How to Waterproof Your Travel Gear — From Shoes to Bags

Travel can be full of unexpected hazards, and weather will likely account for at least half of them. You can’t change the forecast, but you can take steps to avoid getting delayed by soggy feet or a soaked bag of clothes while you should be out exploring.

One of those steps is waterproofing your gear before your trip. A quick spray or rubdown can prepare you for surprise thunderstorms and make sure that you don’t accidentally sacrifice your favorite pair of shoes.

The vice president of marketing at popular waterproofing supply brand Nikwax, Heidi Allen, advises travelers prep anything they might possibly be wearing or carrying in the rain or near water. “I’ll waterproof my travel pants and even my jeans before a trip, to make sure even if I do get wet, things will dry as quickly as possible,” she said.

Related: 11 Waterproof Walking Shoes to Make the Most of a Rainy Trip

Every waterproofing product will have different requirements and instructions, but the basic prep steps should remain the same. First, make sure whatever you’re prepping is clean. Sealing water out will also mean sealing in whatever’s on there when you start, and dirt or factory chemicals may interfere with how well the treatment bonds to the material. Some of your rain gear may come with DWR, which stands for Durable Water Repellent, built in and should be able to regain its water-blocking abilities with a cleaning. Allen recommends testing it by spraying the item with water. If the water beads up, the DWR is intact; if it soaks in, the DWR has worn off and needs to be reapplied.

After the cleaning, you may need to leave your item slightly damp or even wet to apply the product — check the instructions. You should also make sure you do a spot check somewhere unobtrusive to see how the color and texture of the item react. Now, find a well-ventilated spot and get to work.

9 Luggage Brands Celebrities Swear By

Whether for work or pleasure, travel is a large part of celebrities’ lifestyles, so it’s not surprising that they have turned airports into fashion arenas. And we economy-traveling folk often look to them for inspiration and tips to make our own trips more comfortable and stylish — be it shoes, bags, or jeans.

Of course, if you are an A-lister, you don’t exactly travel light. We’ve all seen photos of celebs standing next to piles of stacked suitcases filled with, we imagine, glamorous designer outfits and countless pairs of shoes. And while we totally envy the contents of said suitcases, it’s the luggage itself that we’re more interested in today.

Some celebrities have stuck with their favorite brands for years. Model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss, for example, can rarely be seen rolling anything other than an Away carry-on. The brand has only been around for three years, but it has already won over Tinseltown — just ask actresses Rashida Jones and Mandy Moore.

Related: The Best Designer Luggage Brands

But when it comes to staying true to one brand, nobody does it better than the Queen. Ever since her honeymoon in 1947, she’s been traveling with her Globe-Trotter suitcases, and so does all of the Royal Family (even the youngest members, Prince George and Princess Charlotte). Only time will tell if Meghan Markle, who’s about to officially become part of it all, will follow suit and retire her Ghurka duffel for a Globe-Trotter set.

One brand, it seems, reigns supreme with the It-crowd and that’s Louis Vuitton. From the entire Kardashian clan to the Hadid sisters, it’s fair to guess the highest concentration of LV-embossed bags and suitcases likely resides in Los Angeles.

Now, take a look at some of the luggage brands celebrities can’t get enough of.

Packing Tips

Throwing a suitcase together may sound like a no-brainer, but Travel + Leisure’s signature packing tips—culled from the combined wisdom of its well-traveled writers and editors—can always offer a few pointers to make the whole process better.

We keep tabs on the latest in packing innovations (like machines that pack your suitcase for you), tips (like how to get your Thanksgiving dinner past airport security), and news (remember the time that man wore all his clothes at once to avoid a checked bag fee…and then passed out from the heat under all those layers?).

Often the best packers are only as good as their luggage, so we also evaluate the newest carry-ons, checked luggage, backpacks, and laptop bags for style, sturdiness, and safety. We love dust bags for storing shoes and separating delicate items of clothing. Travel-sized jewelry holders help make sure necklaces don’t get tangled and rings don’t get lost. And new, high-tech suitcases have charging ports, GPS trackers, and other innovations to make packing less of a chore.

Packing Hacks

With additional fees for checked bags, most travelers aim to fit everything they need into a single carry-on bag. The best way to accomplish this is simply to pack light. By choosing clothes that all share the same color palette, you can mix and match garments to create new outfits with ease. Of course, there are a few tried-and-true methods of cramming everything you want into that one bag. Roll, don’t fold. And skip the bulky platform heels and extra jacket. (Or, if you must, wear them on the plane.) Stick to fabrics that won’t wrinkle. And limit yourself to just two pairs of shoes: one formal, one comfortable.

T+L editors have also been known to layer dryer sheets in between items to ensure their freshness over longer journeys. For heavy bags, we like to put the weightiest objects on the bottom-end of a wheeled suitcase, which makes it easier to maneuver. Dry shampoo, of course, is a life saver.