Conference Hack

Business and travel tips for people attending conferences, tradeshows, conventions, and meetups

Archives for April 2019

Hard Case Packs of Gum for Your Laptop Bag

by

If your laptop bag is anything like mine, it’s a mess of cables and cords and plugs and it’s hard to find stuff in there.

Travel gum in a hard case

That especially goes for my travel gum, which I like to chew, in a respectful, low-key manner, on planes when they take off and land.

One problem has been that normal packs of gum explode in my bag with it being tossed around in Ubers, jammed under the airplane seat in front of me, etc.

I often find orphaned pieces of gum outside the wrappers floating around with the other randomness in my bag.

Then, one day I was at Walgreens or Target or Five Below or some other store and saw that they had a 35 pack of Extra gum in a hard plastic container.

I’ve been using the hard pack ever since, and it’s been easy to locate in my bag, and with so many pieces of gum in there it lasts a while.

Leave Space in Your Luggage at Conferences

by

One of the most important things to pack in your suitcase is space, so you can bring back literature, sales kits, etc. from exhibitors you meet during the conference.

Over-filled suitcase

And then there are various promotional items you might pick up. I’ve got four kids, so if an exhibitor has a stuffed animal or other tchotchkes, I need four to maintain harmony at home.

I suppose some germaphobes only wear their undergarments one time and then throw them out. If that’s the case, space will magically be created.

But for everybody else, leaving some extra space is useful so you don’t have to fight your luggage to fit everything.

The way I keep my clothing organized in my luggage is with packing cubes. Get some of those if you are not already using them.

Get a TSA Friendly Laptop Backpack to Go With TSA Pre✓

by

If you travel a lot I would imagine you already have TSA Pre✓ (if you qualify), or better yet you should have Global Entry for fast re-entry to the US (it includes TSA Pre✓).

SwissGear Travel Gear 1900 Scansmart TSA Friendly Laptop Backpack 19 inch Blue

With the expedited security all set for you I would then recommend a backpack to bring as carry-on that will make security carefree.

I’ve tried various brands for TSA friendly laptop backpacks, and my favorite is the SwissGear Travel Gear 1900 Scansmart TSA Friendly Laptop Backpack 19″ Blue.

Last year I flew over 130,000 miles and this backpack was there for every one of those miles. I’ve had it for nearly two years and it’s held up great.

According to the description, the backpack features “ScanSmart lay-flat technology” to open quickly at airport security and ensures a hassle-free laptop-in-bag TSA scan, but it’s been a while since they have even asked me to unzip and open it – for at least a year it’s just gone through the scanner totally zipped.

This backpack protects up to a 17″ laptop and a whole lot more.

There is an easy access laptop and iPad compartment with a front organizational pocket for all of your pens, notebook, passport, keys, etc.

Also, there is a front, large, U-zip pocket for quick access essentials. Then there are two, breathable, side compartments for an umbrella, oversize water bottle, or a change of clothes.

Before you add your things this backpack is just 3.3 pounds and very comfortable to carry.

The SwissGear Travel Gear 1900 Scansmart TSA Friendly Laptop Backpack 19 inch Blue has 4 1/2 stars out of 5 on Amazon, and I’d highly recommend it.