How To Beat Jet Lag, or At Least Try To

Best Travel Gear for Business Travelers: 10 Picks

Most business travelers are able to breeze through airport security with just a carry-on, inducing both envy and promises that "I'll pack lighter next time." To help you pack lighter for your next trip, I interviewed 10 experts for their favorite business travel gear. After all, business travelers have perfected the art of packing light.

View the slideshow at HuffingtonPost.com, ABCNews.com, or see the original slideshow that I created for LinkedIn.

Photo by Amy Chen

What to Pack in a Go Bag

As the East Coast cleanup begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, now is a good time to take stock of your emergency supplies -- no matter where you live.

I grew up in California where having an earthquake preparedness kit was expected, but after moving to New York, I have to admit that I grew complacent. At times, I'd be lucky to find anything edible in my fridge or cupboards. And spare batteries? Most of my electronics are charged via USB these days. Apparently many New Yorkers faced the same dilemma, as seen with the pre-hurricane rush to supermarkets and hardware stores.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management has a complete list of what to include in an emergency supply kit. Of all the travel gear that has crossed my desk over the years, here are some of the travel essentials that I'd make sure to include in my "go bag."

1. Backup phone charger. Energizer makes a great portable charger that I take on road trips or anytime I need some extra juice for my iPhone.

2. Zip-top bags. I'm a fan of Ecozip, 2-in-1 plastic zip-top bags.

3. Sleep sack. DreamSacks by Yala are lightweight silk liners that can make the prospect of sleeping on an airport floor a little less disgusting.

4. Water bottle. Bobble makes reusable water bottles with a built-in filter.

5. Travel-friendly toothbrush. Colgate makes Wisps, disposable toothbrushes that help freshen your breath without needing toothpaste.

6. Mini flashlight. D-cell batteries are just so heavy and clunky.

7. Disposable wipes. Baby wipes or wet wipes come in handy if no running water is readily available.

8. Spare contacts.

Photo by Amy Chen

What Not to Pack for the Holidays

The votes are in. Carry-on bags are still the way to go.

To get the most out of your carry-on, here are some basic reminders:

1. Don’t wrap Christmas presents. TSA officers reserve the right to snoop, even if it means tearing open your exquisitely wrapped gift. Besides, the wrapping paper and fancy bows will just get crushed while in transit. Sometimes I’ll pack gift bags and tissue paper in case the present needs to be ready when I land.

2. Skip the gourmet gift basket. The increasingly ridiculous list of prohibited items includes jams, jellies, maple syrup, salsa, sauces, oils and vinegars, etc... TSA advises that you check those items in your bag, ship them ahead, or just leave them at home. Poor Harry and David.

Even though I try to stay on top of the latest TSA rules, a checkpoint officer once stopped me, screened my bag again, and then searched it. Turns out a candle in my bag looked like a jar of jam. Happy Holidays indeed.

3. Oh, and just to round out the list of banned stuff, no snowglobes. If you're trying to avoid checking a bag, looks like you'll have to find another cheesy souvenir.