Travel Accessories

Picking travel accessories for the trip ahead

Start with the trip. A weekend away by train asks for far less than a fortnight somewhere hot, and a cabin bag leaves much less room than a car boot. Think about where the piece will live: a make-up bag for a handbag wants to be slim, while a wash bag for a holdall can be roomier.

Then think about the person. A frequent traveller tends to value travel essentials that are plain and practical, while a younger traveller may want something fun to call their own. A few of our pieces are mini ones, handy where space is tight.

What goes in a wash bag, a make-up bag and a glasses case

A wash bag holds the bathroom things: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and a razor. It is usually larger than a make-up bag, with room for bottles to stand upright, and a wide opening helps you find things on a hotel shelf or in a campsite shower block. A make-up bag is made for cosmetics and brushes, and plenty of people keep one in a handbag between trips.

A glasses case keeps lenses away from keys, coins and grit. A hard case is the one for a bag that gets thrown about, while a soft one takes up less room in a jacket pocket. Among our travel accessories you will find some wash bags and make-up bags, a few glasses cases and a few other bags.

Travel gifts for her, for him and for younger travellers

Travel gifts earn their keep because they get used. Some of our pieces suit her and some suit him, and you will also find a few for teens and for children. A teenager going away with friends will use a wash bag of their own, and a glasses case helps anyone who keeps losing their reading glasses.

For a child, a bag they can pack themselves helps a long car journey feel like the start of an adventure. A few of our pieces suit a teacher too, and a practical gift stays in use long after the wrapping paper has gone.

Stocking fillers and putting a travel gift together

Some of our travel accessories are made with Christmas in mind, ready for a place under the tree, and a few mini pieces tuck neatly into a stocking. A glasses case or a make-up bag is a sensible pick for a Secret Santa, because it suits anyone who goes away now and then.

To build a gift set, we would start with a wash bag, because it gives the rest of the gift somewhere to live. Fill it with their favourite toiletries, add a glasses case or a make-up bag alongside, then wrap the lot in tissue paper or let the bag do the wrapping and tie a ribbon round it.

How plastic, metal, cotton and polyester cope with travel

Plastic is the workhorse of travel: it weighs little, it does not mind a damp bathroom shelf and a quick wipe brings it back. Many of our pieces are plastic and many are metal or steel, a few of them stainless steel, which resists rust and takes knocks well. You will also find a few in cotton or polyester: cotton feels soft in the hand, while polyester is hard-wearing and dries quickly after a splash.

Wiping, washing and drying between trips

Empty a wash bag or make-up bag as soon as you are home, shake out stray powder and cotton buds, and leave it open to dry so the inside does not stay damp. Some of our pieces are wipe clean: a damp cloth with a drop of washing-up liquid lifts spills and make-up marks, and a soft towel dries them off.

For cotton and polyester, check the care label before washing. Metal and stainless steel come up well with a soft, dry cloth; skip scouring pads, which leave fine marks. Shake the dust out of a glasses case now and then, because grit inside can scratch the lenses.