I always get asked about travel gear, especially bags. I never check bags unless absolutely necessary because it’s such a waste of time and potentially a lot of money. As you know I work with TravelSmith, one of the leading online travel clothing and gear retailers. Each month I feature a product or products that I use or wish to use. This month I am featuring the Eagle Creek Load Warrior carry on bag.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been using an Osprey Meridian carry on and to be honest I love it. It’s big for a carry on but can fit overhead on most plane types but generally not commuter jets or puddle jumpers. I can use it for weeks on end as my only bag. The only issue I have with it is sometimes it gets too bulky, especially when I put the dirty clothes in the top pocket and at times, airport staff has made me check it. Also, it doesn’t take a beating very well and starts to look old quickly.

So when I started working with Travelsmith and took a look through their inventory, I spotted the sleek black Eagle Creek Load Warrior carry on bag and thought I’d give it a try. It’s smaller and much less bulky than my current carry on and I would never have to worry about having to check it. It’s not nearly as thick or stretchy as my Osprey. The down side is I don’t know if I could go weeks with it but for short trips, it’s lighter, more durable and easier to carry around.

According to the TravelSmith website, the Eagle Creek Load Warrior provides plenty of packing space without weighing you down. It’s made of durable ripstop polyester with a seamless composite fabrication that strategically strengthens wear points for maximum abrasion resistance. I don’t know exactly what that means either but having used the bag 8-10 time snow I can say it’s a tough bag and can take a bit of a pounding with ripping or breaking.

The main compartment expands to offer more packing space when needed, along with interior compression straps that keep what you’ve packed in place. On the outside, you’ll find additional compression straps, lash points for securing gear and a Stowable Equipment Keeper to hold items on top of the bag. This is actually a really cool feature if you’re traveling with something like a bike helmet, rollerblades or something bulky that you can’t pack in the bag.

Oversized treaded wheels with protective wheel housing allow you to maneuver easily through terminals, while a durable kick plate and bumper protection keep this piece looking good trip after trip. Additional features include multiple grab handles, lockable zippers, top pocket for quick-grab items and reflective accents.

Basically what all that fancy website talk means is that bag is durable, expandable, convenient, has a lot of cool features and will take a beating and keep looking stylish after many trips and uses. I definitely recommend the Eagle Creek Load Warrior for shorter trips.

Disclaimer: I have a business relationship with TravelSmith, receive financial compensation and receive complimentary merchandise . All recommendations are made by me at my discretion and have not been influenced in any way.

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