packing tip: using contact lens cases for liquids and creams

After about 20 years of active traveling, I am pretty good at packing light, but I am always open to learn new tips even though it's pretty rare for me to hear anything new now.  But much to my happy surprise I came across a packing video on youtube recently that offered a solution to my constant struggle with the darn 3 ounce liquids rule.  The tip was so simple!  Just decant your liquids into a contact lens case - preferably the kind that screws shut.

While I am an avid collector of skincare samples, they are often too small for the duration of my trips, or they are new products which could end up irritating my skin.  I'd much rather use my routine skincare and makeup products but I don't always have sample sizes of them.  (Tip - you could go to Sephora and they are usually very nice about giving you a sample which can usually last 3-4 days, but that takes a lot of pre-planning.)  However, this tip of decanting your lotions, liquids and creams into eye contact lens cases is ingenious!  It's leak-proof, light, and if you use both sides and/or multiple cases, you could get enough product for your entire trip.  The cases are also easy to clean and quite durable - unlike many of the cheap travel containers you can buy in drugstores.

I'm preparing to head out on a trip to Paris and Berlin soon and I've been decanting my moisture masks, face lotion, face sunblock, and foundation into little cases.  I just put a strip of masking tape on each and label them, and I'm saving so much room in my carry-on luggage!  It's also great if you only want a small amount (i.e., night cream, face mask, etc.) for the plane ride without taking out your entire toiletries bag.

Have you ever tried this packing tip?

tom bihn aeronaut carry-on luggage and eaglecreek packing cubes review

This is my Goldilocks story with luggage, not beds. In my twenties (I blame naivety and vigor of youth), I never left for an international trip without an 28 in. check-in bag, an 22 in. wheeled carry-on bag and a backpack. I once went on an 35 day, 13 city Contiki European tour with that much luggage. That meant I had to hull all that bulk and weight around every other day as we moved on to the next destination. Then I had an “ah-ha” moment and tried three weeks in China with only one 22 in. wheeled carry-on bag and a backpack. Despite wild temperature swings from freezing in Snow Jade Mountain to sticky humidity in Hong Kong, I survived on what I carried. Over the years, I’ve experimented with Tumi Alpha wheeled carry-on bag, framed backpack with wheels, wheeled dufflebag and finally found the carry-on that just fits me right: Tom Bihn Aeronaut.

Aeronaut is the best for the type of travelling I’m interested in: 2-3 week multi-city international trips. It’s 22 inches long and is extremely durable yet light weight at only 2 lb 7 oz. I don’t need to tell you that most American airlines charge for checked luggage (international trips typically exempt). Also many European budget airlines like Ryanair and easyjet charge extra 25E-50E for one checked bag. And if you are afraid of losing your luggage you will not want to check luggage anyway. Carry-on size restriction is typically 22 inches in height. To add to complications, many international airlines- Singapore, Virgin Atlantic to name a few- limit in-cabin luggage weight to 8kg (18 lb),10 kg (22 lbs) respectively! Although I had proper size carry-on, I was once forced to check luggage by Virgin Atlantic under this unreasonable weight rule on the start of a safari trip. I almost missed my connection to Botswana via Johannesburg (there’s only one flight a day) when delays in air and customs left me with little time to recollect my luggage for the next leg. I had a panic attack and contemplated traveling for next 10 days with just the clothes on my back. After that terrible experience, I vowed never again to be forced to check luggage at the start of my travel (return home is ok). Now 22 in. size bag under 18 lb is the goal for start of each trip. Aeronaut has well padded shoulder straps and side handles and no wheels nor re-enforced frame which typically add significant weight and bulk. I rather carry extra clothes than waste precious weight allowance on the luggage itself. And without any hard frame or wheels it’s squishable, if needed, as I found on a recent easyjet flight to Morocco. Others who couldn't cram their bags into the crowded overhead compartment due to the wheels were forced to gate-check their bags. And did I mention it is super durable and water-resistant? And on a superficial note, it comes in awesome color combinations.