Bags Galore: Red Oxx and Korchmar
Autumn is here, soon trees all over the country will be ablaze with color and apple cider will be the order of the day. For many people fall is an ideal time to travel, whether it’s to see the beautiful foliage, or simply to get that last trip in before the weather gets bad. Whatever the reason for travel, we can’t think of anyone who likes to travel with the wrong kind of luggage. We’ve been looking at bags big and small, and today we have two bags that would be ideal for your next fall getaway.
First is the Korchmar Wheeled Carry-On Adventure. This bag is exactly the type one might want to take to a cute New England bed and breakfast, with it’s antiqued brass hardware and stylish leather details. This heavy-duty olive waxed canvas bag has the amount of room one would expect to find in a carry-on bag, as well as three zippered pockets along the interior walls that can easily carry such things as cell phone chargers or a passport. The zipper around the outside of the bag is slightly oversized, and works smoothly even when packed to it’s limit. The wheels are sturdy and rolled smoothly over all of the different surfaces we took it across.
We really like this bag, but sincerely wish it was in a different price range. Despite the quality construction, including what feels like a very solid frame, the $425 price tag is a bit steep. This bag will likely last you years and years though, and will just get better looking with time, but we weren’t thrilled with the somewhat-limited five year warranty. Available directly from Korchmar or from online retailers like Amazon.com.
Next is the Red Oxx Sky Train, which is also carry-on sized luggage, but without wheels. Instead this hybrid convertible bag has straps galore, so it can be carried over a single shoulder like a messenger bag, over both shoulders like a backpack, or by one of the handles like a briefcase. This bag is an easier comparison to a briefcase than a larger piece of luggage, due to it’s smaller size and style. It easily carries a day or two of clothing, has many different compartments for toiletries or chargers and straps to hold clothes in place. It’s made of ballistic nylon, and we liked the rugged zippers that keep water out. While it may not be perfectly suited for a long weekend in the back country, it’s ideal for the urban weekend warrior or business commuter.
We weren’t such fans of the normal carrying handles, which had clear plastic tubes wrapped around them. The shoulder straps, however, were pretty comfortable, and the back well padded. They also zip away so you can hide them, which is quite nice when hauling it around with a light load. We were a bit surprised by how much we could fit in the bag, and it’s reasonable weight at four pounds. Available in several colors- yellow, blue, black, red, green- ours was the pleasant and neutral Safari. Distinctive, durable, the Sky Train is priced at $225 and can be found on the Red Oxx website or through various online retailers.
