If you travel first class, covet classy accoutrements and aren’t fazed by stratospheric price stickers, upgrade your carry-on at gentrified boutiques like Louis Vuitton, where a 22-inch bag will set you back a cool $1,950. Plus tax.
But if budget is your biggest concern, try the hit-or-miss rummaging approach at T.J. Maxx or Ross Dress for Less. Both carry name-brand bags at deep discounts, and you just might score a carry-on worth carrying on about.
And if you find yourself somewhere in between, here are 10 to get you off the ground.
Samsonite Sahora Spinners
Hybrid Carry-on Upright
$120 (eBags.com) and $129.99 (Samsonite Company
Store) | 19 1/2-by-15 1/2by-8 1/2 inches | 8 lbs. | available in black, red
How it handles: Once manufactured in Denver, Samsonite bags have been made overseas for several years, and the company plans to transplant corporate offices to Massachusetts in 2007. The hometown loyalty is waning, but the product is tried and true. Four caster-mounted spinner wheels on bottom and four feet on side stabilize this bag. No extra compartments inside, but the outside has a waterproof clear plastic pouch and a mesh compartment. The back outside pocket includes an I.D. holder. Roger Foutz, manager at the Colorado Mills store, also notes that the bag fits straight in the overhead bins, rather than sideways – increasingly a bonus on full flights. Warranty: Limited 10-year warranty excludes wear-and-tear or abusive treatment. “That does not include airline handlers,” said Foutz.
L.L. Bean Sportsman Carry-on
Rolling Garment Bag
$199 (llbean.com) | 22-by-14-by-9-inches | 11 lbs. 2 oz. |
available in navy, green, black, sage
How it handles: If you’re a business traveler, here’s the deal. The well-organized garment bag has a built-in garment sleeve as well as storage for shoes and folded clothes. The bag opens flat for easy packing. Main compartment includes a detachable spill-proof bag. To prevent snagging during often-indifferent baggage handling, the exterior features a new, smoother, sculpted front panel. The leather I.D. tag adds a touch of panache and practicality. Warranty: None listed
Travelpro Crew5 Rollaboard
$200 (eBags.com) | 22-by-14-by-9 inches| 12 lbs. |
available in black, ivy and marine blue
How it handles: Travelpro introduced wheeled carry-on luggage in 1989. This bag features lots of pockets – some mesh, some waterproof, some long enough to hold shoes, some fitted with loops to hold film canisters, pill bottles or whatever. A translucent, tri-fold, plastic suit carrier has pockets too and can be removed, with a loop for hanging and two carrying handles. Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty reduced to three-year limited warranty if used commercially.
Kirkland Signature Executive
22-inch Rolling Carry-on Luggage
$109.99 (Costco) | 22-by-14-by-9-by-11 inches | 9.8 lbs. | available in black
How it handles: This value valise has plenty of pockets: three exterior for magazines and accessories and four interior, including two-shoe pockets. Also features a removable garment carrier as well as a removable laundry pocket lined with water-resistant polyurethane. Warranty: None listed
Tumi Expandable Wheeled 22-inch
Frequent Traveler Stout
$645 (Colorado Baggage Co.) | 22-by-14-by-10 inches | available in alloy, black
How it handles: “Tumi has the best zippers and wheels,” according to sales associate Mike Kunetka at the Park Meadows store. Tumi’s best seller, this classic piece glides on in-line-skate wheels recessed for protection and has fortified corners too. Lots of handles facilitate moving the bag, which also features an exterior ticket pocket, I.D. tag and add-a-bag strap with hook. Interior features include a removable garment sleeve, accessories pockets and tie-down straps. To me and others in the industry, Tumi rules. Warranty: None listed
Note: Costco online also sells Tumi bags.
Kirkland Signature All-Purpose
22-inch Rolling Duffel
$89.99 (Costco) | 22-by-14-by-11 1/2 inches | 8.25 lbs. | available in black
How it handles: This duffel will withstand a scuffle, thanks to a lightweight, strong frame on ballistic nylon material made to military specifications. Three compartments can transform into one, three lift handles, comfort-ease shoulder straps and easy-access pockets on front. Seams double-stitched with 3-core nylon thread. Steel-shank zipper pulls. Warranty: None listed
Red Oxx Safari Beano PR5
$175 (redoxx.com) | 10-by10-by-24 inches | 4 lbs. | available in a dozen colors ranging from paint box brights such as amethyst, saffron and mariner to more subdued olive and midnight
How it handles: The company claims this is the biggest bag you can legally carry on domestic or international flights. Its soft-sided, amorphous nature allows you to stuff it in a bin or under a seat or into one of those official bag sizers. Founded by a former Green Beret captain and parachute rigger, Red Oxx is red-
hot, tough stuff. Recognized by Outside magazine as one of 2004’s best products, this featherweight yet heavy-duty bag is fit for yeoman’s duty, with double- stitched seams and practically bulletproof nylon, durable zippers and welded, stainless-steel, sailboat hardware. No inside compartments, which can lead to the disorganized, black-hole-in-a-bag syndrome, but the outside features five pockets. Warranty: Impressively simple and comprehensive: “This product is guaranteed forever, be sure to include it in your will.”
Victorinox Trek Pack Plus 3.0 Series
$279.99 (Colorado Baggage Co.) | 14-by-22-by-9 inches | available in black/black, red/black, grass/black
How it handles: Look, Ma, no hands! If you’re traveling with small children or require hands-free for other reasons, opt for a wheeled backpack. This new model delivers comfort through a patented, fully rotating, ergonomic handle of aircraft-grade aluminum; a support belt that transfers weight to hips; and
die-cut shoulder and lumbar straps that zip away when the roller system is in use. The spacious main hold includes two removable pouches – one mesh and one waterproof. A day pack with admirable features of its own attaches, and you might get away with calling this your personal item. “Some airlines might have a problem with it,” said Marina Gendelman, assistant manager at the Cherry Creek location, “but it is small enough to smoosh under the seat.” Warranty: None listed.
Victorinox Mobilizer 22
$515 (Colorado Baggage Co.) | 14-by-22-by-9 1/2 inches (expands to 12 inches) | Weight not listed, but it’s not light | available in black, red
How it handles: Like the famous multifunction Swiss Army knives, these bags run long on features, including comfortable handles and grips, gliding in-line- skate wheels and a combination lock. Expandable portion adds 2 1/2 inches of extra packing space. Zip-in suiter features wrinkle-reducing foam bolsters. Pockets for reading materials or travel documents and a padded computer sleeve to boot. Never-Lost Attach-
a-Bag strap holds additional bags on the front of this upright. Warranty: None listed.
Eagle Creek Tarmac ES
$235 (Colorado Baggage Co.) | 14-by-22-by-10 inches | 8 lbs. | available in black/gray or palm/gray
How it handles: Eagle Creek started out as an expedition outfitter. “Then they realized that more people like you and I are just traveling, rather than going up Mount Everest,” said Kunetka. A rugged yet lightweight choice for casual travel, a perfect choice for a European trek since the sturdy wheels will withstand cobbled streets. Features include an add-a-bag strap, fortified corners, two big pockets on the front, and on the side a mesh pocket with elastic closure ideal for holding a water bottle or rolled up magazines. Warranty: Lifetime guarantee with a “no matter what” damage repair policy.
-Colleen Smith
