Entries from October 1, 2007 - November 1, 2007
Brad
I must apologize for the dearth of posts this week. My back has been acting up; the good news is that the doc has found a medicine that helps and I’m on the mend. I have an exciting manufacturer’s prototype bag and an innovative shoulder strap that have languished as a result of my pains. It’s hard to shoulder a bag and impossible to sit when my back does this thing. My problems are NOT the result of heavy shoulder bags or poorly designed backpacks, but of heredity (thanks Mom). If this spasm problem had hit me on the road or on a plane it would be brutal. Thankfully this has never happened, and the muscle relaxer I’ve discovered may well save a future trip. Pack light and be careful!
Leave a Comment
Email
Print
CBS reports that the Feds still view shoes as a real threat:
The joint FBI-Homeland Security bulletin, obtained by CBS News today, bluntly warns that terrorists are still working to use “modified footwear as a concealment method for explosive devices,” CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports.
The alert follows the discovery of bomb detonators - expertly hidden in the hollowed-out soles of this pair of shoes - found aboard a European bus last month.
Intelligence officials say the shoes were not being worn at the time, but instead were being used, as the document says, “to smuggle electric blasting caps across international borders for use in a terrorist attack.”
Don’t thow away your 3-1-1 baggies just yet - but:
Passengers breezed through the security checkpoint. No fumbling to pull laptops out of carry-ons. No dumping those quart baggies of liquids and gels into plastic bins.
Shoes still had to come off, but otherwise it was just a matter of putting packed bags through a futuristic MRI-like scanner and going on their way.
Dozens of randomly selected Southwest Airlines passengers were sent yesterday through a checkpoint at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport that had a new automatic explosives-detection system being tested by the federal Transportation Security Administration. - from The Baltimore Sun
Better days may be ahead on the air travelers trail.
The NYT’s Joe Sharkey has written a TSA security checkpint lament that is not to be missed. Aside from his complaints about the ugly aesthetics and de-humanizing regimen, Sharkey makes the excellent point that the disorder and stress created by the whole screwed up system is creating more risk - not less.
Given bare or stockinged feet, the lack of floor mats is also a chronic problem, Mr. Weinstein said. Matt Blaze, an associate professor of computer science at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert in security cryptology, agreed.
“There’s no better place to get away with something than a chaotic environment,” he said.
United Airlines has always been good at holding luggage hostage. Now they may start charging ransom for early release:
United could soon charge customers a fee if they want their luggage to be unloaded off the plane first. That’s just one of the things being considered at United, where the Chicago Tribune (free registration) writes CEO Glenn Tilton believes “his airline needs deep, wrenching changes to remain competitive.” The newspaper says Tilton “wants to pursue everything, from a merger” to the priority-baggage fee (OBOW ed. - guranteeing your luggage leaves the plane first) “as part of a major overhaul of the nation’s second-largest airline.” The Tribune says other ideas being considered include “curbside-to-curbside baggage service, fees to check a second bag and allowing mainstream passengers to ‘rent’ for a day the perks available to elite customers.” - - From USA Today
“Rent” the perks of elite customers? How about renting some customer service?
Here’s a tale from a traveling photographer who has decided that his next camera bag will not be a camera bag:
My solution is not a camera bag at all. I’ve looked at Moose Peterson’s bags and I think he comes close to my needs. But I want a bag I can throw my laptop into and not be forced to strap it to the side. Or at least I want the option to do either. The bag that I think comes closest is a Red Oxx Air Boss. The Air Boss, some GearWraps, and a thin sleeve for my laptop will protect my gear against bumps and save me 5+ pounds. And it’ll fit into bins.
RED OXX seems to make some of the most bomb-proof travel kit out there. On a side note, be careful with the words “bomb-proof” when travelling. An airport security officer recently remarked on my Stormcase as I threw it on the belt. He said it looked tough. I said it was “bomb-proof.” He suggested I not say that again. Momentary lapse in judgement - it had been a long, long day.
He makes a great point that I learned many years ago as a photojournalist: Padding wastes space and creates uneccessary bulk. Use specific padding (like wraps) or improvised padding (like clothes your taking anyway) to maximize efficiency. And a quality laptop sleeve - like those from Tom Bihn - can turn any bag into a computer bag.
See our review of the Air Boss here.
Is the airport security hassle we endure all for naught?
While the airport security system seems to have been fantastically effective since 2001 - inasmuch as there have been no major incidents - the question must be asked: Have we been safe because of the system or in spite of the system?
The SKEENER from Skooba Designs will make you the hit of the airport. Is this the first tongue-in-check messenger/laptop bag? From the Skooba site:
This is a courier-style laptop bag with a unique graphic treatment that is bound to turn some heads. The front flap of each Skreener is printed with an actual X-ray of items typically found in laptop and travel bags—computer, phone, music device, batteries, cords, and much more. The designers at Skooba actually “shot” these genuine X-rays themselves and reproduced them in a choice of 3 different flap themes and colors. They may not be enough to bypass airport security, but they certainly will entertain. Yet despite the fun cover treatment, the bags are all business, with Air Square laptop protection, dual audio pockets with individual earphone ports (one for music, one for phone), an expandable main compartment, and over a dozen other pockets and compartments for organizing office, school or tech accessories.
The bag: $119. The resulting cavity search: Priceless.
“Terrorist have used baggy clothing to hide weapons and explosives in the past, including in 2004 when Chechen rebels posed as pregnant women and smuggled explosives aboard two Russian jetliners, killing 90 people.
While passengers can wear any type of clothing they desire, baggy, loose fitting, bulky clothing and head coverings that are non form-fitting present a particular challenge for officers in their mission to ensure IEDs are not smuggled on board. Passengers could be subjected to additional screening to further evaluate any item that could hide explosives or their components.” - from the TSA website.
The TSA has also announced that the “bulky clothing” category includes headwear:
And are you ready for MILLIMETER WAVE Whole Body Imaging - a new technology on trial in Phoenix? It’s billed as an alternative to the all-too-friendly pat-down for secondary security screening. It looks like a phone booth, but it can see right through you…
I’m not making this up. You can buy zipper lubricant in a can. And it’s called Jig-A-Loo:
The manufacturer calls it a “lubri-pellant” and recommends it for zippers and practically everything else you can think of. They claim it’s non-staining. This would make it appropriate for luggage…or trousers. And, hey, it’s from Canada, eh?
From the website FAQ:
Can I use Jig-A-Loo on garments?Yes, Jig-A-Loo does not stain. Have a stuck zipper on your white jeans, your wife’s dress? Your kid’s jacket? Or another piece of clothing? Just spray it with Jig-A-Loo for quick and clean results.
Here’s an interesting thread on the askandyaboutclothes.com forum - mostly for men. This is a nice site for the snappy dresser. Andy has pages about packing amd luggage.
The Red Oxx Air Boss has a new “second cousin” with backpack straps:
“Designed for the leisure traveler going to Europe or beyond. The ability to transition from plane to train keeps you moving on and not waiting for lost luggage.
Red Oxx teamed up again with web author and travel expert Doug Dyment of OneBag.com fame to develop this new carry on bag. Utilizing 2 main compartments, the Sky Train Carry On features 1 outside zippered pocket. The main compartment has tie downs that cinch down to the closed cell foam securing your clothing. These tie-downs work to keep your slacks and dress shirts wrinkle-free until you can hang them up in the hotel. Easily holds three pairs of slacks and three blouses with room for a light jacket as well.” — this information from the Red Oxx website.
We heard about this new bag months ago and look forward to having a look at one. I’m told there will be more photos up on the Red Oxx site within the next week.
The shoeless security shuffle continues, even if you are a member of the Clear registered traveler program:
You will still have to take your shoes off at the airport checkpoint. The Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that it had rejected the use of a General Electric shoe-scanning machine that was supposed to provide a central benefit for members of the Clear version of the Registered Traveler program: the ability to pass through security with their shoes on. The machine would instead have scanned the shoes electronically for weapons or explosives. - from the International Herald-Tribune
Slip-ons and flip-flops are here to stay.
Here’s the TSA’s bulletin on the shoe scanner non-starter.
Peter Hitchens is a British arch-conservative, albeit an anti-war one. He’s also a thoroughly thoughtful man. His thoughts on travel (in a piece about a recent trip to North Korea) are worth a look:
In his marvellous thriller about pre-1967 Israel, “A long way to Shiloh’, Lionel Davidson notes how quickly air travel reduces recent experience to a sort of dream. Within minutes of taking off from the airport, you have already begun to shove the experiences of a few hours ago into the past and into the recesses of your imagination. Had I really seen that, done that, been there?And so it was as the elderly Ilyushin-62 of Koryo Airways unglued itself from the Pyongyang runway with a growl of its mighty Soviet jets, and propelled me the few hundred miles to Shenyang in China, my jumping-off point. I wished I could have come and gone by train, as I think I would have had a more lasting impression and seen more of Korea, but it was impossible to arrange. Had I been able to travel as a conventional tourist, I might have done it. But - and I won’t go into the details here - I had to make the journey via a curious and rather misty route, without much choice about when and how I travelled.
I made a rule some years ago to try and learn about my own country, and my own life, from seeing other people’s countries. It is tempting and enjoyable to lecture other countries on how they could order themselves better, and I have certainly done it. But that way lies intervention and Iraq (and also our bungled imposition of Western precepts on the Soviet bloc, which helped bring Vladimir Putin to power).
(Italics mine)
NotebookReview.com sizes up the Tom Bihn Empire Builder briefcase and likes what it sees:
“On the subject of construction, this is another area where the Empire Builder truly shines. The bag is impeccably constructed with tight seams and very sturdy stitching. Both the nylon and Cordura materials have a great feel to them and I think they would take a lot to rip or tear through. Each of the three main zippers is of the heavy duty metal kind and is uncoated, so they do jingle about when walking. But as a tradeoff, they’re so sturdy that under normal usage there’s no fear of these things breaking off at any point before the end of time. Additionally, all of the exposed zippers are covered in a rubbery material that lies flat when the zipper is closed. This has the effect of making the zipper seams highly water resistant (although not water proof).”
The E.B. (which Tom says took three years to design) would make an excellent personal item bag for the carry-on traveler who needs to carry a computer - meaning practically everyone. If the E.B. is a little to large or too corporate for you check out its little brother the Zephyr, or its hip cousins the ID, Ego, and Super Ego. These are all rugged well-designed bags. And they’re cool too.
Here are more reviews for the Empire Builder: OhGizmo!, Gagdets for Legal Pros, & Apple Matters
Some may consider ebags.com the Wal-Mart of luggage. They are the big box superstore to be sure, but they have a surprising variety and you can’t argue with the price. I would rather direct you to small American luggage manufacturers, but that’s not where everyone is going to turn. So here are some interesting options for the light, carry-on traveler gleaned from the thousands upon thousands of eBags offerings:
- eBags Weekender Convertible - at $60 you shouldn’t expect this carry-on backpack to last a lifetime, but it is a stunning value. I began light travel with this bag and it always impresses me when I pick it up.
- The Great Conversion by Columbia - a $100 maximum carryon-sized pack available in shocking safety orange. Like the Weekender above it has very helpful compression straps.
- Victorinox Standard Traveler 3.0 Standard Overnighter - a trim convertible pack that expands to near maximum carryon size - $120
- Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 3.0 Standard Issue 2-Zip Expandable Overnighter - gee, Victorinox must pay their marketing people by the word! This is a classy, heavy, heavy-duty, traditional shoulder bag/suitcase (hah - lots of words). Now on sale for $199. A poor man’s Tumi.
- Filson Large Carry-On Bag - nothing says “I’ve got a lot of money and I’m not afraid to spend it on fishing and hunting trips” like a Filson. Seriously, Filson makes good stuff. I own a good bit of their clothing. Made in the USA, $375.
- Patagonia One Bag - love the size, loads of versatility. $128 (Nan - thanks for the reminder)
The TSA’s new “backscatter” x-ray body scanners can see right through your clothes, but they wouldn’t dare ogle you:
“The machines are capable of showing passengers’ bodily parts, but TSA says that, due to privacy concerns, they will not. All of the machines will use software that will blur images of passengers, so screeners will see weapons but only fuzzy images of people’s bodies.” - so they said in USA Today
Most of us probably look better on “fuzzy”. The ACLU (who I don’t always admire) has called the technique a “virtual strip search”.
Tough Traveler, an all-American company based in Schenectady, NY, offers a bewildering array of bags, packs, cases, and carriers. They were kind enough to send me a large carton of cordura several weeks ago and it contained some surprises. First of all, I was not as crazy about the Tri-Zip convertible carryon (full review here) as I expected to be. Still, it’s an impressive bag, and with a few minor tweaks could be much better. It has been highly reviewed elsewhere, and with good reason I’m sure. Tough Traveler has a great warranty too. All the Tough Traveler stuff seems to be extremely well made.
The box also contained the slightly trimmer (8” deep) Bi-Zip case - similar to the Tri-Zip but with two compartments and no backpack straps. It would make an excellent lightweight shoulder bag, but - inexplicably - it has no hold-downs.
The nicest surprise were two pure backpacks - The Super Padre large and medium. The large SP is borderline for carryon size but should just squeeze in - in most cases. The medium seems to hold nearly as much and is well under maximum carryon size. The are both extremely comfortable on the back thanks to an internal frame, great waistbelt, and lots of load adjustment straps. They are traditional pack designs so you’ll have to roll or stuff - not for the business traveler, but what a joy to carry. I could see wearing these all day with no discomfort. (See specs for these two packs at the bottom of this post).
The strangest thing in the box was, no doubt, the Cygnet three-way convertible. This engineering marvel is a shoulder bag, backpack, or rolling case - you decide. This one-of-kind case is pricey ($325) but impressive. It is quite trim without the dolly attached. It has less capacity than the Trip-Zip but does have a built-in garment bag (same as the optional Hang-Up for the Trip-Zip). I can’t say if this three-way bag is for you, but it is interesting. The removable dolly attaches to the bag with an array of velcro panels and straps, The bag weight only 6.5 pounds with the wheels, which makes it one of the lightest rollers out there. If you like something just a little different, the Cygnet might be for you.
SUPER PADRE Ergonomic Backpack specs:
Super Padre - Size Large
SIZE: 23”x12”x9”
Fits: Adults 5’3” - 6’3”
Capacity: 2,800 cu”
Weight: 2.6 lbs
Additional Features:
• Ventilated bottom pocket with mesh front provides more carrying space, and keeps damp items from getting musty.
Price: $156.00
Color: Teal, Black, Slate, Natural, Navy, Raspberry, Olive
—-
Super Padre - Size Medium
SIZE: 18.5”x11.5”x9.5”
Fits: 8 yrs old - Adults 5’10”
Capacity: 2,200 cu.”
Additional Features:
• Ventilated bottom pocket with mesh front provides more carrying space, and keeps damp items from getting musty.
Color: Royal, Teal, Natural, Raspberry, Slate
Lots of photos just added to the Tri-Zip review.
They’re not light or cheap but for confidence, cool, and individuality you can wear on your shoulder, check out Saddleback Leather Company’s gear. The briefcases (which convert to backpacks of a sort) are to die for, and at $410-$545 your spouse just might kill you if you order one. These are anti-modern, made-one-at-time items and they are beautiful. I dare you to look at one without wanting it. Check out Gadgeteer’s review.