Keep Calm and Carry Your Bag On

Tired of paying hefty fees for checking your bag? With airlines charging anywhere from $20-$50 for your first checked bag, many travelers have made the switch to a carry-on bag, even for longer trips. Plus you can head out of the airport as soon as you disembark the plane, rather than trudging down to baggage claim to wait for your luggage.

Irv’s Luggage has been giving expert advice to travelers for over 72 years. Read on:

• While 4 wheel spinner cases are popular and convenient, 2 wheel cases give you more interior packing space. With a 4 wheel spinner, in order for the case to meet the overall allowable carry on dimensions, the case has to be smaller to allow for the 4 wheels. Takeaway: buy a 2 wheel carry on, gain more interior packing space and save BIG on baggage fees AND time.
• Softside vs. Hardside? Softside every time, for added space and flexibility in packing plus the convenience of having outside pockets. Most softside cases we sell have USB ports for charging your phone – you don’t need a hardside case for that!
• Packing cubes and packing folders have revolutionized the way we pack.
  • Save a substantial amount of space by organizing your items and packing everything in a packing cube or folder.
  • Packing folders are perfect for larger items like pants, or folded shirts. The wings fold in for maximum compression.
  • Buy cubes with compression zippers that further compress your clothes saving additional space in your case.
  • Using Ziploc bags in your luggage? Invest in packing cubes made of durable material and quality zippers because they will last forever, they stack better in your luggage, your clothes will be less creased and they’re easier to access.
• Bringing really bulky items, like sweaters and jackets? Check out Compression Bags – different than compression packing cubes.
  • Compression Bags are made of durable plastic. You load your bag, seal the top (usually these have Ziploc tops), and then roll the bag squeezing out all the air. Using your body weight and rolling the bag on the floor will give you the best results.
• Bring interchangeable wardrobe items that give you multiple outfits.
  • Choose basic pieces that work together and reduce the overall quantity of what you bring while still having options to change up your outfits.
  • Wear your bulkiest shoes or boots on the plane and pack the smaller pair in your carry on.
• Invest in a compact toiletry kit with multiple pockets for keeping things organized.
  • Use TSA compliant bottles or buy travel sized toiletry items.

So many carry ons to choose from – how do you choose?? I’m going to break it down and give you my top 3 favorite bags.

1. Briggs & Riley Baseline Domestic Carry On: at 22”, this carry on is the largest size you can take on the plane, giving you the most amount of space. The features and overall design of this bag are second to none; hanging section and a flat roomy interior. This is our best selling carry on, hands down.
2. Travelpro Crew VersaPack Max Carryon: This New collection from Travelpro is expandable, has garment bag features so you can hang items if you choose, and offers various zip in organizers to make this versatile bag perfectly suited to the way you travel.
3. Eagle Creek Expanse Hauler Convertible Carry On: This amazingly versatile carry on is perfect for the traveler that is moving around a lot and needs to have a roomy, lightweight bag along for the ride. This carry on converts easily to a backpack, with padded backpacks straps. Tuck the backpacks straps in and use the padded shoulder strap. Grab handles all around the bag make it easy to grab & go. Insanely great pockets everywhere.

With hundreds of travel accessories to help make your trip easier, more comfortable and more efficient, Irv’s Luggage is your 1 stop travel shop.

Top 10 Travel Essentials For the Holidays

Holiday travel is coming!  Here are our Top Ten Essentials to have in your luggage when you head out to the airport or on the road.  We cover a wide array of items from RFID blocking accessories to TSA approved laptop bags.  Are you prepared?

• Packing cubes are essential whenever I travel.  They are versatile in organizing/compressing clothes, functioning as a travel kit, consolidating souvenirs, and so many more applications.  They also act as a 2^nd barrier if something spills in your bag, adding just that extra level of protection and peace of mind as well.  Eagle Creek offers packing cubes that are just perfect to fit in luggage and hold your belongings.

 

 

 

 

 

• A speedthru laptop bag/case will make getting through TSA easier.  No fumbling around with your netbook in your carry on or messenger bag, a speedthru laptop makes accessing your electronics so much easier.  And it frees your hands up from holding your laptop while in line; easy in, easy out, easy through, and you can get to your shoes, belt, spare change, etc. a lot easier.

 

 

 

 

• TSA approved travel bottles allow you to bring some of the comforts from home with you, without risk that TSA might toss your amenities.  Travelon makes travel bottles sized to TSA security specifications; these bottles hold your shampoo, body wash, or any other liquids you may need from your home bathroom.

 

 

 

 

•  An expandable lightweight luggage carry-on, such as the Lucas Vortex Lite, is easier to carry than most other bags due to its lighter frame, but it can also save you on checked baggage fees!  4 Wheel Spinner luggage is easier to maneuver than other wheeled luggage, making the entire piece high on mobility, low on overall cost to you.  Carry more, spend less, and an even lower risk of your checked bag getting separated from you!

 

 

 

 

 

•  A luggage scale is another way to combat luggage fees, by addressing any weight limits for your airline.  The Victorinox Digital Luggage Scale is a good option to use when you want to avoid overweight luggage fees.  You can save yourself a few dollars and especially some time by testing your luggage before you leave for the airport, and meeting the necessary guidelines.

 

 

 

 

 

• A great anti-theft bag (especially the anti-theft bags made by Travelon) can be invaluable in this day and age.  Thieves employ more and more sophisticated methods to take your information or possessions, and you have to travel smart to be prepared for such instances.  Gain peace of mind that your personal electronics and items such as wallet and passport are kept safe in a slash-proof, RFID-protected, and securely fastened cross body bag or something similar.

For more information on RFID/Anti-Theft, see Travelon’s video on this anti-theft bag here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGehipX9hF4&feature=share

 

 

•  An RFID wallet is less visible than an anti-theft bag, but no less important to your safety.  It will keep your ID and personal information protected from IR scanners and other devices intended to pick up your info while you are unaware.  Definitely a great purchase if you don’t own one yet.  It would also make a great gift for someone else!

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sometimes an electric wall outlet just is not available while you’re out and about, or you have to recharge while on the move and cannot afford to sit still for 2 hours waiting for your device to charge.  A mobile charger/battery pack is an invaluable item to carry with you, to get your electronic device charged when you might need it the most.  In a pinch, you could reach who you need when you need, and that’s one less worry for you in an emergency! Irv’s Luggage offers a wide variety of tech accessories.

 

 

•   A waterproof bag for your iPad, cell phone, or any other electronics can handle inclement weather, accidents, spills, nature, the oceans, life and adds one more protective layer for devices necessary to you when you travel.  You wouldn’t have to be mindful of what’s in your pockets when caught in a downpour or dropping your phone in the snow, it would all be tucked away and secure in a sealed waterproof container.  There are a lot of preventable accidents that can disable one’s electronics while abroad, be ready for some of them and ultimately save yourself the expense and trouble of a replacement.

 

 

 

 

•  Personal organizers work much like the packing cubes, only a more proportionate size for what you need in it. A jewelry organizer would keep your earrings, necklaces, rings, and other assorted accessories together and matched up in one place without risking losing them in a baggie, dropping them somewhere, or breaking while sitting in your suitcase.  Toiletry kits are a necessity for keeping your bathroom amenities in one place and packed together tightly, rather than have your shaving kit or hand mirror sliding all over the inside of your luggage and at risk to spilling or breakage.  Everything is so much easier to find, keep track of, and travel with peace of mind regardless of how your luggage may shift.

 

 

 

 

These 10 items are our top picks for what to take on vacation.  They’ll make traveling more organized, efficient, smoother, less worrisome, and add to the overall experience for veteran and rookie travelers.  You can worry less about certain details and definitely enjoy and focus on where you are, what you’re doing, and the family you’re spending time with.  While you can’t always predict what will happen on a trip, these accessories will make sure you’re more prepared and organized for whatever may happen.

About Packing Cubes (Athalon, Eagle Creek)

I recently traveled on business to Philadelphia, PA for Irv’s Luggage.  The City of Brotherly Love, the birth place of the nation, all sorts of history just permeating the 5th largest city in the United States (who knew?)  Not known for the biggest population or overwhelming skyline, Philadelphia is however a city of firsts.  Rather appropriate, as this was my first true business trip.

But before I even got on the plane, I had to pack.  I needed to plan for casual, business casual, extra shoes, toiletries, business collateral, and anything else I might pick up along the way.  I needed a plan.

In recent history, I’ve become a big fan of packing cubes.  They fit together nicely in my luggage, keep my personal effects (from clothes to electronics) sorted, and overall just make keeping track of everything so much easier.  I find myself worrying less about if I packed all the socks I brought with me or that all my shirts are together.  I know, because using the packing cubes (in my case I use the Athalon variety pack) helps me eyeball everything instead of having to dig for what I have left.  Irv’s Luggage carries other styles from Travelon and Eagle Creek, so count on a variety of options to choose from, and each one worth it.

The key to the packing cubes (as any seasoned traveler might tell you) is rolling your clothes properly and tightly (refer to the video).  You can fit plenty of shirts and pants as opposed to bundling all your clothes loose and hoping they stay in one place.  Shoes can go inside your bag and a packing cube will make sure nothing gets on your other clothes (and that everything easily slides together.)  A carry on bag or an expandable luggage case all of a sudden has a lot more capacity than you originally thought.  You do it right, you just might save $25 on a checked bag fee.

The best part about having all your belongings organized?  Less time worrying about your stuff and more time spent on taking in the local sights –

 

 

 

Spring Break – Wheeled Duffel Bag-stravaganza

 

Spring Break is a modern tradition where people get together with friends and family to just get away after thawing out from winter. Just pick up and go away for a week or 2 where you enjoy the sun, lounge around on a beach with a cool beverage, and let the waves lap at your feet.

Make sure to not only pack what you need, but that you pack enough! Large wheeled duffels can help. If your travel luggage wasn’t big enough to accommodate enough clothes for a week or 2 and your amenities, you’re going to run out of clean clothes very quickly before you get home!

High Sierra offers a number of different wheeled duffels to suit your needs.  From the AT3,  AT6 and many more you have wheeled duffel with high capacity, a good number of pockets, inline wheels to keep you moving, and all at a great price from Irv’s Luggage.  Also highly durable, a High Sierra duffel bag is going to keep your possessions safe through some of the toughest conditions.

 

 

 

Ogio also has a wide selection of wheeled duffels as well, in particular the Radica which is one of our top rated and best-selling brands.  Expandable, lined with pockets, easy to move and carry, Ogio duffel bags are another fine choice for an extended Spring Break away from it all.  The durable 1200 x 600D Poly material will keep your stuff together, and protected where ever you travel.

 

 

 

Once you arrive at your destination, it’s always handy to keep track of everything as well.  Between packing cubes and hanging organizers keep all your amenities and clothes carefully organized and stowed away.  With Irv’s Luggage you have a variety of choices, from Travelon, Eagle Creek, Baggallini, Athalon, and more.

Spring break should be fun and a fond memory, as all trips should be.  With our help and these products you can take a load off your mind when it comes to how you’re going to fit everything and where all your stuff went.  Instead, worry about when you can catch the sunset off the beach, or when your tour of the islands leaves.
Make a memory!  And please feel free to share on Facebook!

Spring Travel – American Tourister Spinner Luggage & Anti-Theft Accessories!

As the weather warms up, the wanderlust is unavoidable.  You feel the need to travel, to go and see something new!

Make sure you’ve made the right choice with American Tourister Luggage.  With a variety of wheeled carry on luggage, spinner luggage,  and luggage sets, American Tourister is sure to have just what you need and Irv’s Luggage carries it.

We now have the American Tourister Colora Collection as well. Thanks to the spinner wheels, this piece is incredibly mobile.  Its vibrant colors assure how easy it is to spot and gives it a sense of of fun, along with plenty of room to pack for your trip.

After you’ve picked your luggage, packing comes next.  There’s the tried and true “rolling” method to save space, but recent experience has taught me the majesty of packing cubes.  Eagle Creek has a wide variety of packing solutions to keep your clothes folded neatly, (especially when it comes to button down dress shirts) your socks and undergarments organized and together, and your shoes covered and separated from the rest of your clothes.  Everything is clean, fits together, and saves you on wasted space which could lead to additional check bag fees.  These packing cubes can also organize your personal electronics and toiletries, an invaluable aspect when you really don’t want to lose anything.

And when you’re not just looking at the luggage, you have to keep in mind your personal effects.  When you travel, make sure you travel safely.  Pacsafe Smart Travel Gear offers a number of solutions to protect your personal effects when traveling, especially during the popular travel seasons, when it’s easy to find yourself a target for theft.  RFID-blocking wallets, and anti-theft bags with slice-proof panels and straps, mesh camera bag protectors, we carry a myriad of options to help you make sure your personal effects remain personal.

When all is said and done, enjoy your vacation to the fullest.  Preparation only goes so far before it begins to diminish the joy of getting away from it all.  Conversely, it does not pay to be reckless and lose common sense and self-awareness when on vacation.  Be safe and be smart, but most of all make as many memories as you can.

Traveling Soon? Tips for buying good luggage!

After six weeks of frequent airline travel (six airline trips in six weeks) I’ve been in a lot of airports and seen a lot of luggage.  I worked for Irv’s Luggage for over five years and now have a new job and travel quite a bit. Over the last six weeks of traveling I acquired an entirely new perspective on airline travel and more importantly for Irv’s Luggage, a brand new perspective on luggage. I guess that I have now been upgraded to a frequent flyer, as the flight attendants now know my name.  Traveling with good luggage can make a huge difference in your trip and a huge difference in how you feel about traveling.

Three things to consider when purchasing new luggage.

First, how do you travel? Do you check your bag or are you more of a carry-on luggage person? For me, I really like a carry-on, cabin bag. I had to wait this past Sunday, while one of my traveling companions  waited for her large, wheeled checked bag came off the airline carousel.  The wait wasn’t terrible, but how do you find your bag among the sea of black bags?  Impossible. Plus, no matter how pristine the luggage is when  you check it, it comes out smashed, dirty and often something is damaged or scratched.  So whenever I can, I carry my luggage on board. My choice for the best carry on luggage? Easy: Briggs and Riley 21 inch wheeled carry on bag. Durable, easy to wheel and made of ballistic nylon, this rugged carry on is my first choice for a carry on bag.  And, good news, right now the Briggs & Riley Baseline 21″ Carry On Expandable Upright Chocolate – Discontinued  is on sale at 35% off.

Second, warranty. Let’s face it, luggage gets damaged…frequently. Look for luggage that offers a lifetime warranty, or a ‘no questions asked’ type of warranty. Briggs & Riley was one of the original ‘lifetime luggage warranty’ companies, and now many luggage manufacturers offer either lifetime warranty or a ten year warranty.  Hartmann Luggage, Samsonite, Victorinox, High Sierra and even Eagle Creek offer wonderful warranties.  And, should your luggage get damaged… first, if the airline damaged the bag, then stop at the ticket counter immediately and file a claim.  Second, Irv’s Luggage offers luggage repair on virtually every major brand. So, if you need luggage repair for wheels, zippers, handles, or seams, bring it to Irv’s Luggage for all your luggage repairs – no matter what the damage is.

Last, thought… right now spinner luggage is hugely popular (vs. the typical two – wheeled luggage).  My preference of spinner luggage verses the traditional wheeled luggage: spinner luggage.  Spinner luggage is easier to wheel in an airport, down the center aisle of the airplane and virtually everywhere. And, if your luggage gets damaged, and you lose a wheel, you still have three others!  I love my new spinner luggage. If you want something other than Briggs (see paragraph above) I am also a huge fan of the new Samsonite Hyperspace Spinner 21.5″ Expandable Upright (SM 47166). Offered in black, teal and pink, this is rugged, spinner carryon luggage is spacious, durable and lightweight.

Back on the road again on Friday to lovely Memphis. This trip, my Samsonite Hyperspace will be traveling with me!

 

 

Favorite Travel Accessories

As I continue with “staff picks”, I decided to address another important part of Irv’s Luggage’ business, travel accessories; I interviewed our chief accessory buyer, Andrea, who has been in the luggage business for over 39 years. Andrea talked about her four most popular and favorite travel accessories:  Luggage Tags, Luggage Locks, Money Belts, Luggage Straps and Adaptor Plugs / Converter Kits.

Luggage Tags: Andrea’s favorite luggage tags are En Route.  Not only are En Route tags easy to use, they also work very well and don’t break easily with their stretchy straps. En Route luggage tags are also very bright and colorful, just what travelers need to help identify and distinguish their luggage from the rest of the pack.

Luggage Locks: Regarding luggage locks, Andrea recommends combination locks and feels the three dial locks are the easiest to use.  Her favorite brand LCI, Lewis N Clark, have been a mainstay for Irv’s Luggage over the years.  Lewis N Clark locks are TSA approved, very rugged and dependable just like the company who makes them.

Travel Security Wallet: Andrea’s favorite brand of money belts and other travel security wallets is Eagle Creek Luggage. The Eagle Creek travel wallets are very durable, have great attention to detail, wonderful locking mechanisms and in addition, Andrea says Eagle Creek is now trying to go more “green” with their products, another great reason to buy Eagle Creek.  Best of all, Eagle Creek is a good solid company you can depend on!!!!

Adaptor Plus & Converter Kits:  Once again, Andrea has to go with LCI, Lewis N Clark, for the best adaptor plugs and converter kits.  LCI has been on the market for many years,  they are very dependable and know the business of converting and adapting energy!!!!

Check out these and all the great luggage accessories at Irv’s Luggage today!

Hurry Win a Trip to Kenya with Eagle Creek Luggage Sweepstake ends July 31st

Eagle Creek luggage is extremely lightweight, has a “No Matter What” guarantee and offers a variety of accessories to organize your bags, using the Eagle Creek “Pack It” system.  In addition to all that…. Eagle Creek is currently running a “Win a Trip to Kenya” sweepstakes that will end July 31, 2010 (the grand prize includes airfare, accommodations and safari).

Whether it is sightseeing, sport adventure, business, resorts, cruises or off the beaten path…..Eagle Creek has a bag that is right for you! Visit us at Irv’s Luggage to get the details ….Kenya awaits!