sized backpacks and carryons or just me?
One teeny weeny thing I carry is a tiny little container of Vicks Vaporub to discretely rub under my nose if I find myself on a plane or train near someone a bit pungent. Sadly, I've had to use it and it really did help.
Oh, forgot to include this - elastic clothesline. We do a lot of handwash...
A ten or twelve foot length of para cord greatly extends and enhances the elastic clothesline. Weighs practically nothing and takes hardly any space at all.
We really don't buy into (literally 😄) any of those purpose-built mini-travel-whatevers. In particular those all-in-one "universal" adapters/charging bricks. One malfunction could leave you up the proverbial creek. We bring redundant chargers and cords...small and lightweight.
Our luggage meets hand carry specs, which leaves only weight as a variable. My RS back-door bag weighs a kilo less than the lightest wheeled bag I could find, has never been subject to gate-checking, leaves both my hands free and lets me take up only my body's width of space in a crowded place. Stand in the aisle with your back to the seat to don/doff the backpack and you'll not ever swat someone else.
Clothing accounts for the lion's share of travel weight unless you travel with a laptop or extensive camera kit. Retirement obviated the need for the former; guilty of thr latter...3kg for a body and 4 lenses in a 750ml 300g ripstop nylon bag. The key to solving the issue of clothing weight is minimal number of items, all sink-washable and quick-dry. One pair stretch jeans (worn every day including flights), one pair 300g nylon trousers to be worn whilst the jeans are drying. 3 sets Ex-Officio synthetic undergarments, 3 pair Thorlo walking socks with 3 pair polypropylene liner socks, 1 pair Merino-blend compression socks for the flight over and back. 3 100% merino shirts (NOS from ebay, less than 50% of retail). I don't suffer from hyperhydrosis so I find these can be worn for 3 days then rested whilst the others are worn, then back into service for another 3 days. But they can be hand-washed and laid out on a towel to dry overnight.
Outerwear, a light rain-shell. We tend not to travel in cold weather but if we must then we bring a lightweight down-filled puffer and an additional merio base-layer.
Shoes, we travel in our heavy walking/hiking pair and pack a lightweight pair of Hokas. We stuff them with our rolled-up socks to save space. We could go with only a single pair however we both wear uncommon sizes and have foot issues so buying new shoes is not a simple task.
Cosmetic toilettries and Rx medications: fortunately we need very few of the latter, and eschew the former, so the littlest RS classic toilettries bag plus the 3-1-1 Ziplock suffice.
Day-pack: neither of us bothers with one generally but I use the RS Civita as an in-flight bag (and pillow) and it admirably doubles as a day-pack if needed. Haven't yet found anything else quite as capacious and efficient for the weight and cost.
“A tiny little container of Vicks Vaporub“
It’s also good for relieving itchy insect bites!
Cheaper than purpose-made products.
I always carry a tiny bottle of Purell or similar alcohol-based antibacterial gel attached to my purse or personal item. I found out that a quick dab of the gel under the nose works wonders for various offensive odors, such as when on a recent flight the man across the aisle from me had had to make use of his "barf bag".
I received the Nanobag sling bag for Christmas and love how tiny it folds up but is strong enough to carry quite a bit. Glad to see that others are finding it useful as well.
Fun topic, Frank II!
I've been looking at the Nanobag daypack off and on for a couple years. Based on Frank's comment, I went ahead, and it just arrived. It's so lightweight and compact! I'm looking forward to using it on my next trip in a couple weeks. Thanks, Frank, for the nudge!
Now when we see Enabler threads, we will have to wonder if it is referring to Harder or FRANK !!!
Frank may be giving Mardee a run for her money in the enabler department :)
Ha ha, Frank is welcome to the title! The more enabling the better. 😉
Frank, thanks for the link to Minimus. I was on there site quite a couple of years ago, and totally forgot about it, so this was a good reminder.
I've been looking at the Nanobag daypack off and on for a couple years. Based on Frank's comment, I went ahead, and it just arrived. It's so lightweight and compact! I'm looking forward to using it on my next trip in a couple weeks. Thanks, Frank, for the nudge!
I got mine yesterday too. I don't know how it manages to weigh nothing yet feel sturdy enough to actually carry things, but it does. I'd purchased a smaller light weight pack to take to Switzerland to carry a jacket, sunscreen etc. when in the mountains, but it now seems gigantic and heavy in comparison so I'll keep it for hiking close to home and use the Nano for travel.
I recently took these Humangear Stax containers small size on a trip. My favorite part is how they clip securely together. Instead of having loose bottles rolling around these stayed stacked together. I've since bought the smaller wafer size
. I really liked the organization of having them stay stacked together. They could also be used for OTC pills and other bits and bobs. I'm still working out how to best use them.
I have a few favorites:
RuMe folding tote bags - I picked up a bunch of them for next to nothing when they were going out of business. I keep a few in my car, one in my purse, and we always take a few on trips. They're super lightweight and fold up very small. There are several similar ones on Amazon.
My noise-cancelling earbuds - I used to carry over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones because they drown out flight noise and allowed me to sleep a little better, but they took up a lot of space in my personal item. My son bought me a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, and they were a game changer! They take up a fraction of the space, hold a charge for hours, and the case recharges them for days.
Mini-massager - while it's not super lightweight at 12 oz., it goes with me everywhere. After walking 25,000 steps, I use it on my feet before bed, and the next morning my feet feel almost normal! I also use it on my neck/shoulders, especially after a long flight. My husband has back issues, so he uses it to loosen up the muscles in his lower back. It's definitely worth its weight!
When you travel with a bicycle as your primary mode of transportation on a European vacation it's all about small, lightweight, and practical things.
Noise-cancelling earbuds are a must. I use Beats Studio Buds or Jabra Elite Active 75T earbuds (tho the latter are sadly no longer made). Both are great for the flights and for basic use.
Compression stuff sacks are also essential: pack more things into the bags that live on the bike. Sea-to-Summit are my faves, REI's house brand are a close second and far more affordable.
I have a Sea-to-Summit Ultra-Sil day pack that lives in a bike bag for times when I need a backpack. I prefer to ride without anything on my back, but this pack is handy for when I hike or go exploring off the bike.
I bring Chico Bag shopping bags with me, as well. They work well for grocery runs.
Microfiber towels pack small and are great for many uses. I often trim them to smaller sizes for different uses.
Also a huge fan of Voile Straps to help affix anything. I use them to strap my Teva or Chaco sandals to my bike rack, to affix my bike onto train racks, and to help keep my bike less messy in its travel case. I've also used them to temporarily mend bags that have gone awry.
I carry a small amount of Gorilla Tape with me, as well as Gear Repair fabric mending tape in various kinds and sizes (e.g. Ultra-Sil, stretchy Lycra, Gore-Tex shell, et al), as well as some small scissors. I've also used NoSo patches for the same mending purpose.
I tend to buy sunscreen (and Euro sunscreen is a lot better and more advanced than any U.S. formula), toothpaste, and soap in Europe rather than bring them from home.
