Anyone who knows me will know that I am a seasoned traveller. I don't think there is a month that goes by without me going somewhere, mostly to see friends and family, which is always nice. So, when I had the chance to review a piece from
Eastpak's latest SS12 collection of carry-on luggage, I was really thrilled to be able to talk about something which I use more and more in my day-to-day life. I've had my fair share of hand luggage dramas, struggling to fit my bag (most times) into the annoying restrictions, so I was interested to see what Eastpak had to offer, and whether this would improve upon my experience.
So, let's start with the basics. The bag has a cute colourful exterior and looks quite sturdy from the outside. It has plastic wheels and a fold-out carry handle, as well as another handle on the side meaning you can either wheel or carry the bag along. It also has the possibility of attaching a padlock to it, should you want a bit of extra security. As you can see, I took it for a test spin and found it to be quite comfortable and easy to wheel around. The two most important factors for me where: a) does the carry handle fold in and out easily and b) is the bag lightweight (given that most carry-on weight restrictions are 10 kg or less). I have to say, it passes both tests and is probably the most lightweight carry-on I have ever had. Even though it's not hard-cased (like my other carry-on from Primark) I think that the construction of this bag reduces the overall initial weight, meaning I can cram a lot more luggage in, which is great for me.
The problem I have with most other carry-ons is that they usually have only one or two pockets located in the suitcase/bag themselves. As most of you who have travelled low-budget before know, you're only allowed one piece of hand-baggage, meaning no handbag to keep passports, tickets, wallet, etc in. Meaning that I would usually have to unzip the whole suitcase/bag and start looking for these essentials when I need them. Eastpak solves this problem however, with a useful front pocket which can hold all these things in, without needing to go into the bag itself.
Another simple, but genius feature, is the compression straps which are located on the side of the bag–if your luggage is too big to fit into the metal tray at the airport, just tighten the straps and voilá. This is definitely a feature that I can see myself using a lot!
Now, onto the inside. What I really like about this bag is that it has lots of compartments–perfect for someone like me who, the moment she steps out of the door, has to immediately panic check if she's taken everything essential! So, if you're an organisation freak, you'll love this bag. It really has a compartment for every type of thing you might take on holiday, so you can also save yourself the hassle of having to wrap everything in plastic bags in order to keep stuff clean and separate. Like a true fashion addict, my only concern is how many pairs of shoes I would be able to fit into the bag, since I often travel for weekends just with a carry-on. Something tells me though, that this bag can fit a deceptively large amount in, and this is something that I will definitely be testing during my next getaway.
So, what about the price I hear you ask? There are various types of carry-ons available on the Eastpak site, and prices start at £40, which I think is quite decent given the reputation of the brand, the quality of the items and the many little features which makes them perfect for travelling.
Overall, I really like this product and I think it's solved a lot of problems that many carry-ons pose, and which I myself have had in the past. I am jetting off to Bulgaria next week, so cannot wait to try this out in a real travel situation, and see how much I can cram into it without going over the weight limit (oh the joys of a traveller!).
If you want to check out more of Eastpak's travel range, head over to their site by clicking
here. They do a whole host of luggage and carry-on options, depending on your needs and tastes. I can definitely see this becoming one of my favourite brands for travel bags!
*Please note that this is a sponsored post with a gifted item. However, all opinions expressed are my own
