Take This Duffel Bag and Stuff It

This should be an Olympic sport … stuff your favorite duffel bag with as much as humanly possible. Leather duffels from David King, Le Donne, and Passage 2 let you pack, cram, jam — and organize — all of your clothing and travel accessories. It seems like everything you own would fit in these bags. WARNING — watch the airline baggage regulations and don’t try to pack the kitchen sink. It may just push you over the weight limit. Either way, there is plenty of room and space.

Duffel bags come in various leathers and sizes, and there are even wheeled options to meet the needs of today’s travelers. However, the duffel bag is not new to the luggage scene. It has been around for more than 400 hundred years.

Did you know this?

• The tightly woven canvas that was later used in the duffle bags was first manufactured in the 15th century in Duffle, Antwerp Belgium. It was never intended to be used for luggage.
• In 1611, the cloth was imported to Spain and Portugal for sailors to repair their ship’s sails.
• Sailors fell in love with the durable, seaworthy fabric and began to make their bags from this material. The bags were originally called sea bags or ditty bags.
• During World War I, the term duffle bag was first used.
• The US military first issued the official duffle bag in 1943 and it has remained the military’s favorite bag.
• Duffle is also spelled duffel. Why? No one knows!

The duffel bag users of yesterday would hardly recognize today’s leather duffel bag. David King, Le Donne, and Passage 2 are three of the finest bag manufacturers and are top featured brands at Irv’s Luggage. Their bags have plenty of pockets and compartments for travel items, and even dirty laundry. With the David King Vaquetta Leather Duffel with Bottom Compartment, it is easy to keep your messy, dirty things below and keep your clothes clean and fresh in the compartment above.

Duffel bags are often spotted filled with gear at sporting events or gyms. They make for great carry-on bags, as they are available in a variety of sizes that easily fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. College kids arrive home with the Passage 2 Collection Vaquetta Leather Rolling Duffel oozing with weeks of dirty clothes.

Weekend travelers also love duffels — especially the Le Donne Distressed Leather Getaway Duffel — because they can easily fit all their clothing, shoes and gear needed to go exploring. Each leather duffel from Le Donne is unique in its color tone variations, creases and weathered look. The bag feels like it has been a part of you, like your comfy leather slippers, and the shoulder strap removes if you prefer to carry it by hand.

Top Guide to Packing Luggage for College

Ah Graduation season! High School seniors everywhere are throwing their caps and gowns to the floor, clutching their diplomas and will soon be heading off to colleges all across the country. When the time comes to leave the nest, be sure that your student is fully prepared for even the most unexpected situations. You never know what adventures might occur! Here is your new guide to preparing for and packing luggage for college.

Bedroom: More than one set of sheets (they’re going to get dirty and will not be washed for weeks, I thought I should warn you up front) comforter, pillows, pillowcases, under bed storage – they are more useful than you know and will not only hold belongings that aren’t currently in use like sweatshirts but they make the trip home that much more organized – blankets

Clothing: T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, pants, jeans, khakis, shorts, sweats, socks, underwear, hangers, work out clothes/athletic clothes, dressy clothes, pajamas, gym shoes, flip flops, walking shoes, dressy shoes

Snacks: Fridge, microwave, cereal, Mac and cheese, “easy foods” like Ramen noodles; and of course you can’t forget utensils such as knife, fork, spoon, plate, cup, mug, bowl and paper towels

Bathroom: Towels, shampoo, soap, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower caddy, washcloths, hamper, contacts, contact solution, glasses, special soaps or creams

Computer & Electronics: Computer/laptop, cables, printer, printer paper, mouse, mouse pad, ink, surge protector, Flash drive, extension cord, phone cases, phone charger, laptop cases/bags, laptop charger, iPad cases/bags

Cleaning supplies: Dish soap, laundry soap, vacuum, air fresheners, sponge and all purpose cleaner

School supplies: Backpack, Calendar, lamp, envelopes, stamps, pens, pencils, highlighters, dry erase board/markers, wall hooks, erasers, white out, glue, paper clips, stapler, 3 hole punch, sharpener, post its, rubber bands, ruler, scissors, staple remover, tape, calculator, index cards, notebooks, notebook paper

Miscellaneous: Quarters, change, ATM card, credit card, driver’s license, first aid kit, TV, DVD player, DVDs, video game systems, video games, paper towels, pictures from home, flashlight, sports equipment, alarm clock, umbrellas, men’s wallets, women’s wallets, handbags, camera case, dopp toiletry kits and cosmetic kits/cases

Now all of these items are super important for when your student is at school, but what about when you have to send the belongings (oh, and your kids too) to school and then pick them back up again? You’ll need some heavy duty travel bags to carry all of that “stuff” and you won’t find a better selection of luggage, travel accessories or duffel bags to travel back and forth with from school than from Irv’s Luggage.

If you’re in need of luggage to send with your college student, take a look at any of our TravelPro Luggage pieces, especially the Crew 8 series. They were designed with pilots and flight attendants in mind, meaning they’re super sturdy) and they have a great price tag that won’t make you cringe (like tuition bills might!) But if you’re looking for something less traditional, a duffel bag is the way to go. It will not only make weekend trips home much more organized (just throw everything in the bag, zip it up and get home!) but depending on the size of the duffel you can either roll it behind you and carry it over your shoulder for extra security. Our David King duffels make a great gift and are the perfect addition to any traveler’s wardrobe.

No matter where your student is going to college or how much they’re planning on taking with them, you will know they will be prepared for any situation with these planning tips. Now if we could only guarantee they will use them…Happy Learning!

The Best Luggage for Students Traveling or Studying Abroad

Are you a student heading overseas to travel or study abroad……or an avid traveler taking a much deserved extended vacation? Well I have the perfect combination of luggage for any of these extensive, long term type travel plans; the High Sierra Elevate 34” Drop Bottom Wheeled Duffel and the High Sierra Export 22” Travel Pack.

The High Sierra Elevate 34” Drop Bottom Wheeled Duffel is a large piece of luggage that   will fit just about everything you need for a longer trip (with 6715 cubic inches of packing space) without weighing you down.  The 34″ Elevate weighs-in at a mere 8.8 pounds.

With a large main compartment with a U-shaped opening and a large drop bottom compartment with straps, you will have a great deal of packing options for the larger variety of “necessities” you will need. (The bag also contains a zippered divider panel between the upper and lower compartments that can be rolled up and secured to create one large compartment.)

When taking a larger piece of luggage, maneuverability is key and the Elevate 34” Drop Bottom Duffel will not disappoint.  With inline skate-style wheels inserted into protective corner-mounted housings and a recessed, telescoping lightweight aluminum handle system with locking mechanism, the Elevate Duffel will get you there with ease and with your arms and lower back intact!

Other great features of this duffel include: custom ID holder in a hide-away front pocket; protective feet to keep the bag cleaner and protected from rough surfaces; durable webbing handles with padded wrap and padded grab handle on the end; zippered front accessory pocket and two top-loading end compartments; and finally adjustable exterior compression straps to help secure your precious belongings from the rough hands of baggage handlers scattered throughout the world.

The High Sierra Export 22” Travel Pack is a smaller wheeled carry-on that converts to a  backpack and is the perfect bag to complement the larger 34” High Sierra Elevate Drop Bottom Duffel.

When you are traveling with the larger duffel, this High Sierra 22” Export Travel Pack can be worn as a backpack to free-up your hands. This pack is extremely comfortable with adjustable Vapel Mesh Airflow padded straps.  When you are without your larger piece of luggage, the Elevate 22” Travel Pack can also be wheeled from place to place on planes, trains or automobiles for shorter day or weekend type excursions. Once again, it can also be used as a backpack while traveling on foot, animal or bicycle……really a very versatile piece of luggage, perfect for any journey you encounter.

Some other great features of this High Sierra carry-on luggage include: a front load main compartment with clothing hold-down straps; deluxe telescoping handle and corner mounted inline skate- style wheels (for ease of maneuverability just like the larger Elevate 34” Duffel); a deluxe organizer with cell phone pocket, pen pockets and removable key fob and a zippered pocket with headphone port; reflective accent piping for safely and a Mesh 1000ml water bottle pocket to help keep you hydrated, an immensely important part of any successful travel.

So there you have it, the perfect luggage combination for longer extensive travels……happy trails from Irv’s Luggage!!!

Brand Name Luggage at Great Sale Prices

The end of a year can have many different meanings, including a fresh start and making new resolutions (but hopefully not breaking them!) In the luggage industry, the year’s end can mean the end of a collection or even the end of a brand. But more often that not, it means there will be a Luggage Sale on most, if not all, of the best brands. Here at Irv’s Luggage, our buyers are constantly looking to order the highest quality items at the very best prices that we can pass along to the consumer. This year, we were able to offer some of our best prices ever on the biggest (and best-selling) brands!

High Sierra Sport Company specializes in adventure travel products, with backpacks, duffel bags, and sport packs that are as rugged as you are, and just as versatile. If you are planning a ski/snowboard vacation this winter and taking all of the equipment along with you, you will not regret purchasing a High Sierra bag for your travels. A sturdy piece of luggage on sale now, the High Sierra AT6 32″ Expandable Wheeled Duffel with Backpack Straps has a drop bottom to hold your wet snow boots, gloves and mittens, etc in a separate compartment all while keeping your clothes safe and dry. High Sierra also offers smaller duffels, carry on bags and backpacks at great prices for those of us who are not so adventurous. Keep an eye out for a High Sierra Luggage Sale soon!

Hartmann Luggage is one of the best-known luggage brands not only for their story but for the quality of their products. As one of the oldest luggage manufacturers in America, Hartmann set the standard for top quality and distinctive luggage. Each collection shows a different persona of the Hartmann brand, but they always remain true to their name. Whenever Hartmann Luggage is on sale, you know you will be getting a great deal! From their carry-ons and totes to their spinner luggage and garment bags, there is a piece of Hartmann luggage available for everyone.

Kenneth Cole Luggage has quickly gained a following thanks to its simple, clean lines and the name recognition of their briefcases. Each new collection offers the consumer more options to choose from. Some of the most popular pieces of Kenneth Cole Checked Luggage on Sale are from the Reaction Taking Flight Collection. Available as an upright and a spinner, these bags are lightweight and stylish. The carry on has all of the amenities of a larger bag – expansion, garment restraints and a large front gusseted pocket to carry notes, magazines or plane tickets you might need on a trip – without the bulk or weight that comes with carrying a larger bag. You won’t want to miss out on the next Kenneth Cole Luggage Sale we have!

Whether you will be going on business travel for a few days, on a whirlwind adventure for a whole week or on vacation with your family, you will find the perfect luggage, briefcases and backpacks on sale at Irv’s Luggage.