I’ve recently been selected to participate in a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. In other words, I get free luggage!
The central idea behind this study is to document the shopping process from beginning to end, then share my experiences on my blog and via my social media circles. This is the kind of data businesses are keenly interested in, especially when they’re working with retailers who distribute their products, because it provides them crucial insight on buyers’ experiences. If a retailer is selling products from a particular brand for example, that brand is going to want to know that their goods are being properly advertised and displayed, not stashed in the back of a store somewhere out of a potential buyer’s view.
Which is why yours truly, Captain Awesome-Sauce Adams, King of the B-List Bloggers, will embark on a journey to secure myself new outdoor luggage for my upcoming Rocky Mountain road trip, with a budget of $320 to purchase any kind of travel gear I’d like from the Briggs and Riley’s BRX line. OHHHHH YEAH.
Only thing is, I have no idea what to get.
See, I’m a two bag guy: my backpack and my check-in luggage. Last March I already plopped down for the check-in luggage for my trip to SXSW, so it would be kind of redundant to buy another similar sized bag right now, even though I REALLY like the look of the BRX Expedition. It’s the same size as my current luggage, but it’s actually classified as a rolling duffle bag, so there’s a little bit of extra autonomy there on how I can carry it around. Hmmmmm.
What really interests me though is the BRX backpack. My current backpack is an STM bag that I bought a little over a year ago for my MacBook, and I was never really crazy about it. It wasn’t bad, had a hidden compartment to store the MacBook and all that, it was just… eh. The BRX backpack though is $120, which still leaves me with $200 more to spend. The only bags left in that range are the ones designed to hold your MacBook or iPad. So why not get them you ask? Because they look like man purses. And dude, I am not getting myself a man purse, and you could not convince me, not here, not now, not EVER, that these bags looked like anything other THAN man purses. So… no, just… no.
It's a satchel!!!111
I could get the duffle bag (the smaller, unwheeled version) but I’d have to take that with me on the trip as well (it’s one of the conditions of getting the free luggage), forcing me to carry around a third bag in addition to my backpack AND check-in luggage. Nope, not doing that, especially since I have to take a couple of buses downtown before I finally get to my rental.
I guess I’m just gonna have to go to REI and see how these bags look myself. If they have them that is. And If I get really wowed by the backpack, I might wind up getting that and just call it a day, even if I do wind up spending only a portion of the budget allotted to me.
What do you guys think? I need some direction here. :-)
Not a man purse like that! That’s the kinda thing that my FIL would carry around – then again his man-bag is chunky – he’s the kinda guy who carries everything. Decaf tea bags – he’s got them, aspirin – he’s got a packet.
The Field Bag on BRX is okay – it’s good when you’re away and when you’re just running errands round “town”.
MAN PURSE!!!!!
I can’t do it, that whole shoulder strap with the bag flapping by the side… no matter what I could never get comfortable going around town like that. It always had to be a backpack, or maybe a Batman style utility belt.
I never check bags, no matter how long the trip. How’s that for a chick? What about a bag you can put into the overhead?
I put my backpack in the overhead. No checked bags?? Don’t you wear clothes? :-D
You could also look at maxpedition.com they have a new rugged line of travel luggage as well as packs which are tough as nails and really well made and nice and of course to fill the void you will have giving up the Murse that have a rugged line of those as well!
Nice! The budget though is only for the Briggs and Riley’s outdoor BRX gear, since they’re the ones sponsoring me. That’s why I’ve been wrangling over my choices. It will probably all come down to what the stores have in stock. :-D
Sorry I seemed to have missed that part!
I agree the pack stands out to me Id like to try it out myself. Then I would get the toiletries bag. which brings you to $160.00
I also like the excursion field bag allot as well! I know the whole three bag problem but a haversack (murse) can be attached to the pack quick and easily to make it one bag.
But on the plane be detached to have essential needs on you for the flight and your pack in the over head! Thats what I would do given the blessing you got!
I have the Briggs & Riley BRX Explore 22, and it fits more than you’d think. You can fit a pair of shoes on the outer pocket and since the extendable handle rails are actually built outside the bag, not inside like most luggage has it, this bag fits plenty, especially summer time when you can wear your heavier shoes for the flight and pack flip flops etc smaller shoes in. (this bag also fits ski boots & ski clothes making it a perfect carry on for ski trips). Only downside is that you can’t fit it in the overhead when it’s fully packed to the trim. I bought the bag for myself, but my husband now travels with it, he likes it so much too!
Interesting, I was considering getting a smaller bag for shorter trips and avoiding the need to check in luggage. I could never figure out how people could manage that. It seems like my toiletries alone fills up half the fricking bag. O_o
Glad to hear I’m in good company with my purchase! We try to check as few bags as possible, but usually have to check at least one for our three person family. Last year we went to the Mediterranean for three weeks, and only checked one bag!
I’m really interested to see how the BRX stuff stands up to baggage handling, some of our other luggage hasn’t fared as well on that front over the years.
They have a lifetime warranty, similar to Eagle Creek, so I am sure they will stand up very well. :-) You’ll likely see scuff marks after the first trip on the rubbery corners though, but it’s designed that way, since the protective corners are made to withstand violent abuse in order to protect the rest of the bag.