Standard Luggage: An unsolicited review

I have a bit of an addiction to luggage and laptop bags. I always look at those items when I’m out shopping and of course I look at them online. Some people love shoes, I love luggage and laptop bags.

In 2010 when I was traveling 90% for work, I got a Briggs & Riley wheelie bag that was touted as fitting in overhead bins. That was important to me because I didn’t want to gate check a bag ever. But as it turned out, that suitcase wouldn’t fit in the tiny planes’ overhead bins. Normally that would only be annoying but on one trip, we'd encountered strong head winds so that the 2 ½ hour layover in Memphis was all used up. I stood on the jet bridge waiting for that bag and heard the gate agent for my second flight paging me. Sure enough I missed that flight so I was in the market for another bag, one that would either fit in the overhead or else fit under the seat.

I got a Timbuk2 Wingman Travel Dufflebag—Kent has one and loves it, but I have never filled it all the way up. Since this is a soft bag, that's meant my belongings slide to the middle and sag down. Talk about awkward! Plus the bag is just a bit too big for my body so I would end up bumping people. That’s also annoying.

I read about my current bag on a blog I follow. The author mentioned the bag and included a photo. I loved the look of it so I checked out all the details on the web site and I was hooked. It’s got just a slight bit of structure around all four sides, it’s a bit shorter on the long dimension a bit taller on the short dimension. It’s got a lot of well-designed and thought out pockets, plus I loved that the laptop sleeve is on the back. It converts to a backpack with ease and can also be put over the handle of a roller bag. And you can also expand the bag by a few inches. Here are the dimensions:

• Bag dimensions: 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 in when zipped and 21.5 x 13.5 x 9.5 when expanded
• Volume/Capacity: 35L zipped and 45L when expanded
• Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Laptop Pocket: Holds most 15" laptops and 15" Macbook Pro

I used it when we went to Boston and then Norfolk last month as a trial run for my next trip to India. I was able to pack a full week’s worth of clothing etc. and then add in some of the gifts we received for the trip home. It performed like a champ so I used it for my most recent trip to India.

Here’s a photo of my bag (plus bonus photo with Eddie photo-bombing the picture).










As with all luggage that comes with a shoulder strap, I used my Tom Bihn Absolute shoulder strap. This strap messes with gravity somehow because it makes even the most awkward messenger bag seem lighter and easier to carry.

All in all, I absolutely love this bag. I can't wait to see what other products Standard develops because they sure know what they're doing.

Dang I pack well

On my trip to Shreveport in February, I had two and a half hours between my flights in Memphis, but because of very strong head winds that time was cut down to 30 minutes. However I’d had to gate check my 19” suitcase because I was flying on a very small regional jet, the kind with no head room and tiny overhead bins. I stood on the jet way in Memphis and heard the final call for my flight while I waited for that blasted gate checked bag. I ended up being stuck at the Memphis airport for four hours waiting on the next flight to Shreveport.

That was the nudge I needed to move down in luggage size and ditch the wheels. There are good reasons for having wheels and if you are going to check your bag anyway, then it doesn’t matter if your suitcase has wheels or not. But I rarely check bags—in fact, I think the last time I actually did check a bag was last July on the way back from my first business trip out to Hawaii and I just didn’t want to mess with it. Otherwise I use carry on sized bags.

Anyway.

I got a new tote which you can see here. I had a nice 20% off discount coupon and the shipping was free so I think I got a good deal. Briggs & Riley has the best warranty in suitcases I’ve ever seen because it even includes damage by the airlines with no time limit.

And here are two pictures of my packing process for my trip to Georgia last week.

To my utter surprise and delight, I didn’t need to take a second tote for my things. I did take my Booq backpack with my netbook and so on in it, but that was it. Talk about freeing--everything fit in the dinky overhead bins or under the seat in front of me.

I think I can do this for a longer trip, too. I’ll almost certainly have a chance to try later this month. It looks like I’ll be in Arkansas, Wyoming and Texas in April.