Review: Lands' End FlightWise 22" Carry-On Upright Luggage

Earlier this year, I took a little trip to New York City with my husband and our 6 year old son. It was business for me, but a vacation for them. I had originally planned on taking a 17" laptop bag with me since I had to bring my monster of a laptop along to do some work. I changed my mind after deciding that the laptop would most likely remain on the desk in the hotel room for most of the trip. Instead I opted to use the FlightWise 22" Carry-On Upright from Lands' End. This rolling carry-on suitcase has a built-in padded laptop compartment that accommodated my widescreen 17" laptop. I was extremely lucky because very few laptop bags are large enough for my particular notebook.

Aside from a place to safely transport my laptop, the other thing I loved about this rolling upright is that a 6 year old could manage it if need be. It only weighs 5lbs and the telescoping handle locks at two different heights. This handle also has its own zippered compartment, so it can be concealed and out of the way if you happen to be carrying the leather-wrapped handle on the top or on the side. Because this bag is lightweight, you do not need to waste precious pounds while staying within the weight limit during travel.

This suitcase is roomy and we pack it full. The zippered front pocket offers quite a bit more room. It was the perfect place for undergarments, socks, books, . . . whatever you have that is small and not fragile.

One of two bonuses that came with this FlightWise luggage is a set of travel bottles that are meet the Transportation Security Administration's guidelines. The other is a durable write-on luggage tag. I had to purchase luggage tags for all our other suitcases for this trip and was thankful that I had one less to buy.

I would also like to point out that the wheels and the feet on the FlightWise did not give us any problems. This bag was wheeled up and down the streets of New York City quite a bit and it survived without a scratch. In fact, the photo below was taken after we returned home from our trip.

To view the entire FlightWise Luggage Collection, visit LandsEnd.com . This particular 22" carry-on retails for $169.50 and is available in five different colors. This piece is both functional and durable and would make a great gift for any professional who travels frequently.

Thank you to Lands' End for sending us a sample product free of charge to base this review upon.

Review: Stephen Joseph Gifts Rolling Backpack

If you've read my blog before, then you probably already know we are all huge fans of monkeys in our house. If we had the room, we would probably have one for a pet . . . well, maybe not. In any case, I find it difficult to resist monkeys on clothing, on bedding, plush monkeys, etc . . . you name it.

Amongst the adorable themed children's gifts and decor offered by Stephen Joseph Gifts, there is a wide array of monkey items. In addition to the rolling backpack featured here, there are monkey lunch boxes, wall hooks, bedding, soft backpacks, duffle bags, book ends, and many more items than I could name. Not crazy about monkeys? I bet you'll find another theme that suits you in the Stephen Joseph Gifts boutique.



What my family and I thought about this Rolling Monkey Backpack:

1) In the words of my husband, we all agreed that it is "Cute as heck!"

2) As you can see, the workmanship is of the highest quality. Each seam and stitch on the smooth leather-like bag is perfect. There are no loose threads or drops of glue, as one might find on a bag of lesser quality.

3) I think it is very clever that the ends of the adjustable straps on the backpack can be secured to the bag with Velcro rather than having them dangle loosely.

4) The detail of the curly tail adds to the whimsical nature of this bag.

5) Although the pull handle is textured for better grip, my 5yr old son says that the handle is too narrow and is hard for him to hold. So perhaps a more rounded or a thicker handle would be better for small hands to grab onto.

6) The wheels offer toddlers and preschoolers a sense of independence. If the bag is too heavy for them to carry, they can easily pull the handle up and roll the bag along as they walk.

7) On the same note, I like that this bag can be freestanding. This is very helpful for young children while they are trying to put things in or take things out of the bag.

8) This bag is perfect for an overnight bag. Ours is going to be the designated toy bag for when we visit relatives' houses for dinners and other occasions. I would not use this bag for school because it would need to be sized slightly larger than a standard folder or notebook. This bag is just a hair too small to accommodate even basic school supplies.

To view the full line of Stephen Joseph products, please visit StephenJosephGifts.com . You can shop there online or locally at select retailers of children's gift items. Use the Stephen Joseph Store Finder to search for a retailer near you.


Thank you to Stephen Joseph Gifts for providing us with a review product free of charge.