Premium travel products like high quality luggage, airport lounge access, or TSA Pre✔︎ seem like unnecessary extravagances when you’re considering purchasing them from the comfort of your own home. But if you travel with any regularity, you know full well that the small conveniences they provide really add up during a stressful day of travel.
The same is true of your toiletry bag, still an afterthought for many an otherwise experiened traveler. Most people tend to stuff everything in a ziploc bag, or even (gasp) loose in the outside pocket of their suitcase. And most bags that do exist are way bigger than they should be, while still offering only a paltry few organizational tools.
Gravel may just be the answer. A Kickstarter project that’s already shot past its goal, they sent me a demo unit, and it’s as well-built as they claim. The bag is far smaller than my own toiletry bag, which I sometimes can’t squeeze into a carry-on if I’m packing for more than a few days. But inside, you’ve got a ton of pockets that are purpose-built for holding all the essentials, including a long and skinny waterproof pocket for your toothbrush (even a Sonicare!), and a larger one for liquids that could explode during your trip.
On the outside of the case, another zippered pocket hides a buckle strap which you can use to hang the bag from a towel rack (handy in small hotels with insufficient counter space), plus another large pouch that’s big enough for a passport.
Gravel isn’t slated to ship until December, but if you order now, you can get one for $39, or two for $69 (nice), down from its expected $49 MSRP. I wouldn’t post it if I hadn’t tried it myself, and it really is a well done product.