Bag Alert – What’s in Your Bag?

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A common question that we all have is “What are the essential items to take when traveling?” I am sure we would all love to say everything but realistically we have to be smart about our decisions when packing our bags. The more practical answer is an array of tech items that help keep us organized and ensure that we remain ‘connected’ at all times. Of course, this is a crucial component of not only maintaining a travel blog but also a way of life nowadays!

I am sure that many would see this as a sad state of affairs that we rely so heavily on technology but given the abundance of products that surround us, we all need to keep up-to-date with our tech travel products. Let me ask you this question “What’s in your bag?” I am going to share with you a variety of technology products that have made my life so much better not only when traveling but in everyday life.

What’s in Your Bag?

Before going into specific details, below is an overview of the tech products I generally carry around in my bag!

Let’s take a look at each of the above items and I will share with you some of my experiences as to why these are such crucial tech products in my life. Perhaps one or two of these would fit nicely into your everyday life!

1. BlueLounge CableClip

BlueLounge Cable Clip (Large)

The BlueLounge CableClip is a great way to keep those hard to manage cables neat and tidy. I always have an issue with my cables popping out of my bag, but with this clip, I don’t need to worry about it. It is perfect for travelers to be able to get what you need out of your bag without just grabbing a handful of wires.

BlueLounge carries 3 different sizes of clips large, medium and small starting at $9.95. I have found this to be particularly useful for my MacBook Pro given that Apple cables tend to unravel fairly easy!

2. Dark Energy Reservoir – Portable Battery Charger

Dark Energy Reservoir Portable Battery Charger

The Dark Energy Reservoir – Portable Battery Charger is a compact device that provides a charge for a smartphone up to 6 times. It comes with the charging cable, plug and a fashionable looking case for the charger. The Reservoir design is the coolest part of this device, as it is very lightweight and sleek for all of us who only want to carry what we need. There are 3 LED lights on the front to indicate the battery life of the charger.

You can purchase a Reservoir from Dark Energy for only $99 which may seem a little expensive in comparison to other similar devices in the market, but this is durable, lightweight and of course very stylish.

3. Travel Lite Screen Wipes

Travel Lite Lens & Screen Cleaning Wipes

Travel lite have various wipes for everyday use but we get the most use out of the screen cleaners. These are streak free and you can use them on multiple devices before disposal. Starting at $2.49 these wipes are great for anyone.

If you want to know more on these wipes check out a post that we have featured earlier with more great products.

4. 13” Macbook Speck Case

One thing about MacBooks is that the aluminium exterior tends to scratch fairly easily, so in order to prevent that I would encourage you to look no further than a Speck case. The case easily clips on to your computer and has a very stylish look and feel.

Most people love that the Apple logo lights up and the Speck case enhances this illumination. Even though it is quite pricey at $49.95, it is nice having that peace of mind knowing that I have good quality protection and is easy to clean and maintain.

5. Inateck 4 USB Plug

I always carry the Inateck 4-USB plug with me as it is a very convenient device when you always carry at least 4 devices that all charge the same way. We have all been at the airport with one outlet and all of our devices need charging! Well, you no longer need to pick which device to charge as you can charge all of them at the same time.

This great accesory is only $14.00. To learn more about this plug check out our earlier post that has more items from Inateck.

6. Orbit Key

OrbitKey & BlueLounge Kii

When we travel our keys are always making noises but this is where the OrbitKey comes in very handy! There is a screw that goes through the hole and can hold up to 7 keys then tightens to keep them organized. It is very lightweight and dust-resistant.

Another cool addition is that there are accessories that you can add to this keyring such as a bottle opener and a USB Key that are useful to have with you as well. It might be rather expensive considering what it is, but for $29.95 what it does is an ingenious tool that I use every day.

7. BlueLounge Kii

Bluelounge is known for its clever innovation and unique design, and they definitely proved this with the Kii. This little Kii is designed to be on your keyring and is a USB to Lightning stick. It is something that is always with me when I happen to forget my cable or didn’t bring enough. As you can see from the image, it fits perfectly alongside my OrbitKey and is an integral part of my collection as I am always needing to find a USB to Lightning connection.

The Kii comes in 2 different colors, black or white and is also available in the 30-pin to USB starting at $19.95

8. Nice Gulp Cablekeeps

Nice CableKeep- Gulp

When you travel as frequently as we do, organization is incredibly important. You have probably noticed that throughout this post that a lot of what I carry is to enhance the overall organization in my bag. One of my major pet peeves is finding loose cables tangled and difficult to find. To help in this situation, Nice invented cablekeeps to organize cords as well as creating a stylish way of using your chargers.

An interesting fact about cable keeps is you do not have to stress over finding a name for these little guys, Nice has already named them – meet my new friend Gulp (see image above)!

You have your iPhone or iPad charger that slides into the cablekeep and the cable wraps around the fin and then can clip into place. Various ones are offered in several colors for $13.00.

9. iPad Mini Speck Case

iPad mini’s are extremely small and lightweight which makes this device the best and easiest way for us to keep up with the rest of world while we are traveling. I have a Speck fit folio case on mine and it is not heavy or bulky.

I am able to maintain having a device that is lightweight and protecting my device with this case that comes in various colors and styles for $39.99

10. Jot Pro Stylus Pen

Having a stylus pen is great however have you ever used a fine point stylus? I never did, a stylus is a stylus to me but once I used the Jot Pro I realized my theory was completely wrong. The fine point allows endless possibilities with the precision disc to aid in this challenge. Having a dampening tip also makes the strokes quieter and more comfortable to the user.

The Jot Pro also has a rubber grip for comfort and a magnetic cling for easy storage. This is definitely worth the $29.99 price tag.

11. Jackery Leaf Rechargeable Phone Case

Jackery Leaf Rechargeable iPhone Case

Let’s take a quick reality check and ask ourselves a question – how long are you on your phone every day? Well, one of the major problems with using your phone all the time is the battery life that diminishes rather rapidly!

Now when I need to charge my phone I use a Jackery Leaf that comes with 2 cases and a rechargeable battery charger. The case has a slot in the back that allows the charger case to snap into place. Some charging cases on the market require them to be on your phone the entire time but with this one, you snap on the charger when you need it and it snaps off to reveal your case underneath.

Competitors in this market are around $100 but the Jackery starts at only $49.95 which includes the 2 cases, battery case, and a headphone jack.

12. Audiofly Earphones

Audiofly is an amazing brand with a huge selection to choose from. We all have individual tastes and I know that this market is saturated but I wanted to introduce you to this brand primarily for their comfort level and also as they offer noise-canceling functionality which is key for long-haul flights. These are well worth the $39.99 for the best pair of in-ear headphones in this price range.

13. BlueLounge Messenger Bag

Most of the bags that I have carried in the past are heavy and have semi-accessible compartments, but this is where the BlueLounge Messenger bag excels! It is very comfortable and with a large, open main compartment for my computer, it provides easy access to anything you would need. It has front mesh pockets to easily store the little things that I need access to and zipper pockets to safely secure the smaller items.

The best part that I like about this bag is that it is easily adjustable while I have it on and has a custom aluminum quick release buckle. It is also water resistant and is an environmentally friendly fashion statement.

You may think that $139.00 is a little expensive but it’s money well spent to know you have everything you need to carry in one place! Plus it’s a great fashion accessory as well.

That’s My Bag

Many of the items in my bag are not necessarily critical to enhancing our travel experience, however, they definitely make traveling and everyday use much easier and more organized. In turn, this enhances your overall experience as you have everything readily available throughout your day to day routine.

I am always on the lookout for that next technology product that will help us with our travels, so let’s turn this over to you and ask you the following questions…

What’s in Your Bag? What items are your necessities? 

*Disclosure of Material Connection: A Brit & A Southerner was not financially compensated for this post. We received free samples from several of the above brands for consideration of review purposes only. This is solely our personal opinion/experience*

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Heather Boothmanhttp://www.abritandasoutherner.com
Heather Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born and in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Heather has always been a fond traveler but was only able to start fulfilling her dreams of traveling the world when she met her husband, Chris in 2008. They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Heather at [email protected]

19 COMMENTS

    • Jackery leaf is an amazing charger, you can put the battery charger on when you need it and remove when you don’t. Which is great because who really wants to carry that pack around if you don’t have to like some other brands. Thanks for the support.

  1. Some of these items would be so convenient while traveling, esp. the battery charger. I’ve become an expert on finding the electricuty outlet straight away upon entering a room so I can charge … pretty sad, now that I realize I typed that down haha

  2. The Jackery Leaf charging case is a great idea. Can I assume they have cases for any phone or is it just iphones? We need something like this as our phones are always dying. I always think we are packing light when it comes to technology but the more I think about it, the more I know we could streamline it further.

  3. Lots of technical stuff in your bag!!! I think I only have chargers for my iPad and camera when I travel . . . and that’s about it! But you know that portable battery recharger would be the most convenient thing ever! Must acquire this item!

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