Keeping it light and easy

Sometimes, it really is the little things that count. The following travel accessories don’t take up much space, and they earn a place on the packing list by being more than a little helpful. All items have been tested by the author. -- Judi Dash

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Weighing In

To avoid surcharges, checked luggage usually must weigh less than 50 pounds on domestic flights or 70 pounds on international routes. (Limits depend on individual airline policies.) You may be able to weigh your bags before you leave by using your bathroom scale, but what will you do on your return if you’ve made purchases and your lodging has no scale? You’ll pull out the spring-loaded Portable Luggage Scale, which hooks onto a bag handle and provides an accurate reading up to 75 pounds. The built-in tape measure lets you determine if the bag exceeds dimension restrictions. Measures 4 inches by 3 inches and weighs just 8 ounces.

75-pound scale (KT689) is $9.85 from Magellan’s; (800) 962-4943, www.magellans.com.

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Ideal ID

Tougher airport security means identification needs to be readily at hand. For many travelers, that means around the neck. And if you’re going to carry your ID in a neck-pouch, why not make space for other essentials? Travelon has taken a more-is-better approach to the issue with its new ID and Boarding Pass Holder With Snap Closure. The black microfiber pouch has a transparent slot for a driver’s license (I managed to stuff a credit card, airline lounge club card and ATM card behind the license), as well as compartments for a passport and travel documents. Cash can be stashed in the rear zippered compartment. A small pen held in place by a fabric loop is also included. For privacy, the pouch can be folded shut, secured by a snap.

ID and Boarding Pass Holder With Snap Closure is around $10 (prices vary by store); (800) 537-5544.

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Clear choice

I’m a big fan of Ziploc bags. They’re lightweight, transparent and waterproof. What’s not to like? Well, they’re pretty fragile, and they’re not particularly classy. Timbuk2’s Clear Zip Pouches are a sturdier option. The bags are great organizing aids and contents are easy to view by the user, as well as by airport security officials. The urethane resists cracking, tearing and yellowing -- an advantage over vinyl -- and cleans easily. The pouches come in several colors and are available in eight sizes. They won’t take the place of Ziploc for items that could leak, since the zippered closures are not leakproof, but they work great for well-sealed toiletries and other accessories. If you’re worried about leakage, consider sealing the item in a Ziploc bag before putting it in one of these pouches.

Clear Zip Pouches are $12 to $18 from Timbuk2; (888) 846-2852, www.timbuk2.com.

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Smooth transfer

Carry-on bags can be bottomless pits of disorganization, with keys, wallets, travel documents and other important items buried in piles of other stuff. Internal compartments help alleviate the mess, but the Little Transfer Bag offers another solution -- a removable organizer that can be transferred from one bag to another. The 9-by-6-inch black microfiber bag has one zippered compartment and two clip pockets on the outside and four elasticized pockets inside. The bag has a detachable shoulder strap and a magnetic closure. Although the Little Transfer Bag is billed as a woman’s bag, men should find it just as useful. Pack rats come in both sexes.

Little Transfer Bag (LB678) is $26.85 from Magellan’s; (800) 962-4943; www.magellans.com.

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