Packing Light, 5 Tips for Wired Travelers

Written by / Mighty Girl

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    • MGpackinglightPOV.jpgIf there’s more computing power in my smart phone than in the the first space shuttle, then I shouldn’t need a Sherpa to help me lug my gadgets. Still, as our tech gets smarter, our suitcases get heavier. The more clever the device, the harder it is to leave behind. Here are five tips on packing light without a heavy heart. 

    1. Choose double-duty cases. 

    zaggipadcase.jpg

    As long as you’re adding bulk with a gadget case, choose one that does more than protect your gear from scratches. The Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad ($99) is made of lightweight aluminum and includes a keyboard. Suddenly, leaving your laptop at home seems plausible. 
    mophieiphonecasebattery.jpg
    The Mophie Juice Pack Plus Case and Rechargable Battery ($76) gives you eight hours of additional talk time or seven extra hours of Web time, built right into the case. 
    2. Use sleek protective gear. 
    onaanybag.jpg
    The ‘ONA’ Any Bag Camera Bag Insert ($59) is a camera bag in its purest form. Use any purse, or the flimsiest nylon duffel, to stash your camera gear without damaging your lenses.
    3. Get organized. 

    cocoongridit.jpgThe Cocoon GRID-IT Organizer ($10) reduces bulk by helping you store small gadgets and accessories vertically. 

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    Before you go, download books, renew online subscriptions, and research useful apps. Lingolook Flashcards ($5) are a smart replacement for pocket vocabulary books. Tripit is an indispensable app for organizing travel documents. It does everything automatically via email.
     

    4. Take full advantage of your phone camera. 

    phonefisheyelens.jpg

    If you’re on a quick trip and don’t want to shoulder a heavy-duty SLR, consider extending your phone camera’s capabilities. Photojojo offers all kinds of options, including fisheye, macro, and wide angle camera phone lenses ($20-$40), and a the OWLE video rig ($169) that stabilizes your phone while you shoot with the wide-angle lens and high-quality mic. 
    Margaret Mason
    Margaret Mason
    Maggie Mason is the author of No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog, publisher of Mighty Mighty Media, and a Twitter power user (@Maggie). Her personal blog, Mighty Girl was recently nominated for a SxSW Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was named one of Silicon Valley's Top 50 Influencers by Now Public.

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    • http://profile.typepad.com/meghumphrey Meg

      That is *the* camera bag thing I’d been wanting. My camera has had the odd jelly bean and breath mint stick to it at the bottom of my purse.

      Also: the library! Download audio and ebooks from the library. Free with a library card.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406357988 Robert

        Nichole I have followed your work for awhlie. You seem so down to earth and such a great person. You are a wonderful Photographer and I look up to you alot. Thanx for sharing. Someone had helped you at some point in your life .now you are doing the helping. Keep on keepin on you’re doing a gr-8 job! I hope one day I will be as awesome as you. I love that you were self taught and practise practise practise! I’m still working on it. I need some confidence and all I wanna do is go out and shoot after reading your blog :0) thanx again cheerz Mandy

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406359666 Loki

      Tim,I agree with you, but we have different ageadns. Mine is finding ways to cope with email overload. Yours is problem-solving. The A.D.D.-like behavior that many email-addicts exhibit is very destructive, and I’m trying to convince people that switching off is a good idea. My post attempts to demonstrate the potential benefits of slowing down and resting our minds, because we might even benefit from it. I have to thank you as well, because you supply an even more compelling reason to let the mind rest when you say that deliberate, conscious thought actually interferes with problem solving.Now regarding problem-solving on-demand, that’s your area of specialization