5 days 5 bags – day 1: Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric

by Scott Carmichael on

For the next 5 days, I’ll be reviewing one piece of luggage a day. Today’s bag is the Timbuk2 Patrol ballistic fabric.

The Patrol is a nifty multifunctional bag which can be converted from a regular bag to a backpack in about 20 seconds. The bag features 2 main compartments – one for your clothes and other items, and one internal padded compartment for your laptop. The design is quite brilliant as the laptop portion “hangs” in the main compartment, which means it can be protected not only by its own padding, but also by whatever clothes you pack in the bag.

On the outside of the bag are 4 compression straps, which make it ideal for “overstuffing”, a packing method that has often saved me.

The Timbuk2 Patrol has pockets everywhere – 2 storage pouches on the outside, 2 waterproof zones on the
inside, a separate folding pouch in the main compartment and a very well hidden compartment on the back.

The shoulder straps can be unclipped, and packed in a pocket in the back portion, keeping them out of the way. This also makes it easier if you need to check the bag (ugh) or when you want to carry it using the top or side handles.

The back of the bag has thick foam pads to keep you comfortable. Each foam pad also has air circulation channels.

All in all a real travelers best friend – all the components feel sturdy, zippers are the highly rated YKK brand and the ballistic fabric feels like it could stop a bullet.

The price is a little steep, but very much in line with other premium luggage products. The version I tested here is the “brown/flame” version, which stands out a little, but it really does make for a cool looking color combination.

Dimensions (W*H*D): 14.5*19*8
Weight: 4.1lb
Colors available: Black, dark brown/flame, spinach/army
Warranty: Lifetime, no hassle
Price: $225
Product page: Timbuk2.com

Product review – The Cruising Caddy

by Scott Carmichael on

By now, I’m sure most of you are used to my product reviews involving items with buttons and lights. Still, every now and then I’ll run into a product that is not battery operated, but interesting enough to warrant a closer look.

The BVT Products Cruising Caddy is a travel tote and water bottle holder. The product is roomy enough to hold a 1.5 liter bottle and has 2 pockets on the outside for the random stuff you carry around with you.

Inside the main bottle pouch is a removable insulated sleeve. The front pocket is an expandable Velcro pouch with a “hidden” secondary pocket, and the back pocket is an open top elastic pouch. These 2 pockets offer enough space for your phone, digital camera, paperwork and anything else you need to drag along with you.

On the side of the Cruise Caddy is a metal D-Ring and a clip, for attaching keys.

Of course – bags, pouches and other accessories are a pretty personal thing, but I really do find the Cruise Caddy quite “cool”, and it is most certainly cooler than walking around with a bright green fanny pack (and yes, sadly I do speak from experience here).

The Cruise Caddy is available in black, red and khaki. The black version costs $24.99, and the other 2 colors sell for just $19.99. The product is available directly from BVT products, or from retailers nationwide.

Stay tuned later this week for the Gadling Valentines day giveaway, where you’ll have the chance to win a “his and hers” Cruising Caddy.

Don’t trust the airport scales – weigh your own luggage with the Balanzza Ergo

by Scott Carmichael on

Last year, Jeffrey wrote about faulty scales at Tuscon airport, the month before that it was JFK airport. Bottom line is that airlines don’t always have their scales calibrated as often as they should, and airlines sometimes even use condemned scales in their daily operations.

Of course, the big issue here is that a bad scale could end up costing you money. If you weigh a bag at home, and think it weighs 45 lbs, but the airline tells you it weighs 55 lbs, who are you to argue? You’ll hand over your credit card and pay the difference.

Of course, smart people do argue with the airline, and smart people come prepared.

This is where the Balanzza Ergo handheld scale can help. This little device can weigh bags up to 100 lbs (or 44kg) and runs off 2 (included) AA batteries. To weigh a bag, you simply hook the strap onto your bag, turn the device on and wait for “the beep”. Once it beeps, you put it down again, and check the weight on the display.

The Balanzza Ergo handheld scale costs $24.95 and ships for about $6. Alternatively, you can find it at many travel product retailers for as low as $17. When you realize that airlines will charge as much as $125 for each overweight bag, you’ll understand the need for a portable product like this.

Is the TSA too rough with your stuff?

by Meg Massie on

While waiting in line, just about everyone bitches and moans about the airport security screening process. But of the over 500 million fliers this year, only 12,000 have filed official complaints with the Transportation Security Administration. The rest of us just air our grievances on our blogs.

The number one complaint this year is that the TSA screeners mishandle personal property. This includes when items get damaged in the screening process, as well as lost and stolen. A TSA spokeswoman insists that the agency takes theft very seriously, and that the “TSA has let officers go who’ve taken 50 cents out of a bowl.” It’s good to know they care — but we’re not impressed with how long it took them to catch one agent who had stolen over $200,000 worth of travelers’ property.

The second largest complaint the agency gets is reports of rude treatment. Most TSA agents I’ve crossed paths with recently have been perfectly friendly, but it just takes one meanie to leave a long lasting bad taste in a traveler’s mouth — and most security lines have at least one meanie, I’ve noticed.

If you have complaints for the TSA, they urge you to share your comments on their official website, www.tsa.gov. You can also call with complaints or fill out comment cards at the airport.