Review: Novigo Carry-On from Lojel

I saw a lot of cool stuff at the Travel Goods Show last month, you guys! I was really excited to bring you some new carry-on bags and Lojel did not disappoint with their newest: The Novigo. Their bags are all named in the universal language in Esperanto and Novigo means "innovation". Once you see my review, you'll see why.

I love new innovative products, and this cherry red definitely caught my eye. I love a bright bag, so this one fit all the check marks I had for a new carry-on. Here's why:

First of all, it comes with all these fun accessories: A toiletry bag, a cover, a shoe/laundry bag, and a little separator hammock, which I'll go into in a bit. 

The Novigo doesn't have a zipper. Nope, because that's not secure or innovative. Nope, it has this nice little tongue and groove type closure. The top groove works with this bottom lip.

It fits snugly, so it's waterproof and stronger than your usual zipperedd carry-on. Nobody can force it open with a pen, that's for sure. This means your belongings are safe from those "overhead thieves". The ones who open the bins mid-flight and unzip a bit of your bag to steal your valuables. 

So, what keeps your bag closed? The Novigo has two large TSA-approved locks that have combination locks on them, so it makes it twice as difficult for non-TSA agents to get into your bag. While you think this is a minimal security feature, thieves aren't going to mess with a bag that isn't easy to get into. 

The hardside shell is made of a strong polycarbonate, which can really take a beating. How do I know? Because I filled it with all the things I picked up at the show and checked it home. I wasn't smart enough to put the cover on it, plus the bag may have gotten to Portland way before me, as I didn't leave Vegas until 11 hours after I was originally scheduled and from when I checked it through. When I finally made it home, my bag was waiting for me, but it was beat up and that nice sheen was less shiny. Aside from a few scratches and dirt, my Novigo wasn't bent out of shape or anything. 

The inside of this bag is gorgeous. I love it. There are two large compartments (larger than I expected before I opened it). One is your main compartment and the other is a mesh zippered compartment, which is awesome to me. 

Not only can you strap down your clothing in the main compartment, but you also have this removable hammock that can go over the top and hold things you want easy access to. I used it for underwear, but if you're a business traveler, maybe this is where you keep your ties or other things that you'll want to keep flat. It's nice that this also helps your stray clothing pieces from sneaking out and keeping your bag from closing.

It makes closing your bag easier, because it's not all bulgy. The same goes for the top compartment  that zips closed. The mesh is taut and doesn't allow you to overstuff it. I was able to get a lot into this bag when packing for our next trip. We have clothing for a week (4-5 shirts and 3 bottoms each), a pair of flip flops for Eric, a pair of walking shoes for me that I put in the shoe bag, my toiletries (including my 3-1-1 bag), my lint roller, a wrap and our bathing suits. 

Here's most of what I brought home from the show. It all fit (and then some) into the Novigo with no problems. 

See the backpack on top of the Novigo? It's not much bigger than the carry-on is, and fit all that awesome swag.

Okay, so there's more that makes this bag awesome. #1 are these great little feet, so your bag can sit on its side but not get all scraped up on the ground. 

  

#2: The bag's pull-out handle has two locking positions, making it easy for short people (me) and tall people (my husband) to both roll it along. We've had bags that have only had one locking position that was either too long or too short for one or both of us. This was perfectly comfortable for me in the shorter position, so I didn't have to strain to drag it along.

#3, and the thing that made this bag intriguing to me, were the locking wheels. Both sides have this little pedals that allow you to independently lock and unlock your wheels, so your bag doesn't roll away on a slope or the bus. I took it on the monorail with me back to my room from the convention center and it stayed put in front of me. The wheels, when not locked, are really quite smooth and I rolled it over the parking lot to the monorail and then through the carpeted hallway at the MGM and then over the uneven sidewalk 4 blocks to my room. I had no issues at all with it rolling smoothly on all four double spinner wheels, which I've always had with other spinner bags. I was impressed. 

#4 The top handle of the bag is wide and gives you a nice grip. It also has a slow release so it doesn't bang on our suitcase when you let it go. It doesn't seem like much, but I like it. It also allows the handle to lay flatter when not in use, getting in the way. 

I was super impressed with this carry-on. It looks great (even after the airlines scratched it up a bit), is seriously secure, and holds a ton. It's kind of magic. The hardside shell keeps you from overpacking, it's comfortable for almost everyone to roll through the airport (or the streets of your destination) and it's incredibly light for a hardside bag. 

Your bag fits easily in the overhead bin of the airplane and holds everything you need for your travels, so whether you're looking for a new bag for your own trips or looking for a gift for mom, dad or your favorite grad, this carry-on is ideal for anyone who wants to travel in style.

Other specs

Where to buy: On the Lojel website or Amazon

How much it is: $269.99

Colors it comes in: Black | Passion Red (shown) | Steel Blue

Size: 21.6" x 15" x 9.4" (small)

Other stuff: Double spinner wheels, just 8.4 lbs, has a 2319 in³ inside capacity, made of Advance polycarbonate (making it super strong) with a super strength alloy frame, comes with a dust cover for storage at home.

Check out Lojel's other products, which you're going to love, and then follow them online:

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

Review: WEA RFID-Blocking Mini Crossbody From Lewis N. Clark

I hope you're looking for a new handbag, either for home or for travel (or both!), because I've got another cool one for you. Lewis N. Clark has a whole new range of bags for your life, which I've been fortunate enough to be able to check out for you. This new WEA RFID-Blocking Mini Crossbody is for those who want a smaller bag, but love a lot of compartments.

Even though it claims to be mini, it's not tiny. It holds everything you need, and then some, all while looking classy and a little sporty. I love the quilted front, which matches the phone wallet and also the tote. The WEA Mini can be used as a regular shoulder bag, or you can lengthen the adjustable strap and make it a crossbody. However you find it most comfortable. 

The front flap actually has two compartments. The front compartment is the easiest to see, but has a great little lip, so it's difficult for thieves to get into, even if they manage to unzip it. Use it for paper money, change and anything else you want to keep a bit secure. I easily got my sunglasses to fit into it with room to spare.

The underside of the flap unzips to carry your things you want to access quickly. I love this for travel docs or your phone. In my case, I used it for both. It's the ideal size for boarding passes or any tickets you may need to have with you and don't want to get lost in other pockets. The flap is held down with a magnetic snap closure. 

The back of your bag, which sits against your body, has a nice little zipper pocket. The position makes the compartment more secure, and when you open it up you find: 

This great little substitution for a wallet. There's room for your ID and credit cards. There are three card slots, but you can probably get one or two more in there. They are RFID protected, so those with electronic devices that steal info off your magnetic strips are out of luck. The larger slot pocket is also protected and made for your passport. Though this zipper compartment is fairly flat, I threw in a few other items I use a lot, like my mints and lip balm. And the interior is a nice light color, making it easy to see what's inside, even if it's dark.

Unlike other bags with a snap flap, it even has a zipper to double protect your stuff. I love the wide zipper pull and the fact that the zipper goes all the way across the bag, so you have maximum access to your belongings. I always find that the worst when I have a purse that I can't open all the way and pretty much can't get my hand inside to get my things.

Unzipped, you will find even more ways to stay organized, with two wall slots and a zipper pocket. I used the large slots for my battery backup and the two cords that I need for both our phones. Maybe you want to keep your phone in one. There's a great key leash inside too, so you'll never lose your keys again. Woo! 

The zipper pocket is large enough for snacks or makeup or lady things. Whatever you want to separate from your other items. 

So, in order to show you how much fits in this bag, I pulled it all out and showed it all next to the bag. If you noticed on the inside, there's still more room inside for snacks or anything else you need to carry instead or in addition to what you normally bring. 

This little crossbody is a powerhouse that's sporty and organized that will love to go on all your adventures, whether it's to work, the farmers' market or the theme park. Need a gift for Mother's Day? Put this on your list. It's right around the corner. Or maybe you're the mom and want it for yourself. That's perfectly okay.

Additional info:

Where can I buy it? On the Lewis N Clark Website or Amazon

How much is it? $39.99

What colours does it come in?  black | teal (shown)

Other specs: 10" x 9.5" x 1.5", dirt-repelling nylon 

Connect with Lewis N Clark and learn about all their great products:

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Disclaimer: I was provided with the WEA RFID-Blocking Mini Crossbody for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own. 

Las Vegas' Neon Museum At Night

In February I went to Vegas with my mom for her birthday. She'd never been to the Neon Museum and had been wanting to for years, so I figured this was the perfect time. If you remember, we went several years ago when we were there in the summer. You can read about it here. That time we visited during the day, so I booked us a night tour so we could see some of the signs lit up. 

The "museum" definitely has a whole different vibe in the dark and more like the boneyard they claim it to be. They use external footlights to illuminate most of the signs, but a handful of them are refurbished enough to actually plug in and light up. Here are some of my pics from our visit.

The absence of sunlight can make it a little tough to photograph the signs, especially if you're trying not to blind others on the tour, but they do take on an eerie and magical feel that you don't get in the daytime. It also has the bonus of being cooler at night.

This neon sign from the Liberace museum wasn't here last time I visited, but it's pretty cool, as is the lamp from the old Aladdin. 

Since the Riviera closed a few years ago, they were lucky enough to get a fully-functioning sign that was retired. Because of this, it took a coveted spot in the boneyard and the old Tropicana signed moved to an even better spot on the side of the building, making it easier to see and photograph in its entirety.

Now, I was never fortunate enough to have seen or heard of the La Concha, but their sign is awesome and their matching lobby is as well. It is the same shape as the sign and it comprises the front room of the Neon Museum, making it even more fun and historic.

Have you ever been to the Neon Museum?