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Eagle Creek Pack-It Structured Cube review

When it comes to travel, whoever said “half the fun is getting there” quite obviously did not have to pack his own bag.  If you are anything like me – and I sense you are – you have a tendency to pack more than you need just in case you…well, need it.  To compensate, you have to learn how to pack efficiently or accept the fact you will need a small army to carry your bags.  Eagle Creek’s Pack-It cube system intends to help you with the first one, but the question is – can it?  Read on to find out…

The Eagle Creek Pack-It Structured Cube starter set (lucky I don’t get paid by the word) is a set of nylon compression cubes designed to make whatever you put inside them, within reason, smaller.  The set comes with one small cube, one medium cube and a second medium cube with a structured panel.  More on the function of the panel in a moment.  The medium-sized cubes are perfect for shirts but the structured cube is too small for most man-sized pants.  For example, I wear a 38×32 pant – not a small size, to be sure, but not overly large either.  With some creative folding, I was able to get 1 pair of pants into the medium structured cube, so clearly you would need a larger size structured or an unstructured to handle your pants.  Not a fault by any means, just something to keep in mind.

The structured panel, I assume, is intended to help you properly fold clothing like shirts to fit in the medium structured cube.  After folding, you can pack the panel at the bottom of the cube to help retain its shape.  Personally, I would have preferred both medium cubes in this set to have that panel – it would have made this a very valuable travel companion starter set.  Instead, only one of the cubes comes with this panel, an odd oversight.

Because I travel a lot for my day job and because I spend a lot of time in front of clients, I pack long-sleeve, button-down dress shirts.  The medium structured cube will hold 3 of my XL-sized shirts along with the panel.  The small cube will hold either a week’s worth of underwear or socks (not both).

As you can see, the medium structured cube is something of a tight fit with the 3 dress shirts packed along with the panel.  Question is, does the compression actually yield any space savings in your bag?

And the answer: yes, it does.  That is certainly less room than the 3 XL shirts on their own would take.  I would guess that 2 of the medium structured cubes, 2 of the unstructured medium cubes to hold rolled up pants and two small cubes would handle a week’s travel and would allow me to downsize to a smaller suitcase.

The solution comes at a potential cost, though.  I mentioned repeatedly that I pack dress shirts, and any system like this that relies on compression will wrinkly your clothing.  On the 3 trips I have taken using the cubes I have had to iron my shirts every morning.  Sure, that happens on occasion when free-packed in my bag, but there are times when I can get around that by hanging my shirt in the bathroom and letting the steam from the shower take care of minor wrinkling.  Not so with this system.  If I could wear t-shirts or a more casual shirt, this would not be an issue.  Nor should it be something that deters you unless you are actually allergic to irons.

All in all, the system does what it says.  My recommendation, however, would be to assess the kinds of packing cubes you might need and purchase accordingly rather than buying a one size fits some solution.  For example, the medium unstructured cube holds 2 pairs of rolled-up pants.  Two medium unstructured, two medium structured and two small unstructured would take me from a 25-inch checked bag to a 21-inch carry-on.  One trip and I’ve made back the investment in the system.  And that’s a good value in my book.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Eagle Creek.  Please visit their site for more information or visit Amazon to order.

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Eagle Creek Pack-It Structured Cube review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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Mr. Lentz Double Passport Wallet review

Traveling in today’s environment with heightened security and tightened airline rules/regulations can be a real pain. Just keeping up with your travel documents and passports can be tough. I have been fortunate enough to travel on a regular basis and I am usually not alone when I travel, so that means keeping up with double the travel documents for the trip. Recently, I was offered a chance to review a product that could help make my travel a little easier, the Mr. Lentz Double Passport Wallet.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

The Mr. Letz Double Passport Wallet is designed to carry more than just your passport. The wallet has four credit card pockets made to hold up to 12 cards. This leather passport wallet although simple in design is well thought out with an included pen and a small notebook.

As noted above the Mr. Letz Double Passport Wallet comes with a pen and a small notebook, but the folks at Mr. Letz also provide you with a small tin of leather conditioner to keep your wallet in great shape for years of use.

As you can see from the first two photos the front and back of the wallet are pretty much the same, the wallet is basically a mirror image of itself (again simple but effective). The top of the wallet does have slits cut into it to allow the included ink pen to be secured into the wallet.

As you can see both sides of the wallet are identical except for the “MR” sampling in the left side and a number stamped on the right side. The rivets are well placed and solid.

Although I will not carry the included notebook, the Mr. Letz Double Passport Wallet has room for all my essentials; two passports, business cards, credit cards and travel industry ID cards. With all of those items packed inside the wallet, it still maintains a slim profile.

So, what’s my bottom line here? Great product. Sometimes we confuse simple and basic with average and low quality, that is not the case here. The Mr. Letz Double Passport Wallet delivers a quality built, functional product that meets a purpose. To be honest, although I love the feel and look of good leather products they are not always practical for my travel needs. The Mr. Letz Double Passport Wallet is one of the rare exceptions. Even with all of my cards and passports in the wallet, it is still slim and compact enough to carry comfortably. The wallet should outlast any nylon or other fabric wallets that I have and will get better looking and feeling as it wears. Although I won’t probably carry the notebook the pen is a great feature along with the included tin of conditioner to help keep your wallet in tip top shape. I will say that with a base price of $82 (The Western Brown version I reviewed is listed at $84) it may seem a bit pricey, but this truly is a “you get what you pay for” type of product and quality is not cheap. The Mr. Letz Double Passport Wallet is available on the Mr. Letz web page along with other fine leather products.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mr. Lentz Leather Goods. Visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $82 – $84
Manufacturer: Mr. Lentz Leather Goods
Pros:
  • Slim profile
  • Quality made
Cons:
  • None

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Mr. Lentz Double Passport Wallet review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 review

If you are a frequent traveler like I am, you probably have a pretty high standard for your suitcases and travel gear.  I am no different.  I travel 25-50% of my time for my job and finding that perfect bag for those 2-4 day trips has been an ongoing quest.  I have quite a collection of different duffels, suitcases, roller bags, etc. and each has had their benefits but also their drawbacks, leaving me searching for that ultimate bag for my work trips.

When I had the opportunity to review the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 travel bag, I was excited to have another option for my travel needs but managed my expectations because I have yet to find the perfect bag and there is always something that just isn’t quite right for my needs.  I can say right now that  I am more impressed with this bag and accessory system than I have been with ANY other product I have used since becoming such a frequent flyer.

The size of the Aeronaut 45 is designed to meet the maximum carry-on dimensions for your major airlines (22″ x 14″ x 9″) but maximizes the space and can be internally modified to fit your exact needs.  “(T)he Aeronaut is at once soft luggage, a duffel bag, and a backpack” as described in the product description.  the backpack straps can be completely hidden, allowing you to use the top handle or the optional shoulder strap should you want to carry it over the shoulder or cross body.  The Aeronaut is not a roller bag and that is fine by me!

Many duffel bags are simply a sack with no compartmentalization or have a tiny pocket that serves little purpose for actually organizing your clothes/equipment.  The Aeronaut 45 is smartly divided into three compartments, a main/center compartment where most of your clothing will go, which is flanked by two large end compartments on each side that will actually hold a lot.  I wear a size 14 shoe and I was able to fit a pair of my bulky clodhoppers in one of the side compartments (the website says they can accommodate a size 12 running shoe so I am guessing nobody there had a size 14 to test but mine fit like a glove).  This is the first time I have had a carry-on sized bag that I was able to keep a pair of my pontoon sized shoes in anything other than the main storage compartment.  This was the first thing I tested when I received the bag and when I discovered that both shoes would fit in one pocket, I was ready to call it a victory and write this review, but there is so much more to the bag and the accessories, I might as well earn my keep and look into the rest of it.

The bag is offered in a myriad of external and internal color combinations with more on the way.  Constructed ballistic ripstop nylon, this bag will have no issues being used regularly and being thrown in overhead bins or in the seat in front of you.  The materials feel thick and sturdy yet lightweight and flexible at the same time.  All zippers are YKK and any external zippers are also YKK Aquagaurd Coil Zippers.  Everything on this bag looks and feels like it was designed with longevity in mind and to be a piece you will use for years.

    

The main compartment is the perfect size for folded pants or dress shirts and work perfectly with their optional packing cube accessories or with many of the packing accessories you might already own.  I have a couple sets of organizing cubes from other manufacturers and they fit quite well but I really like the ones from Tom Bihn because of their clear intent to be used with this product.  There are so many little conveniences that have been so thoughtfully designed into this bag it is difficult to list them all but everything on the bag is there for a reason and you will find that you will miss them if you go back to using another bag after this.

    

I am a bigger guy (6’1″, 230#) and the bag fit me perfectly in backpack mode but also adjusted to fit my wife who is much more petite than I am.  I usually prefer a shoulder strap and was fortunate to receive one of those as well but I can see myself using the backpack mode as often or more often than the shoulder strap because of how comfortable it is and how well the straps and back are padded to make for a comfortable carry over long distances.

The offer a comprehensive range of travel accessories, which can be ordered to match your Aeronaut bag.  I received a couple of large packing cubes for organizing pants and shirts inside the Aeronaut; some of the travel stuff sacks, which can be used as compression sacks for lightweight jackets, socks/underwear, dirty clothes or just anything you want to keep separate and tuck into nooks and crannies in the bag; a 3D Clear Organizing Cube for holding my toiletries and can be easily taken out at airport security if it is holding liquid; and the shoulder strap, which gives me an additional option for how to carry the bag.  The shoulder strap is the most comfortable strap I have ever had on any bag.  It is constructed from soft neoprene with a stretch backing, which makes the bag feel 50% lighter on your shoulder and cuts down on the pressure point on your shoulder or collarbone.  The all-metal hardware on the shoulder strap is another sign of quality and assures me that I won’t have to deal with a broken plastic buckle at an inopportune time.  With a retail price of $295, I think this bag is a bargain.

Overall I think Tom Bihn hit a home run with this product.  I have recommended it to people in my office when we talk about our travel and the gear we use.  I highly recommend this bag and strongly encourage you to look into their accessories to help organize your packing.  I have actually been using the pouches on their own to carry small items to my kid’s soccer games and also to keep things organized in my car.  the versatility offered by all of these products is one of the reasons it is my new go-to for my short business trips.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tom Bihn.  For more information please visit their website.

 

Product Information

Price: $295.00
Manufacturer: Tom Bihn
Pros:
  • Extremely well engineered and constructed bag that has the traveler in mind; very competitively priced for the quality, versatility, and functionality of this bag; best shoulder strap I have ever had on any bag; the backpack straps are completely hidden when not in use.
Cons:
  • I am actually at a loss here.  I have no complaints, which is a first for me with bags and travel gear.

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Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 20, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Rule the airways with the InCase NoviConnected Smart Hardshell Luggage

Incase, known for their innovative bag designs and Apple-friendly products, has entered the smart luggage market with the new NoviConnected 22 Smart Hardshell Luggage. They’re bringing a pretty amazing set of features for the road warrior. 

The NoviConnected 22 is TSA approved for carry-on at 22″ by 14″ by 9″ and is built with a class-A Makrolon polycarbonate shell for lightweight, durability, and impact resistance. It’s got a TSA-approved lock to keep your things secured, 4 hubless wheels (two of which are removable for two-wheelin’), an adjustable-height trolley handle, and interior organization for a three-day trip. As if that weren’t enough, it’s also a rolling power station: a 10050mAh battery bank includes both USB-C and USB ports to power your MacPro and iPhone (or iPad) simultaneously. It’s also Bluetooth enabled, with an available app to keep track of your bag and monitor the battery level. I’m pretty sure Incase covered all the bases with this one… and it looks amazing!

The NoviConnected 22 also includes a 1.5 meter USB-C cable, laundry bag, and sports 6 color options. It retails for $299.95. For more info about the NoviConnected 22 Smart Hardshell Luggage visit incase.com

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Rule the airways with the InCase NoviConnected Smart Hardshell Luggage originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 20, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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WaterField Designs Air Porter crowd collaborated travel bag is now available for order

After four months taking ideas from their fans and frequent flier customers, WaterField Designs has unveiled their new Air Porter carry-on bag.

The Air Porter has been designed to slide and stand up under the airline seat in front of you. It has two compartments that offer ample storage for all your important gear and it has a pass-thru on the back that allows you to slip it over a wheeled suitcase handle for easy transport.

The Air Porter is TSA-friendly, offering a zip open and lay flat design that allows the bag to go through TSA check point X-Ray machines without removing your laptop.

There are two versions of this bag. One made of waxed canvas and the other is made of ballistic nylon. Both are priced at $359 and are available for order through www.sfbags.com with shipping on September 15th.

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WaterField Designs Air Porter crowd collaborated travel bag is now available for order originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 17, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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