The Travel Gear I Recommend Buying in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

But, most importantly, here's how you can support the flood victims in Texas.

This past week, my newsfeed, like many of yours, has consisted of publications touting Amazon Prime Day deals and the horrific devastation in south-central Texas. It’s certainly a stark contrast—one that left me feeling uneasy about sending out a newsletter that only added to the consumerism noise.

So I decided to do something a little different. While this has been a completely free Substack for the last few months, I’m going to start weaving in subscriber-only posts, starting with this one. The revenue from this month’s subscriptions—plus any of the commission I receive from items purchased through the affiliate links—will go directly to Kerr Country Flood Relief (an organization recommended by the editors at Garden & Gun).

I’d also encourage you to donate directly, rather than buy a bag, suitcase, or piece of clothing you don’t technically need right now. A few more resources below:

Southern Living: Deadly Flooding Devastates Several Central Texas Towns: Here Is How You Can Help

The Texas Tribune: Hill Country flooding: Here’s how to give and receive help

And if you are in the market for a new suitcase or travel-appropriate sneakers you can use for the foreseeable future? I have several recommendations below—and they’re all heavily marked down.

Because I’m on the internet a good part of the day, often scouting out luggage deals for publications like Condé Nast Traveler, and frequently testing all manner of travel products, I have some strong opinions on what you actually need (plus, what is technically a good deal, not just a marketing play).

Carry-on suitcases

I swear by my Away Bigger Carry-On. It’s the only carry-on suitcase I’ll travel with on trips longer than three days (it fits a solid week’s worth of clothes), and I’ve never had a problem getting it shut. It always holds up to the sit-and-zip test. Béis has a similar on-sale style, currently $68 off.

From left to right: Away Flex 22-Inch Bigger Spinner Carry-On, Béis 22-Inch Expandable Carry-On Roller

Checked bags

A quality checked bag is another essential. Unsurprisingly, I also heavily rely on my Away suitcase, which I purchased at full price several years ago. This one is currently over $100 off, so I’d grab yours now if I were you.