As a new parent, this past Easter reinforced my belief that traveling with kids during the holidays is tough. The amount of stuff we have to carry around from place to place has easily tripled.

Being the gadget hound that I am, I had to make sure that I still had my own toys with me, in addition to all my son’s toys as well. As I was getting my stuff together, I realized I had several books and a small pile of magazines that I would typically cram into my already overstuffed backpack.

This year, however, I realized that I no longer had to bring that stuff along. I grabbed my Kindle and the power adapter (even though I didn’t need it, but better to be safe than sorry), and I was all set. My backpack was lighter than it’s ever been.

The Kindle also inspired some conversation, as my sister and I traded for a little bit to check out what the other was reading. After we mutually agreed that my book list was ultimately superior, we traded back.

This is another great reason to pick up a Kindle, not only does it help reduce clutter around the home and office, but also for traveling during the holidays. So, get one now…your back (and backpack) will thank you!