How To Pack It

Packing Liquids

Bottled liquids (and gels) 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 containers 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).

Better, though, is to repackage liquids and gels in more appropriate (and smaller) containers. Not only will this reduce the leakage problem, it will save weight and space. You are, after all, unlikely to need a six-month supply of shampoo on your two-week trip to Greece. For that matter, it is possible to buy shampoo in Greece. There are two good repackaging options …

For a fairly rigid, more traditional container, consider the lightweight, unbreakable high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles made by Nalgene®, especially the narrow-mouth variety (pictured above). These feature particularly well-designed caps, about as leakproof as you're likely to find (REI and Campmor carry these). The downside of this approach is that, as they are emptied, the bottles remain the same size, wasting space and entrapping air (which may not be best for the contents).

A more flexible solution (both figuratively and literally) is the use of leakproof, refillable squeeze tubes. As you might imagine, such a product is not easily come by, but Easy Traveler makes a robust, surprisingly well designed version (shown at right). Part of what makes them leakproof — and their contents more accurately dispensed — are their relatively small exit holes; these would also make them impossible to fill, except that the company supplies a wide variety of couplings to attach them to just about any source container imaginable (and a sort of "hypodermic syringe" for use if those fail). The sturdy tubes are available on their own, but best purchased originally as a kit that aids in their use (most appropriate for the air traveller is their 3-1-1 Totally Compliant Carry-On Kit™, with ten assorted squeeze tubes, a spray container, and an extensive set of container transfer fittings).

Finally (and yielding in this rare instance to the "umbrella plus raincoat" philosophy), I strongly recommend placing liquid containers inside one or more sealed plastic bags as well, just to be sure. Although the traditional Ziploc® bag (especially the heavier versions intended for freezer use) can be used for this purpose, a much more effective (and durable) solution is the aLOKSAK bag (shown at left), which is certified waterproof to depths exceeding 60 meters, for periods of at least two weeks. An aLOKSAK can also serve as an ice pack, a secure food storage container, and (when inflated) a pillow; in fact, leaving some air inside a sealed aLOKSAK is a good way to provide extra cushioning for items packed within. You can even reconstitute or cook food in one, by pouring boiling water into the bag (it should not be immersed in boiling water). Should your personal aesthetic prefer removal of the product's lettering, this can safely be achieved with denatured alochol.

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 under $3) 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.

If you do wish to carry aboard a larger-than-permitted amount of some liquid or gel — contact lens solution, perhaps — remember that you can repackage it into multiple smaller, legal-sized containers (as discussed above), as long as all of them fit into the requisite bag.

Alternatives to Liquids

The best solution to all of the above concerns, of course, is simply 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; FACE Stockholm Cleansing Powder
exfoliant, body scrub	ModelCo Exfoliate Body Wipes
face mask	Burt's Bees Pore Refining Mask; Sandalwood Clay Face Masque
bronzer	Michael Kors Leg Shine
perfume	Trouble Poudrier à Parfum; ZAJA Natural and LUSH Cosmetics also offer extensive varieties of solid perfumes
insect repellent	Unimed BugX™ Towelette; Ben's Wipes (both products use a 30% DEET formula)