Rick Steves’ Travel Gear line has expanded to include far more than the guidebooks for which he is so famous. Maps, money belts, luggage locks and tags, duffel bags – if it’s necessary to get you there, he’s working on it. But the most intriguing area is the effort the European travel expert has been putting into luggage itself. Two years ago, I picked up a Rick Steves Civita day pack ($24.95) that I carry, yes, to this day; it’s lightweight and versatile, and you can cram a lot of stuff into it, and even though it’s made of a thin microfiber and my cats knead it like it’s their mother, there’s not a tear in it (the company also offers it in hemp, which would be even sturdier). And I love the lambskin travel wallet ($8.95), a 3 x 4 1/2-inch two-zipper beaut that can hold about two credit cards, a driver’s license, a little bit of cash and maybe some coins and about four business cards. It also comes with a card to tuck inside addressed to pickpockets that reads “Sorry this contains so little money. Consider changing your profession” in five languages. I’ve also tried out the 21-inch Roll-Aboard ($139.95) and the Avanti Rolling Tote ($99.95). I took the Roll-Aboard on two flights and it performed beautifully, with one exception: As someone who never, ever checks bags, I was a bit disgruntled when American Airlines made me check it because their older-model plane was full, and the case didn’t fit facing out in the overhead compartment.
I measured the bag, and while it is listed at 21 x 14, it actually comes in at 22 x 14 1/2 with the wheels and the trim, and it was that extra inch in length that pushed it beyond American’s capacity. Otherwise, the bag is wonderful, with a spongy, easy-to-hold grip that felt great as I hauled a heavy load through O’Hare, a sturdy, easy-to-extend telescoping handle that was hardy enough to support my weighty laptop bag, smooth-rolling wheels, a variety of sizable, efficient pockets all over the place and a couple of mesh ditty bags for inside. Also really liked the handles on the side and bottom for easy maneuverability, and the high-density polyester fabric is easy to clean. The Rolling Tote, on the other hand, has the smooth wheel action, the great pockets and the size is just right for a quick weekend, and it offers a hard-shell laptop section. And at 16 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 10, it’s going to fit in every overhead. But, I longed for the spongy grip, the sturdier telescoping handle and a handle on the bottom for flinging it into an overhead that the Roll-Aboard featured – if they put those on the Tote, this would be a perfect piece.
