Bring a Large “spare Bag” With You for Unexpected Vacation Purchases
Now I usually travel at least two weeks a month, which means, among other things, that I have become a pro at getting out of my suitcase. I know exactly what I need to pack for the week and how to pack it so that it all fits comfortably in my carry-on so I don’t have to check my bag on the way out. The biggest relatively recent addition to my arsenal: a slim duffel bag that I put in the bottom of my carry-on before I pack it.
I bought the bag at Copenhagen airport late last year, mostly to use up my remaining local money. It has been a clutch ever since.
My bag is about the same size as my carry-on on wheels, but made from this suede fabric, which (so far) has proven to be quite durable despite being super, super thin. If you press on it, everything in my carry-on bag will fit in it. It’s thin enough to lie flat, like a tiny piece of extra padding in my regular suitcase. It doesn’t look like it’s available on the internet, but it looks like a larger version of it .
The idea of carrying the bag is pretty simple: I like buying things, especially local spirits, which are both heavy and require tons of valuable items in the suitcase.
While sometimes I can put my purchases in the bag with everything else, other times I need more space or the bag will be too big when it comes time to check it out on the way back. When that happens, I pull out my trusty spare bag and fill it up with everyone else. The bag turns into my carry-on, and my roller bag can handle the rest.
In theory, I’ve been doing this for years with a small Hershel foldable bag that I bought (like this one ). I bought it because it was tiny, but because it was tiny it could only hold a few things, which ended up making it more awkward to carry than help. I think (at best) I used it to offload my sneakers and a few pieces of clothing, which actually leaves room for only one bottle of booze in my bag. You need a large overnight bag.
A larger bag that can be folded out like a lining in a regular suitcase is much better for work and can make packing a lot easier when you head home and need to figure out how to get all your belongings home with you.
Sometimes you don’t need it, but when you do, it’s an awesome piece to have on hand and can save you the hassle of a last minute trip to the hotel’s gift shop to figure out how you’re going to get everything on board. …