The Best Underseaters from the Travel Goods Show

So, this past week at the Travel Goods Show, I found a ton of fantastic bag options for light packers or those that want to pack light and need a little help. Let's talk underseaters!

Budget airlines are becoming more and more difficult to fly on with enough baggage, because they charge for everything. $60 (one way!) for a checked bag and almost the same for a bag that fits in the overhead. I'm a light packer, but even I need a little extra space sometimes. Baggage fees are a multi-billion dollar industry, but you can keep your money instead of throwing it away for your clothes to fly with you, plus not have to wear it all on the plane to make it happen.

When you fly Sun Country, Allegiant, Spirit, easyJet, Ryan Air, or any of those other "budget" airlines that aren't so budget after all the fees, you need a great underseater.

photo credit: Lewis N Clark

Last year I went to the show and came back with so many ideas and great bags coming our way. Lewis N Clark's OnBoard bags were fantastic. They have a duffel (which I reviewed) that has a wonderful low profile and pockets that didn't interfere with sliding it easily under and out from the seat in front of you. It was innovative and sporty, and you could pack a ton of stuff in it.

photo credit: Lewis N Clark

If you're like me and need to carry a laptop, their OnBoard backpack has similar features, but it is wide enough for your computer and is nicely hands-free and out of the way, making runs through the airport a little more convenient. Plus, it still looks cool, while being functional, especially when needed to get items out mid-flight.

photo credit: Lewis N Clark

This year LNC have introduced a deluxe packing organizer, which is essentially 3 packing cubes and an envelope that can hold all your stuff and you can close it up and throw it in your bag or carry as is. With Eric and I sharing a large carry-on when we travel, two of these would really keep all our stuff separate and organized, plus give our bag structure and packability for other necessities. No more Tetris-ing everything in nooks and crannies to jam it all in (I hope). 

When unfolded, the cube has one large zippered packing mesh cube on one side, two smaller ones on the other, and a zippered slip pocket along the entire back where you can put larger items, like jeans or pants, and this works as sort of a garment bag around the cubes. You can use it for toiletries, clothes, smaller items. Whatever you need! I'm thinking of using it inside a weekender and then packing shoes, electronics and snacks around it, so you aren't having to paw through a jumble of stuff every time you're looking for something that's probably shifted to the bottom of the bag magically. And when you get where you're going, no need to unpack, because you can lay it in a drawer or hang it up!

photo credit: Travelon

I'm dying to talk to you about Travelon's new Heritage Weekender. You guys! This bag is so beautiful and unisex and user-friendly. It unzips on top and has a phenomenal wide mouth opening, because they know what we all want and need in our bags! It can easily hold a week's worth of clothing with spare shoes and toiletries. I'm obsessed with it! The Heritage collection is lovely (remember this adorable crossbody?) and wears so we'll. The linger you use it, the more worn and fantastic the fabric looks. Every dude needs this for Father's Day, but everyone's going to want to steal it to use for their trips too. And it's so affordable. I still have reverse-sticker shock!

photo credit: Nomatic

Shall we talk backpacks that get real? Nomatic backpacks and rolling bags are going to be huge! The Travel Pack comes as a bundle and has a packing system and pockets and all the things you wish you had in a bag, but it all fits on your back and makes your travel life so. much. better. I love it. You'll love it. Your mother's going to love it. Even better? The laptop compartment is TSA ready, making security a whole lot easier.

photo credit: Thule

I went from the New Products Pavilion (because of course you start there) directly to the Thule booth. You probably recognize the Thule name from trucks with Thule shells or family vehicles with gear pods on the top. (Sorry, I don't have these things, so I don't actually know what they're called.) If you didn't know, Thule, pronounced "tooly", also makes rugged luggage and their boarding bags and spinners are both great to look at, but they're also really, really functional. The Subterra Convertible Carry-On is available now and a wonderful travel companion. There is an upgraded bag that is soon-to-be out and I genuinely had nothing that I would change about any of them.

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A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Mar 29, 2019 at 8:17am PDT

You may have forgotten about the InTransit Bag from Walter + Ray that I reviewed last year, but it's, for real, one of the greatest bags. It has genius pockets and it super organizes all your travel goods and even has a removable lunch bag, so you can keep your foods cool while you fly. Well, she has some new bags, including the InTransit in leather now and the new Stagecoach bag that looks rugged and manly, but also vintage and pretty. 

So these aren't all the bags I saw, but they are the ones that are top of mind right now. I'm looking forward to bringing you a bunch of reviews in the coming weeks, in case you have someone on your list for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, or just need a new bag for yourself for Summer vacation.

What do you look for in a carry-on bag?

Shake Off Your SAD With A Relaxing Getaway

It’s what you’ve been waiting all winter long: The sun is back to stay, and the temperatures are rising. It’s finally time to ditch the heavy jacket and woolen cardigans and to look into summer fashion. But despite laying all the cues in front of you, you can’t shake off the last bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder that hung over you all winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short, is typically linked to the reduction of direct sunlight, as it can be the case during the winter.

Plan a campervan trip

While most people experience bursts of excitement and happiness as the days grow longer, others struggle to find their happy mood back. If you still feel a little sluggish even though the sun is out, it’s high time to help your brain to catch up with the season! Spring is here, and therefore the best thing you can do right now is to plan an unforgettable getaway. You don’t need to go far or to schedule a long vacation; your brain only requires a short break from the routine!

Take a drive to somewhere unknown

The main reason why your mind doesn’t know that the days are getting longer is that your routine doesn’t follow the weather. If you’re the kind of person who works all week in an office and relaxes at home during the weekend, then your brain never receives any different signal. As far as it’s concerned, it’s still winter, even though the calendar says otherwise. Therefore, disturbing your routine and going away from your home for the weekend can act as a catalyst. Change your surroundings by driving to a new destination.  As you do, your mind will begin to take note of everything that happens around you. A change of landscape – even a small one – helps your body to shift the focus on new factors, namely the sunlight, the warmth, and the new colors.

For a moment, forget the routine

Introducing new behaviors can give your brain the room it needs to catch up. Indeed, the routine anchors the SAD phenomenon deeper into your lifestyle. While if you look for a camper rental and spend the weekend exploring your region, you’re forced to do things differently. From where you sleep to the usual takeaway order, you can forget everything about your habits when you’re on the road. Instead, take things easy and let the road decides for you. The process stimulates the mind.

SAD is all about being outdoors … with moderation

Ultimately, SAD is the result of a loss in direct sunlight. It’s fair to say that spending time outside can optimize your intake in vitamin D – which is a result of sun exposure. Your weekend getaway in a camper encourages outdoor activities. You can park in the next town and wander in the streets and parks. You can sit down on a bench with a coffee to go and watch the people. You don’t need a lot more than 30 minutes of exposure to feel positive results. But when the mind is stuck in a routine, you need to surprise it and find the sun in a new location.

The mind is a complex machine. While it’s capable of great things, it can also get easily confused. If your brain is still in winter, a weekend getaway on the road can be the trip you need to discover the joy of spring!

Get 300 bonus SB when you sign up for Swagbucks in April

Spring is here, and there's no better time to start earning free gift cards through Swagbucks! All throughout April you can earn large bonuses when sign up as my referral on Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching the web, watching videos, shopping, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, or PayPal cash. 

When you sign up through me this month, you can earn a 300 SB bonus! Here's how: 

1. Sign up using this link 

2. Earn 300 SB total before May 1st, 2019. You'll get a 300 SB bonus for it! 

3. That's it. It's super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself, and I've earned almost 100,000 SB since I started, using it for Amazon gift cards so I can buy stuff I planned to buy anyway, but now that actual money I would have spent goes towards my vacations.