Travel bags

Essentials Packing may be an art that takes years of practice to master, but these products will help you to make a start.

There's something about packing a suitcase that cries out to be put off until the last moment. Often, on the night before a trip, you end up grabbing items at random and stuffing them haphazardly into a bag. As a result you travel overburdened and arrive with crumpled belongings. Better to start the trip with at least some semblance of organisation. Packing may be an art that takes years of practice to master, but these products will help you to make a start.

Made from waterproof nylon with sealed seams and reinforced stitching, this sack will not only keep your belongings orderly and compact but also protected from explosions of shampoo as well. It is very lightweight and has a drawstring mechanism that you can operate single-handed. Ideal for bulky items such as jumpers and, if nothing else, for dirty laundry and soggy swimwear. Available from www.amazon.com from US$11.90 (Dh44) plus shipping.

The Japanese are renowned, among other things, for deftly folded paper shapes and figures. So it is little surprise that a surfeit of packing paraphernalia hail from Japan. These mesh cubes, which vary in size and fit together, are useful for keeping everything from socks and underwear to toiletries organised. Available from Daiso, Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, Abu Dhabi, from $1.60 (Dh6).

The ironed shirt is a delicate creature that does not travel well. Folding and stacking shirts in this lightweight mesh envelope will help to protect them from the boisterous free-for-all going on in the rest of your suitcase or bag. The rigid board (also used for folding) helps to keep shirts and other garments neat and uncreased, while also making sure they take up less room in your luggage. Available from www.amazon.com from $29 (Dh107) plus shipping.