In all honesty, I  just learned of Briggs & Riley Travelware earlier this year. The luggage company just wasn’t on my radar prior to my joining the social-media network Twitter (where the brand has a lively presence) and reading recent gear reviews from fellow travel writers. But I’m glad through word of mouth I’m now intimately acquainted with Briggs & Riley: its Large Shopping Tote ($139) accompanied me on a five-night trip to Belize last week and it served me quite well.

The tote was my “personal carry on” through four flights (DEN-IAH-BZE round trip), as well as three domestic flights on 14-seat planes in Belize (where twice I stowed the bag in the plane’s luggage hold). One feature that worked well as I navigated my way through airports: the “slip through back pocket,” which allows you to slide the tote over the handle of nearly any pull-behind roller bag. I found this worked on my way to Belize, when my tote wasn’t too full. But on my way home, when it was packed with various papers, brochures and flyers I picked up on my travels, I had a hard time slipping the tote through my pull-behind handles. It was just too overstuffed! Instead, I wrapped the bag’s leather straps around my pull-behind luggage handle and balanced the tote on top.

Indeed, I was able to pack a lot into this tote, which measures 13 x 17 x 7.3 inches. Even though I typically like using a checkpoint-friendly bag for traveling with my computer, I forewent that type of carry-on this go around so I could properly test the tote. So in the bag I fit my laptop in a sleeve, a gajillion chargers, camera, water bottle, book, aforementioned work papers, three (!) toiletry bags, sweater, scarf and snacks. The bag comes with a snap-on, waterproof pocket which I left at home since I brought along so many other little bags for small items.

In hindsight, I likely should have brought along the extra zippered pocket, because I wished I had had more spots inside the roomy bag to stash all my stuff in specific places. There is one huge zippered pocket inside, which became a dumping ground for all the little things that didn’t have little bag of their own, and it was hard to find my pens, notebook and tins of mints in the deep space. I also stuck items in the two, inside, open-topped pouches. The bag comes with a water-bottle pouch, but it was too slim to fit my 12-oz bottle; I used the water-bottle pocket for my hard eyeglasses carrying case instead. I always knew where my glasses were!

One brilliant zippered pocket that did help me stay organized: the slim, exterior SpeedThru pocket that’s the perfect size for carrying a boarding pass, flight itinerary (folded twice) and passport. I kept important items here at all times, and could easily access them when checking in and going through airport security. The pocket is lined in bright orange nylon so you can tell at a glance whether it’s unzipped. An additional exterior pocket has a magnetic closure to help keep your paperback book or other papers from falling out.

The Large Shopping Tote is built to last, as it’s constructed with thick, durable ballistic nylon. The bag — like all Briggs & Riley products — comes with a lifetime guarantee. Even if your bag is broken or damaged by an airline, the company will fix it free of charge.

I’d recommend the tote as a holiday gift for the female traveler on your list. If she already owns Briggs & Riley Baseline Wheeled Luggage, purchase the coordinating tote in chocolate, black or olive. Feeling extra generous? Give matching luggage at once! All of the Baseline (and Transcend) style products over $249 are on sale through Christmas Eve. Save $50 on items between $249 and $349, and save $100 on items over $350.

Or, if you’re feeling lucky, enter my giveaway to win a Large Shopping Tote, courtesy of Briggs & Riley. Just leave a comment below telling me what you’d do with the tote — keep it or give it away. And if you want it for your very own (and I don’t blame you), tell me where you’d travel with it next! I’ll take entries through Thursday, November 26 at 11:59 p.m., pick one name randomly, and announce the winner, fittingly, on Black Friday – the busiest shopping day of the year – November 27. One entry per person; U.S. mailing address only. Good luck!

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UPDATE: Congrats go out to commenter#80 Renee Richardson, “With 3 kids (4 counting hubby) I would use this as an everyday bag. Diapers, wipes, drinks, snacks, cellphone. My whole life. LOL!! This would be perfect.”

I’ll email you, Renee, for your mailing address. Happy holidays!