Monday, January 05, 2009

“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity” - Francois Gautier

The start of the year, the perfect time to start a new “quest”...my last one, if you recall, was for a gold bracelet...a hunt that went in various directions but eventually led to my talon cuff. The process worked (for me, at least)...finding ‘possibles’...getting my thoughts down on (virtual) paper...taking the time to mull over all of the pros and cons...until I found "the one". And now it’s time to start all over again, though this time with a slightly larger purchase in mind...luggage. Though I should probably clarify, as “luggage” always conjures up an image of the kind of matching set used by Joan Collins or minor royalty...whereas my requirements are much more modest...I only need one bag, but I have plenty of criteria...
  1. The bag must fall within the airlines' size guidelines for carry-on luggage. It's strange, I used to pack a quarter of my wardrobe for a short trip...but perseverance (and Mr. Heb's constant whining on the subject) have allowed me to do a complete 180...I can fit all of my needs for a week or more inside one carry-on bag.
  2. It must be able to stand the test of time... I want to be able to throw the bag around and know that it will still look relatively good.
  3. Having said that, the bag mustn't scream "I cost a lot of money" as I am paranoid about having my bag slashed open and the contents stolen.
  4. No wheels. I'm an adult...and I'm not incapacitated in any way...I can manage to carry my bag for the 5-10 minutes necessary. Additionally, I've noticed in airports recently that those with wheeled bags don't seem to move any faster than those without...in fact, they may even be slower as they are forced to continually adjust the bag as it topples over.

At the moment my needs are being met...well, some of them at least...by a nylon duffel bag from American Apparel but, it has to be faced, it's only a matter of time before the bag rips and my clothes are strewn around the concourse in front of my fellow travelers...and so, "the quest".

At the moment I'm thinking about a leather bag...with handles for carrying by hand or over the shoulder...but we'll see what turns up.		Photobucket
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5 comments:

  1. WendyB7:35 AM

    If you want to be totally practical and not too chic, Le Sportsac bags (I know!) are awesome for airline travel. Super lightweight and mine has held up for 10 years.

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  2. Elizabeth9:58 AM

    I'm with Miss WendyB: Le Sportsac bags are virtually indestructible, and you can't beat the patterns/colors available.

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  3. Anonymous12:42 PM

    I am super impressed that you can pack for a week in a carry-on ... and look forward to seeing what you unearth during your quest for luggage!

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  4. Hebden7:41 PM

    WendyB & enc - I have to admit, I wouldn't have thought of Le Sportsac...thanks for the recommendation, I'll have to take a look.

    Sal - it took a lot of effort (and practice) to get down to get myself into "carry-on for a week's clothing" mode...immodestly I was somewhat impressed myself ;)

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  5. Sales Rack Raider9:27 PM

    Finding chic and affordable luggage is so hard! I'm also anti-wheel. I've been looking for a larger work tote that is sturdy, will hold everything (files, laptop) for work trips, and still pass for a fun purse. The search goes on, but slow and steady wins the race.

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