Travel Tip Tuesday : Three Packable, Stylish Travel Totes

You know how I’m always on the lookout for functional products that make life easier?  Well, I am.  And when said products enable folks to pack lighter and keep the planet green, while remaining somewhat stylish, it makes the Carry On Queen in me happy.

This Travel Tip Tuesday,  I wanted to share a few packable, eco-friendly, stylish totes that can be used during your travels as a purse, day-pack, market bag, beach tote or just some extra space for travel souvenirs when you have no room left in your luggage.

Here are three affordable options that you should consider bringing along on your next vacay.

1.  Baggu Bags

 

 

 

 

 

 

These totes fold flat into a 5″ x 5″ pouch, which makes them perfect to tuck into that top pocket of your suitcase or in between your t-shirts.  Made of rip-stop nylon these machine washable totes are available in an array of rainbow colors, stripes and florals.  But perhaps the most stylish is the recent addition on the No. 6 line – a colorful collection of animal prints.  Grrrrrrroooowl.  Priced from $8 – $12.

 

2.  Flip & Tumble

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These little cuties pack up into a tiny ball, the size of a pair of socks – which makes them the perfect size to toss into your luggage.  They have several styles, many of which sling over your shoulder, which are better than the short handled version.  They come in both solids and prints and range in price from $5 to $12, making them a great buy.  And the best part – when you feel you’ve gotten your money’s worth – you can send them back to the company and they’ll recycle them.

3. ChicoBag

 

 

 

 

 

 

ChicoBag’s original model may be a bit boring, so opt for the Vita, or the Vintage, Nature and Karma collections which all have fun graphic designs. Though they may not be quite as compact, one feature the other two brands mentioned don’t have is the addition of a lightweight aluminum carabiner on each little storage pouch.  The idea being that you can ‘clip’ your ChicoBag somewhere and never loose it.

For travel, this might work well if you attached yours to your suitcase.  As part of ChicoBag’s Zero Waste Program consumers are encouraged to send in reusable bags, functional or not, so that they can either distribute them to low income families or recycle them into useful products. Bags range from $6 – $13.

Would you use something like this when you travel?  Have you used one of these bags before?

Tell us about it in the comments.