Finding the Right Carry-On Bag Changes Everything
Learning how to pack for a business trip begins with choosing the right carry-on gear bag. It should be the foundation of the packing process. The bag you choose should be able to adapt to your particular needs, and to the different gear requirements that each business trip could present. It should make your travel easier and more efficient by optimizing your organization and reducing your carry-on footprint.
The nature of today’s carry-on bag is very different from the bags we all carried years ago. Today’s carry-on bag is actually a Gear Bag because it has to hold:
All of our electronic gear (laptop, tablet, phone, along with all the required things like the cords, cables, chargers, batteries, mouse, external hard drive, etc.)
All of our personal gear (wallet, car keys, sunglasses, eyeglasses, medications), and
An essential selection of our travel gear (toiletries, spare clothing, reading materials, snacks)
In this article we will help you figure out how to choose the right carry-on gear bag as a business traveler to help you be more organized, have better access to your gear, and make packing a breeze. We’re also going to share some tried and true packing tips. Keep reading for the details.
Price and Quality
When it comes to carry-on gear bags, durability should be near the top of the list. Your bag is going to do a lot of transitioning from your car or the Uber/Lyft/Taxi, to the shuttle, through security, at an endless stream of food court / gate check-in / car rental / hotel check-in service counters, into overhead storage, under the seat in front of you, in the rental car, etc., etc. Not to mention all of the movement related to the meetings and events you’ll attend. You will also be constantly opening and closing your bag and it’s pockets to access your gear all along the way. The right gear bag will thrive under this type of heavy use. .
A high-quality gear bag from a material and construction standpoint will make it possible for the bag to survive all the wear and tear.
A high-quality gear bag from a design and engineering standpoint provides a joyful experience because of the thoughtful functionality and the necessary versatility. A quality bag becomes a good friend and a game-changing tool that is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Ideally, the first time you purchase a travel piece for your business trips, it will be high-quality and made to last. For a high-quality carry-on bag (without a designer label), you can expect to spend around $150 – 250, depending on which features are important to you.
Sizing
No matter your mode of transportation, size matters. Everyone knows that airlines have size restrictions for carry-on bags. But of course even beyond the need to “go small” to meet those restrictions, the simple fact is that as you walk around and sit inside airports, and take rides on shuttles, taxis, Ubers, or buses, or spend time on Ferries or Trains, the raw size of your bag becomes a big factor. Clearly, a smaller bag that is more organized and more efficient will let you get all your stuff into less space, and will lead to a better experience because it is simply a more-manageable bag. .
The duration of most business trips is long enough that you’ll likely need a substantial quantity and variety of clothing and shoes, etc. You won’t even consider trying to pack all that into your carry-on gear bag. A small (or large) separate suitcase is really best suited for the clothing side of business travel. In this instance, you’ll have two bags — a suitcase, and your carryon gear bag — and of course, both of those might be carryons, or you may choose to check the suitcase. And regardless of whether you check the suitcase or carry it on, all of the critical features of your carryon gear bag come into play exactly the same.
The duration of some business trips will turn out to be short enough (like overnight) that you will have the unique opportunity to take only your carryon gear bag, provided that this bag can adapt to the inclusion of perhaps just a single change of clothing. Using only a carry-on bag makes entering and exiting the airport a breeze while keeping everything you need close at hand throughout your trip.
If you want the ability to use your bag as a carry-on, be sure that it is within the standard size of 22” x 14” x 9”. Some airlines do allow bags that are an inch or two bigger, but sticking with this size or smaller will ensure that your bag is allowed for carry-on use.
Gear Bag Features to Consider for Easy Business Travel
Many carry-on bags come in standard configurations that won’t allow for much flexibility during your trip. This often means relying on another bag to carry your electronics and anything else you access regularly for business purposes.
BrightLine Bags gives you the option to build a modular gear bag that can be assembled as a single unit or broken down into smaller bags. Our durable bags have a place for everything you need during a business trip, including electronic device storage for a laptop, tablet, and phone, as well as files, notebooks, cords, plugs, business cards, and pens. And these are just the work tools. You should have easily accessible storage for travel documents, wallet and key storage, earphones, toiletries, clothing, a water bottle, snacks or food, eyeglasses, medicine, and anything else you need at a moment’s notice.
With the ability to add or subtract components, our gear bag should be functional for any type of travel or any trip length, and our bags do that. We also offer various accessories to help you navigate unexpected events during business travel, from flight changes and delays to extended layovers.
Modular gear bags help you stay organized for the duration of your trip, keeping hygiene products separate from electronic devices and papers, and allow you to quickly find your essentials. The last thing you need is a bottle or container leaking onto important work documents and devices. BrightLine Bags also gives you the option to order inserts and organizers (called the FLEX Array) to improve your organization and packing ability while further protecting sensitive devices.
You’ll want to choose a gear bag that pulls double duty during your travels. If you tend to tote your bag by hand, you may consider one that can be converted to a backpack or placed onto a folding cart to alleviate sore, tired arms. For travelers who require industry-specific equipment, a bag that can act as a daypack, photography bag, or laptop case is also ideal.
One of the easiest ways to determine which gear bag is perfect is to consider what the majority of your business travel will look like, including typical activities, equipment, and the average trip length. Don’t worry too much about extreme hypotheticals. Focus on the type of travel activities you know are required for your company. You can always make adjustmentslater.
Packing Tips for Business Travelers
The feeling you get when you learn that you’ve forgotten an essential item is usually somewhere between aggravation, annoyance, and worrying about finding a suitable replacement.
One trick is to prepare before leaving by noting which items you use on trips, what items you’ve had to purchase, and what items would have made your life easier. Make a list and experiment with the best ways to pack them. Learn to place them in the same parts of your bag for each trip for quick access. The color coded zippers on the BrightLine Bags make this a breeze.
Avoid overpacking by combining products when you can and learning which (if any) items will be provided for you. Remove duplicates and product “backups” from your bag — if you’re running low on something, replace it and use the depleted one once you return home.
Replenish your stash of business cards and pens before you leave; also be sure to have a notepad with enough paper available if you’re attending meetings or conferences.
Your Business Travel Bag
Don’t settle for mediocre when it comes to your business travel bag. Your bag should be designed to make traveling easier. Finding the right one may require a bit of time and effort, but if you purchase the right quality and functionality, you will save the time and expense of having to purchase a new one.
If you’re in the market for a new business travel bag but find the search to be overwhelming, take a look at the BrightLine Bags pre-configured bags for some ideas of highly functional and well-loved carry-on choices.