Packing Light: Top 10 Summer Finds

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Nikki Pepper

Tumi makes a simple black expandable wheelie suitcase with a built in hanging bag. Shot at Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri, Coorg, India.

Summer is hot enough already without lugging around a heavy bag or paying to check your luggage. So unless you are super duper platinum and only fly your preferred airline or have a sherpa that follows you with your trunks as you galavant across the globe, we thought a “lightening your load” list was necessary. Below is a list of our top 10 favorite gadgets, products, accessories and even a credit card that will eliminate excess baggage fees.

# 1. Tumi Alpha International Expandable Carry On (pictured above): Our favorite light wheelie suitcase! We have in both the carry on and checked variety. The carry on is 21.75 x 14 x 9.25 inches and weighs just under 11 lbs (when not expanded). Even better than the sleek and light weight design are the built in hanging bag and ability to expand the bag should you do some shopping on the road.

Three of our favorite compact summer must-haves: Ray-Ban’s Folding Wayfarers; GoPro Hero3; iPad Mini.

#2. iPad Mini: “Mini” means lighter and smaller. Lighter and smaller means easier travel. Snag a mini version for your social updates, download all your favorite 2,000 page novels, magazines and travel apps and leave home pounds lighter. The Mini is just about half the weight of the iPad: .68 lbs verse 1.33 lbs (308 g verse 601 g).

#3. GoPro Hero3: The camera was originally designed for surfers trying to capture the perfect glassy barrels (i.e. the big tunnel waves) of exotic off-shore breaks. The quality of footage quickly converted the active adventure crowd including the “squirrel suits” jumping off of and out of everything they could possibly shoot. The camera/videocamera is easy to use with only one button and boasts a fisheye lens. Given it’s light weight, only 2.6 oz or 73 g, and easy to slip in your pocket, there should be no surprise that there is a compromise– there is no view finder. To the surfer that created this genius compact device, a view finder while remaining standing atop your board in a “sick” wave that would likely drown the majority of us was a non-issue. There is however an easy to use app that can be downloaded via iTunes to your iPhone to review footage and control the camera/video camera on any adventure you may take yourself on. Thus far, OTPYM have aired on the softer side of adventure– sneaking footage of pool parties, from helicopters and at concerts.

Michaela Guzy, founder of OTPYM, hits NYC’s summer food trucks in her folding Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Available at Sunglass Hut.

#4. Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarer: The Original Wayfarer may have been created in 1956, but the legendary sunglass brand have launched an even more colorful and compact version this summer. They fold up to the size of your palm and can be tucked in any pocket for easy-travel. Even better is Ray-Ban expanded beyond the classic frames in black to include eye-popping colors like green and orange– all available in light weight polarized lens.

Clinique Sunscreen from left: Body, stick, and face lotions are always in our beach bags.

#5. Clinique Sunscreen: This iconic skincare and make-up lines makes one of the lightest sunscreens on the market. Our favorite was the Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Cream which is gentle enough for sensitive skin and doesn’t cause breakouts. Clinique also makes a tiny targeted protection stick that packs an SPF of 45 and is good for those burn-prone spots like your nose and shoulders.

Favorite flip flops for the summer? Havaianas of course. The metallic makes these rubber wonders so versatile, regardless of whether you are in a park, at the beach or sipping rose at a Sunday Funday brunch.

#6. Havaianas Flip-Flops Slim: For the ladies, a bit of metalic sparkle makes these easy to pack shoes both perfect for the beach and to match your maxi-dress at night. For guys, the Aloha model comes in versatile neutrals – black and navy – so you don’t have to think twice before slipping them on with boardshorts or jeans. And the best part? Not only will they match most ensembles in your weekender bag, they’re comfortable and waterproof! Get a pair at Bloomingdale’s, your local surf shop or the Havaianas website.

Wendy Summer, ZAANHA’s founder and an OTPYM contributor (left), and her friend wearing locally produced Afghan scarves. Photo: Wendy Summer.

#7. ZAANHA‘s Pashminas & Scarves: Even in summer, a scarf or shawl comes in handy for an airplane, over air-conditioned restaurants and hotels and on the beach after sunset. Order one from ZAANHA, a retail site featuring handmade pashminas made by local craftsman in Afghanistan. A portion of profits goes back to sending Afghan street children to private schools in pairs in an effort to help break the poverty cycle. The pashminas and scarfs come in a variety of colors, patterns and even with hand-stitched embroidery.

Michaela in a ZAANHA scarf at the Halebid Temple, Karnataka, India.

The perfect day to evening handbag in a punchy summer color and removable crossbody chain. Clutch by Khirma Eliazov.

#8. Khirma Eliazov Handbags: Beautifully crafted fine leather bags, mixed with exotic skin in the widest range of colors imaginable. The designer makes weekender bags, carry-ons, purses perfect for laptops, day-to-evening clutches and a piece that converts from a messenger bag, to a clutch, to a fanny pack. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t your NorthFace fanny from your family vacation to Japan circa 1986– this bad boy boasts the softest leather, python and sting ray and an edgy chain laced with leather. So far we’ve rocked her designs from Central Park, NY, Las Vegas, NV and La Jolla, CA– Australia won’t know what hit ’em.

More of Khirma Elizov’s collection: crossbody, clutches and totes.

#9. Platypus SoftBottle: This may sound unappealing as a drinking apparatus, but we assure you, this reusable device collapses flat and is the smallest water bottle we’ve found to date. You can purchase at REI and Eastern Mountain Sports.

Platypus Softbottles come in .5 L and 1 L with the option of 3 cap types. Cascadedesigns.com.

#10. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: What’s better than collecting double points on travel, food and taxis? How about the annual fee waived for the first year, no foreign transaction fees and a live human when you call? We even got 40,000 free miles for signing up for the card aka: a free domestic ticket or really close to an international flight. Chase Sapphire Preferred is a Visa card — Visa is accepted in 170 countries worldwide.