Need help with my liquids bag
 

Hi guys,

I'm a business traveller and working hard to get to a onebag.com style of travelling.

To this end, I've got a RedOxx Airboss and attached the Tom Bihn strap to it, and so far it's been great for 3 to 4 days business trips.

Only things I'm falling down on is the liquids bag. Can anyone recommend a liquids bag which is suitable for reuse and MOST IMPORTANT, some small containers so that I can carry a minimal amount of liquids from the big tubs of moisturisers/hairgels/toothpaste etc that I use at home everyday?

I only need very small quantities of each cream so little tubs that can be easily filled and tightly sealed would be great. I'd need enough space to label them as well if possible

can anyone help?

I just use quart sized freezer ziplock bags. Reusable, but also disposable.

How about these containers? http://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-Travel.../dp/B00076RC0S

Ah, found the ones I actually bought last year: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M0O08A

I travel with a ziplock bag but these wear out frequently. Maybe I should make one:)

Walgreen's (also via Drugstore.com) and other companies sell tiny zip-loc bags called Pill Pouches (about 2 inches by 2 inches that are both cheap ($2.99 for 50) and fairly strong. I use this mini-bags for small quantities of creams, lotions, make up, toothpaste, etc.

http://www.drugstore.com/walgreens-p...1?catid=191623

I use a new quart size Zip-Loc bag for my 3,1,1 for each trip as I do not want to bring home whatever germs and bugs are on hotel bathroom surfaces.

I label the Pill Pouches with a Sharpie pen. Also use them for small quantities of vitamins and other non-Rx meds when traveling in the US.

I use one of these bags. The sliding lock on top broke off but the bag itself is much stronger than a disposable ziplock bag. You may be able to find smaller bags on ebay but the larger one allows you to pack your toiletries flat so it takes up less space in your bag.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260605119343...84.m1439.l2649

Most containers are far too big IMO at 1-2+ oz. I use 15ml containers for lotion, sunscreen, aftershave etc. That's only .5 oz so be sure to check the containers before each trip to make sure you're not about to run out. I actually use a couple of 1oz containers too for things I use a larger quantity of.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120782007959...84.m1439.l2649

I use one of these 20ml min spray bottles for hair spray.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170975530814...84.m1439.l2649

Not cheap ($22) but Tom Bihn's 3-1-1 bag is great.

http://www.tombihn.com/PROD/TB0917.html

Get a carabinier and clip it to the outside of your bag when there's no PreCheck.

I use the Bihn 3-1-1 bag; it's durable as hell and works great. As for containers for liquids and gels, search eBay for "TSA bottles;" you'll find many, many choices.

Nalgene bottles (container store) and zip top bags. I use a gallon size for my non-liquid toiletries.

Need help with my liquids bag
 

Second the suggestion on a trip/web visit to container store. Every size and shape of nalgene containers available there

Gotubes and Gotubbs by HumanGear. The. Best. Thing. Ever.

They come in various shapes and sizes, never leak. They are amazing.

http://www.rei.com/search?search=gootube

http://www.amazon.com/Gotoob-Humange.../dp/B003H9FATW

http://www.amazon.com/humangear-Gotu...ref=pd_sim_a_4

If you can get to a Muji store, they have great containers too. For perfume/cologne, they have a refillable atomizer that is fantastic for a week trip. Many others as well.

Regarding containers, depending how small you're willing to go, many finer cosmetic counters (e.g., department stores) will give samples of makeup and fragrance in very tiny plastic pots or vials. They are perfect for short trips, and most have screw tops, which is ideal. I just recently had a salesperson at the M*A*C counter fill up a tiny sample pot with a new foundation (as i wasn't sure about the color). Creed is always happy to fill a tiny sprayer of scent for me.

I have a few of these sample size containers that I've been washing and reusing for years because they are a perfect size, weigh virtually nothing, and never seem to wear out.

Also, if you really don't want to pay for a reusable clear toiletry bag like the Bihn, or if you're trying to trim every gram possible, be sure to only use Ziploc's quart-size freezer bags (do not use the ones labeled storage). Significantly more durable than the others — each one should should hold up through at least several trips.

^

Forgot about Muji but perfect for this too. If you can get to one in person (CA or NY in the US), they're impressive to browse. Not just containers, but you'll find all kinds of travel and toiletry stuff you didn't think could be made smaller or designed to fold.

I've settled on the most low-tech version. Small ziploc bags like this. I've tried some of the solutions suggested above but concluded that nothing gets as compact as a ziploc (which is very important when you are trying to stuff it in) and is so easily replaceable.

Very glad that you found a method that works for you.

I am doing a trial run at home of several products to see how much of each I will actually use for a 7 day trip. I do this about once a year.

Yes I am a fanatic.