As I get older, I become fussier, principally when it comes to cleanliness. I don’t travel with a bottle of Lysol or make excessive use of hand sanitizer, but I do have some quirks: I tend to avoid public bathrooms, I don’t like walking barefoot on hotel carpet, and I never put down my toiletry bag on surfaces that aren’t my own, no matter how clean they seem.
Photo: Sea to Summit
This Toiletry Bag Is a Neat Freak's Ultimate Travel Accessory
Until recently, I owned one small transparent vinyl toiletry bag for when I traveled with a carry-on only, and a huge handmade floral cloth one for when I checked a bag, both of which had to rest on a bathroom vanity to be usable, giving me the ick. Like a knight in shining armor, earlier this year, Sea to Summit sent me two of their hanging toiletry bags to test, one size small and one size large, allowing this neat freak to finally relax.
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What I like about the Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag
Unsurprisingly, my favorite feature about this toiletry bag is the fact that you can hang it from a shower curtain rod, a towel rack, a robe hook, a wardrobe knob, etc. and it never has to rub on any potentially yucky surfaces. The hanging hook (which sits a neat little compartment when the bag is zipped up) is sturdy and made so that the dopp kit hangs flat without twisting or turning.
Large version, empty, with mirror. Photo: Morgane Croissant
Hook on the large version of the hanging toiletry bag. Photo: Morgane Croissant
Back pocket on the large version. Photo: Morgane Croissant
The large version, filled with all my stuff. Photo: Morgane Croissant
Once open and hanging, it’s easy to see everything inside this toiletry bag. There are two zipped mesh pockets inside the closing flap, and one mesh open pocket in the main compartment, allowing you to keep your belongings tidy, visible, and easily accessible. And because it’s made of water-resistant fabric, you can even use your wet hands to reach in for what you need without creating a soggy mess. Sea to Summit optimized the space even further by adding a zipped pocket on the back of the bag; however, it’s a thin and opaque compartment that’s not as practical as the rest, so it’s better used for stuff you don’t need all the time but want to keep dry, like tampons, pads, or tissues.
The Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag is lightweight (2.8 ounces for the small version and four ounces for the large one), soft-sided (it has no solid structure so it takes as much space in your luggage as what you put inside of it), and the way it zips up makes it very compact — all good qualities for backpackers and space-conscious carry-on travelers.
The toiletry bag when closed. Photo: Morgane Croissant
Back pocket on the large version. Photo: Morgane Croissant
The shatterproof mirror, which can hang out of the bag, be tucked away, or be removed altogether, is a nice touch, but one you’ll probably only use if you’re wild camping. That said, women know that a detachable hand mirror is always a good accessories to have, whether for makeup application or vaginal health.
What could be improved upon on the Sea to Summit hanging toiletry bag
I can’t fault this toiletry bag, except for its variety of sizes and colors.
Photo: Sea to Summit
The large version, full and zipped up. Photo: Morgane Croissant
The large version, filled with all my stuff. Photo: Morgane Croissant
I’m no Goldilocks but I found the large version too big for my use and the small version a little too small. Granted I don’t own many beauty products or much makeup, but I was able to pack every product and tool I owned, from full-size sunscreen and deodorant to tweezers and an electric toothbrush (with its charger and my socket adaptor), in the large one, which is something I would never do for a trip. The small one is very mini, just big enough for a few travel-size products — even my manual toothbrush fits in quite snugly. I would love to see Sea to Summit create a medium version of the hanging toiletry bag for those who are neither over-packers nor minimalists.
Photo: Sea to Summit
Photo: Sea to Summit
When it comes to the style of the hanging toiletry bag, I love the shape, but the color palette is either boring or garish. I would never suggest that an outdoors brand like Sea to Summit chooses style over substance, but a variety of patterns and more delicate colors wouldn’t go amiss — people love a cute accessory, this writer included.
While the price of this hanging toiletry bag might seem high for what looks like a simple accessory ($46.95 for the small version and $49.95 for the large one), because it’s made of rip-proof nylon, has strong zippers and a shatterproof mirror, and has a lifetime warranty, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. This toiletry bag would have to suffer years of use and abuse to need replacing. 