Tri-Star

[Darcy]

In this thread, post a list or pictures of What You Carry in your Tri-Star carry-on travel bag. We will add your packing list to the Tri-Star page to help give other people a better idea of what the bag can hold.

[eastercat]

From my recent recent trip to Europe, a photo list of what I brought.

[falconea]

Holds A3 reams of paper

A silly thing to pack... I needed to transport a ream of A3 size paper (297 × 420 mm; 11.7" × 16.5"). For testing purposes, I loaded in three reams.

They fit in perfectly, packed in their ream wrappers and also in the lids of the boxes (for a bit of support), with room to spare.

Of course, it isn't light!

I'll be carrying my one ream plus all my other junk (a Synapse-full) home tonight for a 1 mile walk and it will be fine.

Audrey

[lhw]

Packing list for 10 days in Europe

I spent a week in Rome and three days in London in February. I packed the following into my Tri-Star with room to spare:
❏ underwear - 4 pairs; bra - 1
❏ socks - 3 pairs; tights - 2 pairs
❏ thermal undershirt
❏ pajamas - 1pair
❏ pants - 1 pair
❏ skirt - 1
❏ belt - 1
❏ walking shoes
❏ 4 shirts
❏ 1 cardigan
❏ 4 silk scarves
❏ feminine napkins, tampons, panty liners (in ziplock)
❏ toiletry bag: - toothbrush, floss
- solid make up, makeup brushes, tweezers, make up remover wipes
- razor
- emery board, polish remover pads
- extra contact lenses
- first aid: bandaids, moleskin, advil, antihistamines, cold meds, antacids, sewing kit
❏ netbook and power cord, memory stick
❏ camera battery recharger, iPhone recharger & cord, UK/Italy adapters, UK phone recharger
❏ tickets, receipts, maps, printed info
❏ copies of passports
❏ extra kleenex packets
❏ rolled up medium sized duffle bag
❏ plastic bag for liquids: - contact lens solutions
- toothpaste
- hand and body lotions, facial creams
- fragrances
- lipstick, lipbalm
- nail polish
- mascara, eye liner
- hair conditioner
- Tide stain stick
- nasal spray, antibiotic cream
and a bottle of water after going through security.

Otherwise my only carry on was my medium size purse which held:
❏ passport
❏ etickets/boarding passes
❏ camera (fully charged battery, empty memory card)
❏ iPhone/UK phone
❏ journal & pen
❏ reading material (novel, guide book)
❏ wallet w/$, €, £ and ATM, credit cards; coin purses; Oyster card; phone top up card
❏ sunglasses
❏ small toiletry bag:
- glasses, glasses case, lens case
- prescription drugs, sleeping pills, gravol
- small pack of wet-wipes/small pack of kleenex
- earbuds for iPhone
- reading glasses
❏ earplugs, eye mask

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Tri-Star does for a 8 day trip in April for which I want to take running and cycling clothes as well.

[TeresTala]

Six Days in Atlanta

My Tri-Star and I just returned from our first trip together. The flights to and from Atlanta were completely full. On the way to ATL, if I hadn't been able to slip the Tri-Star under my seat, I would have had to check the bag. On the way back the Tri-Star made another person happy by sitting upright rather than sideways in the bin, thus allowing the guy to get his bag stowed.

I'd call this trip halfway-in-between packing. I could have done with less, but I didn't.

• 2 pr jeans
• 2 short-sleeved tee-shirts
• 1 three-quarter sleeve tee
• 2 bras
• 5 pr underwear
• 4 pr socks
• oversized tee (pajamas)
• knit pants (pajamas)
• Birkies
• Lightweight fleece hoodie
• Waterproof shell
• 3D Clear Organizer Bag - 3/1/1 kit w/ shampoo, lotion, meds, lavender oil
• Glucometer
• Travel kit - toothpowder, toothbrush, comb, razor, etc.
• Extra book
• Magazine
• .6 liter Sigg bottle

One each of a small, medium & large packing cube really made organization easy.

My 'personal item' was a very small backpack with snacks, wallet, book, knitting, and all the rest of the little bits and pieces that make travel more enjoyable.

[paullowry]

A Few Weeks Away

This is my packing list for a few weeks in autumn/spring in a temperate climate washing only every 8 days or so. Mostly tramping around and sightseeing but being presentable enough to walk into pretty much anywhere and able to dress up for a fancy evening as needed.

A couple of introductory notes first though.

I try and travel with just carry on and because I am usually starting in Australia, I am usually subject to a fairly tight “one bag, 7kg” limit both domestically and internationally which tends to be fairly strictly enforced. I’m also allowed a personal item. This means that I use the Tristar as my carry on bag packed exactly to 7kg and a Medium Café bag as my personal item (and also as a day bag at my destination) usually with about 1.5 kg in it.

Except when I am likely to be inspected or weighed, I tuck the Café bag into the centre compartment of the Tristar and only need to worry about one bag (I also often take the Café bag out on the plane so my personal items are handy).

You can actually pack much more than this list into the Tristar (lots!). It has a huge capacity but as per the above, I am limited by weight rather than size or volume so I pack the lightest things I can find and have stripped out bits and pieces of the bag (straps, clips for brain cell etc.) which gets it down to 1420 grams vs the as shipped 1550 grams (I can always clip these back in if I need them).

I’m sure all this would fit in a Western Flyer without much trouble and that is lighter again but the extra flexibility of the being able to tuck the café bag away and have only one bag most of the time works well for me.

Tristar

Rear Compartment (bundle wrapped in a large packing cube)

1 x pair dress chinos
1 x windcheater (used as the bundle core)
1 x warm long sleeve shirt
1 x dress long sleeve shirt
1 x silk polo shirt (not really silk but very light, thin and elegant)
1 x t-shirt
4 x underwear

Middle Compartment

4 x pairs socks (laid across the bottom)
1 x iphone charger and cable w/ necessary plugs

Front Compartment Larger Side (bundle wrapped in a medium packing cube)

2 x lightweight polo shirts
3 x t-shirts
5 x socks
5 x underwear

Front Compartment Smaller Side (in a small packing cube)

1 x pair dress shoes

Top Zipper

Empty for paperwork

Middle Zipper

Liquids pack (deodorant, toothpaste, shaving crème etc.)

Bottom Zipper

Empty for items from pockets (keys etc)


Medium Café Bag

camera
money pouch, cash, spare card
medicines, contacts, hairbrush etc.
glasses and case
sunglasses and case
mini travel torch
collapsible umbrella
passports, tickets etc
book


Wear

Lightweight cotton pants/jeans
t-shirt
underwear
socks
walking shoes
sports coat
wallet/keys/phone


A couple more notes.

I know that the packing cubes of course add back weight but in my view are so convenient a packing solution that it is worth doing.

The walking shoes are Rockport World Tour and are good to walk in all day but don’t look particularly like walking shoes i.e. wear them almost anywhere. The dress shoes are Rockport Dressports that just look like normal business shoes (i.e. definitely wont attract a second glance anywhere) but are lightweight (700g) and comfortable enough to walk a long way in. I’m sure there are plenty of equivalents but these are the ones that I have found.

[jeffmac]

8 day trip to Europe

OK, this is a first attempt so I am up for suggestions but this is what I put in my Tristar for an 8 day business trip to Europe. Leave on a Wednesday, opportunity for laundry on Sunday and head home on Thursday. 8 days, 5 planes, 2 trains and 4 hotels!

Packed: With jeans, shoes a long sleeve tee and a ScottEVest to travel in:

http://forums.tombihn.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

Unpacked:

http://forums.tombihn.com/images/attach/jpg.gif

Zippered Pockets:
Curved:
Computer PS
Euro AC Widget

Deep Pocket:
Notepad

Midpocket:
Iphone
In ear buds
Video Output widget

Short Pocket:
Passport
311 toiletries

Divided Compartment:
Rockports with socks inside
Dickies shirt
Button down shirt (there is still some room in this compartment and I am pretty sure I want to get another medium packing cube for this side)

Center Compartment:
MB Air 13" in Sleeve
Side Effect with other toiletries
Meshbag with phone chargers, cables and USB drive/mini hub
Monster power Strip

Undivided compartment:
2 prs khakis in compression straps
Small packing cube with 4 pr dress socks, 5 pr underwear and gym shorts
Medium packing cube with 3 t shirts rolled, 2 golf shirts rolled, and one short sleeve folded on top

[Frank II]

Jeffmac, your packing list looks fine except for one thing....

Nothing of value in those front pockets. If you can't easily replace it, don't put it there.
Sadly, anything in any of the front pockets is easy pickings to a pickpocket. And European train stations and trains are full of them.

(It is the one thing I don't like about the Tri-star. The front pockets cannot be locked. I only use them for 3-1-1 bag, magazine, or anything I really don't care about losing.)


Anything of value, such as your passport, iphone, chargers, etc, should be in one of the main compartments and preferably in a pouch or cube attached to an O ring. And better yet, your passport should be in a moneybelt on the days you don't need it. (Remember, once you enter Schengen you won't need to show it when going to another Schengen country.)


Never leave your bag unattended on a train unless it is locked to the overhead and every compartment is also locked.

Now, people will tell you they've traveled and never had a problem (yet). I used to work in the tour industry and traveled with thousands of people. And yes, I've seen my fair share of pickpocket victims losing cameras, passports, you name it.

You may be lucky and not have a problem. But would you really want to risk one day of the short trip sitting in the U.S. consulate trying to get a replacement passport?

[falconea]

But would you really want to risk one day of the short trip sitting in the U.S. consulate trying to get a replacement passport?

When travelling I always have my passport on my person. No exceptions.

When British Airways had that crash in London a few years ago passengers were evacuated, leaving hand luggage on board. Those who had their passports were processed and allowed to enter the country; those who didn't were held in immigration detention for several days until they were finally able to recover their hand luggage from the aircraft.

There are many other examples available, all with the same moral: your passport must be on your person at all times.

Similarly, on aircraft I always remain clothed, in safe fire-resistant clothing and sensible shoes. Who wants to risk nylon clothing melting on the escape slide, causing burns, and then having to run through fire on the ground in bare feet because you took your shoes off or were wearing high heels that you had to remove before using the slide? These injuries are predictable and avoidable.

(Rant mode off.)

Audrey

[Frank II]

Audrey...that's why I said the best place for a passport is a moneybelt.

I tell people that with only a passport and a credit card you can always get home. If one of those two is missing, you're in trouble.

Oh, and I also suggest people take a photocopy of the "info" page of their passport. And keep it separate from your passport. It will make replacing it much easier should the worst occur.

[jeffmac]

Thank you Frank and Falconea...excellent advice! I will rearrange some things.

Frank, how do you feel about something in a pouch attached to an O ring in the front zippered pockets? Are the pick pockets good enough to foil that?

[Frank II]

Are they that good?......yes. These are pros who have trained to do this. They are expert.

I wouldn't do it.

When I travel, every compartment is locked with a zipper. If it's not, I'm not worried about losing what's in it.

Many will think I go overboard. That's fine. I've never had a problem even when I know there have been attempts.

Now, there is one way around this. Use a retractable lock to go through all the front zippers including the semi-circle one. That way no pocket can be opened easily--but it also doesn't make anything easily accessible to you.

The one positive--violent crime is virtually non-existent against tourists in Europe.

[GaryS]

Use a retractable lock to go through all the front zippers including the semi-circle one. That way no pocket can be opened easily

This is a waste of time. Give me a ball point pen and five seconds and I can have any coil zipper open. The beauty of this is that afterward the zipper can be closed and it will not be damaged in any way.

[Frank II]

GaryS....are you going to do that:

a) while I'm carrying the bag?
b) in front of a train load of people while the bag is locked to the overhead?

I don't think so.

And there's only one problem to what you describe....the zippers need to move to cover up the damage. The way I describe them locked, the zippers can't be moved.

You see, I know how to do the zipper trick and I've done it--for demonstration purposes only.

BTW...you can do the same with the zippers of the three main compartments. Line them up, put the cord through and then wind it around the top carry handle. Zippers can't move. If zippers can't move, you can't hide the damage.

[GaryS]

GaryS....are you going to do that:

a) while I'm carrying the bag?
b) in front of a train load of people while the bag is locked to the overhead?

I don't think so.

And there's only one problem to what you describe....the zippers need to move to cover up the damage. The way I describe them locked, the zippers can't be moved.

You see, I know how to do the zipper trick and I've done it--for demonstration purposes only.

BTW...you can do the same with the zippers of the three main compartments. Line them up, put the cord through and then wind it around the top carry handle. Zippers can't move. If zippers can't move, you can't hide the damage.

But if your valuables are gone? My point is that coil zippers can be opened in seconds. Experienced thieves can do this in a crowd even while you are wear it! All locks and cables do is shout out to the world that there is something very valuable in your bag (whether there is or not).

I just fasten the zipper pulls together with the little wire ties bread bags are sealed with. AND- I never let my bag out of my sight.