Scored a great deal on a budget flight? Jet off with these lightweight essentials to make the most of your reduced baggage allowance, so you’ll have more room for shopping. BY SMITA WEE
Scored a great deal on a budget flight? Jet off with these lightweight essentials to make the most of your reduced baggage allowance, so you’ll have more room for shopping. BY SMITA WEE
Light but warm
Women Ultra Light Down Parka, $99.90, from Uniqlo
The stylish nylon parka packs compactly into a carry pouch, making it incredibly space-efficient. It may be unbelievably light and thin, but it’s super warm.
Unbearable lightness
Rimowa Salsa Air Multiwheel Collection, $850-$1,025, from Rimowa stores
You’ll want a light suitcase that’s strong to protect your belongings. This collection, one of the lightest in its class, is spacious and durable. Made from polycarbonate, the range comes in five sizes, star ting from 1.9kg for the cabin-sized 34-litre luggage, to 3.6kg for a huge 98-litre one.
Charge right up
Travel Card Charger, US$29 (S$38; UP: US$49), from www.travelcardcharger.com
At an almost negligible 57g and 4.9mm slim, this portable charger fits right into your wallet like a card. When it’s full, it can recharge up to 80 per cent of an iPhone 6. That's enough juice to let you post pictures on social media.
High and dry
Micro Travel Umbrella, US$18, from www.geniuspack.com
This opens to a diameter of about a metre wide and then collapses to just 15cm – that’s one and a half times the length of a credit card! Even if you’re not carrying a bag, the 225g umbrella could fit easily into your jacket pocket.
A shoo-in
Shooz, from US$129 for a skin and a sole; US$65 for each additional skin or sole, from www.indiegogo.com/projects/shooz-the-world-s-first-modular-tech-travel-shoe
The shoes come with a detachable and interchangeable “skin” and “sole” that you connect via a zipper . Once linked, you only need to fasten the snap on the heel and you’re ready to go . So, instead of packing m ultiple pair s of shoes, bring along more skins for different occasions.
Water break
Vapur Eclipse Water Bottle, US$11.99-$13.99, from https://vapur.us
This unique water bottle can be folded, rolled up or simply flattened when not in use . It also comes with a handy carabiner that y our child can use to attach it to his backpack.
Bag it
Quechua Arpenaz 15 Ultralight Bag, $8.90, from www.decathlon.sg
When you need a backpack for a day trip, this light polyester bag that carries up to 3kg is perfect. It also keeps your things dry in case it rains. You can roll it into a ball and tuck it into your suitcase when not using it.
All’s Not Lost
Dread losing your belongings, including all the shopping you've just done? Tracking devices such as Tile (US$25, from www.thetileapp.com), Loc8ing Air Travel Tag (US$38, from www.loc8ing.com) and Trakdot Luggage Tracker (NZ$119 or S$112, from www.trakdot.com) offer hope . Just attach one to your suitcase , download its app onto your phone , and you’ll be able to locate the whereabouts of your suitcase provided it is within a distance of usually 70m to 100m. Early next year, look out for Samsonite bags with an embedded tracking beacon to help travellers find their luggage using a smartphone app called Track&Go. Of course , owners must register the beacon at Samsonite's own Travlr app first.
