If anyone knows how to pack for a trip that begins as business and segues into leisure, it is a member of a flight crew. Travelpro, a company founded by an airline pilot, knows this and has designed many bags that are stylish yet sturdy, and perfect for professionals presiding over a board meeting or presenting at a conference and then downshifting to a weekend of leisurely pursuits.
Travelpro’s Crew 11 21-inch Expandable Spinner with Suiter ($229.99) is a “civilian version of the flight crew standard” that is fully functional and especially useful for such trips. This lightweight carry-on is equipped with smart features, including a dedicated power bank pocket and an external USB port so travelers can power up on the go and stay connected. No worries about missing important business emails or texts while on the road.
Also, because of the bag’s sturdy but breathable suiter, there’s no anxiety about what business attire will look like once unpacked; it will remain wrinkle-free inside the suiter. In fact, travelers can pack a power suit for the board meeting and still have room for going-out-on-the-town togs. Two pairs of shoes can be laid flat on the bottom of the bag without encroaching on clothing space. Several days’ worth of outfits, along with accessories and pajamas and slippers, can be packed in the roomy main and zipper mesh compartments, with space left for dopp kit, 3-1-1 bag and curling iron.
The bag is tough in ballistic nylon, coated to resist stains and abrasions. Its eight MagnaTrac self-aligning wheels provide a smooth roll in any direction without adding weight or pulling on arm, wrist or hand. The contour grip handle stays comfy with cushioned touch points, and the PowerScope extension handle stops at three heights: 38, 40- and 42.5 inches. In indigo and black, the bag is made to fit into most airline overhead bins.
Credit: Travelpro
Credit: Travelpro
Travelpro’s Maxlite 4 Rolling Carry-on Garment Bag ($189.99) rolls from home to business meeting to weekend fun, holding enough suits and casual clothing in wrinkle-free comfort for a business-to-leisure getaway of several days duration. Available in blue and black in rugged road-tested fabric, it has both professional polish and a smart-casual mien.
Extremely lightweight and durable, the bag impresses with its packing capacity, which features tons of pockets for stashing undergarments, belts, scarves, a pair of pajamas, cables and more. It has a wider orientation than other carry-ons and sits on two high-performance ball-bearing inline wheels, but fits easily into the overhead bin. A handle on the bag’s bottom provides a solid grip for lifting the bag.
A coating that protects against water, stains and abrasion keeps the Maxlite looking good through countless travels. For travelers that demand room for packing everything they want to bring on a given trip, but still wish to feel unencumbered and not bogged down by their luggage, this is the bag. (www.travelpro.com)
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