I should fess up…I have a lot of bags. And I always seem to have an eye out for the “next” bag. I do use all of them. And my bags from 10+ years ago that I no longer use I sell (thanks Poshmark). I know I don’t need them, but I really love having cool-looking, fun, matching clothes and bags. It’s a hobby of some sort, I suppose…
When you don’t check a bag, having the perfect carry-on (personal item, in airline speak) is worth SO much. For me, my “big” bag is either my Patagonia Blackhole (I have 2 sizes now, which is super awesome as I always have one of the right size) or my Tumi Vapor. Then my “small” bag–known for usually being heavier than the big bag–is either my Lo & Sons, Tumi handbag, or Dagne Dover tote.
My carry-on personal item has to fit all my toiletries (liquids and dopp-like kit), ipad, kindle, wallet/cards, usually my DSLR, a few magazines to dump along the way, and a few other critical items like iphone charger, bandaids, copies of tickets, etc. Sometimes a laptop is thrown in the mix (and it’s not small), though I never have my DSLR and a laptop that need to fit in (DSLR=fun! laptop=work).
I really like each of them, but they are very different and I find they each fit specific types of trips quite well. FWIW, all of these were purchased with my own money: the perk of being a small, unknown travel blogger. They actually all fit just about the same amount of stuff.
The Adventure Trip
For a safari in Kenya or heading to Bhutan, the Tumi tote is by far my favorite choice. They don’t make the one I own anymore, but the Q-Tote is relatively similar, though a bit more structured. Mine has full nylon fabric that is almost as collapsible as a Longchamp (for the record, I own a Longchamp tote as well and love it dearly except for it’s lack of internal pockets. If you can deal with that, it’s a great substitute for the Tumi tote…though everyone and their dog has one, including my dog).
Reasons I love it:
- Relaxed and understated look.
- No flashy hardware if drawing attention is a concern.
- Perfect day bag size, easily fitting everything you need.
- Works as a overnight bag in a crunch (cough…when we had to leave luggage for the train to Machu Picchu).
- Easy to carry no matter how full or how empty.
Biggest advantage over other bags:
- Easy to squeeze into another bag for packing if you need to consolidate (no way you could do this for either the Dagne or Lo&Sons).
No, my dog really doesn’t have a Longchamp. Don’t worry. She would just make me carry it for her anyway.
The Beach Trip
If I’m heading to the beach, the Dagne Dover is always my first choice. I have The Tote, though if you pack a bit lighter the Mini Tote may work for you as well. I have the Dagne Blue, and though sometimes I wish the color was a bit more subdued because I love to be matchy matchy all the time, it’s a really beautiful color.
Reasons I love it:
- Canvas is incredibly durable and fantastic at repelling spills and crap/dirt/mud on the ground.
- Brushed gold hardware adds a nice touch, and makes it look really classy.
- Has a waterbottle holder inside!
- Mostly waterproof, besides the gaps at the top (on either side of the zipper).
- Leather handles are really comfortable.
Biggest advantage over other bags:
- Throw a towel in it, and call it a beach bag! It has plenty of pockets, plus the waterbottle holder, which–for the record–is made of a material that absorbs condensation really well while not letting your other items get wet. And sand doesn’t stick to this puppy, at all.
I use this daily to and from work too, so it’s truly a multipurpose bag.
The Work Trip
The Lo&Sons is my choice for work trips. I have the O.M.G, which is plenty big (even my large laptop slides in). While all of these bags have a lot of pockets, the Lo&Sons is truly designed as a carry-on. I have the navy with silver hardware, though it was a hard choice between that and the olive. No, no, no, I’m not going to buy another! Though the new “Heather” color is gorgeous. You know, my name is Heather, the bag’s name is Heather…
Reasons I love it:
- Has tons of outside pockets (even one with a zippered internal pocket) perfect for easy access to cell phones and credit cards.
- Has a shoe slot, which is key if I ever have to wear heels, because heels kill me and I always carry flats.
- Both cross-body shoulder strap and handle options (and the handles do fit over your shoulder), love being able to change my mind about how I carry the bag.
- Pretttyyyyy and suitable whether you are wearing skinny jeans and boots or a suit.
Biggest advantage over other bags:
- Has zipper slots so it slides over the handles of my Tumi Vapor. You know, so I’m not one of those people that has their crap fall all over when their personal item topples off their carry-on. Not only are airport floors (and airport bathrooms) germy places, no one likes to have to pick up all their stuff off the floor in a hurry.
Do I need all these bags? Of course not. Is it nice to have them? Of course. If you have to choose one, it really depends on your travel style (glamping? business? relaxing?), size requirements, as well as personal preference. I will definitely say that all have held up well to use and some abuse (like shoving forcefully under the seat in front of you so the flight attendant doesn’t make you put it in the overhead), and all double as great weekend bags or to haul stuff to/from work.
I still maintain one cannot have too many bags (it’s hereditary, I think). Or if one thinks one has too many bags, one just must go on more trips.
