Travel Products - Packing powders

I need a product recommendation.

When I travel, I bring along what I need to make a morning smoothie in my hotel room. I use a Blender Bottle and in it put water and a powder mix I bring along that will contain roughly 3 ounces of powder. In the past I've just put the powder in plastic baggies, one baggie for each smoothie so I can just dump it out and go. But I'd prefer to find small plastic jars, maybe 3-4 ounces big, that I can use for this purpose and I'm having a hard time finding anything suitable.

Is anyone aware of something that might work for this?

Nalgene has a wide variety of containers that would work well and are available at sporting good companies (in the US, REI.COM is one). However, for transportation on planes, I do not recommend baggies or containers with your smoothie powder, but instead leave smoothie in original package and bring bottles that you can pre-fill at your destination. This avoids potential security screening delays.

Leaving the smoothie powder in its original packing is not an option for several reasons. First, the original packaging of the main powder is a plastic tub about 18" high and 10" wide. Second, I make a blend from several different powders, including some in large glass containers.

I've never had a problem with security and carrying this stuff in baggies.

I've looked at REI online and in the store. They have nothing like this, which surprises me. Just looking for a 3-4 ounce wide mouth plastic jar. Seems like it should be easily found, but apparently, not so much.

I need a product recommendation.

When I travel, I bring along what I need to make a morning smoothie in my hotel room. I use a Blender Bottle and in it put water and a powder mix I bring along that will contain roughly 3 ounces of powder. In the past I've just put the powder in plastic baggies, one baggie for each smoothie so I can just dump it out and go. But I'd prefer to find small plastic jars, maybe 3-4 ounces big, that I can use for this purpose and I'm having a hard time finding anything suitable.

Is anyone aware of something that might work for this?

Parrillo http://www.parrillo.com. They have protein powders and other powders in travel size bags. They also sell a travel bottle to make your smoothie in. Hope this helps. I have no business dealings with this company only as a customer.

Thanks powerlifter, but I don't need the powders, I've already got the ones I want to use, and I already have a travel blender bottle. Just looking for containers for the powder. That's it.

You might want to look into baby formula dispensers like this (http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Colors/dp/B000067PIZ) or this (http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Colors/dp/B000RFCXIK).

The universe has already solved the problem of traveling with powdery stuff for parents of babies. Those dispensers come in several different shapes and sizes and most of them will give you a pretty good tight seal so they don't pop open in a diaper bag or whatever.

Thanks RevJim, I'll checl them out!

No problem, glad to be of assistance. If you want to go see them in person to find the right size, I think the best place to do that is a Babies-R-Us store if you have one nearby. If not then try a Walmart or Target baby aisle.

Conejo, I share your taste for breakfast and snack beverages.

What exactly is in your smoothie powder mix ? Where do you buy it in bulk ?

Conejo, I share your taste for breakfast and snack beverages.

What exactly is in your smoothie powder mix ? Where do you buy it in bulk ?

First, I should explain a bit about my diet. I'm not a fanatic about it, but in general, probably 50% of my diet is comprised of foods that could be classified as raw/vegan. Greens, veggies, fruits, seeds, nuts. Then another 30% is vegetarian, but not particularly raw. Could be things like sprouted-grain pita bread with hummus, vegetarian chili, etc... And then the last 20% includes animal products, but when possible I try to eat as clean as I can, like organic grass fed beef, organic cage free poultry, etc... Not always available, but that's the preference. Also recently added raw milk to my diet as an experiment, and am digging it.

My normal breakfast at home includes this shake, Vega One (http://myvega.com/products/vega-one-shake/features-benefits). It was developed by Brendon Brazier, the guy who wrote The Thrive Diet (http://www.amazon.com/The-Thrive-Diet-Brendan-Brazier/dp/0143052365/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1333236228&sr=8-3). Basically a vegetarian (and near vegan) triathlete. I like his stuff a lot. I'll take maybe 8 ounces of water, 8 ounces of raw milk, put a scoop of Vega One in the blender, then about half a scoop of their protein powder (i want about 25-30 grams of protein for breakfast, that's where I feel my best), then I'll add in a cup of spinach and mixed greens, hemp seeds, some healthy fats like borage, flax and sesame oil, and about half a cup of frozen fruit like cherries, raspberries or blueberries, then blend it all up. Great fuel and tastes great.

Can't do all that on the road, so I settle for the powder portion of it in a blender bottle. I also take a liberal supply of their protein and endurance bars on the road as well. I NEVER eat hotel breakfasts. There is little actual food there, just a bunch of sugar and white flour and empty calories. It's tough to eat really healthy on the road. If I'm doing business travel and will be in the same place for a few days, first thing I do when I get to my hotel is search out the nearest Whole Foods or similar and go buy some things to put in the mini fridge in my room. And if they have a juice bar where they can make fresh juices, all the better. A 16 ounce glass of spinach, parsley and kale juice with an apple juice base and one of the Vega protein bars makes a terrific lunch. And if going out to eat, maybe some grilled salmon and veggies.

You might want to look into baby formula dispensers like this (http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Colors/dp/B000067PIZ) or this (http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Colors/dp/B000RFCXIK).

The universe has already solved the problem of traveling with powdery stuff for parents of babies. Those dispensers come in several different shapes and sizes and most of them will give you a pretty good tight seal so they don't pop open in a diaper bag or whatever.

^Totally second this recommendation. Formula dispensers are designed to contain quite fine powders without mishap and are likely to be a good size for pre-measured "scoop" portions. But they will take up more room in your Tri-Star than a baggie.;)

Check the spice jars at places like spicebarn.com. They offer plastic bottles in 3 1/2, 5 1/2, 9 ox and 16 oz. You need to buy them by the case, but I buy all my spice jars from them. The 3 1/2 ones are $0.79 each (plus shipping).

If you have a restaurant supply house nearby they may have them to save on the shipping.

Thank you, Conejo.

Very interesting reading the Vega One mix details. Sounds quite good.

Agree with you 150% on Whole Foods.

I flew into the Bay area on a project in 2010 just for a tour and a meeting. Asked to stay on and help, I did for 3 weeks ( a change order add on, solving a problem ) with one check-in, my attache, and a carry-on. Working 10x6 2 weeks, and then 12x6 the last week, many of the restaurants were often closed when I finished at night. Weekly reports and lab work took all of each Sunday. Yoghurt+ fruit from the hotel was about it, the rest was ..... diplomatically, not to my taste, just as you mention.

Whole Foods on the other hand was amazing ! I'm a little more carnivore comparing your diet, but what great food choices that market offers. A real salvation.

You are all truly fortunate to have such a good market chain in North America !

Mike, thanks for the recommendation. Those look more like what I was looking for. Just wish I could order 10 of them instead of 100! Not interested in spending $76 on bottles but they look great!

Swissaire.....Whole Foods has its flaws, but all in all, it's a great resource especially for the traveler.

Do you live near a Container Store? They have an amazing variety of containers.

Yeah, the Container Store was my first stop. I was surprised at the lack of options for this.

The baby powder idea was a good one, but I don't like any of the containers I've seen. The spice bottle one was a good one, but you have to buy in bulk. I'm thinking a baggie with the entire trip's allotment in one baggie, and a measuring scoop, is probably my best bet here.

Yeah, the Container Store was my first stop. I was surprised at the lack of options for this.

The baby powder idea was a good one, but I don't like any of the containers I've seen. The spice bottle one was a good one, but you have to buy in bulk. I'm thinking a baggie with the entire trip's allotment in one baggie, and a measuring scoop, is probably my best bet here.

I've found physical stores (even baby ones) often have a limited selection of baby items.

Try this:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=formula+dispenser

And since amazon (and more other places that sell baby items) have free returns, buy a few and see which you like best.

If you are looking for 1 days' worth, these aren't great. But if you need 3 or 4 days worth, the containers with multiple sections would probably work well. Heck, I have an unopened unused one here I'd mail you, but it's probably cheaper to buy one from amazon than mail it.

Mike, thanks for the recommendation. Those look more like what I was looking for. Just wish I could order 10 of them instead of 100! Not interested in spending $76 on bottles but they look great!

Swissaire.....Whole Foods has its flaws, but all in all, it's a great resource especially for the traveler.

They sell individually, I order by the dozen all the time from them for spice jars. Unlike many of the places that require you to buy them by the truck, it's one reason I like them. For example for the 3.5 ounce ones

Stay at the top right side of the screen where you put the number of jars you want (up to 99), the bottom of the screen is is for 100 and over. Highlighted in blue below

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8109/bottlesq.jpg

Yeah, the Container Store was my first stop. I was surprised at the lack of options for this.

The baby powder idea was a good one, but I don't like any of the containers I've seen. The spice bottle one was a good one, but you have to buy in bulk. I'm thinking a baggie with the entire trip's allotment in one baggie, and a measuring scoop, is probably my best bet here.
When I travel for sport it will be a week (or more) long tournament so I take my supplements in ziplock bags.

I used to measure out each serving into its own bag, then tightly package those up but it got so time consuming to prepare. I also tried containers like the ones posted, but they're either not big enough for many days, or more awkward/bulky than a ziplock bag of a day or twos worth.

I now do a ziplock bag of each powder, and label them quite obviously. I squash the air out and double bag so the opening of one bag is at the base of the outer bag (I don't know if it'll help if a bag blows open, but it feels like it should). All my protein, glutamine, fish oil capsules, etc get put into the one larger ziplock bag so it is obvious they're all just supplements.

I keep the scoops seperately, it makes it easier to pack things. I also take a few smaller bags (that i reuse) when I can portion it out easily carry them with me to have post-game

thanks guys, much appreciated.

Cordelli, I'll check that out. Didn't realize (obviously) they sold in less than case lots.

Quick dry, I've been doing something similar with my powders. I have a couple of different blends I use in different capacities, so I get each measured out into a baggie, then put that into another baggie. Even that can get bulky. It's entirely possible that the right sized plastic container might be able to take up no space, or possibly use space a bit more efficiently in the packing cube I put it in.

Re the pills, I can't put all of those in the same bag. Many are the same color (either almost white, or brown). So I have small containers from REI and I'll put two different ones of different colors into the same one and label them accordingly.