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For frequent business travellers, learning how to pack light can transform their entire business trip. The key isn’t just about minimising what you pack but also about using innovative products that reduce packing space while keeping you organised and efficient. Here are some of the best items that help business travellers save space without sacrificing essentials.

Compression packing cubes

Compression packing cubes are a must-have for business travellers who want to optimise their luggage space.  Unlike regular packing cubes, these feature a second zipper that allows you to compress the contents, significantly reducing the volume of your clothes.  They’re handy for bulky items like jackets or sweaters.

Brands such as Gonex and Osprey offer highly rated, durable options designed to maximize every inch of your suitcase and help pack tight.

The benefits include

  • The ability to compress bulky clothes, such as scarfs and jackets
  • Keep your suitcase organised
  • Easy to use with multiple compartments

Vacuum-sealed bags

Vacuum-sealed bags are another excellent option for maximising space, especially when packing large, fluffy items like jackets or winter clothing.  By removing excess air, these bags significantly shrink your pack size.  Though they require a vacuum to seal them initially, you can opt for manual options or vacuum-free bags that are easier to manage during your trip.

The key features include;

  • Compress bulky clothing effectively
  • Best for extended trips or varying weather conditions
  • Idea for pack jackets, sweaters and coats.

Collapsible travel containers

Frequent travellers who prefer to carry snacks or small meals will find collapsible containers a brilliant addition to their packing routine. Brands like Healthy Business Travel offer drink and light meal containers that can be flattened when not in use. These silicone-based products are lightweight, easy to clean, and highly convenient, especially if you’re staying somewhere without access to dishes.

Why they’re Handy

  • Perfect for carrying snacks, small meals, hot or cold drinks
  • Save space by collapsing when not in use
  • Lightweight and easy to carry

Reusable zip-top bags

If you’re still using traditional plastic bags for storing toiletries, snacks or small items, it’s time to switch to reusable zip-top bags.  These versatile bags, like those from Stasher, are leakproof, washable, and perfect for packing anything from food to toiletries.  They’re eco-friendly, durable, and, most importantly, take up far less space than bulky containers.  Ideal if you want to pack light!

Advantages

  • Ideal for organising toiletries, snacks or smaller clothing items
  • Washable and reusable
  • Eco-friendly and space-saving

Packing cubes with multi-functionality

Certain packing cubes offer added functionalities like built-in laundry compartments or water-resistant material to protect delicate items.  These advanced features allow you to pack smarter, ensuring that fragile items like electronics are safely stored away from liquids or that clean and dirty clothes remain separate.  Brands include Homsorout and Miss Adola.

Bonus Benefits

  • Enhanced organisation with separate compartments
  • Water-resistant cubes protect valuables
  • Perfect for longer trips or multi-destination travel

Maximising space for smooth travel

Using these products allows you to travel lighter and smarter.  Compression packing cubes and vacuum-sealed bags significantly reduce the space your clothes occupy. While collapsible containers and reusable zip-top bags help keep food fresh while compact and light to carry.  Incorporating these tools into your packing routine saves space and helps you pack light to travel more efficiently – whether you’re flying across the countries for a meeting or embarking on a longer overseas trip.

 

 

© 2024 Healthy Business Travel

How to pack light: products that save space

For frequent business travellers, learning how to pack light can transform their entire business trip. The key isn’t just about minimising what you pack but also about using innovative products that reduce packing space while keeping you organised and efficient. Here are some of the best items that help business travellers save space without sacrificing essentials.

Compression packing cubes

Compression packing cubes are a must-have for business travellers who want to optimise their luggage space.  Unlike regular packing cubes, these feature a second zipper that allows you to compress the contents, significantly reducing the volume of your clothes.  They’re handy for bulky items like jackets or sweaters.

Brands such as Gonex and Osprey offer highly rated, durable options designed to maximize every inch of your suitcase and help pack tight.

The benefits include

  • The ability to compress bulky clothes, such as scarfs and jackets
  • Keep your suitcase organised
  • Easy to use with multiple compartments

Vacuum-sealed bags

Vacuum-sealed bags are another excellent option for maximising space, especially when packing large, fluffy items like jackets or winter clothing.  By removing excess air, these bags significantly shrink your pack size.  Though they require a vacuum to seal them initially, you can opt for manual options or vacuum-free bags that are easier to manage during your trip.

The key features include;

  • Compress bulky clothing effectively
  • Best for extended trips or varying weather conditions
  • Idea for pack jackets, sweaters and coats.

Collapsible travel containers

Frequent travellers who prefer to carry snacks or small meals will find collapsible containers a brilliant addition to their packing routine. Brands like Healthy Business Travel offer drink and light meal containers that can be flattened when not in use. These silicone-based products are lightweight, easy to clean, and highly convenient, especially if you’re staying somewhere without access to dishes.

Why they’re Handy

  • Perfect for carrying snacks, small meals, hot or cold drinks
  • Save space by collapsing when not in use
  • Lightweight and easy to carry

Reusable zip-top bags

If you’re still using traditional plastic bags for storing toiletries, snacks or small items, it’s time to switch to reusable zip-top bags.  These versatile bags, like those from Stasher, are leakproof, washable, and perfect for packing anything from food to toiletries.  They’re eco-friendly, durable, and, most importantly, take up far less space than bulky containers.  Ideal if you want to pack light!

Advantages

  • Ideal for organising toiletries, snacks or smaller clothing items
  • Washable and reusable
  • Eco-friendly and space-saving

Packing cubes with multi-functionality

Certain packing cubes offer added functionalities like built-in laundry compartments or water-resistant material to protect delicate items.  These advanced features allow you to pack smarter, ensuring that fragile items like electronics are safely stored away from liquids or that clean and dirty clothes remain separate.  Brands include Homsorout and Miss Adola.

Bonus Benefits

  • Enhanced organisation with separate compartments
  • Water-resistant cubes protect valuables
  • Perfect for longer trips or multi-destination travel

Maximising space for smooth travel

Using these products allows you to travel lighter and smarter.  Compression packing cubes and vacuum-sealed bags significantly reduce the space your clothes occupy. While collapsible containers and reusable zip-top bags help keep food fresh while compact and light to carry.  Incorporating these tools into your packing routine saves space and helps you pack light to travel more efficiently – whether you’re flying across the countries for a meeting or embarking on a longer overseas trip.

 

 

© 2024 Healthy Business Travel

Equipment

Spinach and Mango Salad

The ingredients in this salad provide a lunch packed with flavour and nutrients.  If you’re a fan of exotic fruits such as mango and love your spinach, then this is perfect as a healthy takeaway option on a business trip.  It’s so easy to keep fresh and will last the length of your journey without deteriorating unduly.

Serves:  1 serving
Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, peanut-free, lactose-free, egg-free.
Contains: tree nuts and sulphites
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: no cooking involved

 

INGREDIENTS
50 g baby leaf spinach, raw (1 bowl or 2 cups)
1/2 mango, ripe fresh
12 cashew nuts, roasted, unsalted
2 Tbsp raisins
10 g fresh coriander, chopped (3 Tbsp)

Salad dressing
2 tsp Lemon juice
2 tsp Olive oil

 

METHOD
Wash the fresh baby spinach and drain, then dry with a kitchen towel.
Chop the mango into small bite-size cubes, then add to the spinach.
Chop the coriander and add to the spinach and mango mix.
Add the cashew nuts, raisins to the spinach, mango and coriander.
Mix the balsamic vinegar and olive oil with a folk, then either add to the salad or store in a small container and pour over the salad when ready to eat.

Written by Kathy Lewis, BCApSc, MSc, MBA, Registered Nutritionist.

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Per serving with the dressing
Total calories: 371 kcal
Fat: 18.0 g
Saturated Fat:3.1 g
Carbohydrate: 44.0 g
Total sugar: 41.0 g
Fibre: 3.8 g
Protein: 6.8 g
Salt: 0.12 g

 

NUTRITION FACTS
This salad is a natural source of fibre and protein (from the nuts).  It offers an excellent ratio of unsaturated to saturated fats. It also provides a good source of vitamins A, B (folate), C and vitamin K, along with potassium and manganese.  If you choose not to add the dressing, then the salad will reduce the overall calorie content by 77  kcals. However, this will also reduce the good fats which you need as part of a balanced diet.

 

VARIATIONS
Swap the cashews for another nut, e.g. almonds or walnuts.
Swap the raisins for other dried fruits, such as apricot pieces or prunes.
Swap the mango for pineapple.

 

STORAGE

Store in an airtight container for 1 day.

Healthy Eating Recipes

Prosciutto di Parma with Figs and blue cheese

This fresh Italian style salad is suitable as a snack, or when served with a slice(s) of whole-grain bread, it can provide a balanced light meal.  The salad offers a mix of protein sources to contain all essential amino acids, along with calcium, while the figs and salad leaves provide fibre and other essential vitamins.

Serves:  1 serving
Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, peanut-free, gluten-free, egg-free.
Contains: milk and sulphites.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: no cooking involved

 

INGREDIENTS
50 g mixed leaves (2 cups)
3 fresh figs
25 g blue cheese, reduced fat
40 g prosciutto Parma ham (3 slices)

Salad dressing (optional)
2 tsp Olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar

 

METHOD
Place the mixed leaves in the bowl.
Chop the prosciutto ham into easy to eat slices and add on top of the leaves.
Cut the figs into quarters and add them on top of the mix.
Chop the blue cheese into 1 cm cubes or roughly crumb and add on top.
Mix the olive oil the balsamic vinegar. Place into a separate container or mini squeezy bottle.
Pour the dressing on top when ready to eat.

 

Recipe provided by Kathy Lewis, BCApSc, MSc, MBA, Registered Nutritionist

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Per serving without dressing
Total calories: 234 kcal
Fat: 13.0 g
Saturated Fat: 6.4 g
Carbohydrate: 9.7 g
Total sugar: 8.3 g
Fibre: 2.3 g
Protein: 19.0 g
Salt: 2.5 g

 

NUTRITION FACTS
The blue cheese and Parma ham add essential proteins to this salad.  However, they also add salt as a result of the curing process.  In contrast, the figs provide potassium and calcium to counteract the effects of the salt on blood pressure and leaching of calcium from bone.

It is also low in carbohydrates, therefore serve with a slice(s) of wholegrain bread to provide a more balanced light lunch offering more satiety along with additional fibre and other nutrients.

If you wish to reduce calories or the fat content, then replace the cheese with lower fat cheese or leave off the dressing.

Overall, the salad provides a good source of antioxidants such as Vitamin A and K and some B vitamins (niacin, vitamin B6) and selenium.

 

VARIATIONS
If blue cheese isn’t to your taste, substitute with a reduced-fat or reduced salt cheese such as reduced-fat/salt feta or reduced-fat/salt goats cheese.
Swap fresh figs for fresh peach slices.
Use a Balsamic glaze instead of dressing.

 

STORAGE
Store in an airtight container for one day or two days when refrigerated.  Keep cool in the fridge or with freeze blocks in a cooler bag.

 

© 2020 Healthy Business Travel

 

Recipes

Portable fitness buddies to take on business trips

Finding the time to exercise when you’re travelling for business is tough. You’ve got meetings to attend, emails to answer, reports to prepare plus keeping on top of what’s going on in your regular office. How on earth are you supposed to find the time to go for a run, visit the gym, enjoy a brisk after-dinner walk and generally stay fit and healthy throughout your trip.

One clever solution is to pack portable fitness equipment in your hold luggage or overnight bag that will allow you to efficiently exercise in 20 or even 10-minute spurts in your room.

TRX Suspension Trainer

The TRX gives you the option of an all-body workout to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, tone up and burn fat. Use the TRX for a whole range of exercises including planks, rows, chest presses, push-ups and hamstring curls.

Easy to set up and use this is a super lean and lightweight piece of equipment that will comfortably complement a full-body workout in your hotel room, outdoors or, if you’re working long hours, in the office.

Resistance band set

Work your legs, arms and core with these super-light, low cost, durable resistance bands.

They come in a range of lengths and resistance levels and are easily stashed in your suitcase or laptop bag.

The bands are suitable for all levels of fitness and are an excellent tool to aid strength training, balance and coordination.

Fit deck cards

Use a set of fit deck cards to create multiple fun and varying workouts.

Every shuffle creates a brand new workout so it is ideal if you’re easily bored by repetitive exercise routines. Each card has an illustration plus written instructions as to how to perform the given exercise.

If you’re feeling creative you could design your own set!

Jump rope

More of a high-intensity workout than a playground game jump ropes help you to acquire balance, strength and agility.

If you are new to jumping start with 30-second bursts interspersed with 30 second periods of rest.

As your fitness improves gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workouts.

Music

Ankara, Turkey - September 6, 2017: Girl holding a iPhone 7 Space Gray with music service Spotify on the screen. iPhone 7 was created and developed by the Apple inc.Listening to motivational music whilst you work out acts as both a distraction and a motivator.

Create a playlist of your favourite songs to inspire you to work harder, longer and with a smile on your face.

Use a streaming service like Spotify to personalize your musical experience – the app will learn what type of music you enjoy and suggest playlists for you to work along to.

 

Keep your energy levels up and your thinking smart by making fitness a priority on your next business trip. – Pack your portable buddies to make your exercise sessions fun too.

© Healthy Business Travel 2019, Written by Julie Dennis

Equipment Fitness