Review: ECBC Tomahawk Messenger

As you know, I visited Phoenix to attend the International Travel Goods Show and was overwhelmed by the selection of bags that were hitting the market in the coming months. One of the new brands I encountered was ECBC. They sell a variety of TSA-friendly bags that allow you to get through security without taking your laptop out of your bag before you put it through the X-ray machine.

Finding that there aren’t that many bags that can work for business travelers, moms and men all at once, the Tomahawk Messenger seems to be a great fit for every traveler. The bag features – as all their bags do – multiple pockets for those who love who loves technology and needs to carry everything with them. The laptop pocket can hold up to a 17” laptop, but it has an insert to make it perfect for a smaller size as well, so it doesn’t jostle around while you’re running from gate to gate.

Got a ton of paperwork you need to bring with you? The inside pockets are large enough to hold legal-size files, all your travel documents or a selection of your favorite magazines. In the front, there are pockets for all your electronics, from your smartphone to your iPad, plus you can keep your passport, tickets, money and any other necessities right at hand and super organized.

My favorite part of this bag, as is my usual problem with messenger bags, is the top zipper, giving you easy access to everything inside. If you’re running around with kids, you don’t want to be fumbling around trying to get everything out they want. Though I like the security of the flap with snap-in buckles, it can be a pain if you have to get in and out of your bag on the go, which makes the zipper an genius addition. Everyone’s going to love this feature. 

Hate it when your bag gets snagged on everything as you’re walking around? The buckles on the Tomahawk are fantastic because they are adjustable, based on how full the messenger is, and they are hidden between the material of the front flap. It would take a lot of effort for someone to actually try to steal anything out of this bag.

Keep your cell phone and hydration right at your fingertips with the included pouches on each end of the bag. I like to keep my phone out of reach from everyone, so I used the zipper compartment in the flap to store it, with other things I want to use more often, like a scarf to use if the airplane gets cold.

The zippers on this bag are heavy-duty and hidden behind a rubbery material, which makes them water resistant as well. In fact, all the material of this bag is water repellent, so in the event you get caught in a downpour, your electronics (and everything else inside) won’t get wet and ruined.

As you can see, there is plenty of room in the Tomahawk. I was able to use it for my laptop and cord, Kindle, iPad (in case), cell phone, 3-1-1 bag, snacks, random reading material and a spare pair of shoes. The bag wasn’t totally full, so it holds quite a bit. Use it as a diaper bag, and weekender or to drag all your work with you from the plane to the office.

No matter how much you stuff in the Tomahawk, the wide shoulder strap won’t cut into your shoulder. It is heavily padded where you need it to be and the length is easily adjustable with a sturdy seatbelt-like mechanism. Make it longer to wear it crossbody, or make it shorter to wear it as a shoulder bag. The bag also has a nice padded handle on top to carry it as a briefcase. You don’t have to carry the burden of all your stuff though, as this bag has a great trolley handle slip pocket to fit right onto your roller bag handle.

So, if you’re looking for a large multipurpose messenger bag for your travels that can help you get through security a bit faster and with more convenience – every little bit helps when you’re in a hurry or have little ones traveling with you – then the Tomahawk is a great addition to your trips and possibly even your daily commute.

More information:

How big is it? 22.5” x 13.5” x 4.5”

Where can you buy it? ECBC website

Colors it comes in: Black and Grey (shown)

How much is it? $139.99

Other specs: Body made of 840d HD ballistic nylon, lining made of 210d double diamond ripstop nylon

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Disclosure: I was provided with the Tomahawk Messenger for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.

The French Museum for Everyone

I've been to a lot of museums. I like to see different ones when we travel. Though we had some big plans to hit up several in Paris, we again didn't make it to the Louvre and the Dali museum was closed. The Centre Pompidou was on our list of museums that we could get into for "free" with the museum pass that came with our Paris Pass. I had seen on the Metro that they had a Roy Lichtenstein exhibition and they were open later than all the other museums in the city, so we made an effort to get there on one of the days after we had done some general sightseeing. 

The museum has several floors, a bookstore, cafe and gift shop. If you've ever been to Universal Studios in Hollywood and had the joy of taking the 9 escalators from the parking garages and lower lot to the upper lot, you'll have deja vu when visiting Centre Pompidou. We made it all the way to the fifth floor and through the line, only to be told that we needed to buy tickets for the Lichtenstein exhibit on the ground floor. Annoyed that this was not pointed out anywhere, we decided to wander through the rest of the museum (we had already read all about the life and art periods of Lichtenstein waiting in line) and were completely delighted. Most museums focus on one thing and while modern art is not always my cup of tea, the sheer variety at Centre Pompidou was enough to keep anyone interested. 

I enjoy textiles, pop art and retro pieces and Eric likes different stuff, which made it fun to wander the rooms that were never the same and always had something interesting and thought-provoking. Of course, some of my favorite pieces looked like they could have been done by a small child and another was a nylon pantyhose material that was filled with different spices, creating a weird formation, but an interesting smell.

With so much art to choose from, we were surprised by how much more exciting it was from the Tate Modern in London, which we both though was going to be amazing and ended up bored after only 20 minutes. I'm sorry, but a starfish with a shoe and a lady sitting in a chair complaining about life do not count as art to me. At Centre Pompidou, I felt like there was a lot of thought and talent put into each piece. it made me wish I had more time to explore the hundreds of works on display. It truly is a museum that holds something interesting for everyone of any age, whether you are a lover of art or a total novice and think museums are lame. For free admission with your museum pass, it's definitely worth a stop. 

Do you have a favorite museum from your travels? Where was it?

Review: NapWrap Personal Travel Armrest

Stuck in the middle seat again? Or maybe you have the aisle and your elbow sneaks out into the walkway, putting it right in the way of the beverage cart – ouch! - or those on their way to or from the restroom. Seats on the plane seem to be getting smaller and smaller, so you have less and less room each time you travel. If you fly with a spouse or friend, it’s not a big deal if you invade each other’s space. If you’re flying alone or have that aisle seat issue, you probably feel like there’s no place to put your arms and you don’t have an armrest to yourself. You might want to cross your arms and take a nap, but when you fall asleep, they flop around, making you uncomfortable again.

photo courtesy of NapWrap

This was the problem that resulted in the NapWrap. It’s a convenient little wrap that helps to keep your arms crossed, without giving you achy joints, for as long as you need to. You don’t have to make the continual effort to keep your arms in position, plus the fabric is breathable, so it doesn’t make your arm or hand all sweaty. It’s also stretchy, which means people of all sizes can wear it and it fits over sleeves. Though it can be a little tricky to work at first, once you have the hang of it, it’s super easy to use. There’s this handy video to help.

Of course, I’m not one to buy something that has just one use, even though the NapWrap is very comfortable and does exactly what it’s meant to do, it isn’t just a cool arm holder that you twist your hand into. It can also be used as an armband that holds your phone or MP3 player, so you can listen to your music.

Another great thing you can use your NapWrap for is an eye mask. I usually pack one of those in my bag when I travel, because you never know if you will be sleeping in a room that has inadequate curtains (where you’re woken up at 5 am with light right in your eye) or you just need a little extra help falling and staying asleep. The NapWrap is adjustable and also covers your ears, muffling noises that might be keeping you awake as well.

And if your destination is cold, use it as a headband that covers and protects your ears. It’s way better than also packing a pair of earmuffs. Even if you carry more than one with you, they still pack flat and take up almost no room in your bag – less if you wear it on your arm as you are commuting through the airport.

So, if you have issues with sharing armrests with strangers, having a place to put your phone, sleeping when it’s not pitch black in your room or need to keep your ears warm, then the NapWrap should be on your list of must-have travel items. 

More information:

How big is it? One Size Fits All

Colors it comes in: The velcro closure comes in black, sky, carrot, lime

Where can you buy it? NapWrap website

How much is it? $20.00

Disclosure: I was provided with the NapWrap for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.