October 20, 2009 Frank@OBOW
Discuss OBOWer Berg’s video observations on this forum thread. Thanks, Berg!
September 22, 2009 Practical Hacks on the latest Patagoinia MLC, a bag that is in at least its third version:
This remains a handsome, useful bag, and it surely represents a good value. It’s not a brute like the Air Boss, nor does it offer the sort of feature rich design typical of Bihn, but it occupies a different position in the market. If you travel a couple of times a month and are looking for a dependable, good looking bag for 3-5 day trips, this could easily fit the bill. At 2½ pounds, it’s a genuine lightweight yet is tough enough to withstand regular use. - full post here
September 1, 2009 
Cool Tools has a review of the current Rick Steves Convertible. I’m sorry to say I’ve had one of these around for months and haven’t spent any time with it. Sooner or later…
August 27, 2009 The unassuming, lightweight ExOfficio ExO Money Belt is a surprisingly functional addition to the light travelers bag of tricks. This light – very light – nylon web belt is checkpoint-friendly (not metal), has a zippered money compartment, and, best of all, has an a pass-through clasp buckle that makes the length of the belt sleeplessly adjustable.
Comfort is the secret weapon
Not having to remove the belt at checkpoints is nice. Being able to stash several hundred in Euros is occasionally helpful. But being able to discreetly let this belt out an inch after “chicken or pasta” on that long flight is priceless. Just lift the buckle to loosen then close it when comfort is achieved – very nice! Also, the light weight means you don’t have to tighen it as much as you would a heavy belt, the very weight makes it harder to keep your pants up (remember, I’m hip-challenged so I know of what I speak!)
Checkpoint friend
Removing a heavy leather belt at each metal detector is a pain. And if you’re hip-challenged like me it’s even less fun. I know that some security people will make you remove any belt, but most don’t care as long as there’s no beeping. I sailed through every checkpoint. I have a new friend.
Looks
I chose the chocolate/brown/black (“Pattern” in ExO nomenclature) version. It works with black or brown shoes. There’s also a gray heather version. The plastic buckle is not terribly sophisticated but I don’t think it’s ugly. I doubt that anyone notices. It doesn’t work as a dress belt for me but is appropriate most of the time.
Durability
;)
CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE. NAVIGATE IMAGE WITH ARROW KEYS
I was initially put off by the belt’s light weight and plastic hardware. Not to fear: I’ve probably worn it 30 times and it’s no worse for wear. The buckle seems durable too. It is light but is seemingly made of the same stuff as the plastic buckles found on most luggage – and how often do those break? Belts of all kinds are notorious for showing wear. A favorite leather belt can get ugly in months. I believe the ExO will last for a long time, especially if you only wear it for travel…
Tighten up on your good thing
…which I don’t. I’m wearing this belt at least a few days every week. Comfort and adjust ability are the reason this is my standby, everyday belt now.
Money walks
The zippered money comportment is 28” long. It is very narrow – you need to fold a US bill in fourths to make it fit. This means you can fit several bills in it. I can see tucking several hundred dollars in it for emergency cash in large bills. It would only hold enough singles to buy a snack though. The zipper and pull are very thin. You don’t notice they’re there and they don’t affect comfort at all.
ExO Money Belt - highly recommended
August 8, 2009 OBOW Reader Review: Tactical Tailor Soft Suitcase (Small)
A.K.A ” The Red State Aeronaut”
;)
First impressions
I’ve been looking for a ~2000 cu. in./33 litre convertible carry-on style pack to complement my MEI Executive Overnighter for quite some time now,and while reading through OBOW (as I often do… travelling one bag has evolved into something of a obsessive hobby for me) I couldn’t help but to be intrigued by Brad’s post from July 3rd, and specifically the ‘Red State Aeronaut’ (you just gotta love that handle Brad coined). I started investigating, one thing led to another - and I ordered one, sort of on
a chance.
What I have been after is something in layout, well, like the Tom Bihn Aeronaut, but in a size more suitable to the increasingly tighter airline restrictions that we are facing. I wanted it well made, preferably out of Cordura (durable and I like the look). The choices out there are somewhat limited. I really like the new TB TriStar but at $240 I just can’t justify the expediture at this time (I definitely understand about getting what you pay for, but $240 is $240).
Well, in digging around the TT website, the first thing I discovered is that this ‘red state’ product is actually made very close to home - just outside the Tacoma, Washington area (I live just north of Seattle), a definite plus for me (Tactical Tailor makes all it’s products here locally, just like the aformentioned TB. Nice to support a local business). The company is oriented towards the armed forces, law enforcement etc. so there’s not a lot of products of interest to travellers, but what they have (this bag is about it) is interesting.
;)
The bag,, officially and simply called the Soft Suitcase actually comes in 3 different sizes of which the smallest is the only one of interest to one bag travellers. Here are the sizes (lifted from the website):
Lg 36”L x 12”W x 20”H 8640 cubic inches
Med 30”L x 10”W x 17”H 5100 cubic inches
Sm 23”L x 7”W x 12”H 1930 cubic inches
End compartments 23”L x 3.5”W x 12”H*
Main compartment 23”L x 16”W x 12”H*
Weight (empty): 2.1 lbs*
(*These are my at home measurements)
;)
I purchased (naturally) a small. The bag only comes in ‘military’ colors - namely mil spec camouflage, olive drab, tan, and black. No fancy colors. I ordered tan, just because I’m not crazy about solid black and camo or OD is hardly subtle (unless you are into that sort of thing) for a traveller. The color is actually quite handsome and the bag is made from 1000 denier cordura and dirable strapping, nicely stiched and finished, no sloppy edges or loose threads. All zippers are YKK brand coil types, double pull, and have a large enough hole at the base of each pull to slot in a TSA travel lock for a minor measure of security.
The backpack straps are nicely if simply designed, not as comfortable or ergonomically designed as those on my MEI EO (or, even those on my RS convertible carry-on) but perfectly functional, and actually adjustable at both the top of the straps as well as at the bottom. In fact, if one so desired they can be removed entirely and the back compartment used as magazine storage, etc.
;)
As said, the layout is like the Aeronaut, but a lot simpler. For instance, the internal dividers between the end pockets and the main compartment are not capable of being opened, to incdrease the main compartment size, but for what I envision using it for, that will not be a major issue. It fits both my medium packing squares (Eagle Creek and Victorinox) and also most all of the different size packing cubes I have (I tend to use the Rick Steves brand cubes, they are very light and ‘moldable’) in the main compartment. The end compartments are generous enough to hold pairs my shoes (sz 8.5) in each end.
but not boots unless they are low cut, and separated one per compartment. There is also a nice zip pocket on the front of the bag, that can be used for small item or boarding pass storage (although only in over the shoulder or handle carry mode, not when on the backpack straps. More on that in a moment).
I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but there are a couple of things I do wish it had (in fact I’ve done some ‘home modifications’ ):
1) There are no tie down tension straps in the main compartment although there are some external straps cleverly mounted under the main strap handles on the top of the bag, to snug things up some . I’m currently looking around locally to see if there is anyone I can find who perhaps can stich some straps inside the bag.
2) It needs some sort of grab handles for the ends of the bag to ease removal from a overhead stowbin (thats the modification I was able to do, with some matching strapping and heavy duty snaps from another hobby. They should be strong enough to pull it out of the overhead stowbin.)
3) There are no specific attach rings or loops to allow attachment of a shoulder strap. I’ve been able to improvise by using one of the attach points for a backpack strap and one of the end pocket zippers but the potential strain on the zipper is a unknown at this point. I tend to use over the shoulder straps very little and often leave it at home and use one the backpack straps of my bag for quick jaunts across the airport, etc. Nevertheless it would be nice if the bag had dedicated D rings attach points.
Other than that, so far I am very happy with this purchase, and look forward to using it.
Happy travels ~
Paul
Frank@OBOW
Thanks, Paul, for an awesome job on this!
June 20, 2009 Here are some pictures and thoughts on the new Tri-Star carry-on convertible from Tom Bihn (Click on photos for a large version)
;)
The Tri-Star outfitted with my preferred method of carriage - the essential Absolute Strap.
;)
The Tri-Star ( and its older and slightly smaller cousin the Western Flyer ). The Tri-Star has three compartments, the WF has two. Respective volumes are 2000 & 1600 cubic inches (33 & 26 liters).
;)
This view shows the Tri-Star’s double handle shows the relative size of the three zippered copartments.
;)
The Tri-Star has hide-away contoured backpack straps with a sternum strap. Carrying comfort at 15 pounds is similar to most other convertibles I’ve tried.
;)
Beginning with the rear compartment we see something that’s never before appeared in a TB travel bag - hold-down straps. They’re well-positioned and have nice, thin buckles. My bundle had two pairs of pants, two l/s shirts and one s/s shirt. I’m working on a sort of modified simple bundle method that works well with this compartment and its straps.
;)
The middle compartment is a good place for a computer. You can see my netbook stowed vertically in an over-sized sleeve on the left and a small Tri-Star cube holding a pair of size 10 shoes (pretty thin and flexible dress shoes - much larger or thicker shoes would not fit - not for Sasquatch, a neighbor of Tom’s).
;)
A better view of the shoe situation.
This end view shows that the middle compartment zips only across the top and few inches down each end, making it more secure for a computer. This compartment also has buckles that work with Tom Bihn Brain Cell laptop sleeves. Also note the nifty pull handle found on each end - for quick extraction from the overhead compartment.
;)
;)
Here’s something else the TS shares with the WF - the zipper-divided front compartment. My wife, who uses the WF almost weekly, likes to drop her hair stuff in the divided pocket. For folded clothing large printed material you can unzip it for a large compartment that can be opened flat like the rear compartment.
By now you’ve noticed the nice light-colored interior. The interior dividers are semi-translucent so you can even see well down into the middle compartment. I’ve always preferred a llight/bright interior material.
;)
To the front - we see the three horizontal pockets with the new 3D Organizer Cube (which can reputedly pass a 3-1-1 baggie) peeking out of the top one. (See the bottom of this post for a video demo of the 3D Cube) This pocket layout was first seen on the WF which had only two.
;)
Here’s the water bottle pocket. I’m not much on water bottles but I can see using this pocket for tickets, iPod, or snacks. You might see a slight tendency to bulge here. If you pack the front pockets heavily you need to under pack the front compartment to allow a little sacrificial space for the pockets to bulge inward rather than out.
;)
This close-up of the water bottle pocket shows the TB attention to detail and a texture view of the bag’s most important quality: excellent-quality ballistic nylon which wears like iron and fights bulging. Also note the water-resistant gasketed zippers - just what you’d expect from Seattle.
;)
The TB system approach - four new cubes just for this bag. The full-size half-mesh (large), the 2/3 size half-mesh (medium), the 1/3 size half-mesh (small), and the 1/3 size solid (which I used for shoes).
I packed this bag, which weighs about 3.5 pounds, to 15 pounds. This load included more clothing than I take for a long European trip and a netbook.
At $240 this bag is definitely not cheap, but it looks like a very labor-intensive bag to sew and the materials are top-notch. A great deal of thought has gone into its design. More to come about this bag.
Frank@OBOW
In response to a queston, there is no padding in the bag except on the back wall of the rear compartment - to make backpack use more comfy.
Frank@OBOW
Frank@OBOW
OBOW reader Esther is headed to Europe and has posted the following on the Fourm:
Photos of my packed TriStar at 17lbs.
Not pictured: iPhone and charger; itinerary papers
June 20, 2009 A nice list from Tactical Gearhead:
“Total weight of bag 18lbs.”
“This bag (Red Oxx Air Boss) allowed me to carry about 50% more than my 22 inch rollaboard bag and to do so at a fraction of the weight. While traveling in Europe, I often had to run up and down stairs, across cobble-stone streets and into and out of trains, planes and automobiles. The bag made each task a breeze. Furthermore it kept my three week supply of clothing wrinkle free.”
Read the entire post.
1 Comment | in Gear Reviews, Luggage, Packing, Packing lists | Email Article | Share Article | Print Article | Permalink April 27, 2009 
Seattle bag man Tom Bihn will introduce his latest design, the slightly undersized TriStar carryon, on Tuesday April 28th. And that’s not all, here are some more new items:
And, interestingly, one-bag guru Doug Dyment has written about the Western Flyer.
Frank@OBOW
April 23, 2009 A most universal daypack/computer briefcase - the Briggs & Riley BB107 – by OBOW uberposter Till
Inspired by my recent purchase of a Briggs and Riley BR235x carry-on bag, and fueled by my desire for a carry-everywhere bag, I scoured the web. I looked near and far, and certainly checked out half a dozen models (out of 50), before I decided. I ended up with what - I think - is about the most universally usable bag out there. But to put things into context, let me first say which other similar bags I own and who the runner-ups were.
I already have the wonderful Tenba Small Messenger Satchel. It is a perfect casual everyday bag and great as a daypack and personal item when traveling. I should write a review about it, too. What I miss in it, is a certain stylishness or elegance. It is not a bag that would go with a suit. It simply has a very laid back student or reporter look to it. It also works as a camera bag, and as such is very inconspicuous. It is incredibly practical and lightweight, too. Unfortunately, I find it not elegant enough and perhaps a tad too big for certain situations. It also doesn’t stand up well on its own without the photo insert.
;)
Moreover, I have the Tumi 26141 expandable briefcase. I find it is the perfect briefcase/gadget case. I just love that thing. But it looks, well, just like a briefcase. And it is 35 linear inches big, just like the Tenba.
The idea was to have a case that I can take with me to an art opening at a museum or a fancy dinner party with friends, be it at their house or a restaurant. In a way, I was looking for a “man bag”. A bag where I could put a camera, a note block, pens, some tech gadgets, some cigar or pipe accessories and other items a man needs. If I put this stuff into my trousers and jacket pockets, I look like the Marshmallow man. Hardly a much better option compared to the man bag guys. The usual men’s handbag is really not my cup of tea. It might be supremely practical but the kind of guy I associate with this kind of handbag makes me shudder. I am too vain.
This little man’s tote would also be too small for my needs. So, I needed something a bit bigger. The messenger/satchel style was not really a consideration because a) it was too informal, b) I already had such a bag and c) the access was not quick enough because I would have to open the flap. The Tenba is different in that regard because it has a flap and a zipper but it isn’t formal enough. So I looked at Rick Steve’s stuff, Eagle Creek, Bagallini, Pacsafe and Tumi. The Tumi Medium Travel Tote looked like it would fit the bill perfectly in terms of size. It would fit my 13” Macbook if necessary, it would fit an ordinary sheet of paper or magazine without folding it. Bags in this size yet less than 35” linear are really rare. The Tumi also had carry handles and a shoulder strap, which I liked. Some smaller daypacks didn’t have the handles. Those were out right away. Access was good, too, with all pockets accessible by zip from the exterior. The problem was that at $195 I found it really a bit pricey. The even smaller Travel Tote is the same price, by the way. Tandi makes a knock-off in leather and one in ballistic nylon that is very nice and cheaper than the Tumi. Still, the design was a bit too “man-baggy” for me.
But then I found the BB107 Vertical Organizer/Briefcase, online for $160 shipped. I will take the cons out right away. At 34” linear it is basically just as big as my Tumi and Tenba bags. It is also quite heavy because it is so well structured. It weighs 5lb but that includes the computer sleeve, the backpack straps and the excellent shoulder strap. I weighed all the items except for the bag itself. The backpack straps weigh only 130g; the shoulder strap weighs 230g and the computer sleeve 400g. That means you can easily subtract a pound or more if you don’t carry all these items at the same time. Given the extraordinarily luxurious and well thought out build of this bag, 4lb doesn’t seem bad at all.
April 5, 2009 
15% COTTON MAKES A DIFFERENCELet’s just say I do it so you don’t have to. I received a nice new ExOfficio t-shirt (on sale now in certain colors) and I just had to test it. After a couple of wearings I was impressed with its comfort but I really wanted to put its odor-fighting properties to the test. After two days of continuous wear as an undershirt (slept in it too) it was almost entirely free of odor. The test may not have been completely fair as I had also washed it in my Stinkfighter formula, but since then I ‘ve worn if for more reasonable periods after normal machine washing and still no odor. This is another impressive ExO product. It’s the most comfortable poly shirt I’ve worn; apparently the 15% cotton brings a lot of comfort bang for the buck, and it still dries pretty quickly if wrung out well. They run quite big, so order down if your a borderline size. Since the shirt comes in colors it will serve as a casual shirt as well.
Product Details (from ExOfficio.com)
March 23, 2009 PracticalHacks posts a thorough review of the TB Western Flyer with helpful photos. An excerpt, which helps explain why I prefer ballistic nylon:
“…in a recent conversation with the Tom Bihn, he pointed out that the 1050 ballistic fabric used on the Western Flyer is a smooth finish nylon which means the bag will slide more easily when you’re retrieving it from beneath the seat or from an overhead compartment than would be the case with 1000 denier Cordura. In addition, lab testing has shown the 1050 ballistic nylon that’s used in the Western Flyer and other Tom Bihn bags is twice as abrasion resistant as the 1680 ballistic that’s used in many competitive bags. And when you think about it, abrasion is the ultimate enemy of bags like this, as they’re constantly shoved into and out of trunks and storage & overhead compartments. This bag’s clearly up to the test.”
The Flyer is described as an overnight bag, and so it is. But for the ultralight crowd the WF is plenty large enough for a main bag. Ironically, when I’ve used the WF as a true overnight bag or for car trips I’ve tended to stuff it fuller than for a longer, truly light, ar trip. The shorter the trip, the more I take - sometimes.
March 18, 2009 February 20, 2009 Thanks to OBOW reader Till for a learned and careful comparison of three high-quality carry-on shoulder bags (photos and links to come).
In my never-ending quest for the perfect carry-on “sans wheels” I have now bought three bags practically at the same time. I can justify this because my car’s trunk is of such a stupid shape that four standard-size carry-on cases are the best way to load it optimally. Good thing I don’t need to justify my expenses otherwise…
You can check out my review of what I consider the perfect, wheeled business carry-on here.
The “King’s” only downfall is that it is indeed a bit on the heavy side even when empty. These literal carry pieces discussed here are obviously much lighter. The review will follow the same system as the Travelpro Platinum 5 review so that we can compare things in the same format.
The bags are:
Briggs and Riley 235x Expandable Suiter Tote $209 incl. S/H
Easygoing Carry-on $185 + around $15 S/H
Pathfinder TX2 Expandable Carry-on $62.50 incl. S/H (discount. Otherwise in the same price range as the competitors or even more) - link to Overstock.com - good for limited time
B&R 235X
EASYGOING CARRYON
PATHFINDER TX2
January 27, 2009 Travelpro Platinum 5 22” Rollaboard review - by Till
Sometimes, you will want to have those wheels. Frankly, for business airport travel with decent ground transport and endless airport terminals and hotel corridors, schlepping a bag is not so great. I am both a frequent traveler and luggage nerd and have researched this purchase ad nauseam as I usually do. I am not disappointed. So here is my review.
If you are a business traveler, you are most likely familiar with the Tumi Alpha or Gen4 Briefcase series. The Tumi, in the eyes of many, is the ultimate briefcase of this kind. The Platinum 5 22” Rollaboard can arguably claim the same in its category. Paired these two pieces of luggage are probably quite unbeatable at least for the male business user. Women, casual travelers or ultimate lightweight travelers might not be as pleased. This is due to its high weight stemming from its non-minimalist approach to luggage design.
Durability: To be honest I have not made a trip with it yet. I have test packed it, though. I It seems to be extremely well built. Everything is tight and quite hefty. The very good warranty on the Platinum 5 series should make for a painless process if stuff does break. From other reviews the holder for the extra-bag attachment and the wheels seem to be weak point. I believe both can be easily exchanged. All exposed corners are protected and reinforced.
Design: This category is probably more about the look than the engineering part of it or the functionality. The design is, well, the classic Rollaboard. Travelpro is the pioneer in this field. The ballistic nylon is very nice and shiny. It is perhaps not quite as black as the one on my Tumi briefcase but one has to scrutinize it in order to see the difference. The lining has a ton-sur-ton (jacquard) pattern in it; quite nice and classy. Its color is a bit unfortunate, though. It is a grey-taupe-beige, greenish non-color. A neutral light gray would have been better. In terms of functionality however this color should be showing stains a bit less than a light grey. Great attention to detail has been paid, as is the case only in the most upscale luggage. For example, the zipper pulls, wheels and some details on the handle all have a hammered metal look. In this sense it really rivals the high-end Tumi and Samsonite luggage. Still, this is not a case for the super fashionable crowd who will prefer the more extravagant designs of Tumi, Samsonite or perhaps even Vuitton. Not pretty but solid and functional.
Functionality: This is where the bag clearly shines. Let me emphasize right away, though, that this functionality and durability comes at the price of a relatively high weight (10.6 lbs altogether; probably closer to 9 lbs if you don’t use the suiter and strip all the other details like strap padding).
October 16, 2008 Graham is no fan of Travelon’s carry-on friendly shaving sheets:
“All in all this is a terrible product. However, if you hate your face or legs, enjoy frustration and like to bleed then you should definitely track down this product. I did see the whole line of Travelon soap sheets at Bed Bath and Beyond on clearance for $2 so you can save a little money and maybe even start a new blog called The Frugal Masochist; wouldn’t that be fun.
Just so you know that it isn’t all doom and gloom in the travel shaving world I can wholeheartedly recommend Mama Bear’s Soap Shave Stick. It may not be as lightweight and compact as the shaving soap sheets but it gets the job done in a way that the shaving sheets can’t touch.”
And of course there’s always shaving oil in half-ounce bottles which is simply terrific.
Frank@OBOW
And here’s OBOWer Buzz’s review of yet another shaving system:
“I saw the Avid4 shaving system mentioned on another blog and was interetested due to its compact size and weight. (Rather than try to explain how it works, I suggest you go to the company’s website and see the video demonstration.)It’s too bad as the small size and light weight made this perfect for one bag travel.”
July 27, 2008
For those who hate to fold: SkyRoll
And now for something completely different, the SkyRoll garment bag - an innovative solution for the business traveler, weekender, or light traveler who simply hates to fold clothing. Here’s the concept in a nutshell: take a full-size garment bag and wrap it around a rigid tube, the hollow part of which can be used for stowing shoes, toiletries, personal care items, and clothing which can be rolled or stuffed. OBOW put the SkyRoll through a hands-on test and here’s what we found.
A weapon in the war on wrinkles
The SkyRoll gets high marks for its think-outside-the-rectangle crease-fighting design which means a traveler’s main items of clothing – shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, trousers, and sport coats – can be carried in the garment bag. Because it’s not folded in half or in thirds but is wrapped (rolled) around the triangular center tube, the Skyroll garment bag effectively reduces wrinkles by eliminating the hard folds which are inescapable in suitcases or folding garment bags. I found it worked best on jackets and pants. Shirts still had some wrinkles but they were mostly vertical (probably due to the hasty way I tucked them into my sport coat) rather than horizontal and – to my eye – less noticeable than normal. The thicker material of my pants and jacket fared very well and probably would look near-perfect after being hung up overnight. The manufacturer says it’s best not to use hangers in the bag, but recommends thin wire hangers if you insist on using them. The opening in the top of the garment bag will allow the hanger hooks to protrude if you position the double zippers properly. Without hangars that bag can be completely sealed. There are no devices to hold clothing in place in the garment bag: the pressure produced by wrapping the bag and cinching it up with adjustable buckles takes care of that. I noticed no movement of my garments during transport.
Buckle up for action
So different a luggage concept requires a bit of explanation. The process of unwrapping, packing, and re-bundling the SkyRoll at first appears daunting but is actually quite simple and intuitive. There are three buckles on one end of the garment bag and two on the other, so knowing where to start is easy. The shoulder strap must be unbuckled, then you undo the three outer (“ending”) buckles and the bag can be unrolled. The two inner (“starting”) buckles then allow the garment bag to completely detach from the tube. A double zipper lets the garment bag open on three sides. The bag is generously sized unlike the undersized suiters that come with some carry-on suitcases. Up to a size 44 men’s coat would fit comfortably and larger ones will work as well, though they may be a little scrunched. Two zippered mesh pockets on the garment bag accommodate small items, underclothing, or ties. There’s also a long (but not so deep) zipped exterior pocket.
Totally tubular
The core of the Skyroll is the hollow two-compartment tube. It is zippered on each end and has a fabric divider in the middle. Either end of the tube will swallow a pair of shoes up to about men’s’ size 12 or 13. The other end can be stuffed full of socks or underwear, toiletries, hair dryer, et cetera.
Size matters
My packed SkyRoll (see bottom of post for what it held) had dimensions of 23” x 10” x 11” which puts it just under the normal U.S. carry-on limit of 45” combined inches. Some carriers specify a maximum length of 22” but SkyRoll inventor Don Chernoff assured me he’d had no negative feedback from customers about carry-on size problems. The odd shape and the fact that you can sling it vertically on your back means that it looks a good bit smaller than it is. It should also tuck nicely in the top of an overhead compartment. International air travel, where carriers are usually more concerned with weight than dimensions, should present no problem. The SkyRoll weighed about five pounds empty which is pretty light considering the rigid frame of the tube. My packed weight was 16 pounds.
Carrying the load
The provided strap has a sliding pad which is reasonably comfortable. There’s also a padded handstrap. I really like the fact that you can sling it almost vertically on your back – makes squeezing down a crowded airplane aisle much easier. One end of the bag has a pull handle.
Contruction & materials
The SkyRoll is made of 1200 denier ballistic nylon. It’s an imported bag but quality of construction looks quite good. It’s very important that the zippers function well since the garment bag zips on three sides. Zippers might be one area where the USA-made bags are superior.
Value
At $109 the SkyRoll appears to be an excellent value. If this bag were made in American you could probably expect to pay $200 or more. I can’t say is would be as bullet-proof as a Red Oxx, but looks like a lot of bag for the money.
Who needs it
The cleverly-designed SkyRoll is an excellent solution for the short-trip business traveler or anyone who needs to travel with nice clothes but hates to fold. Its capacity is somewhat less than a traditional, rectangular, max-sized carryon but its garment bag utility is something special. I hate to fold, and if I had to travel with a suit on a regular basis this bag would be at the top of my wish list. The only downside for the business traveler is that any printed matter or computer equipment will have to travel in a separate bag – it’s pretty much shoes- and clothes-only. But the ability to slide in a pair of shoes is a nice feature. The SkyRoll is not a full-time one-bag solution for everyone, but it might be the business traveler or snappy dresser’s best friend.
Here’s what I packed:
Garment bag:
Two dress shirts
One undershirt
One necktie
Two pairs of cotton dress/casual pants
One small book
Tube:
One pair of dress shoes
Two pairs of socks
3-1-1 liquid bag and minimal toiletries
Travel hair dryer
Two undershirts
One long-sleeve casual/athletic shirt
Clothesline
Weight empty: 5 pounds
Weight packed: 16 pounds
The SkyRoll comes in black only
Top three pictures courtesy of SkyRoll
Visith SkyRoll.com for a video demonstration and read about Don Chernoff’s inspiration for bag’s invention.
The SkyRoll may be purchased directly from skyroll.com or from these brick-and-mortar retailers
July 22, 2008 We told you a couple of weeks ago about the massive, motorized suitcase from Live Luggage. Well, Ginny McGrath of the excellent Times of London travel section has tried one out and she’s not so bloody well happy with it:
Steps were the greatest challenge - going up and down them meant carrying the heavy bag - but there’s also challenges like loading it into cars/onto beds/off baggage carousels.
It’s not the best looking piece of kit either - I got some sniggering comments from a stag party checking in ahead of me about its size and clunkiness - and more than one person likened it to a giant Dyson vacuum cleaner.
The sheer size of the suitcase means getting on and off busy trains or buses means there’s bound to be a few unhappy travellers whose toes you’ve run over - that said, during an airport delay it made a handy table for a game of cards. - from the Times, see video here.
Oh, and it weighs about 50 pounds and costs ₤700 ($1400!).
July 7, 2008 Thanks to OBOWer Skip we have new pictures attached to the reader review of the MEI Executive Overnighter - the bag OBOW readers (125 comments) helped to shape! And it looks great. I’ve stayed out of the way on this one and let the experts (the users) run with it.
March 31, 2008 
GottaBeMobile has posted a video look at the new Tom Bihn Ristretto cafe/messenger bag which is designed just for small laptops like the Macbook Air, 13-inch Macbook, and Lenovo Thinkpad X300. Since many light travelers are looking at the smallest notebooks this should be a welcome addition to the field. It’s very similar to the TB Cafe bags except it has built-in padding so no need to buy a sleeve. I’ll eventually get around to posting review of the TB large cafe bag which is an excellent day bag/personal item.Frank@OBOW
The Ristretto has been redesigned/upgraded.
