I was in a department store recently and found myself in the area where the luggage is on display. I have noticed that there are now two distinct types of luggage. There is the luggage that is meant to travel frequently in cramped cargo areas and handled by unfriendly and unconcerned airline staff. That luggage is typically constructed of a heavy duty water resistant fabric and is almost always black or other dark color to disguise any scrapes, scratches, or marks left by the conveyors. These bags are the bread and butter of the frequent flyer business traveler. I won't bore you with photos of these industrial strength clothing cartons.
I have noticed that there is now luggage that appears to be only for those who travel by car, always in control of their luggage and are interested in making a fashion statement as well as getting to their destination. You will probably find them in the back of the soccer mom SUV's that don't really want to be SUV's or go off-road.
While this may look great in the store and probably works okay as soccer mom luggage in the back of a pearl white SUV, but it would not survive in the world of the frequent flyer business traveler.
If you want to upgrade to leather and impress everyone in the hotel lobby at your destination with overpriced bags, then this might be the set for you.
If you like attention grabbing luggage and don't want to waste time collecting all of those old travel stickers, then here are some bags that scream where you've been or would like to go. They may also alert the border patrol or drug sniffing dogs.
If you're a "Hippie" child of the 60's looking for the next Greatful Dead tribute concert, or hoping that there will be a 50th anniversary reunion of Woodstock, then you will need this. Again, you may attract DEA agents and drug sniffing dogs.
Finally, if you're looking for something in a fake Pendleton wool blanket pattern, this has got you covered...or not. I think I"m going to stay with my time worn, battle tested, travelers luggage. How about you?
