5 Travel Essentials You Don’t Own but Should

Travel goods by way of Japan, via Kolo-Topdrawer

December 14, 2017 9:00 am

We’ve all got some traveling to do before year’s end.

Holidays. Surplus vacation days. Get-the-hell-somewhere-warmer days.

But before you hit the road, you’ll wanna hit Kolo-Topdrawer, just recently opened in Wicker Park. They sell “tools for nomads” and they’re resolved to bring style and organization to your travel kit.

Some background: Kolo-Topdrawer is an offshoot of the Tokyo brand Itoya, the 100-year-old stationary emporium that just recently reopened its doors. In addition to Chicago, Kolo-Topdrawer has locations in Tokyo, San Francisco and Boston. And they all peddle an array of organizational tools, writing instruments and travel accessories to streamline work and travel life.

Accordingly, we rifled through their stock and found the travel accessories that’ll make traveling a little more enjoyable, whether it’s for the holidays or beyond.

Merippa House Shoes
This modern take on the traditional Japanese house is hand-sewn in Japan and exclusive to Kolo-Topdrawer. They’re machine-washable, fully reversible, and easily rolled up for packing, not to mention easy to slip on and off during travel.

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Izipizi Screen Readers 
French eyewear gurus Izipizi (formerly See Concept) are revolutionizing the nonprescription eyewear market, balancing ready-to-wear function with innovative design. The brand’s handsome screen readers filter out 40% of harmful blue light emitted by LED screens.

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Kolo Parker Cube Large
The ideal travel item made from heavy-duty 100% cotton canvas. Perfect for organizing travel gear, computer cables, toiletries, pens, tools, shoe shine kits, and other gizmos — and keeping ‘em safe, too.

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Carre Royal Wallet
This wallet is the best of two worlds: sturdy, stain-resistant canvas and smooth, refined leather. It’s also great for traveling abroad, with a built-in pouch that keeps you from losing coins and cash.

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Takenaka Bento Box Expanded
Eating healthy on the road is easier said than done. An easy fix? A Bento box, which encourages mindful eating. An added bonus? They eliminate the need for disposable materials like baggies, tin foil, and prepackaged food.

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