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How do you store your travel items?

unfrumped

Veteran

Warning , this is noodly and maybe for packing gurus and organizing junkies.

I'm doing some re- organizing and possibly some KonMari styld or just regular.

For awhile I was enamoured of various travel-sized items and accessories and have had an under bed storage box for toiletries, Dopp kit, packing cubes, dupes of items needed ( hair items, etc). I thought that was convenient to pul out and select, then replace after trip.
But, I use about the same few things except have a sort of car version vs. air travel, and am about to " let go" of some gewgaws.
In addition, I sometimes tend to decide amongst a few things at time of packing, so pull some stuff out and lay it out on bed, and select, or I have to keep pulling out underbed box.

So I wondered, why don't I just keep it all in one suitcase? I can create some modular storage( e.g. the ziplock bag!) for items that I now store in dividers in the underbed box, and just leave the rejects on the bed or bedside table to re- store upon return. The downside is I have more than one suitcase option because I've had my favorite " car suitcase" which is not for air travel. It was because it had two side flat compartments that I used for packing my pants and tops folded. But it's center compartment is not as deep or structured so it actually is harder to keep some things corralled there. And j havd flip the bag back& forth for the 2 side compartments.
So I could have to pullout the storage suitcase and another if they're not the same one.
But, gasp, I'm considering starting to use my air roller bag for ALL trips and get really good at packing it even though we take more car trips than plane. I enjoyed using packing cubes for Iteland, for example. Besides, for car trips we take some loose hanging items and extra gear bags and such anyway, so I think it may be time to overhaul my whole system to support better travel capsules and speed packing and unpacking.
Any thoughts on packing/ storing epiphanies ? Problems storing stuff in the suitcase?

17 replies

Latest reply was from

JAileen

Veteran

I store my dining table leaves under the bed.

I have two travel bags. One for a weekend, and one for longer. They're both wheelie duffles, just different sizes. I store my travel paraphernalia in one of them, but not my toiletries. I keep those in the bathroom. My toiletries bag is just a ziplock bag.

I've made several car trips recently to visit my mother. I've taken the smaller duffle, a tote bag and my purse. No loose items. Sometimes I have a hard time finding a parking spot and may have a long walk with my stuff. Hence the pared down approach.

Some things I store: Bose headphones, inflatable neck pillow, clothesline, converters, space bags. I may or may not take these items. I don't remember the last time I took the clothesline!

unfrumped

Veteran

Thanks JAileen!
Those random travel items are the kinds of things I mean.
I'm slso wondering if there's an advantage to reviewing the items more frequently so as to consider use it or lose it.

Joyce B

Veteran

I store travel necessities in a small carry-on type of suitcase. That way it's all there when I need to travel and if I miss a rare item I can buy it at my destination most of the time.
Of course it all depends on how often you travel so that your toiletteries in travel size don't go bad.
I do keep my extra birkenstocks for travel in that suitcase all the time.

JAileen

Veteran

How do you use storage cubes and what kind do you use? I've used space bags, but they aren't very durable. I like the compressability and organization, but don't like it when they fail, obviously.

unfrumped

Veteran

I got just the zippered nylon+ mesh sets and a few random sizes. No space bag concept. I used them
for rolling knits as one size was the" length" of my rolled tops or pants, one for undies; sometimes one for a whole outfit to have ready to go for a certain day or occasion when I knew what that would be. I used them to help organize the " box" that is the roller bag interior.
I think they have limitations as you can cram more in by packing everything together in nooks and crannies. So I didn't insist on everything being in an interior bag, just some categories that made sense to me. By using the system more, I might get better at it and at picking clothing that travels best and is more versatile.

Gaylene

Veteran

My space is limited so I store my toiletry bag in my cabin tote which goes into my small carryon, which in turn goes into my larger checked travel bag. The whole setup fits into a corner of a closet. I've drastically pared my toiletries down to just the essentials I'd need for a few nights and refill my containers when I get home from a trip. My packing cubes fit nicely into my carryon beside my cabin tote, along with a few extras like flip flops, de-flared travel pillow, and such.

I've never used space bags and rarely use travel-sized samples except for toothpaste. If I'm on a longer trip, or travelling by car, I'll purchase small sizes of my regular products on the road, or when staying put for a few days. I find it amazing how long 1-2oz of shampoo can last if I'm being frugal.

Oh, and one great tip I learned on a travel website, was to use contact lens containers for foundation, face serums and/or creams. I have two--one for am and one for pm. I can get enough product in those little cups to last me for two weeks.

rachylou

Veteran

There was a time when I was only home on the weekend - flew out Sunday's, returned Friday's. I essentially never unpacked. I also whittled it all down to a rolling suitcase and rolling tote. Inside the tote I had a small cosmetic kind of bag with absolute and emergency essentials: Meds, a few bandaids, matchstick nail files, tube of lotion, lipstick, eyeliner, compact mirror, tissues, mini deodorant. Also carried a flight blanket, a very particular inflatable neck pillow that was flat at the back, mini hairbrush and a rather special lint brush that was absolutely flat. Usually had a magazine, a book, Filofax, camera, laptop, phone, headset - this was the beginning of my absolute insistence on candybar phones and no flip open cases. I strapped the blanket to the tote. Now of course, the first four things are all handled by my phone.

When I stopped traveling that heavily, the things I put in my tote went in a drawer.

I try not to travel with shampoo and hair products, etc. But I do have soft squeeze containers for that sort of thing. They also go in the drawer. I never carry any product that's under pressure. Including hair spray.

Interesting to me - toothbrush I decided I'd pack in the suitcase and just carry those tiny plastic toothpick brushes in the cosmetic bag in the cabin. And yeah, I always check baggage. After so many trips, I decided not to be that anxious. It's also a pain to wait for and maneuver around people and their suitcases in an airplane cabin.

Jeanie

Veteran

I do mostly car travel and do travel frequently so I keep a travel tote bag packed with all my beauty type items in the closet. Inside the tote I have one of those hanging toiletry bags in which I have refillable bottles for shampoo, conditioner, lotion & cleanser, a mini deodorant, razor, mini hairspray, floss, band aids, neosporin, tylenol in a film canister, toothbrush, mini toothpaste, mini hair gel, nail clippers, nail file, cotton balls, q-tips, hair ties. I have a makeup bag in the tote and I just pack the makeup before a trip. Also in the tote is a travel hair dryer, hair brush, travel slippers, phone charger, earbuds, moisturizer.

So basically everything I need is packed. I just have to check that the refillable bottles are full and add makeup, my laptop and charger and curling iron. I really do love having this suitcase tote packed and ready to go. I travel about twice a month and haven't had any issues with anything going bad.

unfrumped

Veteran

These are some interesting options.
Part is car vs. air travel and " storage" vs. " packed" so that gives me some more ideas. I do keep my car travel toiletry bag packed with its items, but I always ADDED my toiletry kit, my duplicate or travel version of hair things, travel mug, charger etc, to my " car suitcase" rather than realizing I could have a small bag packed just for that and use suitcase just for clothes. Hence I " stored" items elsewhere even for car trips. I seldom am down to one- bag packing , usually because it's easier to have a couple of bags for possible items like gym wear, swimsuit that I might use in motel, and extra shoe option for occasions, rather than have one crammed bag.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a lot of clever ideas! I should have known about some of these before, given all the travelling I do!

I just keep my travel toiletries bag in our linen/ bathroom closet. It includes travel size bottles of the items I use. Extra small sizes of shampoo, hotel freebies, etc. are in a bin in the same closet -- periodically I go through that and toss out anything I don't think we'll be using or that looks expired.

I refill my travel bottles as needed.

I don't really differentiate between car/ train/ air travel. I use the same bag for all of them. I have to check it, alas (it's old and now over regulation size, though it wasn't when I purchased it). If I'm going somewhere for a longer trip I have a larger bag. Or if I'm going for a weekend or a trip that requires few clothes I do have a smaller carry on duffle.

Style Fan

Veteran

We mostly do long car trips. We go away for one month, two months or longer at a time. I do take shorter trips that are a few nights and those are by car.
I have my toiletry bag packed in a tote. I don`t unpack it. I have doubles of everything (face things, hair dryer, comb, brush, etc.) and travel size for shampoo and conditioner in that tote bag. I replace as needed.<br>I store everything in zipper lock storage containers.<br>I keep my make up separate (I haven`t duplicated that but I may). I pop in in there when I travel.
I have a travelling jewellery pouch that I put in my tote.
I have a suitcase and a smaller bag for packing. I use both. I also have my Yoga bag which gets packed.
Doggie has her own bag. Bowls, can opener, toys, old towels, etc.
We had to get a roof top box to fit everything in.

unfrumped

Veteran

Plus I always things as all or none!
I could try using my roller bag next car trip and see how I like it and decide over time if I want to hang on to my old car suitcase! It's like Angie's " wear your items". By making yourself use or try things, the way becomes clearer!

JAileen

Veteran

Re packing, my son swears by rolling everything. He has fit everything he needed for a year overseas into a backpack by rolling everything. He found the technique on youtube.

VioletMyra

Great thread.
I too have a hanging toiletries bag but I don't use it as i don't seem to be able to fit everything in it.
I'd love to view photos of what and how to pack toiletries into one. I'm attracted to being able to hang it over the shower nozzle so things can be taken out and returned there and then. I'm forever leaving small items behind <sigh>.
Best wishes to all.

Freckles

Veteran

I keep everything in the tote I only use for travel except my make up bag/toiletries. Some things I use small sample sizes of and keep them there to use in case they are starting to age. As they are the same products I use at home this seems to work for me. My SA generally keeps small samples in my regular products on hand for me if I need more for travel. This I keep in my beside table okay actually a bookcase with drawers but it is my night table... I tried keeping things in the suitecase but that didn't work for me as I tend to pack before I get the suitecase out and wanted the mesh bags handy. I also only use earphones, eye shield and pillow on the plane and once forgot them in the suitecase. Since the tote goes on the plane/train/car just keeping everything there seems to work. The converter doesn't go with me unless I go overseas but I still keep it there and just take it out if staying in North America.

Isabel

Veteran

We have different types of travel needs : air ( domestic and international ), car, camping. So I tend to use different bags for each.

I have a drawer where I keep toiletries and such ( a clothes line, Tide to Go, first aid stuff ) and another for electronics ( headphones, plugs, converters, extra phone batteries, wireless speaker ).

I mostly keep things in zip locks so that I can see what is in them. I don't like travel size stuff. I have refillable bottles or jars or tins ( I use the little Tylenol or Advil tube like containers for hairpins, for example). I use a great solid moisture lotion for air travel. I tend not to use it for car travel. So I like opening the drawers and and choosing what I need. I refill and re-access as I put everything back.

I think that if I travelled very often, I would keep a stocked zip lock in each bag that I frequently use. I would just move around the empty make up or dopp bag and fill it with what is stored in the travel bag.

And I LOVE the clothing cubes !!!! LOVE. They are just fab to keep clothes sorted. You can even color code : red for underwear, blue for pants, etc.

Anonymous

There's a little half door in our closet that leads to a small portion of the attic. That is where we store luggage and Christmas decorations.