Blog

23 December 2011 - Packing List App For Fashionistas

If you're super organised and love to dress well, we've found an iphone app that you'll love. It's called The Stylebook and it is just fabulous. Getting it setup with all your clothes is a little time consuming but once it's in there you can create and store looks that will save you time in the long run. Not to mention keep you from fashion disasters. You can attach inspirations to the looks you create which is handy when you start to wonder why you thought a look you created was a good idea.

30 August 2011 - Need A Short Break? Stay Local!

Yes we know it is a great time to go overseas right now, and yes we love to travel to places far away too. But have you considered the great local deals available as well? Personally, we've recently being enjoying great weekends away, renting out fabulous homes on some of the best beaches in the world... right here in Australia! The best part is that we can take our much loved pets with us, and organise a great holiday without any fuss. For example, check out Sydney Northern Beaches Accommodation. and if you have pets filter your searches by clicking Pet Friendly on the right hand menu.  We've loved all our rental experiences, There's nothing quite like spending quality time away from the usual routine, with friends and family, enjoying bbqs and hanging out.

Enjoying the views from one the holiday houses we recently rented for a long weekend.  This was in Whale Beach which was just beautiful.  We saw dolphins every day!  As you can see bringing our doggies wasn't a problem with the owner and the whole stay turned out really cheap as we just cooked at home (the views were better than any local restaurant) and shared the rental costs between 7 of us.

10 May 2011 - As Seen On Suddenly 30

Who else loved the sleep mask worn by Jennifer Garner in the hit movie "Suddenly 30"?
We know we did!  We just had to stock it on Gogogear.  While the movie is a few years old now the eye masks are still going strong.  Get the Suddenly 30 sleep mask here

9 March 2011 - Celebrity Stylin Black Pashminas

We adore the black Pashmina's we sell here at Gogogear. We don't know where these celebrities got theirs, but we think they could be identical to the ones we source direct from Kashmir.

28 February 2011 - Pack less gear and get travel insurance.

Over the last ten years or so, the way people travel has changed. We even have new fancy terminology for it. 'Flashpacking' and 'luxury backpacking' is used to describe a ‘new breed’ of backpacker.But it’s not a different breed at all. This breed still hungers for adventure and meeting new cultures... what has changed is the world around it. These changes mean easier, cheaper travel. It also means we are able to travel better and with less gear than ever before:

Lower airfares means that people are able to travel for shorter periods of time
This is particularly true for Australians. That means you generally don’t need to pack as much stuff in preparation for all kinds of situations as you once used to.

Hostels are becoming more like budget hotels in terms of service levels, while still providing a social way for travellers to connect.
The whole hostel experience is much more luxurious now than it once was. You no longer need to come prepared with sheets, sleeping bags and picnic products.

Changes in technology have enabled travellers to stay instantly connected without a hassle, from not only friends and family back home, but also banks and insurance companies.
The need for high level security products is no longer critical. If you’re worried about travel security, the best advice we can give you is to take out travel insurance.

As one customer who rang after her trip told us,

'The anti-theft bag you sold me would have been great if they hadn't taken the whole thing'.

No product is foolproof; the only thing that will keep you fully protected from theft is a good travel insurance policy.

Carry your banks, insurance company, and embassy contact details with you in case anything happens and you’ll be ok.

Globalization in general, as well as internet banking, has allowed travellers to access their money easily and instantly from anywhere in the world.

Back in the day, you had to travel with a combination of traveller’s cheques and cash with you.ATM’s and the use of credit cards are now readily available worldwide.

Money belts, while probably still useful for solo travellers in high risk travel areas, are no longer essentials for the average traveller.

Yes things have changed from the times that the travel gear industry emerged.I remember travelling through India in the 90s when I had to line up for hours just to send a telegraph to communicate to my family back home. That's how primitive things were when we first launched gogogear.

So what is the point of this post? Well, things have changed. Past travel advice and packing lists are no longer relevant.

You no longer need a multitude of just-in-case products.While other companies are expanding their ranges to include everything under the sun that might have to do with travel, we're streamlining.

Our range has changed with the times:

• Less security and hard core gear.
  
• No more products that you can now find cheaply at your local supermarket or department store. Things like toiletry bags and travel toletries.
  
• More travel comfort products and more gear to keep you organised while travelling.
• Better performance alternatives to products that we feel are still essential for travel.... like travel towels.
• Lightweight alternatives. Travelling light means travelling easier and more comfortably. Lightweight travel products and versatile products that allow you to pack less, make sense.

Pack less stuff, more money, and get travel insurance.That's our professional advice.

While this controversial post won’t make us friends in the travel products industry, our commitment is to our customers.It’s also slightly selfish.It makes us feel great selling only products that we truly believe in.

Happy tracks!

22 February 2011 - PacSafe No More

Due to the high value of the Aussie dollar, lack of taxes on imported overseas orders as well as "seemingly" excessive profit margins by the local importer of Pacsafe bags, it is no longer viable for us to be stocking Pacsafe at our warehouse.

However, in true Gogogear style, we want to continue to provide value for money to our valuable customers. So we have partnered up with a fantastic international company that will bring you Pacsafe from the USA, generally cheaper than what you'll be able to find within Australia.

Why purchase through Luggage Online:

• Because of the high Aussie dollar, even with the $40 or so shipping rates, purchasing 1 bag is about $10 cheaper than buying from even discounted Australian shops. Purchase more than 1 bag, and you'll save more. Get together with friends and place an order for a few items to save money that you can better spend whilst on your trip.
  
• Shipping is fast and within 7 days landed to your door (in Australia).
  
• All colour lines are readily available. Australian stock runs out of certain colours very often... a problem that US retailers don't seem to have.

17 January 2011 - Menda Towel Power

We're donating all 100% of Menda Towel profits in January to QLD Flood relief. So if you're planning a trip, now is a great time to purchase the most comfortable travel towel you'll ever find.

4 January 2011 - Wine Calorie Tracking Glass - Dr's Orders!

This is why we love Dr Oz. Check out our wine calorie tracking crystal glass... which is great for travelling too!

4 January 2011 - It's 2011! We'll drink to that...

Whilst keeping our weight loss new year's resolutions intact!

Drinking 1-2 glasses of wine a day (1 for women) is actually recommended for weight loss by doctors such as leading heart surgeon Dr Oz (check out his book You On A Diet).  Check out our fabulous wine calorie tracking, crystal wine glass which will help keep your new year's weight loss and health resolution both whilst travelling and at home!


"I use this daily... I love having a glass of wine at the end of a stressful day (which is almost every day for me). This keeps it easy for me to moderate my intake and watch my calories. I've lost almost 9 kgs (goal is 12) with calorie counting and couldn't have done it without the help of these glasses.... if I had had to give up wine completely I wouldn't have stuck to the weight loss plan as easily as I have!
I think these are so great I'm back buying more for xmas pressies for my wine loving friends and family."

Reviewed 18/10/2010 by Fleur from Melbourne, Australia

Check out more reviews here

3 January 2011 - Cashmere Pashminas New Colours!

We've just placed our order for some Pashminas in some great new colours.  Our favourite is the Popcorn colour!  There is nothing like a pop of yellow to liven up, and modernise an outfit (for Sydney siders, think Ivy decor), and this popcorn yellow is a soft colour that anyone can wear.  If yellow isn't your thing, that's ok, we've got you covered with the rest of our colour range, the most popular, as always, being black!  If you still don't like what you see, check the colour chart featured here and then contact us with your request.

30 September 2010 - Crusing? We've Got Packing Tips!

Practical tips on what to pack for your cruise:
*Most rooms only have one power point so pack a powerboard if you plan on taking a couple or more electrical items.
*Leave the laptop behind and don't plan on using your mobile too often.  Internet and mobile roaming is available on board, but the costs are very high.  Plan to relax and be out 'off air' for a while.
*If you are lucky enough to have a balcony room, pack a pegless clothes line to securely hang your swimmers and smalls out to dry.
*Pack a few Envirosack bags for your day trips.
*A SeaToSummit dry back is a must to store your camera, phones, cash etc for your day trips or poolside. The SeaToSummit dry bags are particularly nice as you don't have to show everyone what you are carrying and you can easily clip it through your swimmers/board shorts if you feel the need.
*Pack extra sunblock and use it often. The reflection from the water makes the sun on cruise ships extra harsh.
*Staying in quad rooms? The rooms can be smallish so it's important that you keep your gear organised. Packing Modules will be your life saver in this respect.
*If you have a promotional lanyard you've picked up at trade shows etc, bring it along. You'll be needing it to carry your cruise card and room key around. Yes you'll be able to buy it on board but why spend extra when you don't have to.
*Like wise with medications. Prepare a llittle first aid medical kit with pain killers, sea sickness tablets etc. Prices for these is usually higher on board than at your local pharmacy.
*Take out travel insurance as medical charges on board can be very high and are not covered by Medicare. The air conditioning, sea movements, and possibly different foods to what you are used to may mean extra chances of falling ill.
*Ladies, even if the forecast is warm, the winds on top deck can be strong and cool. Pack a pashmina or bamboo cotton wrap to keep you warm while you watch the sunset over the open seas. The bamboo wraps can double as a very classy sarong, or even as a shawl if the sun gets too strong in the day time.
*Pack your exercise gear. With all the yummy food on board, not to mention the cocktails and other beverages available, exercise is highly recommended. A gentle walk or run around the top deck is easy enough, or if the gym scene is more your thing, most cruise ships have gyms with great staff and classes to do. Some even have boot camp!
*You'll have plenty of time for late morning or afternoon siestas so don't forget to pack a sleep mask!
Have anything to add? We'd love to hear it!

4 August 2010 - Pashminas The Perfect Travel Companion?

We think so!  We absolutely adore the Pashminas we sell here at Gogogear.  We may as well call them a staff uniform in winter, and on every trip any of us girls have been on, we've packed at least one.  Pashminas were pretty much done to death about 10 years ago, but when we came across this photo of Jessica Alba we thought we should share with you how good they actually still look.  We don't know what brand she's wearing but it looks like it could be, judging by how it sits etc, like the ones we source ourselves direct from Kashmir. Check out our black pashmina here.

27 July 2010 - The 80-20 Rule And Packing For Travel

There is a universal law that is usually talked about in business management called Pareto's law, or the 80/20 rule.  In simplistic terms this law states that 80% of results come about from only 20% effort.  If you think about it, you'll find it applies to everything in life.. eg ever noticed you only end up using about 20% of the clothes in your wardrobe on a day to day basis? or have you ever found that you usually only end up using 20% of all the gear you packed with you whenever you take a trip? 
Here at Gogogear, with the exeption of first aid kits, we want to provide the products that fall into category of the 20% of travel gear that you'll actually use, rather than the 80% category of travel gear you wish you hadn't packed.  So if you've noticed our range becoming more streamlined, this is why!  We want to provide high quality, tried and tested products, that make your travel more comfortable, safe and organised... products we know you'll love!

5 July 2010 - Personalised Luggage Tags With A Difference

While most personalised luggage tags on the market are actually all pretty cute, keep in mind your security when you're browsing for luggage tags.  The more inconspicuous you are when travelling the safer you will be.  Our personalised luggage tags are double sided with your details secured on the inside...(you'll find most other personalised luggage tags just consist of one card with a design on one side and your details, easily visible to anyone, on the other). 
Of course, having a picture on both sides also means that these look better on your luggage, which is almost just as important:)! Check Out Our Range of Personalised Luggage Tags Here

PS We are on the lookout for cute new designs to add to our luggage tag range, so if you have any suggestions for pictures or illustrations you'd like us to add, just drop us a note via the contact us tab. We'd love to hear from you!

13 May 2010 - Just Landed... The Coolest Travel Pillows Yet

There is no denying that the best all-round travel pillow award goes to Therm-A-Rest's compressible pillows.  These are by far the most popular pillows we've ever sold and they are popular today as they were ten years ago.  You can't beat great, simple design and they are still made in the U.S.A.! 

Backpacker Magazine says, "There's no excuse for sacrificing comfort when car camping, not when it's so easy to shove a couple of these fluffy pillows in the trunk." (March 2006 Gear Guide issue)

Throw these in the wash and tumble dry to make them nice and fluffy after long periods of being compressed.  Sweet Dreams!

Check out the new range of Therm-A-Rest Pillow here.

4 March 2010 - Cashmere And Kashmir Pashmina, What's The Difference?

"Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from the Cashmere goat. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir" Wikipedia.

To clarify, there are many terms used to describe Cashmere, and they all refer to one and the same:
Cashmere = Pashmina wool = Kashmir wool = Kashmir Pashmina = Pashmina = Cashmere Pashmina

Check our 100% Cashmere wool pashminas, flown in directly from Kashmir. These garments carry the pashmina label symbol of quality for Pure New pashmina only licensed manufacturers who meet the pashmina strict performance standards are allowed to use it.

Cashmere wool is fine in texture, and it is also strong, light, and soft. When it is made into garments, they are extremely warm to wear."

3 March 2010 - Turn Your Calculator Into A Currency Converters

Currency Converters work this way: you enter the exchange rate which gets stored in memory.  You then retrieve the exchange rate and multiply your home currency.  That’s it!  Some of them let you store a couple of different rates but we think you’re probably better off with a cheap little calculator that has a memory function, that you can pick up literally anywhere.  You can even use the calculator function on your mobile phone.

For those that aren’t familiar with the calculator memory function, or have forgotten your high school maths, here are some simple instructions on using it for currency conversion.

First off, start by finding the latest exchange rate.  For example today, we looked at xe.com and it says that AU $1.00 buys .90 US cents.  So using your calculator, divide 1 over .9 and =.  You’ll get 1.11.  Punch the M+ button of your calculator.  Now all you do, for example, when you’re shopping in the USA and you’re after something that’s US$80, Punch in $80 x MR (memory recall)  & voila, you have the value converted in AU$!  When you move to the next country, just punch MC (for memory clear) and start again.

We’ve just saved you a good $25 = another meal or two in Europe!
Happy tracks!

27 February 2010 - Leather Travel Wallets Impress An Engineer's Mind

So the other day our dad (gogogear is primarily a sister act, read our about us page), came to visit the Gogogear studio. That day, a quantity of our Leather Travel Wallets was being packed for a large corporate order. Later that night at a family get-together, Dad commented “those travel wallets that you had there are fantastic!”, and we were like, What? Really? Yes they sell really well, but we figured it was mainly because they are colourful, leather and at a $19.95 price point. The bright and chirpy colours that they come in also had them featured in last month’s Vogue magazine.
Now my dad has a beautiful calf skin Samsonite travel wallet that we have given him in the past, so what was it that impressed his Engineer's mind so much? As he put it, "they have all the tabs there like a filling cabinet, they make everything really easy to find". While the quality and the attention to detail of these $19.95 Leahter Travel Wallets can’t be compared to that of more expensive travel wallets, and certainly some will still prefer the layout of traditional travel wallets, they are sure to strike a chord in every practical thinker. We hear they are also fantastic for families too as they fit more than a couple of passports easily and they make check- in a breeze. Check out the Leather Travel Wallets here.

26 February 2010 - Why Smart Travellers Love Gogogear Packing Modules

In a few short words, because they're lightweight but strong (the most lightweight on the market that we know of), and help you organise, pack and unpack your bags in a flash.  They do nothing more than that, and have no extra features such as handles that just add extra weight or bulk.  Yes K.I.S.S. hits again, and they do, what they do, incredibly well.

They come with a one year warranty, in 3 great colours (more to be launched soon), and at the moment we have a great offer... purchase 2 of any size, or 1 set and you'll get a free T-Shirt folder.
Check out our packing modules (aka packing cubes here).

Ps we don't admit this to just anyone, but our wardrobes and drawers are completely organised by these as well:)

13 February 2010 - Menda Ultimate Travel Towel