For you techno-savvy girls out there carrying around all your digital gear including laptops, cameras and the chargers that go with them - we know how hard it can be packing and travelling– so we’ve found just the solution!

It's hard when you're on the road and want to keep in touch with friends and family, but forget lugging around that ancient laptop in an old backpack that’s totally not designed for protection .

Now, you can find all the best features jam packed into the cutest and most compact of laptop PCs and the perfect backpacks suited for the job.  Who needs a bulky and super heavy laptop anyway!

EXP/G’s best tips for traveling smart and light:

1. Find a light weight compact laptop for travel
2. Store all your digital items including your laptop safely in a multi-use backpack
3. Condense your chargers (Chargepod)

Light-weight Laptops

We love ASUS’s new EeePC Seashell compact light-weight (only 1.1 Kg) laptop because it might be small (10.1” LED Backlit bright contrast screen to be exact!) but it’s made strong and durable with a hard outer shell – great for travel.

One of the best features is definitely the small light-weight power-cord that comes with it! Sometimes laptop power-cords can weigh more than the computer itself.

The EeePC is equipped with a full size ergonomic keyboard making it comfy for typing, it boasts 10.5 hours of battery life, 3 USB ports plus ethernet, wireless capabilities, Bluetooth, built-in web cam and 1.3 m camera.  It also comes with heaps of storage (160GB HDD and 10GB Online Eee Storage) for all your travel pictures and videos.

A bonus is the EeePC offers Eee Experience entertainment software with Video Enhancement technology, Voice Command and SRS Premium Sound.  You get access to Eee@Vibe allowing online entertainment including Radio, LiveTV, Games, etc as well as Eee Sharing with Data Sync, Ez Messenger and Eee Storage.

Multi-use Backpack

Once you have all this in a PC – you want to make sure wherever in the world you’re travelling it’s well protected in the perfect carry-all backpack.  And, the one we really love is STM's Medium Rogue 15” with hidden laptop section.

From the outside it looks stylish, but doesn’t scream, “Hey look at me – I’m carrying a laptop!” And, from the inside the heavily padded laptop section with a suspended cradle offers superior protection.

There is even a tucked away rain cover for extra protection when the weather turns!

For all your other gadgets there are plenty of extra pockets including a removable phone pouch, separate iPod pocket , headphone portal and music pocket and a user friendly orgainiser section.

We can’t believe how comfy it is to carry, even once it’s full of stuff! With an ergonomic harness and shoulder strap you can carry it all day.

STM make a huge range of other laptop bags from messenger style to backpacks.

GEAR GIVEAWAY

We love this bag so much we want to give 1 away for Christmas this year!  If you are in need of one of the best laptop bags on the market then this is the giveaway for you.

Simply CONTACT us using the form and let us know Contest Code: STM 1. Your NAME 2. Your ExplorerGirls MEMBER NAME 3. Your EMAIL ADDRESS 4. Your MAILING ADDRESS and most importantly 5. In 25 Words or Less – tell us the Best Christmas Travel Experience you have had including Where and When.

(Giveaway is open world-wide to ExplorerGirls members only. Not a member – why not join! Anyone entering the contest agrees to our Terms and Conditions. Winner will be selected – at our discretion on Jan. 31st 2009 – AUS EST)

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow

www.stmbags.com.au