PortaPocket portable travel system straps your belongings to your arm or leg

PortaPocket cases are great if you’d like to get out of the house (or your hotel) without having to carry a hand bag. Inventor Kendra Kroll designed the system as a way to carry small items like a passport, credit and ID cards. With the larger version, you can even carry sunglasses, a digital camera or medical devices like an EpiPen or insulin pump.

With a hidden pocket, you can safely store your possessions hidden under your pants or shirt without anyone noticing, which is obviously great if you want to reduce the risk of theft. The PortaPocket is designed to fit your calf, thigh, ankle, arm, or waist or belt buckle.

The pockets are made of neoprene, and come in beige and black. Best of all, the entire line of products is interchangeable – the various pockets and arm/ankle/waist straps can all be mixed and matched to create the best fit.

The PortaPocket products are available from a variety of outlets – directly from PortaPocket.com, Amazon.com and many nationwide retail stores. Prices start at just $9.95 for an add-on pocket, or $24.95 for a kit.

It’s time to slim down your travel wallet

As I type this, I’m dealing with a massive stiff neck. It probably has something to do with the two weeks of traveling I just finished, sleeping on airplanes and tiny uncomfortable hotel pillows. But I also think my stiff neck might have come from that ultra-thick wallet I was sitting on every day of my trip.

So perhaps it was cruel irony that yesterday I stumbled upon the Jimi Wallet, an ultra-slim wallet made from recycled plastic. Billed as a compact alternative to your regular everyday wallet, the “Jimi” is built to accommodate no more than 5 cards and a few bills. While I will admit I’m not thrilled by the dorky colors, and that the company name is awful, I do think that the makers of Jimi Wallet might just be on to something. Think about all those cards you carry in your wallet. How many do you actually use when you’re traveling? I know you’re attached to your library card and that membership in the Audubon Society, but do you really need to bring them with you when you travel to London? That’s where the Jimi Wallet is really a plus. It easily fits in your front pocket while still allowing you to hold on to your essentials. Outdoor enthusiasts will also be pleased to learn its also water resistant, which can be a plus if its raining or you tend to be a big sweaty mess.

Not ready to make the plunge on a bright plastic wallet? Get yourself a slim business card holder – they’re a great way to carry a few cards while you’re on the road. Or give this a try.