eBags Blog

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The world famous Brazilian Artist Romero Britto has just exclusively released a line designer luggage. It truly is unlike anything the art or travel world has ever seen. What is even cooler is that eBags has been chosen to be the ONE AND ONLY place you can get it. That’s right, we are the only place in the WHOLE WORLD. We just think it might be the coolest thing since the messenger bag made its debut.

This hard-sided luggage features the exact designs of Romero Britto. His artwork has been featured all over the world, from European castles to Bentley cars. It truly is a first of its kind!

Michael Kors is, without a doubt, the leading American fashion designer for handbags. His handbags are adored by thousands of celebrities and women alike for their sleek design and active yet trendy look. Therefore, we felt we should show you some of the new must have Michael Kors handbags for this fall.

1. Michael Kors Delancy Fold Over Tote – This leather tote is incredibly stylish. It features gold rivets and Michale Kors genuine leather. It can also function as a full length tote or a much shorter fold over.
2. Michael Kors Newbury Woven Large Shoulder Hobo – The hobo is totally unique with its woven leather look. With its bronze finish, this hobo is sure to make you the new envy of all your friends!
3. Michael Kors Lattington Large Shoulder – Available in a fabulous mocha finish, this large leather should has unique style and flair. It uses a fold over clasp with double handles and 3 interior pockets.
4. Michael Kors Wainscott Large Satchel – This leather satchel feature zipper top closure and metal feet to make sure the leather says in top shape. It is available in both black and vanilla.
5. Michael Kors Astor Grommet Large Satchel – This leather large satchel is the most unique in the new line. It features a blend of large stitched and smooth leather as well as the patented Michael Kors Logo. This will definitely be a favorite.

The hard-sided vs. soft-sided luggage debate has been long standing throughout the travel world. While the travel industry certainly seems to have strayed toward soft-sided luggage, there is still a good proportion of hard sided luggage users out there. Most simply prefer the durability of a hard plastic shell, as well as the reassurance of knowing their fragile items are going to stay safe and sound. I’m going to take a more in-depth look at both sides and see if we can conclude which is truly the superior luggage.

Hard Sided Luggage – If there was ever one compelling stat to convince me that I should buy hard luggage, it is this: Airline baggage handlers either damage or break 7.34 out of every 1000 pieces of luggage they handle. Now, that is less than 1%, but it still doesn’t sound like a risk I want to take. Additionally, hard-sided luggage is stain resistant and waterproof as well. Because of all these durability factors, if you often travel with expensive electronics or fragile items, a hard sided suitcase is really the only surefire way to protect your things. However, really hard hits or drops can, in fact, crack the siding. Unfortunately, once this happens the suitcase is ruined. Additionally, hard sided suitcases are not as “packing friendly” as their soft sided counterparts. What I mean is, hard sided suitcases are not as flexible, and therefore give you more limited packing space. While you may be able to stuff that extra beach towel into your soft luggage, hard sided luggage is not so forgiving. The most common misconception about hard sided luggage is that it weights more than its soft sided counter parts. While this may be true if you compare it to a duffel bag, the reality is that with such advanced polymers and plastics, soft and hard sided luggage weight relatively the same amount. That is good news now that airlines are charging between $15 and $25 a bag.

Soft Sided Luggage – Soft sided luggage appears to be the clear favorite coming into this debate. The selection for soft sided luggage far outweighs that of hard sided luggage. So if you are looking for a certain style, soft sided may be a better choice. Soft sided luggage is also much more “packing friendly” in two ways. One, like I said in the hard sided section, it offer more packing flexibility, so you can cram more stuff into little nooks and crannies. Secondly, soft sided suitcases usually offer a number of different pockets and compartments. This help to keep things organized. Also, soft sided luggage cannot break in the sense of cracking or shattering. It will absorb impact far better than its hard sided counter parts. However, it does not protect its content as well. Also, soft sided luggage can be prone to rips and broken zippers. Over long periods of time, soft sided luggage will also show its age faster. This is due to its ability to pickup stains and dirt.

The Verdict – Although everyone has their own opinions, I think that for most recreational travelers, soft sided luggage is still the winner. Its versatility and “packing friendliness” make it the best option for most travelers. However, if you would consider yourself a professional traveler, or travel with fragile items, then hard sided luggage is more appropriate due to its longevity and durability.

It’s back to school season, and I think it might be a good idea to show off some of the new JanSport backpack patterns for the 2009 season. These colors and patterns are available on most JanSport backpacks, including the SuperBreak, Big Student Pack, and Half Pint. Be sure to let us know which one you like the best.

The Cuban Brown Splatter Skull is my personal favorite. Featuring a mix of skulls and stars, this pattern is definitely the coolest one this season. Next is the Black/White Day Dreaming, which features wild lunar graphics in bright blue and pink This pattern is a surefire way to get noticed! On the more traditional/preppy end is the Calypso Blue Plaid Argyle pattern. The mix of argyle and plaid is east coast stylish through and through. Now we move from east coast to the 1960’s. The New Hot Pink/White/Newbud Green Summer69 is a cool throw-back patter, featuring bright pink sides and dotted peace signs. Finally, the Black/Calypso Blue Dark Side Plaid/ Calypso Blue is the definition of eclectic. This pattern is a mixture of plaid, solid, and lunar, and rock star. Overall, pretty awesome!

Those are my personal favorite new graphics for the JanSport 2009 back to school season. Be sure to tell us your fav’s and what you think of these ones!

Yesterday, my personal fashionista, Alex, came to me with a problem. “ It is so hard to find the right wallet. There are always a million styles and finding one you like is pretty time consuming.” I was surprised! Not only does Alex have great taste in style, but she always seems to have all the perfect accessories to make her absolutely glow. (Alex also happens to be my lovely girlfriend!) Being a fairly typical guy, my first inclination was to brush off such a comment with the usual “Oh, that sounds like a pretty major problem! Are you sure you’ll manage?” But over the years I have learned that is not the optimal approach to the situation!

After a few more minutes of discussion, she proposed I write a blog about how to look for the perfect wallet. That sounded a little daunting to me. What did I know about how to look for the perfect wallet? But with a little support and a lot of help, I think we nailed a good approach to finding the perfect wallet.

1. Listen to Yourself – This may sound strange, but following your heart will usually lead to a much more fulfilling wallet purchase then simply picking one out because it makes the most sense. Realize that if you have you have your heart set on that Cole Haan Village Soft Slim Zip Wallet, that really is the right wallet for you! If you are looking to save money, wallets are an inexpensive way to indulge. A really nice wallet still costs far less than even a moderately priced handbag!

2. Describe Your Style – Next, you need to figure out the general style of wallet you need. Alex and I both agree that a wallet is as much about style as is about function. So pick a wallet which reflects you own personal style. For example, if you would describe yourself as a more preppy or “east coast” individual, Vera Bradley may suit you. If fun and funky suits you, check out Betsy Johnson or Loungefly. If you are looking for something a little more refined and sophisticated, a Perlina wallet may fit the bill. I know Alex has her eyes set on a Hobo International wallet because it is sophisticated but comes in a range of fun and funky colors.

3. Know What You Need – The next step to finding the right wallet is to figure out what features its needs. For example, do you need a wallet with lots of room, or something smaller? Do you need one that you can take with you separate from your handbags, or should it simply act as a compartment? Does it need a coin purse or checkbook holder? These are all things you are going to want to think about. Although function is not the end all-be all, it does make sense to consider!

4. Compare Options – Using a side by side comparison is a really nice way to compare styles and features between multiple wallets. It helps to visualize the differences and can really illuminate feature you like vs features you don’t. eBags has a nice side by side comparison option right under the main image. Just click to add items to the comparison chart!

Well neither Alex nor I are claiming this will lead you to only one choice, it will definitely help lead you to a few great options! Hope this helped all you aspiring fashionistas out there!