Bag Care
Setting Your Locks
Packing Tips
How to Pack
Travel Essentials
How to Reduce Wrinkling
Airline Regulations

Bag Care

How should I clean and care for my bags (ballistic, leather)
Ballistic nylon and nylon bags which are dirty and/or dusty can easily be cleaned off with a soft, damp cloth.

For stains we recommend using Briggs & Riley Luggage Cleaner. Adhesive lint brush rollers work great to remove lint, fuzz balls and dust as well.

For leather bags we recommend using leather conditioner to clean, protect and polish the bag.

Back to Top

Setting Your Locks

How to set your three-wheel TSA Cable Lock

Back to Top

Packing Tips

Tip #1: Most airlines suggest two bags per person plus a carry-on. Check with your airline for their regulations regarding the number and size of the bags you are required to carry. With this information you will be able to plan your wardrobe carefully.

Tip #2: Make a list of all the activities and events you plan to do and then make a list of the clothing you need to wear for those activities. Now go over the list and eliminate anything you really don’t need.

Tip #3: The best way to plan your wardrobe is to mix and match basics, planning the wardrobe around one or two basic colors. For dress, men can pack two suits for an extended trip matching them up with different shirts and ties. A charcoal gray or tan suits will mix and match with just about any color. Women can mix and match the same way with black, gray, or tan jackets, skirts and pants. In either case, a change of tie or scarf with a different colored shirt will make another outfit.

Tip #4: Casual clothing depends upon where you are going. Do not assume that jeans are appropriate casual wear. In many countries, jeans are frowned upon. Khaki pants, however are usually acceptable. Additionally, jeans are heavier and bulkier than khakis. In many parts of the world, shorts are considered inappropriate as are any clothing that has a military look. It is better to err on the side of conservatism. When it comes to casual clothing, layering is a much better scheme than packing bulky, heavy clothing. Layering your clothes also gives you more opportunity to mix and match outfits. A turtleneck under a sports jacket will give a much different look than wearing it under a sweater. Always bring a bathing suit. You never know when a hotel will have a pool. For men, a conservative bathing suit can also do double-duty as a pair of shorts. For women, a bikini can do double duty as underwear. One warning, though, two-piece bathing suits may not be acceptable in all countries.

Tip #5:  Knits and textured fabrics travel better than natural fabrics that have a tendency to wrinkle. Synthetics don¹t wrinkle as much but can be very uncomfortable in hot humid climates. A blend of natural and synthetics can be a good compromise. However, undergarments should be made of natural fabrics because they breathe easier. Also, you can bring fewer undergarments and wash them out at night. If you do opt for washing out your socks and underwear be aware that cotton takes a long time to dry. Try silk undergarments. Not only do they dry quickly, they breathe well and feel good against the skin.

Tip #6: Consider not bringing much clothing at all. Buying clothing at your destination can often be less expensive than buying it at home... unless you are staying in a resort area.

Back to Top

How to Pack

Tip #1: Pack your clothing tightly without over-stuffing your suitcase. Tight packing means no loss of space and fewer wrinkles. There are three basic ways to pack efficiently:

1. The Rolling Method: Roll clothing, especially garments like turtlenecks, pajamas sweaters, slacks, etc. By wrapping a rubber band around each item, they stay rolled up.
2. The Interweave Method: This works best with longer items such as dresses, pants, etc. Start with the longest items first, placing them in the bottom of the suitcase, with the ends hanging over the case. Then place smaller items on top of the longer ones. Finally, when the suitcase is filled, fold the hangover on top. This will prevent sharp creases on your long garments.
3. The Bundling Method: Like the interweave method; bundling is accomplished by folding longer items around smaller items. However, bundling is done by outfit. In other words, if you plan to wear a particular shirt with a particular pair of pants, you bundle them together. Starting with socks and underwear, you then wrap the shirt and finally the pants. The advantage of this method is that each outfit is together and easily accessible. If you then put the complete bundle in a zip-lock bag and expel all of the air out of it, you have a fairly wrinkle free outfit at your fingertips. With longer garments, however, a garment bag or a suitcase with a suitor is best of all to prevent wrinkles.

Tip #2: Make use of dead space. Stuff underwear, socks, ties, scarves etc. into shoes. This not only saves space, but also keeps your shoes from being crushed.

Tip #3:  Layering clothing with plastic dry cleaning bags or tissue paper helps to prevent wrinkles.

Tip #4: Don't bring full sized toiletries. Many drug stores carry sample size toothpaste, hair spray, shaving cream, etc. These take up a lot less space and are much lighter than their full-sized counterparts. Also available at drug stores are small plastic bottles and jars that can be inexpensively and ecologically refilled with your preferred toiletries.

Tip #5: Traveling with a friend or your family? Consider ³cross packing². Pack essential items of each person in each other¹s bags. That way, if a suitcase is lost, everyone will still be able to enjoy their trip until the bag is found.

Tip #6:  Place jewelry, medicines, contact lenses, and other valuable or irreplaceable items in your carry-on. Also consider packing a change of socks and underwear in your carry-on (see Tip #5).

Tip #7: Unpack as soon as you arrive at your destination.   Doing so will keep your clothes as wrinkle free as possible.

Back to Top

Travel Essentials

Tip #1: Remember that list of clothing you made? Attach that list, your itinerary, visa, a list of emergency numbers, your medical history,  etc. to your passport with a paper clip. That way, if a bag does get lost, you will have a complete inventory of what was lost. Keep all these essential items in your carry-on!

Tip #2: Mark your suitcase well. Not only should you have luggage tags on your suitcases (preferably with a business return address for privacy), you can mark your bags in some distinctive way...a bright ribbon or yarn. It will make your bags easily identifiable at the baggage claim (you¹d be surprised at how many bags look exactly like yours.)

Tip #3: Remove all old baggage claim tickets from your suitcases. You don¹t want your bags going to last year¹s vacation spot. When you arrive at the airport, make sure the correct baggage claim tickets are attached to your suitcases.

Tip #4: Try to book direct flights if at all possible. Almost half of lost baggage is due to transfers from one flight or one airline to another.

Tip #5: Get to the baggage claim area as quickly as possible to reduce the chances of theft of your bag.

Tip #6: Lock your luggage. Although it won¹t deter professional thieves, it will discourage others. In addition, it will ensure that your suitcases will not accidentally open due to rough handling by the baggage handlers.

Tip #7: Additional items to consider bringing:

1. A security pouch to carry money and other valuables. A zippered pouch that hangs around the neck is a good choice.
2. Personal address book or pre-addressed labels to attach to postcards.
3. Sun block, lip balm, sunglasses. Also  moisturizing cream. Pressurized airline cabins are kept at zero percent humidity.
4. Reading material. If it is a long flight, a book is a good way to pass the time. Magazines are a good choice because they can be left behind and lighten your load as  you  travel. And then there are always delays....
5. A calling card with a list of access numbers. Long distance phone calls can be very expensive from overseas.
6. Traveling with your computer? Be sure to carry it in a computer friendly bag. Back up all your  information before you leave. Even with power converters, voltage fluctuations can cause havoc to your hard drive.
7. Extra passport photos. If you decide to take a side trip, you made need a visa which you didn't plan for.
8. Photocopy the photo page of your passport and keep separate from your passport. Should your passport become lost or stolen, the photocopy will make it easier to obtain a new one from your embassy.
9. Medicines. See your doctor for medications you may  need, such as anti-diarrheal, malarial, etc.
10. A small flashlight, Swiss Army Knife (or a multi-purpose tool, a clothespin - you¹d be surprised how often you will use them!)
11. Duct tape - Can temporarily repair rips in anything!

Back to Top

How to Reduce Wrinkling

Well, there is no way to guarantee that your clothes will arrive wrinkle-free, but there are some helpful tricks and tips that will reduce the wrinkling to some extent.

The best method is to separate clothes in plastic dry cleaning bags. The plastic traps the air around the garment and eliminates wrinkle-producing friction between the garments. You can also put tissue paper between the garments to prevent wrinkling.

Another thing you should keep in mind, is to pack the right amount of clothes. Both underpacking and overstuffing will increase wrinkles.

Back to Top

Airline Regulations

Airline Toll Free Numbers | Alaska Airlines | American Airlines | British Airways
Continental | Delta | JetBlue Airways | Northwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines | United Airlines | US Airways

How can I contact B&R's Customer Service? Simply call us at 888.HMB.BAGS, or use our contact form.