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Band Your Cables for Orderly Photography Travel
This is a quick photo-travel tip by DIYP reader Don Simpson. Actually it may be really obvious, but I learned that it is better to show the obvious than to assume that everyone already knows it. Actually, it is also a more general travel tip that applies to more than carrying photography gear.
Don't you hate it how your cables fly about in your bag, and when you are trying to pull out the batteries charger cable you also fish the USB cable, the pc-sync cable, the super long TTL cord, the power cord, the strip, and a bunch of other cable you did not even know you have?
This is sorted out very easily with a rubber band. I could tell you more about it, but it is easier to just show it. And all you need is a rubber band. (Go back to the image on the top for the "before" look).
If you want the hi-tech version of it you'll have to say good-bye to the staggering amount of 3.99 USD (but then you get a free color coding scheme). You can also use a multi-use cable tie, assuming you have any money left after you got the Velcro things.
Thanks Don Simpson for sharing this tip. Got other cool tips? Hit us on the comments.
Tip From LCnShape - you can get a hundred black ones for almost the same price, he found them on Home depot, but you can also get them at Amazon.
Featured comment by Morgana
Ziplock bags rock!
I'm another big fan of zip lock bags. Last year when I was traveling to Canada from Australia I found these bags invaluable. One for the camera battery recharger, one for the cell phone charger etc. I knew exactly how many bags I had to fill each morning when I packed up my gear before leaving the motel and if all the bags were full I knew I hadn't left anything behind. :)
The fact that you can label them is also a big plus and makes going through customs a lot easier. ;)
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Comments
rubber bands? really?!
I use twist-ties for all my cables. I think theyre a cleaner solution then rubber bands and theres way less chance of breakage, especially for long term use. Just wrap around the cord at the center of the tie and it'll always be there to cinch the cord. It's also nice when you dont want the whole cord unraveled. Just undo the length you need and tie the rest back up. Super clean and easy.
Nothing beats a good twist-tie! Also, twist-ties are everywhere! You cant escape them!
re: twist-tie
Thanks for the tip, enero.
Twist-ties are cool, and are definitely a great option. Heck, I have two of those sitting on my desk right now from the cables in box of the Ctera CloudPlug.
I guess that the only on on those is the fact that they are not flexible, and take a bit more tme to use.
It just takes a little time
It just takes a little time to get use to them. I was also using rubber bands till not very long ago but I always snap them :)
not sure
I don't know. As much as I use twist-ties (I use them a lot for things like my iPod cords, my card reader and cords, etc).. some twist-ties don't have the range or length that almost any rubber-band may have.
Granted, in case of breakage, relating to the rubber-bands, I carry a bunch of spares in my bag.
Just my two cents, though. Everybody's different.
Another helpful hint is to
Another helpful hint is to use a labeler to label the power "bricks" of the various devices in your kit. This helps keep track which power transformer matches each device, since often the brand of your device does not match the brand of its own power adapter.
re: label
This is so true. I only recently moved, and I thank god for thinking about labeling the power supply units and wires of every electrical thing in the house.
Just my computer station has 3 battery chargers, speakers, a router and a modem, a printer, a my book and the list goes on. I would have never made the puzzle back.
and to make things harder, they all share the same jack :(
zip-lock plastic bags work
zip-lock plastic bags work great also. avalible in small sizes at craft stores
Ziplock bags rock!
I'm another big fan of zip lock bags. Last year when I was traveling to Canada from Australia I found these bags invaluable. One for the camera battery recharger, one for the cell phone charger etc. I knew exactly how many bags I had to fill each morning when I packed up my gear before leaving the motel and if all the bags were full I knew I hadn't left anything behind. :)
The fact that you can label them is also a big plus and makes going through customs a lot easier. ;)
All for ziplocks
Ziplocks have one more great advantage, and one disadvantage.
pro+++ they're waterproof. At a pinch you can leave one or two cables swanning about loose in the bag and use their ziplocks to protect more sensitive items from the wet.
con: when you're in a hurry, they refuse to zip any more. Unless you have those designer ones with the extra zipper-toggle, but they cost more.
Another vote for Zip-lock
Another vote for Zip-lock bags! ...
Zip-Lock FTW!
Zip Lock bags are a must have for travel! Not just for electrics, but for anything small!
Bongo Ties...or the like...
I'd suggest these: http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,454.html
They come in the starving student lighting kits from MPEX, otherwise they can be purchased on their own for $5. Not only are they good for keeping cables/cords in order in your bag, but they're also super-handy for strapping cables, etc. to poles and light stands.
Hair Bands
If all you want to do is wrap cables, just buy a packet of hair bands!. On the order of $2-$3 for 100 bands. Cheap, durable, colorful, available at nearly every grocery store or drug store around.
anyone use velcro ?
anyone use velcro ?
velco is another great cable
velco is another great cable solution! But generally not free :(
A few years back Ikea had 5 packs of Velco straps they sold for 2 bucks a pop, which was a god send! But they didnt work well for thin cords, I have tons of them, and use them for all my thick cables (light cords, extension cords, etc).
I use velcro straps
I once bought some 3/4in strips of Velcro at some travel and hiking shop. Cost was about $2 for 2m worth. It never wears out and makes for perfect tight lashes around my electrical gear. The use Eagles Creek storage cube bags to put all my stuff into it for easy access to them.
The Velcro can double for anything else as well, like rolling up socks, underwear exc exc, as the limits are endless.
Velcro
I use these for a lot of my cords (and trailer ratchet straps). The are inexpensive and work great.
http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Brand-One-Wrap-Cableties-25pk/dp/B000BSJC6Y
Another Alternative
I've used the original twisty ties that comes with my electronics. Rubberbands are also useful too.
I've bought myself a couple of these: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8645
They are inexpensive and add a splash of color to your drab black/grey gear.
Thanks. =]
I also think that Zip-lock
I also think that Zip-lock bags is the best sollution, but twist-ties it works very well too.
Beware the TSA
A flight attendant warned me the other day of overzealous TSA officials limiting the number of ziplock bags in your luggage. A little too by-the-book with regards to one ziplock bag per passenger, regardless of the contents. Apparently she had other non-liquid personal items in the ziplock, and was told that she needed to remand the additional ziplock bags in order to conform to the TSA guidelines.
That is strange, I have
That is strange, I have always traveled with multiple zip-locks to store my small items, including electronics and cables (as well as liquids and such), and have never had a problem. In fact, I have had TSA agents compliment me on my packing and efficient use of zip-lock bags :)
a free solution
When I have cables, earphones, etc.... I just wrap them into a circle around my hand, and each end I wrap around the bundled chords (through the middle and around the outside) to keep them together. Its hard to explain without showing a picture, but i've been doing this for years and find it very effective for keeping everything nice and sane.
obvious, but very true.
obvious, but very true. agree about the label markers as well, i also use special cable holders to keep all the cables and wires in my room in order
Never thought about it
I never really thought about it before, but it does bug me when all the cables get caught up together - especially seeing as I'm normally fishing them out the bag one handed, whilst trying to do something else!
A great travel solution
I went on a month long trip with a phone, DSLR, compact camera, laptop and a video camera so I had enough cables and chargers to warrant their own bag. So I found a bathroom toiletries bag (that's Aussie speak) that loops for your toothbrush, comb, make up brushes etc. It had one large zipper compartment for all the big charges and whatnot and several loops and anoth pocket for the loose cables.
I found I didn't to search high and low for a cable as they where all in one spot.
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