Posts Tagged luggage
Ebags 22″ EXO Hardside Spinner Carry-On Bag
Always searching for the perfect rollaboard, my quest continues to come up empty. The Brookstone bag is sturdy but not durable in the long-haul. This new EXO hard-shell spinner from eBags fulfills both qualifications as its exterior shell protects the contents from shock, and the four wheels are much larger than Brookstone’s version making them stronger and less likely to break.
The shell of the bag is composed of polycarbonate and comes in a variety of sleek colors, but it is the wheels that make this bag so perfect. They spin 360 degrees with ease allowing you to push this bag (even fully stuffed) with the slightest of ease. No need to drag it behind you when you can push it with the flick of a wrist. The handle retracts at two levels making it easy to use no matter what your height.
Inside, there are two compartments with a zip-around mesh cover to keep items separated from each other while still allowing visibility to what is inside. It is great for keeping laundry away from clean clothes or storing shoes or electronic gear cords. There are also straps that can be used to secure clothing like suits or bulky items in place. The moveable shelf system inside keeps items wrinkle-free.
Nosy TSA agents can still access the bag’s contents if needed thanks to a TSA-approved lock while sticky-fingered baggage handlers are kept at bay.
This bag was put through the wringer as I travel frequently within Europe dragging bags across cobblestoned streets, bumpy sidewalks, and through messy airport terminals. It performed flawlessly. The zipper was sturdy even when I overstuffed the bag. While I am not a fan of the largeeBags logo that appears on the side of the bag, it is subtle and not overbearing. The bag is available from Ebags for a bargain price of just over $100. It pairs well with its larger, equally affordable model for those who want to check bags.
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Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear on May 14th, 2012
Briggs & Riley BRX Explore 20 Wide Body Upright Rollaboard Travel Bag
Known for its high-quality travel bags that can stand up to even the most rigorous of crazed airline baggage handlers, Briggs & Riley has developed a more casual line of bags with a more rugged look. The BRX collection is meant for high, active performance while still keeping a sleek, durable look.
I tested the 20″ wide bag. It is wider than other carryon bags by a couple of inches, but it is also shorter giving it the edge for a variety of airline overhead compartment sizes. The bag weighs about 7 pounds when empty, which makes it light although not as light as others out there. What this bag packs in an extra pound or two though is more than worth it.
Inside there is a unique type of compression panel that keeps clothes wrinkle-free and separated from other things inside the bag. A series of pockets keep things organized including an easily accessible laptop sleeve pouch that is padded for extra protection. There is also a wet and dry pocket that keeps damp clothes like bathing suits or even umbrellas separated from the rest of your items. An exterior zippered pocket is great for quick stowage of all kinds of things from jackets and sweaters to newspapers and magazines.
These days, I am a fan of the rolling four wheel bags because they can pivot and swirl at the flick of a wrist reducing the effort it takes to pull a heavy bag. This bag has two wheels (although Briggs & Riley has its own series of four-wheeled bags on its website) that are both very sturdy and encased in a solid shell that prevents them from breaking or fusing together like the Brookstone Dash bag tends to do with frequent use (on one occasion, the wheel on the Dash bag jammed within 24 hours of removing it from its box).
The soft exterior gives this bag a classic, cozy look that differentiates it from the standard black bags many people use. It comes in a variety of colors including slate, ocean, amber, and lava and has handles on the top and side. In addition, the retracting vertical handle is very sturdy (some bags’ handles jiggle to the point that I think they are going to break at the worst possible moment). An external buckle also allows travelers to snap a small briefcase or duffel bag to roll alongside this larger bag. There is a tapered expansion that zips off allowing more space or less weight as needed.
Priced at $240-300 available at Briggs & Riley’s website, Zappos, or Amazon, it is a great option for a high-quality bag that can be used everyday making it a competitive choice against equivalents from Tumi or Hartmann.
Posted by Ramsey in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, Travel Light on May 7th, 2012
High Sierra Pack-n-Go Duffel is a Steal
Your second bag and a toiletry kit—for 20 bucks?
For this travel gear blog we get excited about different things than reviewers focused on the latest $500 suitcases and $300 laptop bags. When we find something that works well and is bargain-priced, we’re all over it. This High Sierra Pack–n-Go Duffel seems too good to be true. It’s a workhorse duffel bag that can qualify as a carry-on, but it folds up into a little pouch. Not just any pouch though: the case is a toiletry kit. How cool is that? To see it in action, check out this video demo.
All parts of this work better than you would expect. The toiletry kit is good on its own, with a loop for hanging, a loop with a clip to hang it from a towel rack or shower bar, plus a zippered pouch and several mesh compartments inside.
Then you pull out the duffle bag and it over-delivers as well. It’s got an adjustable shoulder strap plus hand straps with a Velcro handle fitting—all solidly stitched. Those straps are adjustable too so you can convert this to a backpack in a pinch. The zippers are strong and they move smoothly, plus they’ve got sizable openings at the end for locks. There’s an extra zippered compartment on the side. It’s made from 600-denier “Duralite” nylon that looks like it’ll hold up for the long haul.
The one I’m showing off in the demo video is basic black, but this Pack-n-Go duffel comes in a variety of attractive solid colors and patterns, like the one you see here to the right.
It also comes in larger sizes: 24, 30 and 36 inches, each of them still stuffing down into a flat pouch that’s easy to pack. You will have to check the others if you’re flying, but it could be worth it to fly somewhere with one bag, come back with two, especially if you’re buying nice things. It’s still usually cheaper than shipping, especially internationally.
This 20-inch Pack-n-Go duffel shows an “original price” anywhere between $24 and $60, but you can easily find it online for around $20. The actual retail prices generally work out to a dollar for each inch of length: the 36-inch one goes for $36, for example, which is still a great deal. Check prices at eBags, Luggage Guru, and Amazon.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on April 26th, 2012
Overland Equipment Radcliffe Bag
I’ve been carrying around Overland Equipment’s new Radcliffe Tote for the past months, putting it through my daily paces: back and forth to my teaching job, around town as I drive kids to various activities, and on several weekend overnights. With its elegantly stitched ‘tree of life’ design and rich color, this shoulder bag (part of Overland’s Bidwell Collection…check out Jill’s review of the Bidwell Bag from last year) is definitely a looker, though its color options spurred an argument between my husband and me about whether periwinkle is a flower or a color (answer: both!).
Overall, it’s very functional as well. At 11x13x7.5″, it’s not too big, and not too small, which makes it an ideal day-to-day tote. I love that it zips fully closed at the top (with duel ’2-way’ zippers with leather pulls that meet together). Its nylon exterior stays clean and spot-free, and inside, coordinating, lighter-toned ripstop nylon makes for a stylish finish.
Inside the tote, you’ve got several pockets: a larger-than-it-looks security pocket which zips fully closed (which I use to store grab-and-go items like sunscreen, tissues, etc), plus three smaller, stitched pockets on the opposite side, perfect for chapstick or lipstick, coins, or even a small camera. All the pockets are lined with a soft, fleecy-material, which keeps small items from slipping away from your grasp. There’s also a key fob, which I always love; it’s so easy to clip my keys to it when running quick errands. I appreciate the interior’s simplicity: too many pockets and zippers, and I forget where I’ve stashed things (I’m looking at you, Timbuk2!).
What’s missing: I like the Radcliffe’s streamlined look, but I do wish it had a cell phone pocket on the outside; I like my phone within easy reach. I also find myself pining for a built-in laptop sleeve. A laptop or iPad will fit, but you’ll need a separate laptop sleeve to keep your computer safe. I’m also not crazy about the shoulder straps. They look quite nice (thin black leather on the periwinkle version), but slip off my shoulder too easily.
All-in-all, I really love this bag. It’s a great size, it’s simple and streamlined, and it’s feminine without being fussy or overly cute. I imagine it will remain my day-to-day bag for a long time to come. To graduate to my travel bag, it would need the afore-mentioned laptop sleeve and a more substantial shoulder or across-the-body strap.
The Radcliffe retails for $80 at Overland Equipment, or snag one for considerably less at eBags.com. It’s also available at Zappos. It comes in three colors, including blue-violent/periwinkle (shown here), dove/blue mist, and tangerine/sand.
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Posted by Amy in General Gear on April 3rd, 2012
Lipault 22” Carry-On Travel Suitcase
Travelers will certainly garner some envious looks with this European-styled piece of luggage that is far more stylish than its American counterparts. The Lilpault Foldable bag’s European look is no joke since it is created by French designer Francois Lipovetsky, who is also responsible for designing Air France’s luggage line used by its impeccably dressed cabin crew. If ABC’s Pan Am did not pique your interest in the sexiness of air travel (or at least its glorious past), this smart line of luggage will help to bring it back to the forefront of your mind.
It is composed of a lightweight nylon that resists stains, knicks, and a brutal kicking from the airlines. It has wheels protected by snap-up floor plates, which are extremely important to protect against pebbles or dirt that can slip in between the wheels and cause them to get clogged and stop rolling. Many bags including Brookstone’s lightweight piece have this problem. In fact, Air France was the impetus for Brookstone to discontinue this size of Dash rollaboard and reduce the size of its cabin baggage offering. Talk about the influence of the French!
For some travelers, the lack of four wheels makes it less comfortable to roll through the airport when it is fully packed, but it does help to reduce the weight of the bag having only two wheels.
A zippered pocked in the front of the bag is another standout, yet simple, feature since it makes it easy to access items quickly and conveniently. Inside the bag, there are adjustable straps that allow you to easily secure clothes from moving around in transit. Its soft exterior allows it to expand if you end up acquiring to many purchases on a shopping excursion or need to travel with lots of items.
The Lilpault Plume Foldable 22-inch suitcase retails for $189 at Lipault’s website and makes a great travel companion for flyers who want to journey light. It’s also available at Zappos and eBags.
Various colors are available for those with style on their mind. Airlines with strict carry-on weight restrictions have met their match.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on April 2nd, 2012
