We’re avid travelers, and we like nothing more than wearing bags that seamlessly bring utility and aesthetics together without breaking the bank. We’ve tested and used a variety of bags through the years in scenarios like snowboarding, walking tours, running, shopping, and on everyday errands alone or with children. We tested many other travel items like travel purses, travel accessories, packing cubes, travel jewelry cases. No matter where you’re traveling, we’ve pinpointed some features of fanny packs and belt bags that are useful to remember when picking a new bag.

The 11 fanny packs we tested

Important features to consider

Design / organization

This category takes into account a variety of features on the bag. One important aspect is aesthetics, which is very specific to each person. There are sporty, minimalist, or colorful fanny packs available, too.

Pocket count and placement are crucial too. We like belt bags that offer outside and inside pockets for more organization. Inner pockets also give you extra security when carrying your valuables.

Lastly, each fanny pack features a closure of some type, like clasps or buckles, and the location of the closure also affects usability. Some people prefer front clasps for easier removal.

Material

Specific materials might actually be preferred for specific activities, as there’s not just one “best” material for all scenarios. Some offer features like waterproofing or ripstopping. If you’re going to a festival or a concert, you may need belt bags made of clear plastic for security reasons. There are also fanny packs made of leather or vegan leather that are great for going out to a nice dinner or club without making you look like a tourist.

Size & strap length

The size of the fanny pack affects how much you can carry at a time. Be wary of how big the fanny pack is because it might be difficult to wear and disproportionate to the size of the straps; for example, larger bags with thin straps would strain the shoulders. Strap length is also important to remember depending on your body type.

How we selected

We selected some of the most popular fanny packs on the market and bought popular dupes to see how they compared, in addition to testing other popular affordable and generic belt bags. All of these fanny packs we tested were under $50 at the time of purchase.

How we tested

Build quality

We tested the build quality of each fanny pack by analyzing the durability and design of the fabric, zipper, clasps, straps, and waterproof status. Each category is rated out of 10, and the highest they ranked, the better quality of the fanny pack. Our most durable fanny packs often had ripstop, water-repellent fabric and zippers like the Wandrd bags and easily accessible clasps and smooth, comfortable straps like the Lululemon belt bag.

Fit test

We tested each bag for over three months rigorously on different body types and took them on week-long vacations, daily errands, and events. During these fit tests, we reviewed the comfort of the straps, removing the clasps, ease of accessibility and pocket organization, overall capacity, and versatility. Each category ranked out of 10, and the more comfortable and easier-to-wear belt bags scored closer to 10.

Travel

Lastly, we tested the fanny packs based on usefulness during travel. We analyzed each bag based on its ability to fold easily into luggage or carry-on bags, safety features, comfort in wearing it for long periods, and ability to use it for other specific purposes like diapers or toiletry. Bags that were easy to use for traveling ranked closer to 10.

The post The 11 Best Fanny Packs & Belt Bags appeared first on Your Best Digs.

The 7 vacuum storage bags we tested

Important features to consider

Vacuum storage bags are a must-have for storing seasonal use items in a small space. Made of durable, lightweight polypropylene plastic, they come in four or five different sizes and can hold sweaters, blankets, comforters, towels, or any bulky fabrics, which are then sealed inside and compressed flat by removing air with a vacuum cleaner hose or a hand pump.

Most brands claim that their bags decrease volume by 80 percent, which then makes the deflated bags easy to store in a closet, attic, garage, or even under the bed. So you could potentially save a lot more space than only separating your clothes out into large storage containers. Vacuum sealer bags are also ideal for protecting woolens from moths and all fabrics from mold and mildew.

Sizes

Almost all storage bags are available in certain sizes: jumbo or extra large (approximately 30″ x 40″), large (24″ x 32″), medium (20″ x 28″), and small (16″ x 24″). They can be purchased one size per package or a combination of sizes per package. A few brands offer a travel size, which are designed to fit carry-on luggage. The travel size, however, is not a vacuum sealer bag; it’s basically a large Ziploc bag that you need to squeeze out the air as you roll the clothes inside into a cylinder.

Zipper lock

Vacuum storage bags have a large zipper lock, exactly like a food storage bag but twice as strong. It’s sealed by running a plastic clip along the length of the zipper lock. The better-constructed bags, like our top picks, Spacesaver, GONGSHI, and Amazon Basics, can be sealed with one or — at the most — two zips without needing to reinforce the seal with your fingers. In these bags’ cases, the zipper locks and clips were sturdily made and sealed tightly. Other bags we tested had flimsy zipper locks, and we needed to run the clip over the zipper four or five times as well as press the seal together with our fingers.

Hand pump

Most of the vacuum storage bags we tested came with a hand pump that you would use when traveling or when a vacuum isn’t at hand. All are made of plastic — a few had a metal plunger rod — and measure approximately 8″ in length and 2″ in diameter. The pump is screwed into the sealer valve (if you were using a vacuum, the hose is placed over the valve), and with a series of rapid pumps, air is removed from the bag. With the jumbo or extra large bags, the hand pumps were pretty useless and tiring to use, since a lot of elbow grease was required. However, overall, with all other bag sizes, the pumps were easier to use and were mostly effective in sealing the bags in a couple of minutes.

Fabric wrinkling

When the bag is vacuum-sealed, the plastic often shrink wraps tightly around the fabrics. When the bag is opened, the fabric is deeply wrinkled in the areas the plastic touched. You will also notice an impression of the valve on the fabric. Pillows and comforters weren’t affected, but all the clothing we sealed were wrinkled by the bags and needed to be steamed or fluffed in a drier.

How we tested

We tested seven vacuum sealer bags in various sizes by stuffing them with pillows, comforters, towels, sweaters, and bulky clothes and then sealing them either with the brand’s included hand pump or with a vacuum cleaner hose. (Generally, the vacuum cleaner was the fastest, easiest, and most efficient way for sealing the bags airtight.) Once sealed, we checked the bags on a daily basis for a week to see if any showed signs of inflation, i.e., the seal hadn’t held, and air had leaked in. During our testing period, characteristics of vacuum bags came to the forefront.

The post The 7 Best Vacuum Storage Bags for Clothes appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Important features to consider

Safety features

Many travel purses come with features that keep your valuables safer. For example, some bags offer locking or carabiner zippers, making it harder to open the bag without alerting you. Or cable loops that lock your bag to a chair. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) blocking pockets prevent someone from stealing your credit card information. Secret pockets or compartments built into some purses offer even more security. While not every trip requires such rigorous security, it may give keep peace of mind.

Style & size

Purses can come in endless styles and designs like cross-body, shoulder, fanny pack, backpack, messenger, tote, or multi-use. Each design is subjective to each person, but we prefer bags that we can use on many different occasions and that is long-lasting. You also want to ensure that the bag style is comfortable to wear during travel.

Travel purses come in various sizes and styles, and your preferences could differ depending on your needs during your trip. For instance, we like wearing backpacks or messengers for our carry-on option because they hold a lot. Everyday walking calls for a small and lightweight option to fight fatigue and keep you comfortable.

Durability

Items used during travel can often take more of a beating than products you use at home because you may use them for longer periods over a series of consecutive days. Any travel purse’s materials can affect its durability. Many bags also have anti-slashing fabric made of nylon or polyester that stops thieves from cutting straps or slicing your bag open. Synthetic fabrics can also be water-resistant and add another level of protection. Purses made of faux leather (or polyurethane) are often budget priced. However, be cautious of cheap materials because they tend not to last as long as genuine leather bags.

How we selected & tested:

We selected five different purses of different styles, materials, and sizes under $100. Travel purses come in many variations, and we wanted to test bags of all types, like messengers, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, totes, fanny bags, and backpacks.

We test each bag on several domestic and local trips, on planes, car rides, metros, and walking adventures to evaluate its comfort level and durability. During testing, we evaluated how much each bag could hold daily essentials like wallets, phones, water bottles, jackets, souvenirs, and snacks. We also took note of how effortless it was to carry from daytime touring to nighttime dinners or events.

The post The Best Travel Purses appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Currently using: Spigen – GaN USB-C charger, Anker – Dual USB-A charger

I carry a bunch of electronics when I travel. The primary ones are a cell phone, watch, laptop, headphones, and white noise machine, and I need a way to charge everything in case my destination doesn’t have chargers.

Many hotels have USB-A ports built into their clocks and power outlets, but I have USB-C cables too. I can’t run the risk of not being able to charge everything, so I pack everything I need regardless of destination, but I’ve pared it down to essentials.

I carry a charging block with 2 USB-C ports and one charging block with 2 USB-A ports. I like the new GaN chargers because they are the latest tech–they can charge at higher watts with a much smaller design and less heat output.

For the USB-C port charger, I use the Spigen – GaN 452 45W dual USB-C port charger. It also comes in a slightly smaller 35W version and a larger 65W version. For me, 45W over two devices is plenty because my 13” laptop doesn’t draw that much power. For the USB-A charger, I use the Anker – 12W dual port charger. This is a lower watt charger, compact yet enough power for my white noise machine, and Apple Watch.

Dopp kit / toiletry organizer

Currently using: Eagle Creek – Pack-It

Having one of these helps me stay organized. Sure you can throw everything into a plastic zip top bag but having a nicer dopp kit gives more structure and organization options for your bathroom and shaving supplies.

I prefer a flat design like this from Eagle Creek, as opposed to the taller bucket style designs or the designs that fully open and split in half, or any ones with two large equal sized compartments. I prefer one large compartment with a few smaller ones for organization, like this has. Some dopp kits I passed on have larger secondary compartments that dedicate a lot of space to things I don’t want to spend that space on–such as 3-4 uniform bottles for travel liquids, but this is just me. I cherry-pick my liquid products and go for containers compact as possible, and they all don’t need to take up as much space as some of these dopp kits require.

I must admit I’ve used the same bag for almost 20 years and only recently upgraded to this Eagle Creek toiletry organizer. Must-haves for me in a dopp kit are water-resistance since its near the sink, the size is large enough to fit all my goods without too much leftover space, it fits in my backpack, and that its more flat so items are easier to access without everything stacking on each other.

Nail clippers

Currently using: Seki Edge – SS-101

Nail care is essential. Nothing’s worse than being out on a trip getting ready to head out to dinner and realizing your nails are long and unsightly! I used to carry a nail clipper, cuticle trimmer, and cuticle pusher, but for most trips, simply carrying a nail clipper does the job.

I bought the Seki Edge – SS-101, first in 2017, and now own three of them. One of them is in my dopp kit dedicated to travel and the others are in the bathrooms at home. The catcher on it is a dream. I can’t even believe I used to just hover my clipping sessions over a trash can hoping it would catch them all. The only complaint is that the angle of the clipper’s lever is a bit steep, so it feels slightly awkward to hold and clip–I’m sure it’s designed to maximize leverage and make clipping easier. I’ve yet to find a better clipper though.

Face lotion

Currently using: Youth To The People – Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream (travel size), First Aid –  Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream

My first face lotion requirement is that it’s clear of harmful ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, talc, or other unsettling chemicals. My second requirement is that it either comes in a travel size enough for 1-2 weeks for two people, or its texture allows me to transfer it to a good travel lotion container.

I like using First Aid’s Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream and Youth To The People’s Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream because they’re both clean products with no synthetic added fragrance. I always like to moisturize before flying because my skin has a tendency to get dry during flights and both of these lotions keep my skin from drying up.

Sunscreen: face and body

Currently using: Supergoop! – Mineral Matte Screen, Supergoop! – Mineral Sheer Screen, Native – Unscented Body Sunscreen

Similar to face lotion, I prefer to buy the safest and cleanest ones available. I also am allergic to most chemical sunscreens, so I need to buy physical or mineral-based sunscreens. Some of my favorite everyday face sunscreens are Supergoop’s Mineral Matte Screen because it’s tinted and doesn’t leave a white cast and Supergoop’s Mineral Sheer Screen because it’s lightweight.

For reapplying sunscreen throughout the day, I also like to use Supergoop’s (Re)setting Mineral Powder for easy application. My favorite body sunscreen is Native unscented body sunscreen because there isn’t a white cast and it doesn’t feel sticky. This comes in a small and large tube–the small tube makes it easier to dispense an exact amount, but I can’t pass up the immense savings of the larger 5 fl oz tube (50% cheaper per oz).

Facial cleanser

Currently using: Youth to the People – Superfood Cleanser for foaming cleanser.

After trying out different types of facial cleansers throughout the years, I really prefer using Youth to the People’s Superfood Cleanser for my daily face wash. It’s a foaming cleanser that comes in a liquid form and has a light and fresh scent that isn’t too overpowering. This gentle face wash removes all the oils and sunscreen from my face even when using mineral sunscreen.

The Superfood Cleanser is made with 100% vegan ingredients and includes anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients like green tea and aloe. Since I have sensitive skin, I prefer using products without too many synthetic ingredients like dimethicone or phthalates.

I like that Youth to the People sells different sizes to use for traveling, every use with a pump, and a value refill size. The travel size also comes in a recyclable glass bottle like the other sizes, but it’s a bit of a hassle to pour out the liquid into your palm. You always have the option to transfer it to an easier bottle.

Utilitarian packing cubes

Currently using: Eagle Creek – 3 Pc. Starter Set

We tested 9 different packing cubes to find this gem. The Eagle Creek – Pack-It Starter Set quickly became my go to utilitarian packing cubes because they’re well-built, durable, and easy to use. The set comes with two packing cubes and a folder organizer to prevent wrinkles on dress shirts or pressed clothing.

Made of durable nylon body and thick piping around the lid and bottom of each cube, these organizers were structured and kept their shape even after they were filled with clothing. I especially love the mesh lid so I can easily figure out which packing cube had specific clothing.

The folder organizer is basically a rectangular storage case with four flaps that gently secures the center of stacked shirts. This single case can hold up to eight to twelve shirts. It also includes a thick, plastic template that instructs you on how to fold the shirt to fit the case.

Upgraded packing cubes

Currently using: Thule – 1 Piece Clean/Dirty

When I’m not using the Eagle Creek – Pack-It Starter Set, I’m using the Thule – 1 Piece Clean/Dirty as an upgraded packing cube (or when I’m going on a shorter trip). This individual Thule (pronounced “too-lee”) packing cube is 14.61 x 10.87 x 1.54 inches and has a dual compartment design that helps you reduce the number of packing cubes to bring. I love that I can fit an entire weekend trip’s clothing options in one bag. And dual function also acts as a dirty clothes bag when packing to go home.

The Thule – Clean/Dirty cube is bluesign® approved and is designed with environmental sustainability and social responsibility criteria in mind. What’s great is that it also comes with a lifetime product warranty. Although it’s pricier than most packing cube options, I think the durable water-repellent fabric, smooth zippers, and thoughtful design are worth the upgraded price.

Rolling suitcase

Currently using: July – Checked, July – Checked Plus

For over a decade, I used an expanded carry-on size rolling suitcase for all my trips, but wanted an upgrade. Recently, I’ve upgraded my suitcases to July Checked and Checked Plus luggage and I never looked back. Since I use the July Carry All backpack as a carry-on, I only use checked luggage for suitcases.

The July Checked luggage measures at 26″ x 18.75″ x 11″, weighs 8.3 lbs, and has an 80 L capacity. This bag is great for long weekends. The larger July Checked Plus has a 110 L capacity, weighs 10.5 lbs, and measures 30.25″ H x 19.75″ W x 12.5″. I found the Checked Plus size is perfect for week long trips or International travel because it can hold a lot more.

Swivel wheels are a must and each of these suitcases comes with July’s proprietary SilentMoveTM wheels that are easy to move around and quiet on any surface. Its smooth extendable handle has 20 height settings to make moving the luggage easy for any traveler. The hardshell case has a pebbled surface, comes in an array of modern colors that make it easy to spot on the conveyor belt, and it’s also reinforced with metal corners.

Laptop backpack

Currently using: Incase – Icon Pack, REI – 18L Ruckpack (discontinued, from our laptop backpack review), July – Carry All Backpack Series 2

I need a bag to keep things on me at the airport and during flights that I don’t want to check in. I want one that’s waterproof on the outside so I can wipe it down, and one that can stand up on its own without having to hang or lean on anything. But this bag also needs to fit under the airplane seat and still spare some legroom.

The items I always have on me for a flight include: noise canceling earbuds or headphones, a jacket, a phone and laptop charger, tissue paper or napkins, sunglasses, and snacks for the flight. An 18L backpack can be tight if I’m stuffing a medium sized jacket in and something chunky like headphones. If you know you’ll be carrying one or more chunky items like that I’d try to go 20L or more for a backpack.

After testing many backpacks on our backpack review post, I’ve continued using the Incase – Icon Pack for many years. Of course for different occasions, sometimes I want a larger or smaller bag to fit different items, so like anything else it’s not meant to serve all purposes. But this backpack fits all of my travel needs and has lasted over three years without really showing any signs of wear.

Travel jewelry case

Currently using: Becko – jewelry roll

Whenever I’m traveling, I like to carry some jewelry for everyday wear and also for nice dinners or events. Previously, I just used Ziploc bags or pill cases, but it didn’t really help with organization or keeping my jewelry safe. I’ve now found my holy grail of travel jewelry cases (see our full review here) with the Becko – Jewelry Roll.

This travel roll case is lined with a soft velvet-like fabric and has a suede casing that protects the jewelry on the inside. At 5.91″ x 8.1″ x 0.8″, it’s small enough to put in a carry-on, but also has a large capacity to hold different types of pieces like seven necklaces, 16 pairs of earrings, over a dozen rings, and watches or bracelets.

Cheap sunglasses

Currently using: Joopin (Rayban Wayfarer replicas)

I used to own a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmaster oversized sunglasses and lost them on vacation. Then rebought it and a few years later lost the next pair in Hawaii. And I almost never lose anything else throughout the year. Not cool

I like the design of the sunglasses, but just don’t want to risk the loss anymore. Now I travel with cheap but still good looking (in my opinion!) sunglasses. The frame and lens build quality doesn’t feel lacking, and they provide full UV protection. I’ve yet to lose this new pair for a few years, but after 3 years of ownership one of the joints finally broke and I bought a fresh pair for under $12.

Ear plugs

I have sensitive ears, so I always pack a pair of reusable earplugs. We tested a bunch of disposable and reusable ear plugs here before. You never know when you’re going to attend a spur of the moment show, a loud club, or if you’ll have noisy hotel neighbors. Far too many times I’ve been in this situation and no workers at the show or hotel have extra pairs of plugs to hand out.

Disposable ones are cheap, but I like that the reusable ones come with a case to keep them clean, and you reduce waste. During flights and while waiting at airports, I’ll be using my noise canceling headphones though and not ear plugs.

White noise machine

Currently using: Marpac Yogasleep – Portable White Noise Machine

One of my top travel accessories that helps me get a restful night’s sleep is my Marpac Yogasleep – Portable White Noise Machine. Whether it’s a hotel, Airbnb, or a friend’s house, I can sleep like a baby because this portable white noise machine lulls me to sleep and cancels out any noise from my environment. It’s even our top travel pick for our Best White Noise Machines review.

I’ve used this machine for over two years of travel and nightly use. It easily covers the noise of city streets, barking dogs, or outside conversations. At full charge and unplugged, this lightweight machine lasts twelve hours of constant, digital white noise to get you through a relaxing night. I like to bring a micro-USB cable that it comes with and plug adapter to recharge the machine during the day on longer trips. At 3.5 inches and under four ounces, it’s small enough to fit into a backpack or small purse for any trip.

Noise canceling headphones

Currently using: Apple – Air Pods Pro 2 (what a mouthful), Bose – QuietComfort 45, Apple – Air Pods Max

The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones provide a better seal on my head than the main headphones I use, the Apple AirPods Max. It’s great at blocking out noise while in an airplane cabin, including the loud engines and nearby crying children.

Bose is a perfect fit for someone who has a smaller sized head and tiny ears. The tighter fitting seal doesn’t leave gaps because the space between your head and the band isn’t as spacious as other brands like the Apple AirPods Max. The Bose are also lighter in comparison to the Apple AirPods Max, so if your head is too small, they will easily fall off with slight movements.

One issue with the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones is its inability to turn off or adjust the active noise cancellation, and instead, using the “aware” feature that allows some passive noise to seep through the headphones.

If you have an iPhone, it’s hard to not appreciate the quick connectivity and overall seamlessness of connectivity from any AirPods product. The Max is good, and quick to take off and put back on when traveling through the airport and plane, however the seal on the ear cups were not as good as the Bose for me. The tiniest bit of air leakage made a big difference in noise cancellation. I ended up switching to the AirPods Pro 2, for a wayyy smaller footprint, less weight, and much better noise canceling performance due to a proper fit.

Reusable water bottle

Currently using: Hydro Flask – Lightweight

Bringing a reusable water bottle while traveling is so helpful. Most airports in the US we’ve traveled to have refillable water fountains for bottles near the restrooms so we refill an empty water bottle once we get through security. One tip is to make sure you drink all of you water BEFORE you go through security, otherwise, this will alert TSA and you may need to go through security before again.

Our favorite water bottle to bring on trips is the Klean Kanteen 20 oz. or the Hydro Flask lightweight because it helps keep the water cold for long periods of time. Both of these models fit most cup holders and fit in our carry on backpacks. This is also a good option for bringing hot liquids too since it’s a metal container. The looped lid is also great for hooking onto your backpack while traveling.

Travel bag

Currently using: Sherpani – Vale Crossbody Purse

For any trip, I enjoy using the Sherpani – Vale Crossbody Purse as a travel purse because of its versatile style and usefulness. Its 13.5” x 14” x 4.5” size fits a 24 oz Hydroflask, wallet, iPhone 13 Pro, and a medium-sized jacket easily. This bag is made with anti-slash fabric and has locking cable attachments and zippers to prevent thieves from stealing your bag or valuables.

It’s also designed with many interior and exterior pockets to help organize all your items. The sleek design is reversible so you can wear it in different ways or colors. You can wear it as a shoulder bag, crossbody, or messenger bag–I love the different options. It’s very easy to wear it from daytime tours to nighttime dinners.

Dirty laundry bag

Currently using: Sea to Summit – Ultra-Sil compression dry sack

My favorite bag to bring with me for dirty clothes is the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil compression dry sack. I originally purchased this for camping trips and I’ve found it’s useful for all sorts of trips. It’s really helpful to separate your soiled clothing from clean clothes in your luggage. There are three straps that help compress the bag into ⅓ of the original size. The eVent fabric allows air to pass from the inside out, but also prevents water from entering in case you’re by the beach.

This might seem a bit overkill for most people, so cheaper dry sacks or even a trash bag also work for a dirty laundry bag. The main idea is that you’re able to separate dirty from clean clothes when traveling. Some hotels will even give you a laundry bag in the room too.

The post The 18 Best Travel Accesories & Gear appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Important features to consider

Type (mesh, box, compression)

Various packing cubes are fit for different types of trips and travel needs. Mesh paneling helps organize and identify what’s in your luggage. Compression packing cubes help fit more clothes into your luggage. Ultra-lightweight packing cubes are for those mindful of weight when using checked-in luggage or on a backpacking trip. Packing cube sets come in different price ranges and there are many affordable options under $50. In addition, many packing cubes differ in materials, type, and brand name. They are also available in individual cubes or sets with different sizes.

Build quality/durability

Durability is a priority when finding packing cubes because you want to keep your clothes organized but safe. Some packing cubes are differentiated by labels like water resistant or water repellant. This label describes how much moisture can get through the materials of the packing cube.

Some brands also have rip-stop fabric that prevents the cubes from tearing or ripping during travel or packing. Having durable and smooth gliding zippers with pulls for a better ergonomic feel is another feature we look for when purchasing packing cubes. This is especially important when using compression bags that need durable zippers when condensing the cube. Finally, we’ve found that durability and quality range in price, so you can get well-made packing cubes no matter your price.

Other features

Keep in mind other features you may want to keep track of, like washability, the number of zippers, handles, or how wide the lid opens up. Being able to wash packing cubes in between trips is very helpful. While some brands can be machine washed, others need more care and are hand washed and line dried. Some people prefer multiple zippers for easier control (in case of one breaks). Handles help stabilize the cube for compression or moving the packs around your luggage. And lastly, we prefer lids that open fully for easier packing.

How we selected & tested

Over three months and dozens of trips, we tested nine packing cubes of different brands, materials, and made all under $50 (check out our post on the best travel gear too!). These trips included international, domestic, weekend, and long-term trips, and we used these cubes in carry-ons, check-in luggage, weekenders, and backpacks. In addition, the packing cubes organized an array of clothing from fine dining and cocktail attire to extreme cold weather snowboarding gear.

The post The 9 Best Packing Cubes for Travel appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Important features to consider

Fine jewelers and gem industry professionals recommend keeping jewelry in a cool, dry place–preferably away from direct sunlight. In addition, jewelry should be stored separately to prevent damage and tangling during transportation.

It’s advised to use organizers and cases lined with soft fabric, so it’s more gentle on the jewelry. Even if your collections largely consist of costume jewelry, it’s still important to store them properly to prevent damage and prolong the life of the pieces. Keeping these parameters in mind, we took these essential features in mind when choosing travel jewelry cases:

Type/shape

Portable jewelry organizers come in different shapes and varieties. For example, hardshell jewelry boxes keep their shape, roll or folder organizers can hold many pieces and don’t take up too much room in your luggage or travel purses, and hanging cases keep your bathroom less cluttered.

Material

Professionals recommend using jewelry organizers lined with soft and gentle fabrics. Based on price point, this can range from artificial suede and polyester fabrics to velvet and genuine leather. Some cases also have compartments made of plastic for visibility. While the outer shell isn’t as important as the lining, they do not recommend using wood because it can cause moisture build up on your jewelry.

Size & number of compartments

Not all jewelry travel cases have sections for each type of jewelry piece. The size and number of compartments depend on the amount and types of jewelry you want to store and transport. Most jewelry travel organizers have a mix of compartments that store necklaces, earrings, rings, and other pieces.

If you must have item-specific sections, it can dictate the organizer’s shape, design, and style. For example, jewelry folders or rolls have more space for storing necklaces since they can be longer. We would recommend trying to find jewelry cases that have more earring panels if you have a large collection of earrings.

Budget

The good thing about jewelry travel cases is that they come in various price points. Artificial or vegan leather and polyester fabric-lined cases often come with lower prices. On the other hand, you may need to spend more money on softer and finer materials if you want genuine leather. We found organizers under $100. On average, most travel cases were around $30.

How we selected & tested:

We reviewed five different options of jewelry travel cases of different styles, sizes, and materials under $90. After testing each organizer during a series of trips across the country in our carry-on and check-in luggage, we critiqued their sturdiness, ease of use, and if they kept our pieces safe during transportation.

The post The 7 Best Travel Jewelry Cases & Organizers appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Table of contents

• Range & battery life calculations
• Charging the battery
• Cargo space
• Tesla camping accessories
• Camp mode, sleeping & bathroom breaks
• Final thoughts

Range & battery life calculations

With regular internal combustion engine cars, we never really think twice about range since there are gas stations everywhere. But with an electric car, even though charging stations are growing at an impressive rate, they are still sparse enough that you need to look up where chargers are going to be on the way to your destination.

Total range: 327 miles. The max charge our Long Range Model Y can hold is 327 miles of range. This figure is what Tesla uses based on EPA findings and we’re unsure if it adjusts for loss of capacity on older batteries.

Actual battery range used per mile driven: 1.5. In other words, 50 miles driven would use “75 miles of range” according to the Tesla app. 1-2 weeks before the trip we were keeping track of the power we used in kWh. We averaged around 280 kWh/mile with typical fan, AC usage, and mixed city & highway driving.

Camp mode battery usage: 1% per hour of running this mode. We watched some other videos and read articles of others using this. Of course extreme temperatures will use more, so we erred on the side of caution and went with a high estimate of the car using 1% of charge (3.14 miles) per hour that camp mode is on. So about 25.12 miles for 8 hours of sleep.

Campsite distance: 50 miles from home. Driving there would use 75 miles of range, and same on the return trip.

Final tally: 75 miles of range to reach the campsite, 50.24 miles of range used to sleep two nights, 75 miles of range to get back home = 200.24 range miles total.

This gave us a buffer of about 114 miles left over in case we used more than anticipated for any reason like steep mountain drives, extra cabin cooling for overheat protection in hot weather, keeping food cool, or extreme temps at night.

Charging the car

We’ll need to do some planning here regarding how often we need to charge. We need enough power to drive to the campsite, run camp mode (which we learned uses 1% of charge per hour), so factor in how many days you’ll be tehre, and enough power to drive home.

First charge at home. We set the battery to charge up to ~95% capacity, around 314 miles, since it’s better for the battery and regenerative braking works out of the gate. Charging to 100% shuts off regenerative braking, so the total range ends up being the same, but puts more strain on the battery.

Charge before arriving to the campsite. Let’s say you’re staying at the campsite for three days, and using camp mode each night. You should factor at least eight hours of camp mode each night (24 hours total) including some power for overheat protection during the day. So if the car estimates you’ll arrive at the campsite with under 24% of charge, you should find a charging station before arriving at the campsite. There was a Supercharger station about 11 miles before reaching the campsite in case we wanted to top off before reaching camp, or if we needed to leave mid-camp to charge. So given our 114 miles of charge buffer range we didn’t stop to charge the battery before reaching the campsite.

Charging at the campsite. Some campsites you can book have charging outlets for RV hookups. However these may be low wattage so unless you’re camped out for a while, it’s probably not a good idea to rely on this for anything other than topping off for camp mode.

I also want to be ready for emergencies, in case we need to leave unexpectedly. Ideally there’s enough charge to make it all the way home when we arrive. This means not arriving with barely enough power to last camp mode, even if we’re able to get a trickle charge in at the campsite.

Cargo space

We had two people sitting in the front and packed the rest to the brim. We filled in the sub trunk, front trunk, leg area in the back seat, folded the larger backset forward and loaded up. The Tesla Model Y is rated with a max cargo space of 68 cu. ft. Here’s everything we managed to cram into the 5-seater Model Y in order of largest to smallest.

• 13′ x 13′ canopy for shade
• 1 twin size folding foam mattress
• Solo Stove – Bonfire camping stove
• 54 qt Coleman cooler from our cooler review
• 47″ x 28″ x 28″ folding camping table (Mountain Summit Gear)
• normal queen sized pillows (not compact camping ones)
• 2 seventy-two quart plastic bins for food and cooking & cleaning supplies
• 1 Coleman – Triton two-burner stove and fuel cans: propane, isopropane mix, butane
• 1 large Osprey backpacking pack
• 1 Incase – ICON backpack from our college backpacks review
• 1 gym bag from our gym bag review
• full size tripod & mirrorless camera

Tesla camping accessories

For a more thorough guide of all Tesla accessories for the Model Y and 3 see our other post here. However, for any camping trip’s good night sleep you need to stay dry, stay warm, and not break your back during sleeping.

1. Twin-sized mattress. There are some sites that sell Tesla gear and offer a mattress that fits in the back of the Model Y. Some are actual custom solutions for a perfect fit, but many as we’ve found out, are simply taking a product that already exists and rebranding it as their own! We found out one of those are using a certain brand of foam mattress, which we tracked down to be the Milliard – Tri Folding Mattress, available at a much lower price at other retailers.

We typically use a super compact blow up sleeping pad but since we had more cargo space, we went for a thick folding memory foam mattress. This is a huge comfort upgrade because we’re side sleepers and the REI blowup pad starts to get uncomfortable when side-sleeping quickly. We used a normal twin-sized bedsheet to cover it and it fit perfectly. We also used two queen-sized pillows from home for comfort and it fit perfectly.

2. Windshield sun shade. Necessary for keeping the un-tinted windshield from scorching the seats and damaging the dash. This sunshade (we got one from BASENOR) is a standard accessory for every day short trips around town but helpful for sleeping in the car too. This is the type that has black on one side, and a more reflective silver on the other, and you can awkwardly maneuver a fold-up when not in use. It’s not as insulating as the thick, foamy, folding type, but its much more compact.

3. Window privacy shades. This provides privacy and blocks out light. We bought these camping side window shades from TGBROS since BASENOR was out of stock. We were camping with around 15 people, with the bonfire right next to our car so we wanted privacy if we went to bed while anyone was still awake. No companies seem to keep this item in stock for very long, perhaps because it’s a niche product. But we got lucky and snagged one before it went out of stock shortly after. The side shades just kinda snap into place and stay with wire tension similar to a typical windshield shade. The back shade however was sized too small so there was no tension on the shade frame and the window frame, we had to supplement with duct tape to hold it in place.

4. Roof privacy shade. If you thought installing the windshield shade was awkward, meet the roof’s privacy shade. This one is version 2 of the Tesmanian roof shade, which I believe the only difference from version 1 is including two self-adhering magnets to keep the shade from sagging in the middle. This thing is huge, so you need to have it folded as it enters the car, or unfold it in the car then hope you have it in the right orientation since the roof is not the same in the front as the back. It has 8 clips to slide into the gray frame of the car which can easily fall out during positioning.

Due to the size of this shade, I’m certain other brands will have the same pitfalls. But this, paired with an optional fully opaque 2nd layer to block out light over the mesh fabric, does the job to cut down or block all the light on the roof for camp nights.

5. All-weather floor mats. It’s camping so naturally we’re going to drag a lot of dirt and rocks back to the car. We were camping next to a beach so for sure there was going to be moisture, sand and then some that we didn’t want to deal with on carpet mats. Out with the carpet, forever in with these all-weather mats.

The two most popular brands for all-weather floor mats are 3D MAXpider and Tesmanian. I don’t love the huge logo the 3Ds have and have only seen the Tesmanians in photos and videos but it looks flimsy or cheap the way the finish of the material is so I skipped both. I found a set of mats from Taptes that looked exactly like the texture of the 3Ds but without the huge brand logos.

Camp mode, sleeping & bathroom breaks

Contrast it with the more basic Climate mode you can toggle from your car which is meant only to cool the cabin down and maintain a temperature, camp mode adds more functionality. Released in December 2019 via a software update, “Camp Mode” is one of the temperature settings you can toggle on the fan/AC screen. Camp Mode lets you keep the fan on, set whatever temperature you like, maintain lights, play music, and charge devices.

We tried this out for two nights with manual settings the first night at 72F, and accidentally discovering you can leave “auto” mode as well at 72F but prefer the manual mode with a slower fan around 2 or 3. Temperatures were pretty pretty mild, dipping into the 60s at night, and not really heating up until 8-9am to the high 70s, but having a stable 72F inside was very cozy, needing only a light blanket to stay comfy.

One concern we had was dealing with bathroom breaks in the middle of the night. At home we occasionally will go once at some point, so we were concerned about how this would play out in terms of comfort and noise. We were parked pretty close to another car so we’d need to be pretty careful opening the door to step down from a pretty high distance from the foam mat to the car or the floor. The way the doors are designed, you can hold the latch on the outside and press the door in, so you don’t wake your partner with slamming to door, but the problem is once you’re back in the car you have no choice but to slam the door shut.

Similarly the trunk opening and closing latch and motor are pretty loud with the extra concern about watching your partner’s feet so they don’t get slammed. Given this foot slamming risk, the side door was a safer option, but we needed to remove the privacy shade before leaving the car (since the window moves down when opening the door), and putting it back on after returning. Given its polyester-like material it is loud topped with a door-slamming cherry on top. Bathroom breaks are definitely doable, but a bit different than with a zipping tent door.

Final thoughts

Sleeping on a mattress, with cabin temperature control is a nice upgrade from tent camping, and it’s not something you can really do in a normal internal combustion engine car without running the engine all night. There are many upgrades from blow-up mattress pads to a thick foam mattress, better sound insulation, full light blocking if you choose, and of course not having to set up a tent. If your campsite is close enough to home, or if there’s a charging station close enough to the campsite or even an electrical outlet at the campsite, camping in a Tesla is better in many ways, with a few tradeoffs that are to me, worth it.

The post Tesla Camping in a Model Y: Accessories & Planning appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Table of contents

• Compare the best car phone mounts
• 1. Best overall: iOttie – HLCRIO125
• 2. Runner-up: AF4-KK-NA
• 3. Budget pick: iOttie – HLCRIO127
• Other products we tested
• How we selected products to test
• How we tested
• Important features to consider
• The bottom line

Compare the best car phone mounts

1. Best overall: iOttie – HLCRIO125

The iOttie – HLCRIO125 was the sturdiest, most secure and most versatile of the car phone mounts we tested. It also offered the best options for placement in a location that will ensure a safe driving experience.

The iOttie is a suction/adhesive mount. The suction cup is meant to be attached directly to the windshield. It can be repositioned on the windshield at any time and will keep the device locked securely in place. The iOttie has an adjustable bottom tab (or “the foot” as it’s called in the instructions), which allows the device to grab any size phone securely. It also has a telescoping arm that can extend 5 inches to 8.3 inches, a feature that also gives you additional options for placement.

A plastic plate or “dashboard pad” with an adhesive backing is provided for affixing the iOttie to the dashboard. It’s not reusable, and repositioning it will leave adhesive stuck to the dashboard. Before permanently adhering the iOttie to your dashboard, we recommend trying out different positions (as our team did) by affixing it with double-sided tape to find out which position works best for you.

Top Pick: iOttie - HLCRIO125

The iOttie’s sturdy design and variable options for placement ensure that it holds the phone security and enhances safety while driving.

See Price at Amazon.com

The iOttie’s patented Easy One Touch system consists of two side arms that automatically grip the side of the phone and lock into place. Two smaller arms beneath the side arms are the lock release: when pushed they spring apart, releasing the phone. The locking arms are a bit tricky at first, since you need to apply a bit of pressure to close them onto the phone. The release, however, lets go of the phone at the slightest touch.

The iOttie mount is more expensive than the other mounts we tested. However, its superior construction, stability and durability make this iOttie model well worth the higher price.

Key takeaways:

• The iOttie dashboard and windshield mount holds the phone securely even over bumpy roads.
• It can be placed anywhere on the dashboard or windshield, offering the safest option for visibility and minimizing driver distraction.
• It has the most solid and durable construction of the other mounts we tested.

2. Runner-up: Kenu – AF4-KK-NA

The Kenu – AF4-KK-NA Airframe Pro is an air-vent car phone mount and was the easiest and most straightforward device to install — it’s a single piece that simply inserts into any air vent. It holds the phone with a strong, expandable spring clip that can accommodate wide phones up to 3.6 inches and over-sized phone cases.

The Kenu’s rubber clasp is a plus, as it won’t scratch the vehicle’s air vents. We clipped the phone into the Kenu — in both landscape and portrait modes, thanks to its 360-degree pivot ball — toward the bottom of the phone so that it sat higher in the device and didn’t block the car’s back-up camera. The mount’s rotating clip can be adjusted to fit horizontal, vertical and angled air vents.

Runner-up: Kenu - AFT-KK-NA

The Kenu has a simple and straightforward design with a strong, non-slip grip and can hold larger phones in either landscape or portrait mode.

See Price at Amazon.com

Although an air-vent mount minimizes the driver from being distracted, it can’t be used with the car’s heating on, which would heat up your phone, unless air flow can be redirected to the floor. It’s fine to use, however, when you have the air conditioning on. Using this type of mount is also dependent on where your air vents are located; if they’re too low, the driver will be forced to look down and away from the road.

The Kenu is about the same price as the iOttie – HLCRIO125, and if you prefer an air-vent mount over one that’s permanently placed, this sturdy and well-made model is an excellent choice.

Key takeaways:

• The Kenu has a simple and solid construction that makes it one of the easiest mounts to use.
• It attaches securely to air vents, and its expandable grip clip can hold wide phones up to 3.6 inches in landscape or portrait positions.
• Its 360-degree pivot ball accommodates horizontal, vertical and angled vents.

3. Budget pick: iOttie – HLCRIO127

The iOttie – HLCRIO127 is a compact mount that inserts into your car’s CD player and can hold phones and cases up to 3.5 inches wide. It grips onto your phone with the same One Touch mechanism as the dashboard model. Rather than connect to a telescoping arm, this iOttie’s holder is inserted into a small, sturdy mount that is then slid into your vehicle’s CD player.

Like the dashboard model, the mount has a swivel ball that can pivot at any angle to adjust the phone into portrait or landscape mode. Depending on your dashboard’s configuration, when your phone is positioned in portrait mode, it might block your rearview camera.

iOttie - HLRCIO127

The iOttie is solidly built and will stay firmly in place in the CD slot. It’s a good budget choice for cars with CD players.

See Price at Amazon.com

The iOttie CD mount stayed secure in the CD player in our compact car and pickup and held the phone in place even over bumpy roads. The minivan we used for testing, however, is a newer model and didn’t have a CD player. As CD players are increasingly phased out, the iOttie CD mount will inevitably go the way of the rotary phone. Pricewise, it’s middle-of-the-range for car phone mounts, and for now, it’s a dependable option for car-phone use while driving.

Key takeaways:

• The reasonably priced iOttie – HLRCIO127 CD mount is a solid, sturdy choice for cars with CD players.
• It has secure placement in the CD player and holds the phone in place even over bumpy roads.
• Its One Touch mechanism tightly grips the phone, but it can take some effort to release.

Other products we tested

Exogear – EGEM-TCD

The Exogear – Exomount is another CD mount with a 360-degree rotation and up-and-down tilt. It has a strong locking screw that secures the plastic tabs that are inserted into the CD player. The Exomount has a spring-clip arm similar to the iOttie, but both the plastic casing and spring are a bit flimsy. The expandable arm can accommodate phones up to 3.5-inches wide, but a phone with a thick case won’t be held as securely since the mount is only .5-inches deep. As with other CD mounts, visibility of the back-up camera could be impaired.

WizGear – Magnetic Air-Vent Mount

The WizGear – Magnetic Air-Vent Mount has an alligator clip that is inserted into any car vent and tightened into place with a screw. Three steel plates with adhesive backing are attached to your phone — you don’t need to use all three; they’re provided for attaching larger phones. You then align the metal plate(s) to its exceptionally powerful magnet, and the phone holds on to the mount. The steel plate does interfere with wireless charging, however, so you need to place it below the QI chip.

Although we had no issues with the WizGear when secured to our car’s and minivan’s vents, it did not fit the center vent of our pickup. The left vent worked well, but while we were driving, our hands blocked sightlines, and we couldn’t see the phone. We also had an issue with the WizGear’s alligator clip getting stuck in the minivan’s vent. We rated the WizGear at the lower end of the list because it won’t hold a phone in a thick case as securely as other mounts.

FlePow – Magnetic Phone Mount

The FlePow – Magnetic Phone Mount is a heavy and sturdy metal mount with a 360-degree rotation. FlePow’s magnet holds the phone in place on the mount, which is permanently adhered to the dashboard. The manufacturer advises that the FlePow’s adhesive could melt at temperatures warmer than 75 ℉, which actually did not prove to be the case. In fact, the adhesive was so powerful, we had to search for special solvents and tools to remove it.

The FlePow is only two inches tall, which limits options for placement of the steel plate on the phone, unless the device is mounted on the edge of the dashboard. The mount could also be mounted vertically, but you would need to test this before adhering it. A phone positioned in landscape will most likely have more options for placement on the top of the dashboard than a phone that’s in portrait mode.

SCOSCHE – MagicMount: Not recommended

The SCOSCHE – MagicMount magnetic dashboard mount is well made, and its rare-earth magnets are strong, but it simply didn’t work. It’s a large weighted pad — 5.5” x 6.5” — with a curved adjustable arm. Like the WizGear, a metal plate holds the phone to the magnet. The pad is then placed on your vehicle’s dashboard, and its weight alone — without any adhesive backing — is supposed to hold it in place. However, in all of our test vehicles, the SCOSCHE slid around on the dashboard and did not secure the phone.

Cellet – PH650: Not recommended

The Cellet – PH650 cup holder mount is solidly constructed and will fit most vehicles’ cup holders, thanks to a sprocket that can be screwed or unscrewed to adjust its width. It has an extendable arm that can elevate the phone 10 inches. The clip that connects to the arm grips the phone tightly, even a phone with a thick case. The main problem with this type of car mount is that it’s too tall for a front cup holder and can only be inserted into a back cup holder to the right of the driver. This position forces the driver to continually look to the right to see the phone, and because of this sightline issue, we can’t recommend the Cellet.

How we selected products to test

We consulted a wide range of websites, including resources for shoppers like Consumer Reports. We also read through hundreds of Amazon reviews by consumers who rated car phone mounts in different categories: dashboard/windshield, weighted dashboard mat, vent, CD and cup holder. From this analysis, we chose eight highly rated car phone mounts to test and assessed the advantages of each style.

How we tested

Our team of two testers unpacked the mounts and installed the devices in three different types of vehicles: a compact, a pickup truck and a minivan. Each mount was driven in the three vehicles under varying road conditions, including highways and well-paved or bumpy side streets. Problems, pluses and minuses were noted.

The final assessments were made based on which items were easiest to work with and also provided the best quality with a special emphasis on safety while driving.

Important features to consider

Each state has different laws regarding car phones; some apply to handheld phones, others to all phones in cars, including hands-free devices. Some of the laws apply to all drivers in the state, some to only novice or commercial drivers. It is essential to check the laws for your state; your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website is a good place to start.

But regardless of your state’s laws, no driver should be distracted while driving. With this in mind, we paid special attention to how each car-phone mount’s placement might affect a driver’s focus on the road.

The configuration of your vehicle’s dashboard and center console also play a role in which car phone mount to choose. The shape of your dashboard and the location of your car’s air vents, CD player and cup holders should also be considered in determining how safe a car phone mount would be.

The bottom line

We are a mobile society and we love our phones. When we were considering which car phone mount was the best, a decisive factor was whether its placement allowed the driver to safely look at the phone without taking his/her eyes off the road.

Our choice for the best car phone mount is the iOttie – HLCRIO125 . It’s sturdily made, stays securely in place and offers the best options for safe placement. If you prefer an air-vent mount, our runner-up Kenu – AF4-KK-NA has a simple, easy-to-use design that will minimize driver distraction. Our budget pick, the iOttie – HLCRIO127 , is a CD mount that gripped onto our phones even when we drove over bumpy roads.

Best Car Phone Mount: iOttie - HLCRIO125

The sturdiest and most versatile of the mounts we tested, the iOttie can be affixed anywhere on the dashboard or windshield, offering the safest options for driver visibility.

See Price at Amazon.com

The post The Best Car Phone Mounts appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Travel is more enjoyable when you have the right gear. We’ve reviewed travel jewelry cases and packing cubes, but also wanted to find the best bag to hold your squishable and sometimes expensive toiletries and cosmetics. The ideal toiletry bag should be roomy enough for deodorant and tweezers or safety razors and magnetic eyelashes, while also protecting them from anything that might spill during transport.

The post The 12 Best Women’s Toiletry Bags appeared first on Your Best Digs.

How we selected

After spending the last 15 years shaving with everything from specialized head shavers to electric razors to straight razors, our staff shaving enthusiast has some confirmed opinions about what makes a good shave. There are some amazing wet shaving products out there that will really help you get a noticeably better shave, with less irritation and maybe even clearer skin than you’re used to.

Finding real value

Buying shaving products with a one-stop shopping experience is tricky. We searched for popular so-called reviews of shaving kits, and our resident shaving nerd was shocked to see recommendations for collections of products worth $20 or $30 but selling for $90 or more. Sure, these kits often include a few reliable pieces, but you shouldn’t pay extra for mediocre fillers.

Before you look at kits it’s well worth checking out our safety razor review, shaving brush review and shaving cream review to see what top-quality options are available for $5–$20 per item. For $58 you can have all the top wet shaving products we’ve reviewed, and that setup will beat the pants off what’s in most $70 Amazon kits.

Complete shaving kits for those who prefer easier-to-use cartridge razors aren’t easy to find. Harry’s and Gillette side-brand Art of Shaving both sell a travel kit, but the basic gear and sample-size shaving products included aren’t worth the hefty up-charge.

Well-known products

After coming away basically empty-handed from direct Google and Amazon searches, we checked Reddit wet shaving product recommendations at r/wicked_edge and r/wetshaving, as well as the reviews at sharpologist.com and the forum at badgerandblade.com, to gauge the differences between popular shaving kits and make sure we weren’t missing any hidden gems.

Established sellers

Next we checked the inventory and prices at those longest-running and most-recommended shaving shops on the web to see what their starter kits had to offer. After cross-referencing razor reviews and narrowing down our criteria for essential features, we found a few bargains and a few stand-out luxury products that we built this list on.

Our writer for this post wishes he could have squeezed in a few more of the excellent small-shop vendors that have made shaving so much better in the last 20 years, but these are the best values and sure-fire upgrades that are worth buying as-is. Note that if you’re looking for something with slightly different features, most shave shops will be able to put together a more customized kit if you ask nicely.

Important features to consider:

Types of razors

Most people already know what they love or hate about the big-name disposable-cartridge razors, but the finer points of old-fashioned safety razor are important to note. Safety razors use loose double-edge blades,  which are very affordable and even recyclable. Most safety razors set up the blade and guard bars at a fixed angle, and as you practice shaving you’ll learn exactly how to hold the razor for a close-but-comfortable result. Check out our safety razor review for more details about which razor designs are easiest to learn with.

Soap or cream scents

Unscented shaving products or less-daring options like simple citrus scents are the easiest way to avoid buying stuff you can’t stand. That said, shaving products that capture a more daring blend of botanical or cologne-like smells can change shaving from a dreary routine to a daily ritual you look forward to. Our staff soap collector loves the curated sample packs from West Coast Shaving that highlight what the best artisans have to offer.

Razor blade brands

Choosing a razor blade to load into your new safety razor is tricky. Thick or wiry hair demands extra sharpness compared to fine hair, but if you can get a comfortable shave with a less-sharp or Teflon-coated razor blade your skin will thank you. Sample packs are the best way to find out what works for your face: This set includes both Feather and Derby, the most popular picks for sharpness and smoothness.

Shaving brushes

Unlike razors, the best shaving brushes have totally changed in just the last five years. The big pivot is from animal hair — which was only nice to use if you bought the highest grades of brush — to incredibly-soft synthetic fibers developed for painter and makeup artist brushes. We found in our shaving brush review that there are two commonly-used fibers: One that has blonde color bands and is a little bit floppy, first used by Plisson from France, and a new slightly-stiffer black and white fiber, pioneered by Yaqi in China but now available from nearly every factory and brush maker.

TSA checkpoint suitability

There is a problem with most of the travel-oriented shaving kits we found: The Transportation Security Authority makes shaving difficult. First, they want your soap or cream in a container less than 3.3 ounces. Second, the TSA won’t let you carry on loose razor blades. The soap is fairly easy to deal with — scoop it into a smaller container or even make your own shaving stick — but the blade problem isn’t so simple. Safety razor users have to check a bag, hope they can buy decent blades at a drugstore when they arrive, or buy backup plastic-cartridge razors for air travel.

A travel bag

Also known as a dopp kit or toiletry case, a piece of luggage dedicated to your shaving gear makes it much easier to shave at the gym or when travelling. Sadly, a travel bag isn’t usually enough if you’re flying — you’ll need to put the contents on the security checkpoint conveyor in a see-through bag, making most dopp kits obsolete for frequent flyers.

The post The Best Shaving Kits for Men appeared first on Your Best Digs.