Have a few world travelers on your gift list this holiday? Make life easier for them with these ideas that will make going through airport security a breeze.
Targus Zip-Thru Air Traveler laptop case
$80 at targus.com, bestbuy.com and retailers such as Staples
Skip the conveyor-belt tray and minimize the trauma to an expensive computer. The multi-pocketed carrier opens like a book and has a protected section on one side for a computer, eliminating the need to remove a PC at security. Once through the X-ray machine, simply zip and fly.
Envirosax bags
$8.50 at envirosax.com
These waterproof polyester bags measure 19.5 by 16.5 inches and can carry up to 44 pounds, but they squish down so small (about 4 by 1.5 inches) that they’ll fit into any suitcase, purse or briefcase for unexpected souvenir shopping or, more often, a last-minute dash to the grocery store.
Minimus gift certificate
In increments of $25, minimus.biz
Those who bemoan the drugstore’s paltry trial-size selection need a gift certificate from minimus.biz, an online company dedicated to all things small and TSA-approved. Products cover all facets of life on the road, from eating (squeezable packets of PB&J, hummus on the go) to toiletries (sunscreen packets or tubes, after-shave lotion) to miscellaneous (shoe polish, bug repellent wipes).
Travel slippers
$10 at Brookstone stores or brookstone.com
No more sweeping the airport floor with your naked feet. Dress up heels and toes in n-a-p Travel Slippers. The soft, bootie-like footwear has more heart and hug than the airport’s disposable models, and they work well for in-flight naps and on hotel carpets.
Paper soap, Paper shampoo, Paper laundry soap and shaving paper
$6 for 30 sheets at flight001.com or spoonsisters.com
These business-card sheets dissolve quickly in water, create a nice lather and are small enough to tuck in a pocket. Plus, they eliminate bulky shampoo and shaving cream bottles, freeing up your quart-sized liquids baggie for other things, like duty-free mini bottles of rum and hot sauce.
Soft-Touch dispensers
$1.29 each at Container Store or containerstore.com
Bulky toiletry bottles take up premium space in a quart-size, zip-top baggie; so use that coveted real estate wisely. Three-ounce holders are shaped like holiday light bulbs and are more pliable and stackable than hard-plastic holders. Colored caps help deter travelers from shampooing with sunscreen.
Prices and availability subject to change
