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Entries in Luggage (201)

Monday
May132013

Airlines Pay For Damaged Bags?

After reading about how airlines use loopholes to avoid paying for damaged bags , I had two quick thoughts:

1) been there, done that

2) you’ll understand why I keep this site going and travel the way i do.

For me, the ultimate was when I had to gate check a tiny roller bag—this was over 10 years ago—on an RJ and got it back with a zipper pull missing. Of course, they wouldn’t pay to fix it. But do you know how hard it is to open a zipper without a pull?

From then on, I only wanted to take a bag I knew would fit in alsmot any sized aircraft.

No wheels, no checking, no hassles.

Thursday
Feb142013

Gear Review: Briggs & Riley Exchange 20 Duffle

Okay, admit it, how many of you thought, after reading: “Gear Review: Briggs & Riley” that I had gone over to the dark side; the side of wheels, extendable handles, and excess weight? Relax, I haven’t. It’s just the opposite. Briggs & Riley, the stalwart of quality wheeled luggage, has come to play in our ballpark. And the game’s about to change.

The Briggs & Riley Exchange 20 is a convertible duffle designed for the adventure/leisure traveler. At 20” x 12” x 8” (50.8cm x 30.4 cm x 20.3 cm) and weighing in in at just under 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg), the bag is slightly smaller than maximum legal carry-on and definitely in the light weight category.

Made of 1000d nylon on the outside and lined with 420d nylon, the Exchange 20 has one main compartment on the inside and two smaller pockets on the outside. There is also a small pocket on the inside. All zippers are YKK and the main compartment zipper is lockable. Non-metal  zipper pulls are included.

The bag is expandable one inch (8-9”) keeping it well within the carry on limits of many U.S. and international airlines.

There is a padded handle on top and one on the side. While there are no compressions straps on the inside of the bag, there are four on the outside. There is also a permanently attached luggage tag. A shoulder strap, including a padded, moisture wicking shoulder pad, is included. More on this later.

On the bottom of the bag is the compartment holding the backpack straps. Unlike all other convertible bags where the wearer unzips an opening, pulls out the backpack straps, and clips them to a couple of external d-rings, the Exchange 20 is somewhat unique.

The entire back panel unzips and is folded down to reveal the permanently attached backpack straps. The folded down panel is held in place by an elastic band. In this position, the panel offers extra lumbar support and has moisture wicking mesh. There is also an adjustable sternum strap to help take pressure off the shoulders.

For packing, I easily fit an Eagle Creek 18” Specter Folder inside.

The Exchange 20 does exactly as its intended. It’s a well designed bag for the leisure/adventure traveler who isn’t looking for a lot of bells & whistles but instead wants quality, durability, simplicity and light weight.

There isn’t much I don’t like about this bag. If I could change anything, it would be regarding the shoulder strap.

By itself, the shoulder strap and pad are fine. However, instead of offering a “D” ring and clip like most other bags, allowing you to put different shoulder straps on, the Exchange 20 employs a quick release speed buckle meaning only their shoulder strap can be used.

On the whole, this is a terrific bag. If you’re a leisure traveler who doesn’t want a bag that looks as if it belongs in a boardroom, and has honed your packing down to just what you need, then I suggest you consider this bag.

Earlier I stated that this bag may be a game changer. Let me explain. Whenever I walked into a luggage store, I always had a hard time finding a lightweight, non-wheeled, convertible bag. They just didn’t carry them. We had to either order online or go to an outdoor retailer. But now, one of the main bag manufacturers is letting people know there is an alternative to wheels and you can get it at your local luggage store. To do so means they believe the one bag market is growing.

And we’ll be there to help them along.

The Briggs & Riley Exchange 20 convertible duffle is available in slate (pictured), amber (beige), and lava (red) although I’ve been told the lava is being discontinued. Like all Briggs & Riley bags, this one comes with a lifetime warranty. The bag is made in Vietnam.

That only leaves the price. As we know, you pay for quality. And Briggs & Riley bags are not cheap. The Exchange 20 retails for ………..$155.  Blink, go ahead, blink. You’re not seeing things. It really is an affordable, mid-priced, lightweight bag.

Oh, one other thing, some of you are business travelers who would like to travel with a Briggs & Riley bag but don’t want wheels. Sure, the Exchange 20 is nice, but let’s face it, it’s not for the boardroom.

Well, I have good news. I have been told that later this month, a line of “executive style” lightweight bags from Briggs & Riley will be introduced to the market….and……we’ll probably get some for review soon after. I have no other information on that so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Briggs & Riley, welcome to the world of the “onebagger.”

(Briggs & Riley provided the Exchange 20 for review. )

Thursday
Jan032013

Ebags Is Moving In The Right Direction

As most everyone here knows, I try to keep my eye on trends in the one bag world especially when it comes to luggage. There is definitely a move towards smaller and lighter weight bags.

One of the most popular bags among onebaggers is the Ebags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible. It’s well built, has lots of bells and whistles and is very durable. About the only complaint many had was its heavier weight. It’s no wonder that this bag is the number one selling item at Ebags.

A few months ago, Ebags came out with the junior version of the above mentioned bag. It was exactly the same as its larger sibling except for length which was reduced to 19.5 inches. The weight was still high for a smaller bag at 3 lbs, 5 oz.

And now Ebags has added yet an additional bag to its repertoire. Or should I say a redesigned one. The new Ebags Weekender ETech 2.0 Convertible. is a move further into the world of lighter weight bags. Made of a lightweight nylon, as compared to the heavier polyester used in the TLS Motherlode bags, the Etech 2.0 is 22 x 14 x 9, has less bells and whistles than the Motherlode series and is not expandable. But it weighs in at 2 lbs, 12 oz. Definitely a step in the right direction.

The one thing I haven’t mentioned, and is the key to these bags, is their cost. Considering that Ebags always has a sale going on, each of the three bags can be had for under $80. As of today’s writing, the TLS Motherlode is $80, the TLS Motherlode Junior is $72 and the Etech 2.0 is $64. And that includes free shipping, free returns and a lifetime warranty. (Prices and sales change daily at Ebags so don’t hold me to those prices.)

I’m not here to push anyone to buy any of these bags. What I want to show is that good quality, convertible style, carry-on bags are available and you don’t have to spend a fortune to get one.

Does that mean you should never buy a more expensive, better built bag? Of course not. Always try to get the best you can afford. The higher price bags have better workmanship and will, more than likely, withstand the rigors of travel than some of the lesser priced bags—but not necessarily. Let’s face it, just because a bag has a lifetime warranty doesn’t mean much when that same bag has a malfunction, or worse, falls apart, in the middle of a trip.

For those of you outside the U.S.A, I realize that getting one of the above bags is nearly impossible due to ridiculous shipping costs. I’m always on the lookout for affordable, carry-on size bags available in other countries. If you see any we haven’t discussed, especially those that are following the trend of lighter, smaller bags, please let me know. I’ll do my best to find out about them.

 

Addendum: After posting this article, it was pointed out to me that the new Etech bag doesn’t have connections for a shoulder strap. I’m truly surprised they would leave out such a simple item that would add versatility to the bag. I can only think of one other convertible, the Rick Steves Basic Back Door Bag, that doesn’t  have shoulder strap attachments.

(All photos courtesy of Ebags.)

Thursday
May242012

Redoxx Air Boss Modifications

There’s been a discussion in ther Reader’s Forum about a modified Redoxx Air Boss. Neil Gordon sent me the following photos of the modification:

 

 

 

 

 

Oops….my apologies. I made this page before the holiday weekend but forgot to move it from draft status to published.

Monday
May142012

What must a bag have?

When I was putting together the “How To” on choosing a bag, I was thinking about the different accessories each bag offers and which ones I could do without. And that got me thinking, are there any items which, if left off a bag, would cause you to immediately cross it off your list as a potential purchase?

 

Look at the list below and let me know if there is one or more:

 

Hidden backpack straps

Waist Belt

Sternum Strap

Shoulder strap attachment

Lockable/Locking zippers

Internal compression straps

External Compression Straps

Inside pockets

Side handles

Or is there anything else I left off?

 

Thursday
May102012

Redoxx Aviator with "D" Rings

Robert sent these photos of his Redoxx Aviator with “D” rings attached. The photos with the Absolute Strap are of the Small Aviator Bag and the photos without the strap are of the Extra Small Aviator Bag.

 

 

 

 

Thursday
May032012

Campmor Essential Carry-On Has Returned and Gone.

According to the Campmor website, the Essential Carry-On is back.

Campmor Essential Carry-On

Monday
Apr302012

Gear Review: Lat56 Red-Eye

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from a Scottish company called Lat 56 wondering if I’d be interested in doing a review of their unique garment bag. They had seen a review Brad did on the Skyroll a few years ago and wanted to let us know that they felt their bag was better.

So, I took a look at their website, was intrigued with the design, and saw that the bag was now available in the United States.

We agreed that the Red-Eye would be the best model to test and one would be supplied for review. It arrived in a few days with all U.S. orders processed by Amazon Fulfillment.

Before we proceed, I have to let you know my camera battery died and a replacement is on back order. Luckily, the folks at Lat56 have made some videos and that will make my review easier to do. Watch the first video and then come back and we’ll talk about it. (Don’t worry, I won’t be testing you on it.)

Let’s talk about the specs. The bag is made of military grade EVA foam and has sort of a rubbery, plastic feel. A friend who saw it thinks it looks like some crocodile gave its life for the bag. (None did). Think of this as somewhere between a nylon/polyester fabric and a hardshell case. There is some give to the material but not as much as true soft-sided bags. There is one grab handle on top, two “D” rings to attach a shoulder strap (included) and a sleeve on the back should you want to slide it down the handles of a rolling bag. There are no external pockets. Zippers are YKK and lockable.

The bag weighs  3.3 lbs empty and 4.5 lbs with the suit carrier (more on that later.)

Inside, the bag is separated into two compartments with a thick zippered fabric divider. This divider has thin narrow pockets on both sides of the center zipper opening.. On one side of the divider the pocket runs the entire length. On the other side, it’s split into three pockets. These are the only inside pockets.

On one side of the bag is a compartment to pack shoes, shirts, undies, toiletries, etc. It measures about 22 x 10 x 5.5 inches. Most packing folders will not fit.

The other side is meant specifically for the Torso Protection System,, the unique suit packing system specifically designed for this bag. (Click on the link to see a full explanation and then watch the video below to see it in action):

 

The suit carrier is easy to use, has instructions printed right on it, and can be used in other bags besides the Red-Eye. No additional hangers are needed as the SPS hanger has a soft hook allowing it to be hung in just about any closet.

The Red-Eye comes with a TSA approved combination lock and a special I-Trak system. Each bag has a unique number. Should you lose the bag, anyone finding it can contact I-Trak either via email or a UK based phone number to report it. I-Trak will then help to reunite you and the bag. This is a subscription service with the first year included with the purchase of the bag. There is also a lifetime guarantee covering repair and replacement should the bag get damaged.

The Red-Eye is advertised for the business traveler on a 1-2 night business trip where a suit is needed.

I don’t do many of those these days but I gave the bag a test run. I took a suit,  two dress shirts, two ties,  a pair of shoes, two set of underwear and socks, a toiletry kit, and sleep wear. (You’ll notice no electronics. No room. ) Total weight, 16 lbs.

The suit, pants and shirts came out wrinkle free. The bag does what it’s intended to do and let’s face it, it looks pretty cool—although someone did ask if I had a musical instrument in there.

 

However, there are some downsides:

-there are no outside pockets so you either have to open the Red-Eye to get to your 3-1-1 bag at airport security or, more than likely, you’re going to have another bag with your office stuff and electronics. You could carry the 3-1-1 in that.

—only one grab handle. Not easy to get it out of a crowded overhead.

—it has limited use. This is really only for someone who must carry either  a second suit or doesn’t want to wear one while traveling. Even if you leave out the SPS, I don’t recommend this bag for the leisure traveler.

—it is expensive. It’s $295 including shipping and handling within the U.S. But then I compared it to Tumi and Briggs & Riley garment bags and it’s pretty much on target in terms of weight and price.


I know, you’re wondering, do I like it or not. The answer is….yes and no. It does what it’s supposed to do but it has such limited uses.

Let me give you another option. The company sells the Suit Packing System by itself. For the true one-bagger, why not just buy that ($135), and use it in your current bag? Here’s a video on how to do just that:

In conclusion, if you’re someone who has to carry a lot of electronics or other “stuff” for work and may use a wheeled laptop tote but needs a separate garment bag, then the Red-Eye might be something to consider. Let’s face it, you walk into a business meeting with this bag and no one is going to think your underwear is inside. 

If you’re a true one-bagger who needs to travel with a suit, just get the Suit Packing System and use your own bag.

The Lat56 Red-Eye is now available for purchase in the U.S. direct from the company’s website. It is available from numerous retailers in the UK. For the rest of the world, contact the company.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday
Mar242012

Convertible Bags

Here’s a list of convertible bags, available in the USA, from lightest to heaviest and their dimensions. If I’ve left a bag out, especially if you live outside the USA and know of a bag available in your area of the world, let me know. Sorry, you’ll have to do your own metric conversion.

For our definition, a convertible bag is one with hideaway backpack straps and its size conforms to most airline carry-on limits.

 

Name of Bag                              Weight                   Dimensions (inches)

Campmor Essential Carry On   1lb 12 oz                 21 x 13 x 9

Golite Convertible                     2 lbs.                       21 x 14 x 7

Goodhope Conv.                       2 lbs.                       18 x 12 x 6.5

L.L. Bean Quickload                   2 lbs  2oz                21.75 x 14 x 9

REI Overnighter                         2 lbs  3oz               18 x 12.5 x 7

Osprey Porter 46                       2 lbs, 7 oz                22 x 14 x 9

 

Tom Bihn Western Flyer             2 lbs  8oz                18 x 12 x 7

Eagle Creek Adv. Weekender       2 lb  9 oz                  20 x 13 x 8

Caribee Sky Master                    2 lbs  10oz              21.25 x 13 x 7

Tom Bihn Aeronaut                     2 lbs  12oz              22 x 14 x 9

Patagonia MLC                           2 lbs   15oz             20.5 x 13.5 x 7

Rick Steves Convertible              3 lbs                        21 x 14 x 9

 

Timbuk 2 Wingman                      3 lbs  4oz               21.5 x 14.2 x 6.9

Tom Bihn Tri-Star                         3 lbs  7oz               19 x 13 x 8

MEI Voyageur                              3 lbs  8oz               22 x 14 x 9

Tough Traveler Tri-Zip                  3 lbs  8oz              20 x 13 x 9

Ebags Etech                                 3 lbs  10oz            22 x 14 x 9

Ebags Motherlode TLS                 3 lbs  11oz.           22 x 14 x 9

MEI Exec. Overnighter                  3 lbs  12oz.           22 x 14 x 9

Red Oxx Air Boss **                     3 lbs  14oz            21 x 13 x 8

Pacsafe Metrosafe 400                4 lbs                      18.5 x 12.6 x 6.7

Red Oxx Sky Train                         4 lbs                     20 x 13 x 9

Qwstion Weekender                    4 lbs 3oz               19.7 x 13 x 7.87

Eddie Bauer Travex                       ???????                21 x 12 x 9

 

**— The Red Oxx Air Boss does not have backpack straps but due to its popularity among one bag travelers I’m  including it in this list.

 

Non-USA Bags


Cabin Max                            1.2 KG          55 x 40 x 29 cm      (UK)

Black Wolf Skedaddle            1.34 kg          52 x 35 x 27 cm      (Aus./NZ only)

Tatonka Flightcase                1.65               55 x 32 x 20  ccm        (UK)

Kathmandu Axis Pack             700g                    25 L                 (Aus./NZ/UK only)

Lowe Alping TT Carry-On          ?                 55 x 35 x 20 cm          (UK)

Wednesday
Jan252012

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Aeronaut--updated

Four and half years ago, Brad, the founder of this site, did a review of the Aeronaut. You can find it here:

 OBOW Review of the Tom Bihn Aeronaut.

Please read that review because much of what I would say was already said in that  review.

Go ahead. Read it. You will be tested.

Okay, now that you’ve read it….You did read it?……No…..go back and read it. I’ll wait…………

All right, I’ll take your word that you read it. (But I know some of you are cheating.)

I agree with just about everything Brad said. (Oh, you’ll note that it seems like I respond in the comment section. That’s not me, that’s Brad. When I took over the site all of the webmaster postings were changed from “Brad” to “Frank@OBOW.”  It’s a technical problem with no fix from Squarespace. Sorry.)

First, let me update a few changes to the bag since that review:

—there are the famous Tom Bihn “O” rings in every compartment of the bag including the mesh pocket on the main compartment flap. (The pocket on the inside of the main compartment flap is now mesh.)

—the Breve is no longer available. (There is a “Breve” but it’s not a junior Aeronaut. The name is now used for a streamlined Ipad case.)

—prices on everything have gone up. The Aeronaut is now $240.

—two compression straps have been added to the main compartment.

—-some colors have changed.

—an optional waist strap is available.

I, too, give the Aeronaut 5 stars. To be honest, I’ve wanted this bag for a long time. And even though the good folks at Tom Bihn have sent lots of items to review, I paid my own, hard-earned, much coveted, personal money for the Aeronaut, associated packing cubes, and a few other pieces of “Tom Bihn bling.”

I haven’t regretted spending one cent.

I own eight carry-on bags. (While that seems like a lot, when you run a website like this one, lots of “light travel” products seem to arrive at my door.)

But this will soon change. At least half of those bags will be sold. Why bother keeping them to collect dust? With the Aeronaut, I can’t imagine too many scenarios when I will need anything else.

The Tom Bihn Aeronaut is now my number one go-to bag. It is the King of my carry-ons.

Need I say anything else?

Okay, I will say something else. Unless you are restrained, it is possible to put so much stuff in this bag it will weigh as much as a baby elephant. I don’t know if Tom took a weekend course at Hogwarts or something, but this bag just continues to take more and more stuff. And to some that’s dangerous. Especially to those whose packing philosophy is to keep going until the bag is full.

But on the bright side, if you don’t pack it to the gills, and leave a little “breathing room,” the bag can be “molded” to fit almost any airline sizer or overhead compartment. (With the square main section, I find rolling clothes to work better than folding.)

I should mention, since receiving the Aeronaut, my Tri-Star has been giving me the cold shoulder now that it has been relegated to second place. I don’t own a Western Flyer—well, at least not yet. Or a Co-Pilot, or a ……oh, no, here we go again. Some people collect stamps, others snow globes, I collect travel gear.

I admit it,  I’m a travelgearaholic.

 

Saturday
Jan142012

Gear Review: Battle Lake Outdoors--Sports & Travel Bag, Small

A few weeks ago, one of our readers alerted me to a bag that he thought looked very similar to a Tom Bihn Aeronaut

 

Except for the large front rectangular pocket, it looks something like the Aeronaut, especially with those two end pockets.

So, I contacted the company, Battle Lake Outdoors, to see if they’d be interested in sending one for review. They were, they did, and here it is.

First, let’s get the big question out of the way. It is not an Aeronaut, it is nowhere near an Aeronaut and if you turn the bag around, it looks the same. And…no backpack straps whatsoever.

But wait. Don’t stop reading. This is still a bag to consider.

Let’s get the specs out of the way. It measures 22 x 10 x 8 (2200 cu in) according to the website and by my calculations weighs about 1.3 lbs empty. It’s made of 1000d Cordura Plus  and has YKK zippers throughout. (Top of the line in material and zippers.) The bag is unlined but does have double stitching.

There are five zippered external pockets—two large rectangular ones, two end pockets and one smaller zipped pocket on the outside of one of the end pockets. The other end pocket has an external open pocket that has a key fob.

It comes with a shoulder strap and the bag has not two but four “D” rings to allow you to choose how to carry it. There are end pulls that are attached to the top of the bag, not the actual ends. The main compartment has a large u-shaped zippered opening.

The bag is made in the USA (Minnesota) and costs….are you ready…….$67.

In a nutshell, this is a bag to consider if you are very good at packing light, don’t need any real bells and whistles, like lots of external pockets, and don’t need  backpack straps.

I’m not sure how well it would stand up to the rigors of constant airline checking but with this bag you shouldn’t have to check it. (Although, when packed to take photos, the bag measured 21.5 x 17 x 9.5 which is oversized as a carry-on for most airlines. Pack carefully.)

If you plan to carry a computer or tablet, don’t rely on the bag alone for cushioining. I’d suggest some type of padded case.

The bag comes with a shoulder strap but do yourself a favor and get a Tom Bihn Absolute Strap especially since there are no backpack straps. I also wish the main carry handles were a little longer. They’re very short.

With all that, this is still a bag I can recommend. Even if you’re just looking for a good quality gym or overnight bag, this is a good, affordable choice.

The company has lots of other bags and travel related products all of which are made in the USA.

You can buy the bag directly from Battle Lake Outdoors.

Sunday
Dec112011

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Cadet

A couple of weeks ago, Tom Bihn introduced a new bag called the Cadet.  Just prior to its release, the company gave me early access to their website so I could see the bag before most others. I so hoped this bag would finally be the first poorly designed Tom Bihn bag. The one I could tear apart. The one I would find fault with. The one that would allow me to belittle a Tom Bihn creation.

But that didn’t happen. In fact, just the opposite. The faults I found with some of his other bags—flaps, lack of zippers—weren’t there.

Then they sent me one for review. I opened the box. I gave the Cadet a once over. I quickly realized that my hoped for creative, harsh, critical review would have to wait. This was a nice bag.

Darn you, Tom Bihn.

The Cadet is a sleek, stylish, no-nonsense, mini-brief designed specifically for Apple Macs and Tablets but will fit many PC’s. It comes in two sizes: the 15/13 designed for the larger Macbooks  with dimensions of 16.25” x 12.3” x 4.5”. It weighs 1.7 lbs empty.

The smaller version, the 11/Ipad, is 13.5” x 10.5” x 4.5”. It weighs 1.4 lbs  empty. (I have the smaller one and that’s the one I’ll be reviewing. )

The exterior of the cadet is made of 1050 denier ballistic nylon while the interior is specially made Japanese Dyneema ripstop nylon. All zippers are YKK with the main ones having a splashguard. Foam padding is sewn into the front, bottom and back of the bag giving it its shape and added protection to any contents carried within. There are two clips to add a  shoulder strap which is included. Mine came with an upgraded Absolute Strap which is available for an additional $20.

Each bag has three compartments. The front compartment is shallow and lined with ultrasuede. It was specifically designed to carry an iphone without scratching.

The second compartment has two iphone/camera pockets and three pen pockets. There are also two “o” rings with a removable key strap attached to one. (Photo of center compartment is of the larger bag with three iphone/camera pockets.)

 

 

It’s in the main compartment where the fun begins. This compartment, the largest, is divided into to open sections. The front section is empty and a good place for papers, a journal, book, etc. The rear portion contains two “rails” made of webbing. Attached with gatekeeper clips is a cache to hold your computer or tablet. This rail and cache design makes the bag checkpoint friendly.

Everyone knows when  you go through airport security, you have to remove your computer. Not so with this bag. Rather than take the computer out and expose it, all you need to do is slide the cache out of the Cadet until it is fully exposed. It is, however, still attached to the bag. There is no chance of leaving it behind or having someone with sticky fingers make off with it. Once through security, just slide the whole thing back in. For a good series of photos to see how this works, go to the Cadet website.

My Cadet came with an Ipad size cache. I don’t own a tablet, yet, so I tried putting my netbook in. Its dimensions are just under one inch longer than an ipad, about the same width, and twice the depth. It didn’t’ fit. I could have ordered a slightly larger cache in which it would fit but since I no longer take my netbook with me while traveleing this was not a problem. (I am  planning to get a tablet.) This main compartment also has two “o” rings. (Oh, I did put my netbook in it’s own cache that wasn’t part of the bag and it all fit nicely into the Cadet. I was able to fit my Kindle and my folding Bluetooth Keyboard into the Cadet Ipad Cache at the same time.)

If you don’t need the cache, it is easily removed. You can even order the Cadet without the cache and save $30.

On the rear of the Cadet is an open pocket for a newspaper, magazine or book. Should you be traveling with……..a wheeled bag…….there, I said it…….this open compartment has a zipper at the bottom. Unzipped, it becomes a sleeve and slides over the handles of your wheeled bag.

As most of you know, I prefer to travel with just one bag meaning my smaller day or business bag must fit into my main carry on.

I tried putting the Cadet into the center section of the Tri-Star. It wouldn’t fit.  (To clarify, while technically the Cadet will fit into the center section, My Cadet was filled to the point is was pushed to its widest thickness. So thick that when placed in the center section it pushed the dividers out taking away most packing space from the outer sections.  My Cadet had a netbook, charger and writing portfolio.)

The Cadet did fit snugly into my new Aeronaut.

BTW—the larger Cadet, which will technically will fit into some carry-on bags, will take up so much room  it’s not practical.

About the flaps and lack of zippers I mentioned earlier. I personally find the flaps on bags make it difficult to get into them while being worn. I also didn’t like the fact that many of those “flapped” bags didn’t have zippers for their main compartments. Easy pickings for a thief on crowded public transportation.

But the Cadet has no flap and not only does it have zippers, but ones that are easily locked or secured.

All in all, the Cadet is a great bag for someone looking to downsize their current laptop bag or briefcase yet keep a professional appearance. It can also double as a leisure day bag should you be combining a trip for both business and pleasure.  In reality, this is an every day work bag and not just one to be used for travel. Personally, I’ve replaced my Large Cafe Bag with the Cadet as my daily around town work bag. (The LCB now just comes out for fun.)

Pricey at $170 but you’re paying for quality. I believe it’s worth the investment.

The Cadet is made in the USA.

I used photos in this review that were made available by Tom Bihn because most people here know that I rank as one of the world’s worst photographers.

Sunday
Nov132011

New Carry-On Convertible Bag

I came across a new bag last week that looks interesting. It’s the

 

Caribee Sky Master 40.

 

Dimensions: 21.25” x 13 x 7…..weighs 3 lbs……made of polyester. I sent a note to the company to see if we can get one for review. No word yet.

 

 

 

But the best part is that this bag is from an Australian company and I know there are many  OBOW readers from Down Under who are looking for a bag like this that fits Aussie carry-on rules. Here’s a link to their Australian site:

 

Caribee Sky Master 40

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday
Sep182011

Guest Gear Review: MEI Voyageur--the smaller version

Contributor Paul follows up on his MEI Executive Overnighter review with this one:

 

MEI Voyageur “light”

Reader review / first impressions

                It’s been a long time since I posted my review of my MEI Executive Overnighter,  a bag that has gone on to serve me well to this day.  It’s held up beautifully, and still looks and performs like new.   

                Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for something a bit smaller for my leisure travel, since I have (like so many OBOW contributors) been able to reduce my one bag footprint.  I have been using a soft suitcase I purchased from Tactical Tailor  - see previous review on OBOW - that has given stellar service, but it’s dimensions are not quite optimal these days (the length in particular) so I found myself starting to cast about for another solution.

                I was aiming for a bag approximating the TB TriStar.  I like the Bihn product, but the cost is high (and I completely understand that TB is quality and quality costs), and after reviewing the sort of leisure travel habits I currently enjoy (nearly always to warmer climbs, and/or of shorter duration), the sort of packing assist gear I have (folders, light weight RS cubes, various stuff bags, etc.) and my personal preferences in bags (no wheels, comfortable backpack straps, ability to use my TB absolute shoulder strap, etc.). I decided that a one compartment bag would work fine for me.

                In the course of my research I stumbled onto the following thread on the Bootsnall forums (I hope this link works):

http://tinyurl.com/3rec7ko 

                The OP, ‘AceTracer’, contacted MEI to develop a smaller, lighter variant of the Voyageur.  I suggest reading the thread; it’s a good read.  The gist of it was the OP’s desire for a lightweight bag (“…Ideally, less than 2 lbs…”) of 55cm x 36cm x 20cm or 21” x 14” x 8” (38L) in size.  It seems he tested a number of prototypes, and received a final copy.  Unfortunately, the thread appears to be at least a year old, so I am unaware of the OPs thoughts after use, but I did like the idea and since I already was a satisfied MEI customer I decided to inquire with MEI on this.  In the end I decided on a bag constructed as follows.  It’s a bit larger than a TB TriStar, but, that’s ok:

Top & Back:  420 D Nylon Rip-stop in forest (hunter) green

Sides: Spectra nylon rip-stop in black color with spectra thread in white

Removable back foam pad, removable alloy internal frame stays

Light w/1/2” foam waist belt, 420 D Nylon Rip-stop 500 D Spectra Rip-Stop,
No lumbar pad, Backpack shoulder straps padded w/ .5” each of close and open cell foam

Per Ahmed @ MEI, weight is 3.4 lbs. all up

Dimensions (sewn edge to sewn edge:

         L:  21”/53.2 cm

 W: 13”/33.0 cm

  D:  8”/20/3 cm

                I just received the bag, and thought I would share some photos and random musings with the OBOW readership.

BTW, my thanks to that OP – I hope he lurks on OBOW.

                The first thing I did after opening the box was take out my trusty – likely not terribly accurate, but that’s ok – handheld luggage scale and tested it.  Ahmed was right on – 3.4 lbs / 1.6 kilos, all up..  Removing the alloy stays, and foam pad, the weight dropped to a bit below 2.9 / 1.3 kilos lbs.  Not too bad.  I wasn’t as concerned as the thread OP about getting below 2 lbs, since my personal packing methods are flexible enough that even with some extra bag weight, I easily keep at or below the unofficial ‘10% of body weight’ rule of thumb most of us generally follow and which works fine for me (for the record, I currently weigh 151 lb. / 68.4 kilos).

                Quality of material and construction is, as I expected, excellent.  Straight seams, tension points heavily sewed, quality YKK zippers and nylon/polymer buckle hardware, all very similar to my EO, and holding up beautifully.  The main bag materials , although lighter than the Cordura used on the EO, look to be durable enough to survive the occasional gate check, although I hope never to put that to the test. There are 3 flush handles, using that interesting webbing that I’ve only seen on MEI bags, and work wonderfully on my EO.  Only the geographic ‘bottom’ of the bag (think of the bag being carried on your back by the backpack straps, the bottom is the part closest to your bottom ) has no handle. Methinks that perhaps Ahmed can use this as a starting point to develop a similar version of the multi-compartment EO.  Ahmed – if you are reading this … I may consider being a ‘test case’ …

                The outside front of the bag has 2 full with zippered compartments,  one a full width pocket deep enough for magazines, etc (10 “ / 25.4 cm) and the other, shallower, with a vertical stitch dividing this into 2 pockets (8” / 20.3 cm, and both pockets have full double zips across the entire opening length) . Either of the shallower half-pockets should be wide enough to hold a 9-11 baggie (I need to test this).

                Inside, things are as I expected, with a few pleasant surprises.  As expected there is one large compartment.  There are 2 sewn and velcro’ed compartments for the removable alloy supports.  What was unexpected is 1) a flap of material, basically the size of the bag, and open at the top creating a thin compartment at the back of the bag, that can be closed by velcro, suitable for paperwork or perhaps a clothing folder, and 2) a small removable oddments bag, that attaches at the geographic top of the bag interior using Velcro, that would be handy for, well, oddments.  On the length-wide sides are mesh flaps, with short velcro–tipped straps, that can be used to isolate or subdivide the interior space (think socks, rolled up underwear, etc.).  As is often found in bags like this, there are 2 tie-down straps with nylon buckles to secure the contents.

                All in all, I am pleased with what I have, and look forward to using it.  Ahmed was fine to deal with (our communication was entirely by email, but I had his number in the event I needed to speak directly with him).  Ahmed (and his co-worker, M. Sipra) were very helpful, offering suggestions based on material availability and sending questions and updates as things progressed.  It was approximately 30 days from 1st inquiry to delivery.

                I’ve not yet had the opportunity to travel with this, or even to test pack it, but I look forward to using it. I hope that you find this useful, and I will try and follow up after I use it.  Please let me know any questions etc. and I will try my best to answer them as time permits.

Happy Travels ~

Paul

 

 

 

 

 

 (Frank II)

Sunday
Aug072011

Gear Review:  Jaktogo

Remember when Jet Blue put out the following ad making fun of Spirit Air’s decision to charge for carry-on luggage:

We all had a good laugh. C’mon a bag that could be worn as a coat. Ridiculous……or is it?

Introducting the Jacktogo—the bag that becomes a coat.

Let’s start with the coat…..made of “durable” polyester and weighing in at about 1 1/2 pounds, the front of the coat has six pockets—four that close using velcro strips which are also used to keep the coat closed and two regular open coat pockets.

The back of the coat has three zippered pockets and the two logos that will be seen on the side of the bag.

Inside is where you find the remaining pockets all with velcro strip holders. 

And now for the magic….when you want to carry it as a bag, it turns into:

 

The bag. 

In total it has 15 pockets (Jacktogo claims 14 but I counted 15).

On a coolness factor, this is cool. When I first heard about it, I was intrigued.  I had fun showing it a few people. 

Now, on a practical level. 

If you are flying a discount airline and really want to carry everything on and don’t want to pay for checked luggage, especially if limited to one carry-on, I guess this could work. Although I wouldn’t try to convert it from bag to coat in front of airline personnel like on the Jaktogo video. I’d do it before trying to check in. (Oh, and Jaktogo wanted to remind me that it’s not really meant to be worn as a coat, just for the times at the airport when you need to get it past check in or gate people. They also suggest ordering it one size larger so it can be worn over a regular coat.)

Considering the material, I wouldn’t put anything of value or real weight in the pockets. It should be fine for clothing. 

As a coat, the logos are fairly visible on the back and eventually the airlines may catch on. Detailed instructions on how to fold the coat into a bag are included but don’t expect to do this on a plane. You really need to lay the jacket down to do it. There’s no place I can think of on a plane. The best you’d be able to do is a quick fold and then put it in the overhead. 

As a bag, it’s virtually impossible to get most things out unless you undo all the straps and turn it back into a coat. There are two small zippers near the logos. But since most people would have a carry-on as well, only put items in this that you wouldn’t need on the flight. 

So, as I said earlier, if you really want to get stuff on board rather than pay the checked luggage fee, this item might work. But then, why choose this over a Scottevest. At least the Scottevest can do double duty as a coat/vest, etc. But then some people might not want the extra coat—especially if traveling in hot weather. 

The Jaktogo is made in Bulgaria and is available from the manufacturer in that country for 80 Euros ($114US). (It’s on sale for 60 Euros ($85US) through August.) Shipping to the U.S., Canada and Australia is an additional 8 Euros. To the UK it’s 6.50 Euros. (Mine took about a week to get to me in the U.S.)

If you want a better look at this item, with better photos, I suggest going to the jaktogo website. 

Jaktogo provided this item for review.

(Frank II)

Wednesday
Aug032011

Gear Review: MEI Voyageur

Contributer Michii recently contributed this to a previous thread on the MEI Voyageur and I wanted to bring it forward rather than have it lost in the archives:

 

 

I ordered this bag back in April 2011 and it came in about 4 weeks later, which isn’t bad considering I live in Canada.  I used the bag for one bag travel three times since I bought it, once on a plane and twice on a bus.  Every time is was great to just stuff everything I needed inside and walk where I needed to go without having to lug around a giant suitcase on wheels like I did in Japan.
I found that packing cubes would’ve been helpful but I haven’t found an upper limit to what I can stuff in the bag as of yet.  The most I carried in there was 4 textbooks, a laptop, and a weeks worth of clothing (around 50 lbs) and it wasn’t heavy on my back.  There aren’t any popped seams or zippers and I am quite rough on the bag as I lug it back to forth to work with all my books inside.
I recommend this bag for anyone who would like to travel and either go heavy or light.  The bag is suitable to both.

 

Thanks Michii

 

Sunday
Jul172011

Gear Review: Tom Bihn Tri-Star

It’s been two years since Brad posted a review of the Tom Bihn Tri-Star.. I guess it’s now my turn.

I’m going to cut right the verdict—this is a great bag. It is so versatile that almost anyone who wants to travel one-bag style would probably find this bag easy to use.

Slightly smaller than maximum carry-on size (19” x 13” x 8”) and weighting 3 lbs, 6 oz, the three compartment Tri-Star can be used for both business and leisure travel.

It’s refined look will have most people thinking it’s an oversized laptop bag. By using the middle compartment for “work” and the two end compartments for your “stuff,” the Tri-star will allow you to go from plane to meeting without a stop at your hotel.

For leisure travelers, it allows you to  stay organized and compartmentalized so you don’t have to go rummaging through everything to find that extra camera battery.

Made of 1050 denier ballistic nylon and lined with lightweight Dyneema nylon, the Tri-Star has both #10 and #8 waterproof zippers.

A true convertible bag, the hidden backpack straps include a sternum strap and can accomodate an optional waist belt. (I also use this compartment to hold a foldable light jacket.)

The padded backpack straps make it comfortable to carry for  a long walk although it’s doubtful you’d walk into a business meeting that way. So, you have two other options: the padded handles or the optional Absolute Strap. (I have a chronically sore shoulder and find it hard to carry most bags using it. However, with the Absolute Strap I seem to be able to carry everything pain free.) There are handles on three sides of the bag helping to make it easy to put in and take out of overhead storage  bins. 

Let’s take a look at the bag section by section:

The front of the bag has four zippered compartments. On the left are three vertical compartments that go from their zipper closure to the bottom of the bag. These are great for thinner items like keys, magazines, newspapers, a book, 3-1-1 bag , etc.

The zipper on the right can accommodate a water bottle but can also be used for storage as well.

When the bag is full, don’t expect too much give from these pockets.

The front section has an optional zipper that will split the bag into two compartments: one taking up 2/3 and the other 1/3. In this photo you see the medium sized Tom Bihn Tri-Star packing cube and a Tom Bihn Quarter Cube. (The small Tri-Star packing cube is cut to fit into the right side section but I prefer the two-sided quarter cube. One side for toiletries, the other side for my laundry kit. I could also add a small Tom Bihn pouch and connect it to one of the “o” rings. (Be careful if you use the dividing zipper. I was a little too rough and it ripped the first week I owned the bag. As I don’t use it, it wasn’t a problem for me.)

The medium sized cube in this photo is holding my undies, socks and a t-shirt.

This section zips down on three sides with the top capable of folding flat making for easy packing.

The rear compartment is meant for larger clothes. Here is the large size Tom Bihn packing cube holding 4 shirts and a sweater held down by the included luggage straps.Underneath the pack is an additional pair of pants. This section also opens on three sides for easy packing. 

 The Center section is the hardest to photograph as it only zips down halfway to prevent items from falling out. This section is my office/technology section. 

The center section also has clips to attach a Tom Bihn Brain Cell. These are computer sleeves that come in different sizes depending on your computer. 

Currently, since I want to travel with only one bag, I put my Tom Bihn Large Cafe bag into the certain section as well as a Tom Bihn 3D clear cube with all those miscellaneous items.

And here’s where it proves you can’t go by size alone to see if something will work for you. In the case, size does matter. I like to pack my day bag into my main carry-on for travel days. This way I only have to be concerned with one bag while traveling.

I thought the Large Cafe Bag would be perfect for this. However, there is one drawback to trying to pack it. The strap. I ordered the larger, heavier, Absolute strap—which is wonderful—but it can’t be detached. So, that strap takes up too much room. I will continue to use the Large Cafe Bag as a day bag at  home. 

Since a tablet is in my near future, I may have to substitute a different day bag. I’m thinking the Tom Bihn Ristretto. Not only will it fit my needs for what it can hold, the strap is removable. No need for two Absolute Straps. I can use the Absolute Strap from the Tri-Star to carry the Ristretto when my main bag is at my hotel. I’d take the included standard strap should the Ristretto not be that heavy.  (I’ll have to talk to the good folks at Tom Bihn to see what they think about this idea. I’ll let you know.)

One other thing. “O” rings. These are tiny round rings sewn into all of Tom Bihn bags. They are great. You can attach pouches, keys, packs, etc and they won’t fall out. There are plenty of them all over the bag. 

Now, what about the cons…well….there just aren’t  that many. If you pack too much, the bag will go over the 8” side. (I got mine up to nearly 9.5” by really trying.)

All in all, the Tom Bihn Tri-star is excellent for those who take short business trips and want to pack light, for leisure travelers looking for a smaller than maximum carry-on size case and still want quality, and anyone else wanting to go from maximum to less than maximum in carry on size. 

It may seem that I use a lot of Tom Bihn products. Guilty as charged. They’re high quality, made in America, and are  from a company that offers terrific customer service. I’ve been a paying customer for years. 

The Tom Bihn Tri-Star goes for $270. A set of Tri-Star packing cubes (L,M,S) will set you back an additional $55 but weigh only 10 oz. The three sized packing cubes come with a mesh top. The smaller size is also available in all fabric for shoes or anything else you wanted to keep separate.

For more photos and color choices, go to the Tri-star page on the Tom Bihn website.

 

(Frank II)

Tom Bihn supplied all accessories discussed in this review. I purchased the actual Tri-Star awhile ago with my hard earned weekly allowance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday
Jun012011

Gear Review: Ebags Motherlode TLS Weekender Convertible

I can only imagine what happened. One day, the designers at Ebags decided to come up with a convertible bag that had the best features of its near competitors while improvings all the downsides.

The result: The Ebags Motherlode TLS Weekender Convertible.

The basics: The bag is 22 x 14 s 9. With shoulder strap and waist belt, it weighs just over 4 lbs. The bag is 3300 cu in and expanble. It’s made of 840 denier twisted polyester. 

Now for the details. I could start listing them but ebags has done such a good job making a promotional video for this bag, wouldn’t you rather watch that then read my prose? 

So, sit back, watch the video, and then come back to get my take on it:

Now for the extras….the bag is expandable but that would make it too big for carry-on. 

The orange interior is bright but will allow you to see everything you’ve packed. 

For those who are worried about thieves breaking into your locked bag using the moveable zipper method, Ebags has place small rings allowing you to lock the zippers in one place making it more difficult for a thief to hid their tracks. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, search Youtube for videos on opening up a locked suitcase.)

The laptop pocket is convenient and fuctional. The adustable sling fits most size laptops and having it in it’s own pocket makes the laptop easy to remove for security. I’ve tried both my 15” laptop and netbook in the sleeve and fit with no problems. 

Now for the negatives. The bag is heavy at just over 4 lbs. The D rings are made of  plastic and the ones for the backpack straps are exposed and could be torn off if you checked—gate or regular.

While I prefer a nylon bag, the polyester used seems durable. It may also, believe it or not, be overdesigned. Just too many features. 

All in all, for the money, you can’t beat this bag. It retails for $100 but I’ve never seen it not on sale for $90. Wait a  few weeks, or join their email list and you’ll get discounts down to $80 or even less.  If you buy it through Ebates,, you’ll get free shipping and a 6% rebate. 

According to a conversation I had with Ebags PR guy, this bag is Ebags #1 seller of all the thousands of bags they have for sale. 

If you’re looking for an inexpensive but feature full bag, you can’t beat this one. 

Friday
May202011

Reader Review: MEI Executive Overnighter

OBOW reader Assaf  sent us the following review of the MEI Executive Overnighter:

 

I got the bag a few days ago, haven’t got a chance to use it.
first impressions:
the bag arrived on time.
the build quality is excellent, better then i expected, judging from online photos. yet, it is not on par with the red oxx air boss - the zippers, for example, are
coil, not chain zippers as in the air boss. they are certainly heavy duty YKK, tough.
the shoulder strap is the same as seen on older photos of the MEI EO, not Terra grip.
the inside color is now all khaki, not the (ugly) yellow and khaki. i’m glad because that old inside color mix was a real turn off for me, it looked somewhat un-professional IMHO.
the side handles are more sturdy then the older pics implied. 
the back straps are well padded and comfortable.
things i would like to improve:
1) the top carry handle - i hope the way it’s attached to the bag is strong enough.
2) the compression straps on the two outer pockets, are on the outer wall, not toward the inside of the bag as in the air boss.
    i think this is less convenient to close the bag while packing. i prefer the red oxx approach where the bag once packed, is sort of a big bundle, covered by the outer flaps.  
coffee brown rocks! ;-)
I hope this review would be helpful, as there isn’t really a lot of info on this bag.

 

Thanks, Assaf. 

 

(Frank II)

Sunday
May152011

Review: Goodhope 7260 3 Way Convertible Brief/Backpack

Before I get into the details of this bag, let me mention one thing. It costs $23 including  shipping to the U.S.

The Goodhope Convertible is an economical, smaller than maximum legal carry-on.

It’s measurements are 18” x 12” x 6.5” and it weighs 2.2 lbs with the shoulder strap.

The exterior is 600 denier polyester and the inside lining is vinyl.

On the front of the bag are two smaller pockets one large enough for a 3-1-1 bag but neither large enough for a standard magazine. 

The smaller front compartment contains a sewn in organizer strip consisting of two open pockets, one zippered mesh pocket and 4 penholders. The zippers on this compartment go down about a third of the way on each side. It is large enough to hold a netbook or tablet but there is no protection for those items. 

The main compartment has two unique tie down straps. They don’t unclip. To use the straps, you have to loosen them, stick whatever you want them to hold down underneath and then tighten. The bag opens wardrobe style with the zippers fully opening on three sides.

BTW—did I mention this is a $23 bag with free shipping within the U.S.?

The bag also has two backpack straps that hideaway when not in use. Functional, but I wouldn’t want to walk very far with them.  A shoulder strap is also included with the bag. 

There is only one grab handle located where you’d expect one if you carried this like a suitcase. All connectors are made of plastic and the main zipper on my bag slightly catches on the vinyl lining. There is an extended flap meant to cover the zippers of the main compartment in case of rain. 

If you’re looking for a smaller than average carry-on bag, aren’t looking to  take it into the deepest jungle, nor expect to check it often, this might be an inexpensive bag to consider. 

It would also make a decent laptop briefcase but there is no padding so a sturdy protective sleeve would be necessary. 

It’s available in black or green.

Bottom line: I doubt Tom Bihn, Red Oxx, Briggs & Riley or Tumi are very worried about this bag stealing their customers. However, if you’re on a budget, are looking for a smaller convertible bag, and will mostly do car or light air travel, this bag may work. It’s no Western Flyer, which has the same basic dimensions, but it will do in a pinch. 

Did I mention it was only $23 including free shipping in the U.S.?

(Frank II)

CSN Stores supplied the Goodhope Convertible for review.