Leave No Bag Behind

I'm sorry mam, you'll have to check that bag.

There are few things more exasperating to the busy traveler than being forced to unexpectedly surrender their beloved, carefully packed carry-on bag to the black hole of baggage check, from which it may never emerge again; certainly not in a timely fashion and not without battle scars. Efficient travelers have learned the hard way never to part with their bag.

The new fad of carry-ons has prompted the need for packable, squeezable, compressible and downright nearly weightless clothing that looks great, is ready to wear right out of the bag and will fit in any overhead compartment. With the Department of Transportation requiring every individual to check with their airline for the limits to size, weight and the number of bags allowed, efficiency has become the way of the future.

For those of us who refuse to compromise traveling for remaining active in the evenings and weekends, we�re perpetually on the prowl for suitcase corner stuffers that we can bring with us on business trips. Under no circumstance will we allow our bag to be checked. Our motto is: leave no bag behind.

The challenge to find carry-on weight clothing is escalated in the wintertime. One of the tricks that I�ve come to live by is exclusively traveling with zip in� capable jackets. You can team up a light liner with a more sturdy outer shell and it takes the form of one jacket�that is, until you go for your hike.

You can ditch the shell and take the liner out for a jog. If it's rainy, give the liner a break and take the shell. When you hop back on your plane to go home, zip them together and you�re back to one jacket.

Marmot gear is famous for its resiliency. No matter how tough you think you are on your climbs, the gear seems to always be tougher. It�s safe to assume that the gear will outlast you whether you take it to Everest or to a budget review meeting. The versatility of the multi-layer jackets will allow you to do either with no advance notice.

For those who never venture to colder weather, the solution is simple. A DriClime windshirt is the perfect travel carry-on item. You can run, sweat and climb your heart out in it and by the morning, it�s ready for another beating. At a mere 12oz, the windshirt is the perfect bag �corner stuffer. It makes a great gift year-round. My advice to thos