Alternate Storage Duffels

As you travel around, you will more than likely purchase some gifts and souvenirs. If you find that you have purchased too much or purchased large items that cannot be carried on your flight, you will need to find an alternative way of getting them home.

We try never to check a bag, but in some situations you may find that you need to on your return. There are several possibilities to consider including bringing along an extra bag for the purpose of checking it in on your flight, purchasing a bag while you travel to be used as a check in bag, having a shop handing the packing and shipping of something you may have purchased and packing a box and having the post office mail it back.

	The Packable Travel Duffel
	If you plan to purchase items on your trip and are concerned that you will not have room to pack them in your bag when you return, one possibility is to purchase a packable bag and bring it with you for checking it in on your return. These types of bags are inexpensive, extremely lightweight, packable (usually into their own zipped pouch) and durable enough to survive as a checked bag on a flight. We found some bags for as little as $10 but this particular one we found on sale at Eddie Bauer for $20. They come in various sizes, so look around for something that will accommodate your needs. This is our preferred method as you don't have to spend time shopping around for a bag as described below and other than the price of the bag which is nominal, it could be absolutely free to check this bag in on a flight depending on your carrier's bag rules. Eddie Bauer Stowaway 40L Packable Duffel This lightweight, durable duffel of 200-denier ripstop polyester will stand up to regular use. It's also a great traveler, especially when you come home with more than when you left. Because it packs down into one of its own pockets when empty, but offers an ample 40 liters of storage space and three zip compartments when you need it. 100% ripstop polyester StormRepel standard water-repellent finish sheds moisture so it doesn't soak into fabric Three exterior zip pockets Webbed handles with padded wrap Removable, adjustable shoulder strap Grab handle at each end 10.5 in. H x 21 in. W x 10.5 in. D Packed Size: 7 in. H x 7 in. W x 2.5 in. D (This is from our measurements, smaller from what is shown on their website) Capacity: 40L Weight: 13 oz. Eddie Bauer Stowaway 40L Packable Duffel The one drawback of bringing along this type of bag is that it will take up additional room in your pack and you may never use it, so consider it carefully if space is an issue. Consider a size of approximately 40L. Remember, you should also be bringing a Packable Daypack that may also be used as Alternative Storage should it be necessary. Daypacks are going to be smaller, typically around 15-20L so a duffel should be larger.

	Purchasing a bag or piece of luggage while on your trip
	While you are on your trip, if you have purchased items and find you do not have room to pack them on your return, one of the simplest ways to cheaply get your souvenirs back home safely with you is to purchase a piece of luggage strictly for the purpose of packing your items and checking in the bag on your return flight. This alternative may be far less expensive than having a shop mail your items back, or paying the post office to ship them. We have found that even a large piece of luggage can sometimes be purchased for around 20 Euros. You are not looking for high quality luggage, just something allowing you to pack your items and check in on your flight. When you return home, sell it on eBay or somewhere else and you may make back anything you paid for it and more. It can take time to hunt around and find a piece of luggage to purchase.

	Store Mailings
	Some stores will mail items you have purchased back to your home. Depending on the price of the items you have bought, shipping may be included in the purchase price while other stores will charge you an additional fee for shipping. For example, in the Black Forrest area of Germany where cuckoo clocks are popular, many stores handle all the details of packing and shipping their clocks. If you are shopping in Europe and will have something mailed back to a non-EU country, you will avoid paying VAT (Value Added Tax). If you are living in an EU country, they will charge you the additional tax.

	Local Post Office Mailings
	As a last resort, locate a post office and purchase a box. Fill the box with your purchased items and if necessary pad it with dirty travel clothing and have it shipped back to your home address. This will help to free up room in our backpack for other items as you will now be minus some of our travel clothing. This method can however be an expensive alternative depending on the size and weight of what you are shipping. This can be very expensive to ship internationally depending on the size and weight of the package.