The classic Boat & Tote from LL Bean has been around for over 64 years, so you know they’re doing something right! 

Maybe it’s the heavy-duty cotton canvas, with double-layer base and handles.  This tote is sturdy enough to stand up all on its own, and with double-stitched seams, you won’t have to worry about anything breaking.  The bag was originally designed to tote ice, so you know it will taking any beating you can give it.

With a great tote like this, you can use it as a carry on bag on the airplane,pack up your beach gear, make it a road trip bag, take it shopping, let the kids have it for their toys, keep it on the boat, or just stash it away for when you need it.  When you’re not traveling, these totes are perfect for the working in the garden, packing groceries, or toting anything around town. 

The Boat & Tote bag comes in a natural color, with contrasting color handles in a 10 color choices.  You can choose handles in regular or over-the-shoulder length.

The bag is available in four sizes:

• Small  10½"H x 9½"W x 5"D. Regular handles 5", Long 14".
• Medium  12"H x 13"W x 6"D. Regular handles 6", Long 14".
• Large  15"H x 17"W x 7½"D. Regular handles 8", Long 14".
• Extra-Large  17"H x 19"W x 10"D. Regular handles 10", Long 14".

Affordable priced from $17.95-30.95.  You’ll find them at a local LL Bean Store, or at LL Bean online.

Photo credit:  LL Bean

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LL Bean Boat & Tote Bags

Zero Baggage, expected to launch in Spring 2010, will be an online service where you can rent, or as they call it “borrow,” clothes for a short period of time on your vacation.  After wearing, items can be returned, exchanged, and even purchased.  You make clothing selections from an online store, select your rental period, and pay a rental fee commensurate with your selections.  You’ll be able to choose from New items, or rent “previously loved” items at a lower cost.  The clothing you selected will be waiting for you in your hotel room for your arrival.

At the end of your vacation, leave the clothes in your hotel room and a staff member will collect them.  After wearing and cleaning, the clothes are returned to the online store for future rentals.

What this all means is that you can travel with fewer clothes, meaning lighter bags, and not purchase clothing intended just for vacation wear.  If you live in a city that has Zero Baggage, it also means that you can occasionally supplement your special wardrobe requirements without the necessity of a major purchase.  If you have a special event coming up, but can’t justify the cost of a wardrobe purchase for a one-off wearing, you can rent appropriate clothing for a fraction of the cost of purchase.

The first two cities to launch this service will be Toronto, Canada and Gold Coast, Australia.  The company is currently seeking investors to keep on track for its Spring 2010 launch date.

What do you think?  Is this more-with-less an idea that’s time has come?  Would you rent clothing for your vacation?

Photo credit: SXC

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Pack Really, Really Light with Clothing Rental

I had to wait till I got home to locate an atlas to figure that out (1188 miles, under half the distance between Seattle and Hawaii).  The actual mileage wasn’t important, I was just trying to get a sense of where things were.

With this Map Laptop Case, however, I could have taken a look at this laptop sleeve and figured it out!  The sleeve is vinyl, padded and reinforced, and will fit laptops up to 15 inches.

Seems like a great way to end those geography arguments.

Available online, $39.99.

Photo credit:  Pop Deluxe

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Geography Aware with Map Laptop Case

That’s what I think about the Canvas Tool Bag from Klein Products.  Klein has been around for over 150 years, originally making pliers, and now selling a broad product line for the construction, electronics, and mining industry.  They make things that will stand up to hard use and last.

Their Canvas Tool Bag comes in a heavy duty #8 natural canvas, with a moisture resistant vinyl bottom and lower sides.  This baby is durable enough to carry tools – and tools are heavy.  Along with those heavy duty features, some nice touches include a nice wide opening (all the better to pack and unpack your things), stitched and riveted leather handles and restraining straps (these babies aren’t going to rip off), and there are non-scratch studs on the base to protect against wear (and make sure that this bag doesn’t scratch anything else either).

If it’s strong enough to tote around a bunch of tools, just think how it would stay up to miles and miles of air travel. Put your laptop in a sleeve, and pack it and all your other electronics gear in the tool bag.  Or you could use it to pack for a weekend away.  It would work as a gym bag, shopping tote, or even a fun weekend bag.

The tool bag comes in varying sizes, starting at 14 inches and going up to 20 inches, and is available in fun colors of blue, orange, and yellow, as well as natural canvas.  Look for a Klein Canvas Tool Bag at your favorite online or local hardware store.  Prices start around $70.

Photo credit: Klein Products

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Canvas Tool Bag Makes Good Weekend Tote

Magellan’s Travel Medicine Case will allow you to pack all your medications, vitamins and medical supplies, in one place, keeping everything handy and available for security clearance.

The frame of the bag is structured, so everything is protected and stays in place.  There are three movable dividers to keep everything organized, and a spot for a cold pack if you need to keep medications refrigerated.  A zip-out vinyl pouch allows you to separate small items, or to divide up medications for a short day trip, and a separate zippered pocket is perfect if you need to carry syringes.

When you need to open the bag it zips completely around to open, and lays flat, making it easy for you to get into, as well as to display the contents should you need to when going through security.  All your meds are securely packed away, organized and safe, and handy to get to when you need them.

Don’t let health issues, and the need to travel with substantial amount of medications, keep you from enjoying travel.  Carrying your meds in a dedicated case is one of the products that can help make your trip a little easier.

On sale now at Magellan’s, $19.85.

Photo credit: Magellan’s

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Make Travel with Medication Easy

This roomy travel bag is perfect for short getaways. It features dual top handles and an adjustable shoulder strap for convenience and versatility. It has two exterior front zip pockets, nickel hardware and a zip top. You can get the designer travel bag right now at Bergdorf Goodman for $895.

Image: Dolce & Gabbana

Other travel bags that you might like as more affordable alternatives include:

Piel Large Carry-On Satchel – SALE $152 (MSRP $238)

Image: eBags

Boyt Edge Designer Boarding Bag – SALE $71.99 (MSRP $240)

Image: eBags

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Dolce & Gabbana Travel Bag

This luggage is as durable as it is stylish. It’s also very lightweight. The Bric’s Life Collection features several sizes of trolley bags, duffels and shoppers, as well as a briefcase and other pieces. Priced at $200 and up, this Bric’s luggage isn’t cheap but looks like it’s worth every penny.

Image: Neiman Marcus

You can shop for Bric’s luggage online at NeimanMarcus.com, as well as most Neiman Marcus stores.

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Bric’s Croc-Embossed Luggage

A relatively new product here in the U.S. (it was originally developed in 1958 in Canada), Jig-a-loo is a lubripellent – meaning that it both lubricates and repels water.  The company claims to be the only product of this type that is water repellent.  Now you can get your roll aboard wheeling smoothly, without worrying about the weather setting back your efforts.

I had a chance to give Jig-a-loo a try, and as much as I use my luggage, I can say that I really put it through its paces.  In the course of a month I roll my bag over many, many miles through airports, up and down curbs, across carpet hallways, gravely driveways, and bumpy sidewalks.  My wheels take a beating.  And every once in awhile I pick up a rocky or get a little moisture into the system, and it makes a really annoying sound.  A little squirt of Jig-a-loo, annoying sound gone.

There are lots of additional uses for Jig-a-loo, both for travelers and at home, and the website has a long list of suggestions.  This would also be handy for the cabin in the woods or kept in the car.  The company has a long list of suggested uses as well.

In other words, it’s one of those simple and handy little products that is easy to take for granted.  Until you have annoying sounding luggage wheel!

Jig-a-loo is priced around $4.99 per can, and is available nationwide at hardware and discount stores.

Photo credit:  Jig-a-loo

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Jig-a-loo & Keeps Travelers Rolling Along

Bowen Day Bag from Property Of. . .

It’s easy to think that a cheap tote can do the trick, and I’ve gone that route.  With a well crafted bag, you won’t have to worry about the straps breaking when you’re out for the day, and you won’t have to worry about the contents spilling out because a zipper has broken.  I’ve found that a quality bag has zippers and fasteners that are durable, is comfortable to carry, cleans up nicely, and last for years.

Property Of bags have a great selection of summer bags, and this Bowen Day Bag would be perfect for both men and women.  Made of a coated cotton exterior, the interior has a twill lining and storage pockets.  A covered front pocket lets you keep small things handy, and the bag is then covered up with a snap pocket that conceals snap fastenings.   A little leather trim and binding finishes it off, giving it a fashionable look.  An adjustable heavyweight shoulder strap let you choose the most comfortable length for carrying.

I love this day bag!  It’s big enough to carry a guide book, camera, maps, and a bottle of water in addition to a wallet, glasses, and a notepad. But it’s not so big that it’s bulky or slopping looking.

You’ll get lots of use out of this bag, traveling or not, and with a $180 price tag, quality is affordable.  Order online or check for a retailer in your neighborhood.

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A Day Bag from Property Of. . . .

Over the next two weeks I’m goin’ back in time…

to 2005.

Because, get this?

It’s been THREE years (and we’re done with our post placements).

And WE are all still kickin’.

Some, more than others.

I pulled emails from our trip to Russia.

It’s the real thing, baby!

ALL the drama…court, lost luggage (and stinky undies), and some uberfab pictures (like AJ eating his first McDonalds in Moscow?).

So, look for the posts with dates in bold and italized entries.

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So, You Want More About Me?