Showing posts with label carry on luggage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carry on luggage. Show all posts

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Nantucket: Overland Equipment's Perfect Carry-on Personal Item

If you don't check bags when traveling, you know that you get one carry on and one "personal item."  Over the years I've used all sorts of bags for my personal item, from regular purses to small backpacks in a Goldilocks quest for just the right size.  If you're looking for a great carry-on personal item, you have to see the Nantucket Bag from Overland Equipment.  This has to be one of the best--if not the best--personal item bag I've ever seen.

Right off the bat, this bag has a pass-through sleeve that slips over your carry on suitcase---not super common and extremely handy.   You don't even see it when just carrying the bag, it's totally concealed and just looks like a regular tote. This makes the perfect match for your carry on, just slip it on and off as needed, no fumbling around at the airport.  It stays secure on your wheelie and your hands and arms are free and comfortable.  When you're on the plane, you'll have everything you need.

Inside the bag is the perfect amount of organization with pockets for sunglasses and electronics, and some padding for your laptop and/or tablet.  It has a zipper closure, so it keeps all your stuff secure--I'm surprised how many totes like this do not have a zipper feature and it's important.  There's a slip pocket on the front perfect for your cell phone so there's no fumbling around when you hear it ring. 

You can fit a ton of stuff in this bag--a laptop, tablet, small blanket, food, and more, I can't imagine needing anything bigger for your personal item.  Finally, the black is sleek and low profile, something I love in travel gear, though it does come in other colors.  You could also use the Nantucket as a tote for school, work, or the beach, it's a very versatile bag.  Find it HERE.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Gear Up for Holiday Travel with Eagle Creek

Got travel plans for the holidays?  The right luggage can make a trip so much better and easier.  Check out Eagle Creek's new Adventure Upright 22.  This is a great carry on bag to meet your holiday travel needs.  With baggage feees, not to mention what a pain it is to check bags, the lines, the waiting, the hassle and the risk of losing your things.  You've heard the saying there are two kinds of luggage:  carry on and lost?  If you carry on, you save money and are guaranteed to have your stuff with you when you arrive. 

A great carry on piece glides along with you and offers some good organization.  Eagle Creek is famous for their organizational offerings and while they do offer travel cubes, their luggage has some built in features that are a huge help.  The Adventure Upright is easy to maneuver, comfortable to grip and features several compartments to help you organize like the two pouches on the inside of the lid great for socks and undergarments,  and behind those is a large sort of secret compartment (not evident at first glance).  Compression straps are there to cinch everything down tight and maximize space. There's a big pouch on the outside that fits a laptop or iPad--though I would put it in a padded sleeve first--it's right there within easy reach to take out for security. 

Another awesome feature is the piggyback clip.  This lets you attach your purse, backpack, or other piece to the wheelie for ease of transport and to free up your hands.  Even my straw beach bag clips right on perfectly and it's just really nice to have this extra capability.  Zippers are lockable and have reflective material on the pulls.   There are grab handles all over this bag that help you during transport in and out of overheads, taxis, and whatnot.  An attached luggage tag ensures your name stays with the bag, though I still recommend attaching one of those airline tags you can pick up for free the counter as well.  The wheels are beefy and capable of going over rough terrain.  If you've ever had a wheel go out on you while trekking through cobblestone streets on your way to the train, you'll know how important this is.  This bag is not just for home to airport to hotel, it will go wherever you need it to go. 

My favorite thing about this bag is its ability to expand.  I love this feature and always use it at the end of a trip.  Even if you don't buy stuff on your travels, this affords you the luxury of just tossing everything in a rush if need be--stuff never goes back in as neatly as when you first pack it, at least not for me.  There's a zipper that when unzipped allows you 15% more packing space, all bags should have this ability and after getting used to this, I really wouldn't want to travel with one that didn't.

Eagle Creek backs up their product 100%.  If anything ever goes wrong with your luggage, no matter where you are, they will fix it or replace it.  This is awesome and makes their products an investment.  You can pick up cheap bags but they don't last and they tend to fail you at really inconvenient moments.  The Adventure Upright is a quality bag that is perfect for holiday travel and way beyond.  It comes in black, sienna, and olive.  Find it HERE