Travel
Travelling light… er
By Matthew Bagwell, Co-founder of SEVEN FEET APART
One of the many things I love about running a sneaker business is that I need to travel frequently, whether it’s to one of our manufacturing partners in Portugal or the Far East, shoe exhibitions and shows in Europe or photographic locations for our campaigns. Wherever it is I am going, travelling lighter is essential; for convenience, speed and ease. The idea goes further than that, for me, travelling lighter is also about my impact when I travel and buy travel-related products.
Like lots of people who travel, I’ve honed my packing and security skills to an art form; yes, I relate to George Clooney in the hit film, Up in the Air!
So, what are my tips and picks of lighter travel essentials?
- Start with the perfect case.
I take an AWAY Carry On. When Jennifer Rubio’s case fell to pieces on a trip, she decided to design her own replacement. We love the minimal style, organisation cubes – a revelation in packing – and the on-board power bank. Nice kit, living up to the hype and no more paranoid searching for the one plug socket in T5!
https://www.awaytravel.com/uk/en/suitcases/carry-on/brick
- Get a grip!
When we need to keep our pack light and want to shoot stable video, we use the GorillaPod system; it can be used to mount an iPhone or a full size DSLR and with its grippy legs, it can be attached to practically anything, anywhere.
https://joby.com/uk-en/gorillapod-flexible-camera-tripods/
- Ditch the big stuff.
We optimise our kit by losing the big DSLR cameras and shooting with the Moment App and Lens. The photo application that gives you more control of your phone’s camera, especially Depth of Field. Knock out those backgrounds without an upgrade. And the lenses take mobile cameras to the next level. Big pictures in a tiny space. Another great idea that began life on Kickstarter!
- Reduce the waste.
There are some big steps we all have to consider related to sustainability and travel; for example, is every trip essential? Could some of them be avoided? However, the tiny steps add up too, which is why I pack a Keep Cup Brew everywhere I go. It’s easy to carry, attractive, and brilliant to use, keeping my coffee warm and reducing the number of disposable cups going to landfill – the foundations of a great everyday carry item.
- Wear clothes to go anywhere.
I need to be able to go seamlessly from a formal meeting with a factory owner to a photoshoot to the mad dash for the plane, all in style and comfort. So, choosing a few signature pieces in materials that never need ironing. I love sustainable staples from The Cotton Story and as someone who only ever wears a white tee – one less thing to think about every day – theirs are perfect.
https://thecottonstory.co.uk/collections/men/products/mens-classic-rib-crew-neck-white
- Avoid packing too many shoes
I have to move seamlessly – read quickly – from formal meetings to walking around a city taking pictures to casual catchups in coffee shops. And I want to do this in one pair of shoes that I can fly in, walk miles in and depend on. My new favourites are Flite from SEVEN FEET APART. They are super-lightweight and come in a multi-use packing cube which is used to deliver the shoe, pack the shoe in your case, and store the shoe – so no more single-use shoe boxes taking up space. The design is versatile; from business to casual wear – so no need to pack lots of shoes. Plus, they are 100% vegan, made from recycled plastic fibres with a unique sugarcane sole.
With these six great travel essentials, you can pack and travel lightly, knowing you have everything you need without lugging a giant case around. Happy travels!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Bagwell is a seasoned traveller and co-founder of SEVEN FEET APART, a UK footwear brand. Founded in 2017, it’s purpose is to make every everyday journey better by creating brilliant shoes for the modern traveller.
The shoes, known as Sevens, are crafted and engineered to deliver understated style, premium quality and outstanding comfort. SFA’s lastest range of shoes – known as Fite – is entirely vegan and features the innovative Sugarcane Sole, a substantial environmental improvement over conventional EVA materials.
SEVEN FEET APART is committed to being sustainable, kind and better; the sale every pair of Sevens affords the preservation of 100ft2 of biodiverse, endangered land, in partnership with the World Land Trust.
Instgram: @sevenfeetapart
Twitter: @SEVENFEETAPART
Facebook: @SevenFeetApartLTD
World Land Trust: https://sevenfeetapart.com/pages/100-ft
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sevenfeetapart7/the-shoe-with-the-sugarcane-sole-designed-for-travel
Or short link: http://kck.st/35wyIIt
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