I’ll admit it; I’m a huge Sugarsync fan. They rank up there with several other products that have become vital for me when I travel (iGo charger, Sprint Mogul, 160Gb iPod)

Today I’m going to list 5 things you can do with SugarSync that might help you if you are on the road (a lot).

1) Upload backup copies of your presentation

Part of being prepared includes redundancy. If you have to give a presentation, then don’t rely on just one place to store it; always store a backup of presentations and other documents you’ll need to use during your trip. If disaster strikes, simply borrow a laptop and 2 minutes later you’ll be up and running again.

2) Save your most recent PDA backup online

We all depend a little too much on our PDA. If I lost my device, I’d be in the local phone store within 20 minutes purchasing a new one. I’ve already mentioned how you can remotely wipe all your data should you really give up hope finding it, but that doesn’t help get your data back when you are on the road.

Nowadays I make a weekly backup of PDA, and copy it into my Sugarsync "Magic Briefcase". If I ever lose my device, I can simply buy a new one, point my browser to my synced folder, and download a complete recovery file.

3) Store PDF files with your travel documents in a safe place

Scan (or photograph) important travel documents and store them in your Sugarsync folder. That way you will always have a single place to check if you are one of the thousands of people that get robbed when on a trip.

Save shots your passport, any visa pages, your credit cards, and even airline tickets. You can also store a .TXT file with all your bank phone numbers which could save you hours of work (and expensive phone calls if you are abroad).

4) Keep your most sensitive stuff out of the reach of Customs officials

This is suddenly a hot topic; a ruling by a US District Court says that customs officers no longer need "probable cause" to inspect any files you carry with you.

With the Sugarsync "Lite Sync" feature, you can upload those files, and by no longer having them physically on your machine you don’t have to let anyone access them. Sugarsync have a very clear and reliable security policy, but if you need an additional layer of security, you could always encrypt them using Truecrypt before syncing.

5) Dump the USB Drive when using important files

For the past years, many travel writers have told you to "carry a USB drive". None of them actually told you how to use it efficiently, or took the time to remind you that your tiny $15 USB memory stick is easier to lose than your money at a Vegas casino.

Don’t rely on hardware you can lose; upload all your files to SugarSync, and you’ll be able to access them anywhere you can get an Internet connection. SugarSync also provides an extra layer of protection that won’t find on most USB keys.

Picture how inconvenient it would be if you had to explain to your boss that you accidentally left last years sales figures on the shuttle bus.

If you haven’t tried SugarSync yet, I can highly recommend taking advantage of their 45 day/10Gb trial. Just click here, create an account, and you are all set, you don’t even have to give them a credit card number to start a trial account!