More and more people are forgoing the checked bag, and are choosing to fly carry-on only. The challenge here lies in being able to pack as much as possible, into a smaller piece of luggage. The experts at U.N. Luggage can help you find the right travel bag for your next trip.
Jon Thiessen is co-owner of U.N. Luggage in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. He says a lot of people are coming in, looking for a bag that will allow them to bring as much as possible on board the plane with them, and highlights the brand Cotopaxi as a solution to some of these travel challenges.
“This is a brand that people go out of their way to find. People sometimes look to these bags just to get as much as they can aboard. Their bags are soft and frameless. So because there’s no frame, it’s sometimes easier to get a Cotopaxi carry-on into the overhead compartment on a plane – you can squish it into spaces that a structured bag can't fit.”
Another reason the Cotopaxi carry-on has so much room, is because there are no wheels.
“Sometimes carry-on wheels don't serve a purpose – there are some places where wheels just can't be used. Where it might be much more convenient to have something on your back than trying to roll it over broken sidewalks. So on the backside of the bag are straps, giving you the ability to throw it on your back and free up your hands. And with a lack of frame and lack of wheels, you get a max volume.”
Even though the bags are soft, Cotopaxi makes it easy to stay organized while traveling.
“They open up suitcase-style,” explains Thiessen. “So you have a big compartment for everything you're going to fold and roll. You have another big pocket some people will use for shoes or gym clothes. And a pocket on top so if you're going through security, you can easily access your three-in-one bag.”
Although they do come in neutral colours, most Cotopaxi bags are also designed to stand out.
“Sometimes people look for a bright bag because if they're traveling with somebody, they want something that can be easily spotted in a crowd. So if you're in a crowded market and you're the person with the bright blue backpack, it might be easier for your travel partner to spot you than if you had just the generic black that everyone else is carrying,” Thiessen points out.
In their pursuit of stand-out colours, he says that Cotopaxi then looked at all their bright scrap material, and launched a whole new collection where they use only scraps.
“There might not be another bag that's exactly like this anywhere ever, because they're using up all the extras that went into making their core product. It's the same bag, using scraps, but you end up with a completely unique bag because the next one will have completely different colours.”
As some airlines are starting to charge for carry-on luggage, Thiessen notes people are beginning to look into how they could travel with only a personal item. Cotopaxi has a solution – the 20-litre backpack is smaller version of the full-size carry-on, and is considered a personal case. Thiessen notes it opens suitcase-style as well, so you can still fold in your clothing, your liquids, your tablet, and everything you want at your feet rather than in the overhead compartment.
“We like the story, we like the brand, they're easy to deal with, and they make a good product,” confirms Thiessen. “People will go out of their way to find a store that carries the brand they're after – and this happens to be one of those brands.”
You’ll find Cotopaxi bags and many other reliable, high-quality travel bags and accessories at U.N. Luggage, located in the heart of Winnipeg's historic Exchange District at 75 McDermot Avenue, and online at www.unluggage.com. See the full interview (and the bags!) here.