How to Pack Smartly and Spill-Free

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Given the new security restrictions stemming from the recent terrorism scare, packing has taken on a new dimension. Many items that were once allowed to be carried aboard are now relegated to checked luggage. What are travelers to do?

Even the experts are a little thrown off. San Francisco packing guru Doug Dyment, creator of the Web site One Bag.com ( http://www.onebag.com/ ), usually skimps on toiletries in his effort to travel light and only brings the essentials in a single carry-on bag. But what about his two must-haves -- Woolite (hard to find in his preferred packet size) and the shaving oil not sold in the United States?

"The situation is worse for those with the more pressing need for on-board products," Dyment writes in an e-mail. "I'm hoping that the rules will be relaxed slightly to allow very small containers of some things."

If or until regulations loosen up or cease altogether, leave the imported shaving oil at home or pack it properly in checked luggage -- and follow the advice of packing experts and frequent fliers.

Carry-On Tips

· Buy solid versions of products usually sold in liquid form. The company Lush (888-733-5874, http://www.lush.com/ ), which has a Georgetown store, sells bar forms of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and moisturizing body butter. Some perfumemakers also sell bar-soap versions of their scents. Shaving soap works up a good lather, and fans of crystal deodorants swear by their effectiveness. Powdered shampoo and toothpaste could be options.

Keep in mind, though, that the Transportation Security Administration does not guarantee that solid or powdered items will clear security. Those items will be left up to officers' discretion, according to the TSA Web site.

· Stroll the aisles of your local drugstore. Plenty of time-saving products are ideal for these times:

· Pre-moistened towelettes clear security without problems. They include hand sanitizers, facial cleansers, sunscreen and insect repellent.

· Instead of toothpaste use Oral B Brush-Ups, which are minty, finger puppet-like teeth wipes. Or chew on Arm & Hammer's sugar-free baking soda gum.

·  Listerine Pocket Packs, Altoids and tongue scrapers freshen breath, as do toothpicks in cinnamon and other flavors.

· Simplify your makeup routine by using pressed powder products, such as blush and eye shadow. Bring eye, lip and concealer pencils. Lipstick is permitted. And baby wipes remove makeup well.

· Order toiletries ahead of time from an online outlet such as Drugstore.com (800-378-4786, http://www.drugstore.com/ ) and have them shipped directly to your hotel. Free shipping and discounts are often available. Drugstore.com's Web site ( http://www.drugstore.com/travelstore ) also suggests other flight-friendly products.

· Bring medication in its original packaging, including the label with your name on it. Note that pharmacists might put the label for some medications, such as those in tubes, on the box the product came in, not on the product itself.

· Given that you likely won't need a 30-day supply of your medications on vacation, ask the pharmacist to pack them in smaller quantities in smaller bottles.

· Be aware that some items -- including teething rings, shoe inserts and vitamins -- contain gel and are prohibited.

Checked Luggage Tips

· Pack liquid and gel products in resealable freezer bags. They'll prevent leaks and will also aid inspectors who may search your checked luggage. Double bag them for extra protection.

· Transfer two or three days' worth of shampoo, lotion, etc., into leak-proof bottles, such as the Nalgene containers sold by Magellan's (800-962-4943, http://www.magellans.com/ ) and other companies. Sterilized liquids should stay in their original bottles.

· Leave room at the top of bottles for expansion during air pressure changes. Squeeze out excess air.

· To cart home that bottle of Jamaican rum or Tuscan olive oil, wrap the bottle in bubble wrap, put it in a resealable bag and nestle it in clothes in the center of your luggage. If you pack a few bottles, take their heft into consideration, as they could push you over the airline's weight limit.

You can also purchase a foam- or corrugated-cardboard-lined carrier box and check it with your luggage. Besides providing cushioning, the boxes regulate temperature. Wine that sits in 100-degree heat on the tarmac could overheat, popping the cork, says Grant Raeside, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance in California. Boxes usually cost around $1 per bottle at most wineries and wine shops. Pricier versions also are available through the company Wine Packs.com (800-372-3126, http://www.winepacks.com/ ).

· Tuck perfume bottles in shoes.

· Ship breakable liquid items home. Be careful to follow the stringent federal regulations on sending alcohol, especially whether you're permitted to send it to your state.

Space-Saving Tips

To make extra room in your suitcase, get creative:

· Wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane.

· Shift items around. If you usually put your shoes in checked luggage, tote them instead in your carry-on bag.

· Roll, rather than fold, as many items as you can. Or pack clothing in compression bags, such as those by Eagle Creek (800-874-1048, http://www.eaglecreek.com/ ), which push excess air out a one-way valve.

· An official searching your checked luggage will have an easier time zipping it up if it is packed loosely.

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MORE INFO: General packing tips can be found at Free Travel Tips.com ( http://www.freetraveltips.com/ ) and Smart Packing.com ( http://www.smartpacking.com/ ).

-- Elissa Leibowitz Poma