You know a dopp bag? I need one of those. But bigger. And AMAZING
October 17, 2017 11:15 AM Subscribe
I'm going to be traveling for an extended period. Like many months. So my usual travel dopp bag of toiletries and medicines isn't going to cut it. What I need is something that fits in a decent sized checked luggage bag AND which fits a dozen different OTC pill bottles and the same larger toiletry bottles and implements. But in a way I can get to. I'm willing to go high tech (new from Japan) or old school (vintage case that used to do X but now can do this). So what are my options here?
I have few items from Eagle Creek and their stuff is generally high quality and well thought-out. In your position, I would take a look at their website and see if they have something that matches what you're looking for.
posted by primethyme at 11:52 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by primethyme at 11:52 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I get the feeling you are a classier traveler than I am, but I use a 1 gallon ziploc freezer bag for this. And not even because I'm cheap: I like that it's clear so I can see everything at once, and if something spills I can toss it. If that's too small, they make 2-gallon ones.
I pack my clothes in em too.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:55 AM on October 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
I pack my clothes in em too.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:55 AM on October 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
You're thinking about this the wrong way. You don't want a larger version of a thing appropriate for infrequent, short-term travel, you need an entirely different approach.
When I was little, my family took a nearly month long cross country road trip. (I realize the situation and needs are different, but hear me out.) While it makes sense on the surface for each person to pack what they need in a single suitcase, that gets unmanageable really quickly when you need to be mobile over a long period of time. So instead, my parents packed everything in banker's boxes and filed them in the back of our station wagon like it was a storage closet. One box was "warm clothes - kids." Another was "swim suits/supplies." Another was "medical." Another one was for toiletries. And so on for each specialized need. That way we didn't have to pull out our entire damn lives for one item or scale anything down to micro size. Smart.
So if I were you in your position, I'd be looking at a waterproof packing cube, maybe something like this. Something that isn't purpose-built for toiletries, but something that'll safely contain and hold the things you need it to that can be removed from your suitcase as a single, unfiddly unit. If you get one tall enough that everything can stand right side up when it's unzipped, then it can be set on a counter or shelf and be visible at once, which feels much more "normal" than pulling bottles blind out of a zippered bag. Packing cubes are also VERY helpful for compartmentalizing your clothing by purpose so you don't have to dig under (and mess up folds on) 5 t-shirts and a pair of pants just to get your sweater.
p.s. You probably don't need a dozen pill bottles. Decant a reasonable amount into one bottle, or apportion them into baggies along with the packaging info with the ingredients and dosage instructions. Space is at a premium, you don't need 12 noncompressable pieces of plastic full of mostly air.
posted by phunniemee at 11:59 AM on October 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
When I was little, my family took a nearly month long cross country road trip. (I realize the situation and needs are different, but hear me out.) While it makes sense on the surface for each person to pack what they need in a single suitcase, that gets unmanageable really quickly when you need to be mobile over a long period of time. So instead, my parents packed everything in banker's boxes and filed them in the back of our station wagon like it was a storage closet. One box was "warm clothes - kids." Another was "swim suits/supplies." Another was "medical." Another one was for toiletries. And so on for each specialized need. That way we didn't have to pull out our entire damn lives for one item or scale anything down to micro size. Smart.
So if I were you in your position, I'd be looking at a waterproof packing cube, maybe something like this. Something that isn't purpose-built for toiletries, but something that'll safely contain and hold the things you need it to that can be removed from your suitcase as a single, unfiddly unit. If you get one tall enough that everything can stand right side up when it's unzipped, then it can be set on a counter or shelf and be visible at once, which feels much more "normal" than pulling bottles blind out of a zippered bag. Packing cubes are also VERY helpful for compartmentalizing your clothing by purpose so you don't have to dig under (and mess up folds on) 5 t-shirts and a pair of pants just to get your sweater.
p.s. You probably don't need a dozen pill bottles. Decant a reasonable amount into one bottle, or apportion them into baggies along with the packaging info with the ingredients and dosage instructions. Space is at a premium, you don't need 12 noncompressable pieces of plastic full of mostly air.
posted by phunniemee at 11:59 AM on October 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
This IKEA Upptacka Toiletries bag is totally a steal and not too expensive if you hate it (discontinued from IKEA but I think you can buy at that link). That one is pink but if it's the only color you can find you should still buy it. Fits a full size hairbrush, my ziploc of travel size liquids, Sonicare carrying case, medication, jewelry pouch, and non-liquid makeup. Has lasted three years and lots of international and domestic flights/road trips. It is AWESOME.
posted by stellaluna at 12:05 PM on October 17, 2017
posted by stellaluna at 12:05 PM on October 17, 2017
I just nipped over to CVS and bought a large clear plastic toiletry bag that is a perfect rectangle (because I hate the wasted space of the tapered and curved ones) 10x7x3 with a large metal zipper. Always clear because it takes less time to think of what is in it. No label except "made in China" but it was around $10.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:20 PM on October 17, 2017
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:20 PM on October 17, 2017
My dad traveled a LOT and always used a hanging kit because he could partition his things in a useful manner and everything was readily visible when unrolled and suspended. I agree with the advice to decant your pills.
posted by xyzzy at 12:29 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 12:29 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I put all of my toiletries into a small packing cube with the liquids inside ziploc bags. Include extra bags as they take up very little room. Bottles of pills can waste space when they start to get empty. For harder tablets, a snack size ziploc will hold them, but label with a marker or torn off bit of the label if the pill is not distinctive. For more fragile caplets, buy them in a blister pack but don't bring the box along.
posted by soelo at 12:30 PM on October 17, 2017
posted by soelo at 12:30 PM on October 17, 2017
You don't need to, and probably shouldn't, put medications and toiletries in the same bag. You probably want toiletries nearby when you are showering, but the medications will do better if they aren't around the humidity of the shower area. Also, depending on your lodgings it can be very handy to have what you are bringing into the bathroom and shower areas be more compact.
Hanging organizer for toiletries, big ziplock for the pill bottles. Bring some extra smaller ziplocks to hold pills if you want to get rid of the bottles for more suitcase space later.
Unless you are going to very remote places -- which seems unlikely if you are bringing an actual suitcase -- there's no need to haul big containers of shampoo with you, buy smaller containers along the way.
posted by yohko at 12:32 PM on October 17, 2017
Hanging organizer for toiletries, big ziplock for the pill bottles. Bring some extra smaller ziplocks to hold pills if you want to get rid of the bottles for more suitcase space later.
Unless you are going to very remote places -- which seems unlikely if you are bringing an actual suitcase -- there's no need to haul big containers of shampoo with you, buy smaller containers along the way.
posted by yohko at 12:32 PM on October 17, 2017
If you want to carry full size bottles, I've heard great things about kits shaped like this. I believe there are other brands as well, but I can't seem to come up with the right search terms to find them.
posted by mosst at 12:43 PM on October 17, 2017
posted by mosst at 12:43 PM on October 17, 2017
Another great hint to using inexpensive zip lock bags: use duct tape to reinforce side and bottom seams and just below the zip lock part. Duct tape is always good to bring during extended travel in case of emergencies anyway - you can bring different sized bags to use as you wish and tailor the duct tape seams in whatever manner.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 12:48 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 12:48 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have a small rectangular nylon zip bag, about six inches by ten inches by three inches, which easily holds eight or ten small prescription bottles. It's far more convenient, for a trip that's more than a day or two, than a single bottle full of a confusing mixture of different pills.
I don't like to decant my pills because there are occasions when I might need to have the original prescription bottle, such as if I am delayed while traveling and need to request a refill from a local pharmacy. One also reads that the TSA prefers original bottles, though they don't require them. If you request it, your pharmacist should give you a small additional labeled bottle, if your regular bottle is too large and wasteful of space, as they often are.
For toiletries I prefer a hanging bag. I bought L.L. Bean's largest hanging toiletries bag for traveling with my family. When my kids reached an age to travel alone, I bought them each the smallest one.
Toiletries go into the checked bag. Medications go into the carry on, always.
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 1:12 PM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't like to decant my pills because there are occasions when I might need to have the original prescription bottle, such as if I am delayed while traveling and need to request a refill from a local pharmacy. One also reads that the TSA prefers original bottles, though they don't require them. If you request it, your pharmacist should give you a small additional labeled bottle, if your regular bottle is too large and wasteful of space, as they often are.
For toiletries I prefer a hanging bag. I bought L.L. Bean's largest hanging toiletries bag for traveling with my family. When my kids reached an age to travel alone, I bought them each the smallest one.
Toiletries go into the checked bag. Medications go into the carry on, always.
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 1:12 PM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Decanting is suggested for OTC medications - you should keep a copy of your prescriptions with you and the best place is the original bottle.
posted by soelo at 1:22 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soelo at 1:22 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
When I was traveling and camping in a van, my toiletries and meds were full size and in a backpack, separated inside in clear plastic bags, ziplocks work great. Bring a few extra ziplock bags. And in my rolling duffel bag, underwear and socks were in ziplocks. It makes it so much easier to be organized. If you ask the pharmacy, they'll put meds in small containers. Take pictures of all your meds, making sure to get the renewal date and prescription number. My android photos get automatically stored in google drive, so the info comes in handy. While you're at it, photograph your passport, driver's license, credit cards (front and back in case you need the emergency #) and any important travel documents. I always end up using the picture for online shopping, but good to have.
posted by theora55 at 3:15 PM on October 17, 2017
posted by theora55 at 3:15 PM on October 17, 2017
Another vote for NOT decanting prescription meds. The potential risk (of not having the prescription handy when law enforcement gets curious, and of your own potential mix-ups/misplacings) far outweigh the benefit of saving the size of some small, light bottles! You want to decant something, decant your shampoo into 3 ounce travel bottles. That's worth it.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:33 PM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:33 PM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zarq at 11:37 AM on October 17, 2017