Getting ready for a trip with TO&FRO organizers and pouches.

A journey begins at home

Golden Week and summer vacation—these long holidays let us extend our trips a little further and go somewhere farther away than we would on an ordinary weekend. As each day brings us closer to departure, the excitement and slight nervousness that builds up reminds us that the enjoyment of a trip truly begins before we've even left home.

And traveling always comes paired with one task: packing. Some people may find packing tedious, but if we're going to do it anyway, why not let the preparations themselves lift our spirits as we get ready for the big day?

This time, we'll introduce the practicality of TO&FRO's organizers and pouches, essential items for packing.

Make full use of organizers and pouches for smooth

【　Organizers　】

An organizer is a larger pouch designed to keep your items neat and tidy. TO&FRO offers S, M, and L sizes, and we recommend using several at once, matched to what you're packing. Think of it as dividing up the inside of your suitcase or backpack using organizers of different sizes and colors—not only does this keep your luggage from becoming a jumbled mess, but it also lets you quickly grab what you need, right when you need it.

Even when moving clothes into the drawers provided at your hotel, you can transfer them while they're still inside the organizer, making tidying up smart and simple.

◆How much capacity does each size have?◆

S size:

This is just the right size for underwear, socks, and undershirts. It holds about 3 to 4 nights' worth of camisoles, bras, panties, and socks. The S size is also great for holding toiletries, not just clothing. For example, if you put your toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, cream, and cotton pads all together, you can simply set the whole pouch down on the sink counter, making getting ready at your destination that much easier.

M size:

This size is good for holding clothes or pajamas. We tried fitting two spring outfits (top and bottom sets) inside, and there was still plenty of room to spare—you could likely fit three sets if packed tightly. Men may wonder how many shirts will fit: it holds 4 sturdy-collared business shirts, or 6 casual shirts.

L size:

We fit four spring outfits (8 pieces) inside and still had room to spare. For thick winter sweaters, you'd probably fit about 4 in the L size. This size is well suited for long trips or business travel. We also recommend the L size if you want to pack clothes and pajamas together.

The height of the organizer is a uniform 10cm across all sizes. In fact, placing two M-size organizers side by side gives you the same overall size as one L, and two S-size organizers side by side equal one M. Being able to combine them like puzzle pieces inside your suitcase is one of their appealing features.

◆What makes it so easy to use?◆

The fabric is extremely thin, so it folds down to be this compact. (This is the S size.)

Roll it up, secure it with a rubber band, and keep one as a spare in your suitcase—it's handy for things like holding a change of clothes or underwear, or amenities, when moving from your room to the large communal bath at a hot spring inn. Having an unused spare on hand offers peace of mind, and it's all the more convenient when it doesn't take up much space.

Also, speaking as a longtime user, thin fabric like this paired with a zipper can sometimes get caught in the zipper teeth if you're not careful when opening or closing it. But with TO&FRO's organizers and amenity pouches, you never have to worry about that, even with repeated use. Whether it's the reassuring quality you'd expect from something made in Japan, or the fact that the zipper tape has a bit of stiffness even though the fabric itself is thin, I'm not entirely sure—but it's undeniably one of the things that makes these so easy to use.

◆How water-resistant are the organizers?◆

The organizers are made from a fabric called HUMMING BIRD. It's advertised as having "water-repellent treatment and everyday water resistance," so we decided to test just how water-resistant it really is.

We sprayed water onto the fabric.

The water didn't soak in right away—the droplets stayed on the surface of the fabric, beading up like little balls. Even after wiping off the droplets and touching the surface, it didn't feel damp at all. It seems the fabric won't absorb water unless it's dropped directly into water or drenched forcefully under a running tap. It should be safe to use at the sink, too.

【　Amenity Pouches　】

The amenity pouch uses a double-faced fabric made by bonding an original waterproof fabric on both the front and back. Even if liquid leaks inside, it won't easily soak through to the outer fabric, so you can reduce the chances of other items or clothing in your suitcase getting wet.

◆What can you put in the amenity pouch?◆

You can fit mini-size (50ml) shampoo and conditioner bottles that you'd like to use in the washroom or bathroom. Why not use the remaining space to create a "bath set" with a small piece of soap or a mini face wash?

It's also great for making a "skincare set" with mini bottles of lotion or emulsion that you're worried might leak during travel.

◆How waterproof is the amenity pouch?◆

The fabric used for the amenity pouch is called Emperor Penguin. The penguin is a bird whose feathers are coated with oil that repels water, preventing water from touching its skin. The fabric named after it, Emperor Penguin, is said to have excellent water repellency and resist water penetration. It's also highly breathable, which helps prevent condensation buildup.

It's described as "a waterproof fabric with excellent water repellency," so let's put that to the test as well.

Here too, when water is sprayed on, droplets form on the surface of the fabric with no sign of soaking through. Next, we tried pouring water directly into the pouch.

With the pouch about half full of water, no water dripped out even when picked up, and the surface of the fabric showed no change.

We left it as is, being careful not to spill it, and after about 3 hours, we checked and found water gradually seeping out from the seams.

It's unlikely that liquid would ever overflow to that extent, and since the outer fabric itself wasn't wet, we can say the pouch fulfills its role as an amenity pouch quite well.

TO&FRO's signature packable design

You want to keep your luggage light, but honestly, having to give something up on a fun trip you've been looking forward to isn't easy. Items you might normally give up on, thinking "it would be handy, but it'll take up too much space," could still come along with you if you have TO&FRO.

TO&FRO offers a number of items designed to be packable, meaning they can be folded down small. Let them stay compact when not in use, and unfold them to show their true value when you need them.

① Backpack Square

② Travel Hat Navy

③ Hooded Vest Gray

④ Travel Slippers RED

⑤ Carry-On Bag

⑥ Packable Pouch RED

When folded away, these items become this compact.

Each item is designed to be folded and tucked into an internal pocket, so you won't run into the problem of something you folded up neatly unfolding again inside your bag.

The bags in particular are highly recommended, as they come in handy for storing unexpected extra items or souvenirs picked up along the way.

Backpack Square

A rucksack type is rare among packable items. By extending the rolled-up top portion, you can adjust the capacity according to the amount of luggage, making it very convenient. It uses a fabric named KITE (tonbi), a lightweight, thin material with a smooth, crisp texture. At just 180g and packable, it won't get in the way even if you bring it along "just in case," and its urban design also makes it perfect for walking around the city.

Carry-On Bag

This lightweight bag is made of a sturdy mesh material and has plenty of capacity thanks to its gusset. It's useful for carrying luggage when taking a one-night side trip from the hotel you're based at, or for holding souvenirs you'd like to bring on board as carry-on for your return flight. You can slide it onto the handle of your carry-on case to secure it in place, so moving around the city or through the airport is hassle-free.

〜About TO&FRO〜

TO&FRO carries the meaning of "back and forth." The word evokes the image of casual travel, capturing the lightness of spontaneously setting off to see a scene that has caught your eye—a sense of adventure that makes travel all the more exciting.

TO&FRO is produced by Kajirene Co., Ltd., a Japanese fabric manufacturer. Their technical strength lies in their ability to create "the thinnest and lightest fabric in the world." Drawing on the characteristics of the thin, lightweight fabric made possible by that expertise, they have created practical, highly functional products designed for traveling light and with ease. The original fabrics developed by TO&FRO for travel goods are each named after a bird. "TRIPPING LIKE A BIRD"—the idea behind this is a wish for people to travel as freely as a bird. 

▼Here are the TO&FRO items to accompany you on your travels