While some of them are obvious (chuck the unwieldy/heavy tote for a light-weight roll-on like the Eagle Creek HC2 Hovercraft Upright 22), Gadling’s list also included a few tricks of the trade that you may not have known.

For example, did you know that shipping with UPS or FedEx can actually be cheaper than dealing with a baggage fee? And if contact solution and hair gel are the only things preventing you from carrying-on, then why not ship them ahead so they’re waiting for you on arrival? Plus, at least you’ll get tracking – have you ever tried to find a lost bag at an airport? That baby could be in Istanbul by now and you’d never know.

Other tips include investing in a multi-pocketed Scottevest (pictured above) and rethinking your choice of technology.  Check out the full list if you’re serious about avoiding those baggage fees – and in this day and age of greedy penny-pinching airlines, who isn’t?

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