IT CAME IN THE MAIL

Travel Snack Sac

An occasional look at products the travel industry insists we need.

WHAT: Travel Snack Sac, for meals-on-the-going-away.

AIMED AT: Travelers who demand a lot out of their lunchboxes.

HOW MUCH: $30 to $40.

BUT DOES IT WORK? Preparing for trips, we often plan out our snacks before our toiletries. As mobile meals become more gourmet -- why have PB&J when you can dine on pesto pasta salad and espresso brownies? -- so, too, have our lunch bags. The Travel Snack Sac is square and a little clunky when stuffed with edibles (it rolls semi-flat when empty), less than ideal for compact packers. The bag's interior is as busy as a refrigerator, with two waterproof pockets for ice packs (if gelled, remember that's a no-no on flights), a pair of zipped mesh compartments, utensil and napkin holders, and a cup ring. There's also a beverage sleeve on the outside and a separate attachable bag for dry goods or trash.

The item is designed to fit atop a plane or train tray, yet the top portion isn't sturdy enough to stay upright, and the mesh pocket doesn't quite work as an ersatz tablecloth (a smoother surface would have been preferable). However, the feed bag certainly kept our veggies crisp and our sweets unbroken, so we won't have to choose between the chicken and beef again.

-- Andrea Sachs

KangaRoom's Travel Snack Sac is available through the company at 415-543-3615,

http://www.kangaroomstorage.com.