Our family is no stranger to traveling. Tech Savvy Daddy goes on tons of business trips and as a family, we have made countless cross-country trips with Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer to visit grandparents in California, trips to Hawaii, and beyond. Even though summer seems to be winding down, I wanted to share some old favorites and new finds that seem to make traveling so much easier. Some of these may also be good choices for back to school!
Timbuk2 Messenger Style Laptop Bags– I love my Timbuk2 for so many reasons. It’s tough exterior is made of the highest quality ballistic fabric that can withstand anything, its design features an incredible array of pockets to keep all of my devices (and pens, business cards, papers, water, etc.) in their places, a super plush corduroy lined compartment for my laptop, and a rubberized waterproof bottom so the contents of my bag will never get wet even if I drop it in a puddle.
My Timbuk2 is basic-go-with-everything fashionista black but you can choose among color combos designed for the style of bag you choose, specialty bags (like this one wrapped in a San Francisco street map) or get fancy and build your own customized bag. Select the size (small, medium or large), colors and fabrics, customize the liner, insert, logo, and if you wear your bag on your right or left side and Timbuk2 will build your bag! My sister-in-law has an amazing magenta wool bag that I totally covet and while at Yahoo! I spotted their just-in super purple bags with the Yahoo logo. Apparently they had extra pockets added. Swoon!
For frequent travelers, check out the TSA friendly updated bags with their a “clever laptop compartment” that “unzips to lay flat so you don’t remove your laptop at airport security.” Genius! Just another reason why I love Timbuk2 and would happily spend my own money on their stuff any day.
Lands’ End Eco-Friendly Backpack ($49.50)- If you prefer distributing the weight of your laptop on both shoulders, then the brand new Lands End Eco-Friendly Backpack is for you. Despite recently getting my backpack at BlogHer, it has traveled from Chicago to San Francisco to DC and has passed my rigorous backpack test. Built with 100% recycled fabric made from discarded plastic drinking bottles, this backpack is super tough, has 3 zippered pockets to keep small, medium, and large items in their places as recommended by organizational guru Peter Walsh, a well padded laptop sleeve that fits a 15” laptop, plenty of pockets to keep even the most Type A organized, and comfortable straps that won’t dig into your shoulders even with the heaviest of loads. Some backpacks make it tricky to extract your laptop when you finally reach the x-ray machine in the security line but the design of this bag makes it easy even if you pack it full like I did on the way from San Francisco to DC. This is definitely my new favorite backpack and kicks my old one to the curb. Like all Lands’ End products, this also comes with a money back guarantee. Get $5-10 off select backpacks and lunchboxes until Tuesday, August 18. The Eco Friendly Backpack is currently $10 off and on sale for $39.50!
And while you are on the Lands’ End site, check out their Packland Fantasy Backpack Creator. Choose from 4 themes and create the backpack of your dreams by clicking around and adding fun features. Here’s the backpack that Little Miss Techie wishes she could carry on board each flight or to kindergarten!
Water Bottles– I’ll admit it. I’m cheap and refuse to pay for an overpriced bottle of water post-security. These days every member of our family travels with their own water bottles that we fill from the airport drinking fountains once we get through security. The kids have their aluminum bottles in fun prints from Cattiwampus ($10 each but get 20% off storewide with code BACK2009) while Tech Savvy Daddy and I like our BPA free bottles like the Thermos’ 24 oz Intak ($11) or Nalgene’s 24 oz OTG Everyday ($11) because they are BPA free, leakproof, and have flip top lids. Apparently we aren’t the only ones who like Intak and OTG. Good Housekeeping Research Institute recently tested 32 reusable BPA free bottles to determine the best spill proof, easy to use, durable, stylish, and easy to clean ones and ranked Intak and OTG among the Best Reusable Water Bottles. The pictured Thermos Intak was given to me for participating in the BlogHer 5K and was well deserved for waking up at 6:30 am! All other bottles were purchased.
Headphones– Our choice for noise cancelling headphones are the Sony NC-60s($199). Even though Sony sent them to me to try, Tech Savvy Daddy has developed quite a liking for them and I can see why. The NC-60s are super plush with tons of cushion to completely encase your ears and filter out background noise so much so that you may not even hear your own children during a flight. You decide whether this is good or bad!
For the kids, we like Sharebuds MX Twin Stereo
Earphones ($39.95). We just got a set to test out before our trip to California and found that the two pairs of earphones and one jack made it easier for both kids to watch the same movie, use a single Leapfrog Tag, or share an iPod without the hassle of a splitter. If you don’t like the tangle of headphones, then you may prefer the retractable ShareBuds ($49.95). Order them from the ShareBuds site and get free shipping.
Giveaway time! What did you take with you this summer that is a travel essential? Leave a comment telling me one of your travel favorites and enter to win a set of Sharebuds MX Twin Stereo Earphones for your next flight! Don’t forget to include your e-mail address so I can contact you when you win!
Tweet for an extra entry and come back to leave a separate comment. @techsavvymama has posted her travel picks based on extensive summer travel! Read and win Sharebuds! https://www.techsavvymama.com
All comments must be received by Wednesday, August 26 at Midnight. Winner will be contacted via e-mail.
Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012
For me, I always need a good book. For the kids, I need snacks & stickers & puzzles & paper & crayons & books & toys & Nintendo DS & a laptop to keep them occupied! 🙂
Let me be honest…I have three boys, so we never hit the road without a jar to pee in. It is a travel essential in our house! Other than that, we take our Leapster on all trips plus the Star Wars Visual Dictionary. They never get tired of looking at the pictures.
I totally second you on that Land’s End backpack. I took mine with me on vacation and it was my most valuable player. Although I would say that the iPhone is a pretty indispensable travel accessory.
I didn’t travel this summer but when I do a backpack is definitely a neccesity, though I normally just use one we have around the house. I also always have to have a book in case I’m flying or have down time.
-Lauren
lauren51990 at aol dot com
For me, a total necessity is a great book and my Cpap! (which I need to sleep, as I have severe sleep apnia).
A great backpack is of huge use, when traveling, because I love shopping, and I can stash my new-found treasures inside, till I get home.
imasingr@wildblue.net
For long car rides we always had Tag, snacks, wrapped up dollar toys and lollipops to be used when all else fails.
i have to admit i can’t go anywhere without my ipod. i listen to it to go to sleep at night. i thought it was often that my room at blogher had a clock with an ipod dock. very, very cool. for once i slept without getting wrapped up in my headphones!
melanie(dot)myatt(at)gmail(dot)com
(do your kids water bottles get dented and banged up easily?)
My kids love their Leapsters and Didj handhelds for car trips. Oh, and snacks are a must.