It’s time yet again to head on to my next destination. This time around I went to the Cantonese city of Guangzhou located in Southern China. When you embark on a new trip and it’s days before your departure flight, there’s always that 4-5 hours where you pack your essentials for the trip. Today, I’ll be sharing my top 3 must-haves aside from your usual necessities like clothes, soap or your passport.
CabinZero ADV 32L Backpack
Firstly, you have to have your Cabin bag which stores important documents, medication, a neck pillow, a laptop and more. Usually, I use a casual backpack but this time around, I had the luxury to test out the CabinZero ADV 32L backpack. Also, I got the Saigon Coffee colour which is one of their newly launched colours. Designed for frequent travellers, you could tell that it was made with concern for travellers.
Let’s start with the build and design. This thing is tough! Made with water-resistant Nylon 500 Denier Rip-Stop fabric, it’s built to handle whatever you throw at it – there were sudden downpours in Guangzhou but the CabinZero ADV was able to protect from it. Also, with the YKK zippers that run across the entirety of the bag, you can feel the quality of the zipper. Allows for peace of mind when you stuff the bag with clothes or souvenirs and know it is not going to burst open or rip. The zip also came with a padlock hole which is super useful if you are staying in hostels or having long-haul flights and require that additional security.
Moving on to comfort, I brought it along with me for a whole day of activities where I started at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial, did a bit of shopping and ended with a climbing gym session. The padded shoulder straps and airflow system made the bag straps comfortable despite carrying my climbing gear while walking across tourist sights. It sits nicely on your back without feeling like you’re hauling a sack of bricks. Plus, you can tuck away the waist belt and straps when you don’t need them, which is super handy. If wearing it on your back becomes too hard, you could even hold it like a briefcase as it has a side handle as well.
Next, packing and space. I mentioned earlier that the zip is reliable when you overpack but honestly, it had so much space and I did not extend the straps to make it bigger. This backpack has all the pockets and compartments you could want. The main compartment is roomy and can be accessed from the top or front (super convenient!) or by the side (for things deep inside). There’s a laptop sleeve that fits up to a 15.2” laptop, 2 mesh pockets to keep your stuff organised, 2 quick-access pockets at the front for grabbing essentials in a flash and an expandable water bottle sleeve.
Lastly, security. I mentioned being able to use padlocks but on top of that, the CabinZero ADV bag comes with Okoban Tracking. If you have not heard about it like me, basically it is an identification system that permanently links the bag to you so if you do lose the bag, over 2800 lost and found offices have your record and can contact you if found. How crazy for a bag to have that?
Overall, the CabinZero ADV Backpack 32L is a fantastic pick for anyone who’s serious about travel or just wants a well-organised, sturdy backpack. It’s got all the right features without being overly complicated. Perfect for weekend trips, outdoor adventures, or just keeping your stuff together on the go! The CabinZero ADV 32L backpack is currently retailing for $179 at local retailers.
TravelMall GaN 100W PD High-Performance Worldwide Travel Adaptor with 6 USB ports
Now moving on to the next item, a convertible travel adaptor. When you travel often to different countries, it is tedious to purchase singular travel adaptors for each location so why not have it all on one? I brought with me the GaN 100W PD High-Performance Worldwide Travel Adaptor. The name is a mouthful but rest assured, so is its reliability and features.
The GaN 100W PD High-Performance Worldwide Travel Adaptor is a super handy gadget for travellers like me, letting you charge up to seven devices at once with its six USB ports (including a powerful 100W PD USB-C port). If your laptop has a USB cable like an Apple Macbook, you can even charge it without bringing your bulky laptop cable.
It’s compact, lightweight, and works in over 200 countries, which means you can easily take it on all your trips without any hassle. Plus, the built-in fuse protection ensures your devices stay safe while charging.
The best part? It’s perfect for charging all your gadgets quickly, whether it’s your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. In the photo above, I used the travel adapter at the airport lounge for my partner’s phone which showed that the adapter is powerful enough for super fast charging.
Just keep in mind that it doesn’t convert voltages, so make sure your devices match the local power requirements. Overall, it’s a great travel companion, especially if you have multiple devices to keep charged! The GaN 100W PD High-Performance Worldwide Travel Adaptor is currently retailing at $109 and can be found at https://www.travelmall.com.sg/
TravelMall XS Tag Item Finder for iOS Device
Lastly, with the rise of theft and lost baggage in certain countries, you will need an item tracker, especially for your luggage. This is key for those who take long-haul flights or transit flights. Sometimes I get paranoid when I don’t have an insight on my bag’s location. Thankfully, I had an XS Tag Item Finder placed in my luggage that was connected to my Apple Find MY app.
The XS Tag Item Finder is a handy little gadget for keeping track of your stuff. Its small, button-like design makes it super easy to attach to your backpack, luggage, or anything else you’re always losing. It works with the Apple Find My app, so you can quickly locate your things using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Plus, it’s lightweight and has low power consumption, meaning the battery lasts quite a while.
When I was boarding my flight back to Singapore or when I left the hotel, I could check if my luggage was on board with me on my flight or if it was left behind at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. If you have more than one, it will be good to place it in bags which may contain your valuables – your luggage and your everyday bag.
The only downside is that it’s not compatible with Android devices, but if you’re an Apple user, it’s a great addition. Overall, it’s a simple and reliable way to keep tabs on your belongings without any fuss! The XS Tag Item Finder is now available for $29 at https://www.travelmall.com.sg/
