Ekster and The Diary of a CEO’s Steven Bartlett Help Travelers Skip the Checked Bag with the 1% TravelPack Vacuum Kit Pro

The Problem Every Frequent Flyer Knows

Steven Bartlett doesn’t check bags. Full stop, every flight, no matter how long the trip. It’s a rule he’s talked about for years, and it’s the reason he teamed up with Ekster to build the 1% TravelPack Vacuum Kit Pro, a vacuum-sealed packing system designed to compress clothing by up to 70%, letting travellers fit more than 15 days worth of clothes into a single cabin bag. “I can now take more than 20 black shirts with me, which will last me three weeks,” Bartlett says of it.

The suitcase you’re sitting on to zip shut. The second bag you paid to check because the first one was overpacked. That’s the specific, recognisable moment the 1% TravelPack Vacuum Kit Pro is built to solve, and exactly why Ekster brought Bartlett in to help build it.

Built Around a Frequent Flyer’s Habits

“Steven pushes his gear harder than almost anyone – he’s on a plane more weeks than not, so he knew exactly which details actually matter on the road,” says Ekster co-founder Olivier Momma. “We built this product around that: how fast it compresses, how well it holds up trip after trip and how much more you can genuinely fit in a cabin bag.” The kit is available now through Ekster’s site.

Design Details

Those design choices are where the product starts to distinguish itself. The bag’s wide, half-clamshell opening is designed to make packing bulkier items easier – jackets, sweaters, and the things that typically turn a neatly packed carry-on into a mess. A transparent panel lets travelers quickly see what’s inside instead of digging through their luggage halfway through a trip.

Durability was also a consideration. The reinforced seams are designed to withstand repeated use, particularly for travelers who have experienced compression bags losing their seal after being opened and repacked several times. Compression takes just a few seconds using the included USB-C rechargeable air pump, which provides roughly 15 uses per charge. And if the battery happens to run out, travelers can simply plug it in or use a standard household vacuum to get the job done.

The “1% Better” Philosophy

The product’s name comes from Bartlett’s “1% better” philosophy that small, intentional improvements over time compound into something people actually feel and notice – which he’s returned to throughout The Diary of a CEO’s run as one of the UK’s biggest podcasts. Both Ekster and Bartlett have built their audiences on the same idea, that meaningful change tends to arrive in increments rather than one big leap.

“I made a rule in my life that I’ll only travel with a cabin bag,” Bartlett says. “The problem with this is there’s not much space, which is why I teamed up with Ekster to make the TravelPack™ Vacuum Kit Pro. I can now take more than 20 black shirts with me, which will last me three weeks.”

Anyone who has tried to stretch a single cabin bag across a three-week trip knows how little room that really leaves. As airlines continue to tighten baggage policies and charge more for checked luggage, fitting everything into a cabin bag has become a priority for many travelers.

Bartlett built his career on the idea that small improvements can make a big difference. The 1% TravelPack™ Vacuum Kit Pro is that idea applied to the one problem every frequent flyer knows: how to pack for longer without ever handing over a bag.