If you have the luxury of travelling first you’ll never need one of these. If, on the other hand you travel cattle class like the rest of us then you’re at the mercy of the luggage restrictions airlines seem to be enforcing with increasing zeal.

Enter the Balanzza digital luggage scale. It’s a neat idea and there’s not much more you can say about it, except that it does what it says on the tin. Attach the strap to the handle of your suitcase, lift it and the scale will tell you how much your luggage weighs. You have the choice of imperial or metric units and… well that’s it.

You can buy direct from Balanzza for £20. With excess baggage charges ranging from anywhere upwards of £15, this could pay for itself the first time you use it.