Road Trip Luggage: Getting There in Style
Judy Antell
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In Packing for a Road Trip, Style Matters as Much as Function
When we pack our kids for a family vacation, we stress portability and dual function. That big t-shirt can be a coverup AND pajamas. That magazine can be reading material AND a fly swatter. But for a road trip, we can ease up on the space issue.
Unfortunately, in my family, that usually means we end up looking like the Joads, pulling up to a swanky hotel with 3 or 4 mismatched bags apiece, boots in tote bags and stuff spilling out on the lobby floor.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have just one large bag per person?
I found such a bag. The 25 inch Briggs & Riley BRX Explore suitcase has room for a week’s worth of clothes, even if you insist on different shoes for every outfit. One of my fave things about Briggs & Riley is that they guarantee their bags for life – if you break a strap or zipper (unlikely – these pieces are really durable) they fix it, free.
Briggs & Riley luggage also always has a clever orange pocket, perfect for printed out hotel confirmations (if you are old school) or the place to stash your house keys so you know exactly where they are when you get home. Genius!
I asked other savvy travelers to share their favorite road trip luggage photos and stories.
Stacy Stylianou’s easy to spot vintage leopard luggage
Easy to Spot
Stacy Stylianou, Project Coordinator at Lincoln Motor Company uses a vintage leopard print box case. She said vintage pieces have always intrigued her. “Not just for the fact that they came from a different era of style, but because you know there is always a story behind the piece you own.” Stacy received this leopard box case from her aunt when she was 15 years old. She said her aunt gave it to her since” leopard never seems to go out of style and she took it on plenty of outings and got her use out of it. Now it was my turn.”
Stacy added, “The piece is original and I can honestly say I have never seen another like it. I take pride in owning things, regardless of brand, that are original and that I can tell stories about, especially if that thing was passed down to me. This case is unique with a fun print and is versatile. It has a lot of life left in it and I hope to one day pass this on to my future niece or daughter.”
Outstanding Style
T Strong stands out with her luggage
T Strong, StyleMayvin, loves her Travelers Club bag. She had this to say about her chosen suitcase, “At any moment of any given day, I love to make a style statement and this luggage helps me to do it! Given to me by mother, since she knows I’m always on the go, I never travel without it. Why not get from point A to point B in style? That’s what I always say! I travel the globe and back with this bag because the 360 wheels make my trip easy and seamless, plus the sleek hard case and fabulous cheetah print make it durable and shows off my wild side. It”s the perfect carry on bag but if I ever have to check it, there’s no way I’ll ever pick up the wrong bag by mistake. She stands out in a crowd. Just like me!”
The Bag for Quick Get-Aways
Dianna C. Gutierrez Head of SRT, Design & Motorsports PR for Chrysler is on the fast track with her red bag. She said, “Whether it’s traveling to an auto show, Tudor United Sports Car Championship race or drive program, my red Samsonite suitcase has been by my side for the last five years. And, much like my Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, it’s the perfect size to maneuver quickly in and out of any situation and looks stylish arriving
Dianna Gutierrez’ red luggage is for quick getaways
either to the track or a swanky New York hotel. And, also like the Jeep, it’s the perfect size and has enough space for anything that may be needed for a two-day or a two-week long adventure.”
Kid-and Mom-Proof
Sam Feuss, a writer, blogger and self-described “resident Mama-razzi and up-loader of a zillion photos” everywhere she goes, says the must have travel bags are BRX Travel Adventure Gear. “A great computer bag I can drag around is my number one. The Excursion Messenger is awesome, and takes all the abuse I dish out. Plus, it’s water resistant, and that’s great for sudden changes in weather or spills from the kid.
Sam Feuss is ready for an excursion with her messenger bag
She added, “The Excursion Backpack is the greatest pack I have ever owned, and I wish I had gotten one sooner. It even has a spot I can clip my keys to- which I love, since I insist on losing them in the bottom of everything. It has two inside pouches- one for all my folders, itineraries, notebooks, the mini-flip cam and my mini-camera, and the other for my son’s collected “treasures” along the way. It has a bungee bag on the side for the sippy cup or water bottle that comes with pretty much all travel.
As an added bonus, “Both bags fit on one floorboard, which means more room for everything else. Nice.”