How four frequent travellers solved common travel gripes with innovative thinking and designs
Think you know how to solve travellers’ greatest irritations? These Hong Kong and Chinese entrepreneurs did, taking their ideas to the next level with an anti-theft backpack, a convertible jacket and more
Whether it is the endless airport queues, the struggle to find Wi-fi, or the unfortunate run-ins with pickpocketers, frequent travellers have a number of issues to contend with while jet-setting. But while the rest of us might just grumble, some smart thinkers have designed gear to overcome travellers’ greatest irritations.
“[I got the idea] while I was sleeping on my backpack on an overnight train in Morocco,” says Hong Kong-based Rob Schlipper of his inspiration for Pacsafe, a company that produces anti-theft backpacks. “The idea kept growing with me as I travelled more – sleeping on beaches, overnight trains and [in] dodgy dorms, anxiously crossing sketchy borders and having my passport stolen.”
Pacsafe began with one product – a lockable eXomesh net to fit around any backpack – which was inspired by the sight of fellow travellers who wrapped chicken wire around their bags to protect against theft. That was 20 years ago. The brand has since expanded to include a wide range of anti-theft backpacks and travel equipment.
