How To Pack It > Packing Liquids
Bottled liquids of any kind are leakage prone, all the more so on airplanes: it's truly surprising what can be made to leak under changing air pressure conditions. Full bottles fare better than those containing large air spaces. One helpful trick is to squeeze the container a little before screwing on the cap, thus giving the contents room to expand).
The lightweight, unbreakable polypropylene bottles made by Nalgene® (especially the narrow-mouth variety) feature very well-designed caps, about as leakproof as you're likely to find (REI and Campmor carry these). Such containers also provide a good excuse to repackage liquids in smaller bottles: you are unlikely to need a six-month supply of shampoo on your two-week trip to Greece. And for that matter, it is possible to buy shampoo in Greece.
Yielding in this rare instance to the "umbrella plus raincoat" philosophy, I strongly recommend placing bottles containing liquids inside one or more sealed plastic bags as well, just to be sure. Although the traditional Ziploc® bag can be used for this purpose, a much more effective (and durable) solution is the Aloksak bag (shown at right), which is certified waterproof to depths exceeding 60 meters, for periods of at least two weeks. An Aloksak bag can also serve as an ice pack, a secure food storage container, and even (when inflated) a pillow.
Liquids and Air Travel Security
In late 2006, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration introduced some draconian (and annoying) rules pertaining to the carrying of liquid, gel, and aerosol products aboard commercial aircraft. The 6×9-inch version of the aforementioned Aloksak bag (which sells for about $2) is an excellent candidate for the "one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag" that air travellers must currently use in order to carry liquids, gels, and/or aerosols through security inspections.
Alternatives to Liquids
The best solution to all of the above concerns, naturally, is to eliminate the carrying of liquid (and other restricted) products in your luggage altogether. Many toiletries and cosmetics come in solid form; use of these avoids the weight, bulk, and environmental cost of excess packaging, in addition to the (considerable) weight of the liquids themselves. Here are some suggested products/suppliers:
| shampoo, conditioner | J.R. Liggett's Bar Shampoo is a travel mainstay; LUSH Cosmetics also has several excellent products in this category |
| sunblock | KINeSYS Fragrance-Free Sun Protection Stick; Neutrogena® Healthy Defense® Oil-Free Sunblock Stick |
| tooth cleaner | Eco-Dent Daily Care Tooth Powder, available in mint, cinnamon, lemon-lime, and anise |
| mascara | La Femme Cake Mascara with Brush, available in brown and black |
| foundation | Shiseido The Makeup Stick Foundation (14 shades) |
| moisturizer | Luisa Cocoa Butter Lotion Stick; Bee Bar |
| facial cleanser | Mustela Facial Cleansing Cloths |
| exfoliant, body scrub | ModelCo Exfoliate Body Wipes |
| face mask | Sandalwood Clay Face Masque |
| bronzer | Michael Kors Leg Shine |
| perfume | Trouble Poudrier à Parfum; LUSH Cosmetics offers a variety of solid perfumes as well |
| insect repellent | Coretex BugX™ Towelette |