
Design-minded plastic-lined dopp kit with a smart separate plastic slot for your toothbrush and a removable zippered pocket to toss into your day pack. Bonus: Get a free mojito travel wallet with any MF purchase on their website. (While supplies last.)
Luggage Accessories

Why oh why must laptop bags be black and businessey? This is one welcome exception, coming in four different color-design combos, none of them black. It also happens to be machine washable, reasonably priced and outfitted with a waterproof nylon interior with smart zippers and slots. You’re welcome.
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Do it for the environment. Bonus: Not giving uppity non-smokers more reason to feel superior.
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Jimi forces you to travel light. It’s slim and rigid, made of tough recycled plastic that snaps tightly shut around five cards and three folded bills, period. The “Wallet For People Who Hate Wallets” appeals to design-minded travelers and adventurists for its simplicity, water resistancy and durability (check out this story about a mountain biker who claims it saved her life). Priced at just fifteen bucks, with one percent of profits invested in the environment.
Also: Congrats to Angie for winning the Juice Pouch Tote! Quick reminder that tonight, the National Geographic Channel’s debuting Garbage Moguls about Terracycle, the company that makes the tote. What better time than Earth Day to learn more about production practices that go easy on our planet and all its destinations?
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So many situations the world over you can navigate smoothly with the double whammy of cash and compass.
(via The Awesomer)

Is it a surprise that a self-described “multi-tasking mom” invented the tugo? Who else better knows the value of a free hand? This durable drink holder debuted at the Travel Goods Show last month. It attaches to either side of a dual-post luggage handle, creating an out-of-the-way, spill-resistant spot for your beverages, thus streamlining your airport time.
Win your very own tugo to keep handy in your luggage’s exterior zipper compartment by leaving a comment below before 6 PM CST next Monday, April 6th. Anonymous comments and those without a valid email address will be disqualified. The winner will be chosen at random, then announced and contacted via email by or on Wednesday, April 8th. If I don’t hear from the winner within 5 days, a new one will be chosen. Please enter/comment only once per giveaway. Good luck!

My latest gear roundup, Born-Again Bags, is in the current issue of Frommer’s Budget Travel. It was tons o’ fun to track down the latest in green carryons, but one of my very favorites got cut at the last minute. So, here it is, this great little clutch made out of pop-tops crocheted together in all sorts of colors (bamboo shown here). I use mine as a purse organizer that makes my business cards, pen and lipsticks easy to find and to transfer from bag to bag. I love that I can just remove it from the bag, as I did recently before hitting the town in Vegas, and bam! It’s a fancy stand-alone clutch. All designs are more refined versions of what’s apparently a common souvenir in Brazil, where the owner took inspiration while on vacation. All Escama bags are made in Brazilian women’s cooperatives—you can see the ladies’ profiles and send the maker of your specific bag a thank-you email via Escama’s website. You’ll likely feel inspired to thank. I get compliments on mine all the time.
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As an admitted thrift store addict, I generally carry a tape measure with me to best evaluate tablecloth length, planter height, skirt waist and what have you. Looks like it’s time to get rid of the ridiculous black-and-yellow industrial behemoth I inherited from my handy husband.

Another great Travel Goods Show find: Malcolm Fontier, who designs carryalls with creative urban travelers in mind. The Mojito, for example, is a nice little travel wallet with a flat pocket for folded-up currency and a main compartment that holds four cards in place with a colorful little elastic strap. Great for traveling light. Also, Industrial Designer Fontier and his fiancee/co-founder are vegetarian and so worked hard to find a material for these that looks and acts like leather but isn’t.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Win Malcolm Fontier gear through March at malcolmfontier.com. Click on the “Important Notice” on the bottom of the home page to sign up. They’re giving away bags to the first five names drawn and wallets to the next five.
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These are among the many cool products recently featured on design*sponge as part of a Travel Accessories Under $100 feature meant for Domino magazine, before its untimely demise. Love “I made it! I made it!” That’s always how I feel.
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