Review: Anti-Theft Heritage Weekender Carry-All from Travelon

While at the Travel Goods Show this year, I was in the Travelon booth and started talking to a journalist friend of mine who was talking to a fellow blogger. He asked me how much he thought I could get into Travelon's new Heritage Weekender that I was raving about. I said at least a week, including shoes, so on our last trip to Vegas, I challenged myself to just that...

...except I packed two people's clothes and shoes inside to show how spacious it was. The Heritage Carry-All Weekender is a gorgeous bag made of the canvas that the whole Heritage line comes in (which you know I adore, because the more you beat it up, the better it looks) and has a wide-mouth opening that I couldn't stop going on about. It's so hard to get things out of a traditional bag, because the zipper only goes end to end and it doesn't open wide enough to get your arm inside or to see what's in there when it's packed/full.

Eric really liked the size and weight of this bag, and looks awesome carrying it. I love that it's not too big to be hard to carry for a smaller person like me, but it's big enough to get everything you need inside.  

Okay, I won't say everything, as I did bring a backpack for my laptop, power cords and snacks. But, I could have used it for all those things if I was only packing for myself. 

This wide opening allows you to pack your items with ease. I liked that I could pack in layers, because the weekender has a nice flat bottom, not the usual shapeless duffel design. You can also open it and see everything inside, because the zipper extends past just the top of the bag. It goes along a bit more of the curve of the opening to give you maximum usability.

I packed sandals (because we wore our bulkier walking shoes on the plane) and used them as a means to squash down the rest of our clothes. Even with it full to the brim, the bag closed easily with its heavy-duty zipper.

Here you can see all the things that were inside the bag: two pair of sandals, underwear, 10 shirts, 5 pair of shorts, a skirt, a swimsuit, swim trunks, socks, my mesh laundry basket, and a wrap/sarong. I promise you, everything on this bed (and a few things not pictured) came out of that bag when we arrived.

Inside the bag, you'll find a great RFID-blocking zipper pocket to hold your wallet and/or passports. It's pretty large, so you could get quite a bit in there, especially if you're using this as your personal item size bag and need to be in charge of everyone's passports on a longer trip. I also really love the striped fabric inside, because it makes it brighter inside and easier to find things without a light. 

Each end of the inside of the bag has a large elasticized pocket for shoes or other items you like to know exactly where they are, like your toiletries or underthings. I used one for shoes and the other for my laundry basket.

The outside of the bag has a big zippered pocket that can hold a ton of things too. It takes up the whole bottom front of the bag. Use it to keep those things you want to get at quickly, like your phone charger, snacks, or games.

Now, let's talk about the anti-theft features on this bag. The removable shoulder strap is heavy duty, padded, and adjustable, so it works comfortably for everyone. It even has locking clips and is reinforced to be slash-proof. You can wrap the strap around a large object, like a table or chair to deter thieves. 

If you choose to put valuables in your front pocket, you're covered, because the zipper clips to a D-ring, making it quite a bit harder for thieves to get to your goods without you reealizing what's happening. They will try to go for someone who's an easier target.

The top zipper also clips onto a small D-ring on the bag, keeping your zipper firmly closed when you want it to be. The bag itself is also slash-proof, so you won't need to be worried if you're traveling to/from the airport on public transit. And if you put it in the overhead on the plane, you can feel secure in the safety of everything inside your bag as well. 

As with all larger Travelon bags, this one features a pass-thru strap, so you can attach it to the top of your rolling bag, should you choose to take more than one piece of luggage, saving your back from having to deal with multiple bags when you reach your destination or wandering the airport. I can't tell you how sucky it is to have to carry a bag and roll another one over sidewalks, cobblestones, or asphalt. It's even worse when you have to go up and down escalators and try not to take up so much space on public transit. 

I can't wait to take my next trip to use this bag again. In fact, this is going to make a wonderful personal item size for our UK trip. If you have been looking for a new weekender bag, this one should be a top contender. It's simple, but has all the best features you want in a weekender bag.

More details:

Where can I buy these totes? On the Travelon website

How much do they cost? $115 - Use code SHEREENTRAVELS20% to get my exclusive discount.

What colors do they come in? Pewter (shown)

Other specs: cotton-poly canvas & suede, Strap Length: 24" x 52", Strap Drop Length: 15" x 28"

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Disclosure: Travelon sent me the Anti-Theft Heritage Weekender Carry-All for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Stop Your Next Long Flight From Becoming A Nightmare

Do you hate long flights or love them? To be honest, there are actually very few people that fall into the latter category and it’s not hard to understand why. Long flights can be boring, they can be uncomfortable, and they might also get delayed. So, here’s how to handle this issue and make sure that your next flight isn’t a nightmare. 

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Arrive Early 

While this might seem silly because it ultimately makes the experience even longer, arriving to the airport early is going to save you a lot of stress. You won’t be staring at your watch as you try to make your way through security. You also won’t have to worry about potentially getting delayed as you try and check in. You’ll have time to spare and this can be very reassuring, particularly if you are a nervous flyer. 

Check First Class

There’s nothing better than flying first class for a long flight. Now, we know what you’re thinking. There’s no way that this is going to fit into my budget. Well, did you know that there are often cancellations at the last minute? It’s true and this leaves first class tickets available at discounted prices. It’s a secret not many people know but all you need to do is ask at the gate. This is going to add a little extra onto the cost. But it’s always worth it to experience first-class flights even once. Particularly, if you’re travelling a long distance. 

Upgrades are also often available for special occasions. So, be sure to mention it if you’re travelling on your anniversary or honeymoon. 

Take Everything You Need

Flights are pretty great at providing everything you want to make sure that your trip is as comfortable as possible. But there are cases where things are forgotten or they just don’t have enough. That’s why you should make sure that you are taking your own sleeping mask. Luxury options are available from sites like Ashley and Constance which will ensure that wearing one feels like absolute heaven. 

You should also make sure that you are taking items that won’t be provided by the flight but will make your journey far better. This includes a neck pillow. These pillows are particularly recommended if you’re tall or short and don’t fit perfectly into the standard size of seats. It can also guarantee that you don’t get off the plane with a nasty ache. 

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Extra Leg Room 

Do you want to make sure that you get more room for your legs? If that’s the case, then we suggest that you think about opting for the seating next to the emergency doors. This ensures that you get extra space at no extra cost. It’s great if you don’t mind having to open the door on the rare chance that the plane might need to make an emergency landing. 

We hope this helps ensure that you do have a pleasant flight next time you are taking a long journey. Remember, there are plenty of other great options to make your flight easier too including natural remedies that will calm your mind and keep you relaxed. 

Summer Travel Trends Infographic

Summer is in full swing and a lot of people are still planning vacations right now. In fact, many travelers are spending more on summer vacation this year than during the rest of the year, and some are taking more than one trip. Summer is family travel season, so even though solo travel is on the rise, it's more likely to take place throughout the rest of the year. See what other trends are "hot" right now:

Infographic by MDG Advertising

Where will you be going for summer vacation? Or where did you go already?