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Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Specter On Board Packing Cube Review

TravellingEdward Kiledjian

I started travelling the world almost 20 years ago and haven't stopped since. I have been to all 4 corners of the world and over the years have refined my travel "recipe". In this case, my recipe is how to pack the most while still being able to travel (in most cases) carry-on only using the one bag approach. 

The competition

Before looking at the Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Specter On Board, I want to take a second to talk about cheaper products. 

The cheapest of the bunch are Chinese made knock-offs you can buy from Aliexpress, DHGate, DealExtreme or eBay. I bought a handful of these to test, ranging from the very cheap ones at $4,99 all the way up to their top of the line one listed at $36.05. 

First you wait between 4-8 weeks to receive the Chinese products. Once you start testing them you realize all the issues wrong with them:

  • cheap zippers that don't open/close smoothly
  • cheap inconsistent stitching
  • cheap plastic material that either cant contain a small leak or that rips after a couple of uses
  • illogical compartment design

Unfortunately most travel stores in malls resell these cheap Chinese products with their store name on it (relabelled) usually at a premium price.

Why I love Eagle Creek

Over the next few weeks,  I will write reviews about various Eagle Creek travel tools that I recommend. The Specter line from Eagle Creek is designed with the frequent and light traveller in mind. They are extremely light weight, durable, easy to maintain and will simplify anyone's travel.

Pack-It Specter On Board Packing Cube

  • It has 2 smaller zip pockets on the top flap and 7 organizer slip pockets.
  • The central compartment  is large enough to accommodate a medium blow dryer, medium hair straightener or it can even carry a small travel cube with shoe polish, shoe brushes or whatever else you want to carry in there.
  • Eagle Creek has used a thin yet durable "silnylon" ripstop material which is lightweight, easy to maintain and allows you to see through it  ( making content identification easy).
  • It is water resistant and stain resistant. 

I purposely let a tube of toothpaste "leak" and the material contained it perfectly within the toiletry bag. I tried the same experiment with a face cream and once again the material contained it which meant nothing else got dirty or stained. Now I do recommend sealing creams and liquids in a ziplock style freezer bag during travel (freezer bags are typically more sturdy) but this will protect your luggage even if you don't.

Those that have been reading my blog for a while know that I love and only travel with RedOxx luggage. RedOxx makes light, durable and flexible luggage but the thing I love most about their products is the lifetime warranty, Well Eagle Creek offers a lifetime warranty on their products as well:

Travelling is extremely demanding on gear and the one time I tried to use an Eagle Creek product warranty, they replaced the item no questions asked (and without any hassles). 

Important considerations

I love reading internet comments related to products I am reviewing. I read a bunch of complaints from people that obviously don't travel much. Here are some elements I want you to keep in mind.

My main Redoxx luggage is the AirBoss and it has a soft flexible outer shell. This makes it incredibly light and expandable yet it also means I have to fully stuff it if I want it to be stiff and solid (which I don't of course). Same thing here.

The Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter On Board Packing Cube is made from a flexible material which means it won't stand easily on its own. But this is something you want. You want a light and flexible material not something heavy and rigid like leather or pleather.

The Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter On Board Packing Cube is washable but if you want to keep it working for a long time, don't throw it into the washing machine. To clean this product (or most other travel cubes or flexible luggages):

  1. first make sure it is completely dry and dry wipe any spots stains or dirt
  2. You can use a soft dry plastic bristle brush to gently clean the cracks and crevices. The important words here are soft plastic bristles and very very gentle strokes. 
  3. Using an air compressor, I then blow any dust or debris away
  4. Using a mild soap (like Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-in-One Soap) hand wash the Pack-It Specter On Board Packing Cube in lukewarm water. Gently stirring the item in a tub of water or a large sink. 
  5. Then I rinse it off with fresh lukewarm running water and let it air dry. Never dry it in the automatic dryer or under the sun.

Because it is flexible, you will need to 2 hands to open and close the zipper. The zippers are equipped with pull ties making opening and closing easier.

The downside

Overall I think this is a fantastic addition to anyones travel kit and I know you will get years of satisfaction from it. The only 2 issues I had with it are:

  1. I wish the price was a little lower ($45 on Amazon.com LINK). Don't get me wrong, I would gladly pay $45 for this product because I know all of the careful thought that went into the design of this uber useful toiletry kit but casual travellers may find it a bit too pricey.
  2. As a single man that shaves his head, I travel with a very limited number of toiletry items. I found that product was often 50-60% empty for me but remember it is light and flexible so it doesn't take any extra space. It curls and compresses around the items it is protecting.

Verdict

If you travel moderately (or more) and are looking for the most convenient toiletry bag than this is it. You should go buy it. You will love it. 

If you travel once a year for a beach vacation, I would still say buy it because I hate cheap travel gear that breaks, but you could be forgiven for buying something a little cheaper. 

Amazon (link)

WineSkin is the ideal way to bring back Wine from your trip

TravellingEdward Kiledjian

One of the joys of travelling is discovering new tastes and bringing some of it back with you. Bringing back some souvenir alcohol is a great but most travelers worry about the bottle breaking in transit and leaving an indelible mark on your valuables.

The WineSkin may just be able to solve your problem.  The WineSkin is a thick peal-and-seal bubble protection system for your alcohol. Using it is very simple. 

  • Insert your favorite 750ml (or smaller) bottle into the WineSkin
  • Peel and press the seal (the inner seal) against the vinyl covering
  • Form fit the rest of the WineSeal around your bottle
  • Peel and press the seal (the outer seal) against the vinyl covering 

The WineSkin is a single use item but you can find a 3 pack for $9.99 or less. 

 

Alternatives

There are some reusable alternatives but they are usually much bulkier and don't seem to offer the same level of spill protection. Having looked at about a dozen different models, I am confident that this is the one you will want in your luggage.

Where to find it

This is my personal blog and I don't use any kind of affiliate marketing. Any links I provide here are done for your convenience (I don't get anything from the retailers).

Take a quick look around the web and you'll find these everywhere.  

Obviously shop around but it is easy to find and very affordable. Your local travel store may even have some in stock.

Steripen review - Guaranteed clean water for the business traveller

TravellingEdward Kiledjian

As a business travel, I have visited some exotic cities and learned how important clean drinking water is. Water purification is done differently in each country and not all systems match the cleanliness we have come to expect. Other times countries have old or ill-maintained water distribution systems which infect the entire water network. Regardless of the reason, I have come to distrust tap water is most non-western countries.

Even bottled water may not be safe. I once caught a vendor in Thailand who was extracting the clean water from the bottles [by making a small incision in the bottom of the plastic bottles], replacing it with local tap water and then resealing the bottom with a dab of crazy glue. Bottled water can be bad because of foul play or simply because the contents weren’t treated as thoroughly as you would like. 

“An estimated 10 million people develop Traveler’s Diarrhea each year. High-risk destinations include developing countries of Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.” - U.S. Center for Disease Control

WHAT IS IT?

The Steripen is a little device that is now part of my critical travel gear. Using hospital grade UV light, it kills 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that cause water-borne illness. You simply fill a glass or plastic container, insert the Steripen tip into the water, press the start button, mix or shake the water during the purification process and when the light turns off, the water is safe to drink.

WHICH MODEL?

I have the original classic and it still works perfectly. All models have the same UV technology but they come in different sizes and shapes. Regardless of which one you choose, you will be well served. 

ALTERNATIVES

There are some alternatives but none are as good as a Steripen. You can use water purification tablets but most require an extensive soaking period and change the waters taste. 

You can always boil the water for 10-15 minutes but most business travellers simply don't have the facilities to boil water (A coffee machine does not boil the water).

PICTURES

This is the one I have.  IT includes the Steripen, a large mouth water bottle adapter and the adapter tip that can be used for drinking. 

Review of the Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube Medium

TravellingEdward Kiledjian

Over the last 15 years, I have had the privilege of conducting business in over 30 different countries. Many years ago, I consciously decided to be a one-bag traveler which means I travel with carry-on only (aka no check in luggage). This has many benefits including:

  • no excess baggage fees
  • no worries about lost, delayed or damaged baggage
  • no waiting at the luggage claim conveyor belt

Planning is essential

To be a one-bag traveler (which I highly recommend), I had to take some time and decide what I pack and how I pack it. I'll link to some of my past articles later in this post but I want to talk about a company I discovered and love: Eagle Creek. They make modular packing solutions which will cater to all travelers (whether you travel carry-on only or check in large family size rolling suitcases.

My luggage is the Air Boss (Airboss) or SkyTrain by RedOxx. My packing solution is by Eagle Creek.

Why I love Eagle Creek

I have bought and travel tested dozens of different travel organization products, from locally made items to some of the biggest brands; Eagle Creek is one company that has always stood head & shoulders above its competitors. Every Eagle Creek product I have used has always been well designed and manufactured. The true test for me has been the hundreds of flights and thousands of kilometers their products have travelled with me around the world. From a one hour trip to Toronto (Canada) or a 30 hour jaunt to Shenyang (China), their products have kept my personal items clean, safe and organized.

Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube Medium review

Depending on my destination and the purpose of my trip, I always travel with some assortment of electronics. The Pack-it Cube has proven to be an indispensable companion that organizes and protects my items.

The case itself is soft with a molded top, support structure sides, nice re-arrange able padding/separator and a soft device caressing fleece lining.The medium size seems to be the ideal size for me. It is big enough to carry what I need yet small enough so I can pack it in my carry-on luggage.

Here you see how I pack my Sony HD Camcorder, the power cable, my Joby GripTight and my Glif/Serif mount (last 2 for my iphoneography and the Joby supports my Sony Camcorder).

Here you see how I pack my Steripen water sterilizer, D-Link small WIFI router, my universal power-plug converter, my Ledlenser V2 - DUAL COLOR FLASHLIGHT, Ethernet cables and power adapter.

The last configuration I wanted to share with you includes my Veho 360 portable bluetooth speaker, my Force Guard hotel room lock, my Ledlenser flashlight again, my external 4000mAH battery pack with tips and my Defcon1 motion/theft alarm.

Verdict

I love the Pack-it Cubes and after spending hundreds of dollars on competing products, I have stuck with this model. After dozens of trips and a generous helping of abuse, the Cubes look brand new and perform like they did day 1. My electronics are organized and well protected. If you buy them from any of the online retailers, the price is about $30 which is incredibly reasonable for something that is going to give you years of use. There are cheaper look alike products out there but every cheap alternative I have tested ripped, didn’t properly protect my devices or just didn’t perform like I expected it to.

You'll notice that all my cables are tied up and tidy. I use the 6" Hook & Loop Cable Ties (velcro) from Monoprice.com

One warning: *beware of shady unauthorized resellers *because you may just get a knock-off / counterfeit item. I bought a cube from a “reputable” US ebay seller and when I compared the finishing and materials of that item to the original, the differences were huge. Get the original, you’ll be glad you did.

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WANDERLITE DAYPACK (Follow-up)

ReviewEdward Kiledjian

I posted my review about the Wanderlite daypack bagpack on February 8 here. If you haven't read it, I recommend you check it out. 

As promised, I took the Wanderlite with me and wanted to see if I would use it while travelling. I am happy to report that the bag was useful. 

First it packs real small and light, which makes it the ideal secondary bag for a onebag (carry-on only) traveler. It easily fit into the Red Oxx Airboss' middle compartment along with my shoes, bathroom kit and socks/underwear. 

When in Shenyang and Shanghai, I decided to do a little shopping and this was the bag I took with me to carry my items around.

Overall I still like the Wanderlite and would recommend it to any light packing traveller that may need a temporary second journee bag.