Generally, we're firm believers in travelling light and living with what can be found in local shops.
However, there are still things that can't be found -- or are of poor quality and high price-- that are more easily bought abroad.
The main concern for me has always been: "OK, so you bought that new slow cooker crock pot. How are you going to get it to Togo in one piece?"
Well, I think I've finally found the solution.
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| On the way to Heathrow with our new hard-sided 'tool boxes' -- which make great rugged luggage. |
Travelling with soft-sided suitcases is good and blends in well -- but leaves breakables vulnerable to crushing. And those hard-sided plastic suitcases still flex too much for my liking.
The ultimate in protection would be a Pelican Case, but they weigh too much and cost way, way too much. I don't need it to withstand a bulldozer and be completely waterproof. Just a hard-sided, rugged airline OK sized box to put my stuff in.
While on a recent trip to the UK, I began searching for such a box. Which led to some difficulties with the English language. (Do I call it a plastic footlocker, a trunk, a case, a bin -- definitely not!)
After days of looking at and for a Gorilla Box (Chimp size, to meet airline size regulations) and googling for distributors of Contico and Sterilite containers, I nearly gave up. I even started looking at hard-sided suitcases again.
And then, with time running out, I decided to look at tool boxes. Shortly into my search I came across a polypropylene tool box with wheels and multiple carrying points and handles.
The best thing? A shop a few miles outside of London had them in stock. So off I went to find the Multi Utility Box (MUB) by GT Line.
It's rugged, light-weight (6.3kg empty) and holds a lot of stuff (89 L.)
It even has 4 padlock holes, so you can lock it up (or zip-tie as I prefer) for the flight.
The dimensions are just a tiny bit over most airline regulations of 62 linear inches, but I've travelled with mine and have had no problems.
Other than that, I don't know what else to say. It works for travel to Africa. And makes a great storage container on arrival.
A small note: when travelling to Africa, we've found that customs officials are attracted to shiny new luggage. Make yours look old with some scuffs and duct tape before your journey. The same goes for whatever appliances or goods are inside. Leave nothing new in the box and remove all price tags
