The Journey Genie

In the ten+ years that I've been traveling, I've gone through many a suitcase - not necessarily because they wore out, but because they were too big, too small, too heavy, too cumbersome to roll, etc.  Finally, after much consideration, last year I bought a bright pink IT World's Lightest suitcase and I have to say, so far I'm thrilled with it.  This summer will be our third trip together and it looks like a lasting partnership.

Now, bright pink would NOT usually be my first choice, but let me tell you, it's easy to spot when it comes off the conveyer belt in airports.  This in itself is a bonus, since it can be difficult to find *your* precious suitcase amongst the sea of black and grey.

Besides the colour, however, some additional selling points of this suitcase for me are:

* it truly is as light as a feather: the 22 inch suitcase is only 1.8 lbs when empty

* the multi-directional rolling wheels make it easier to manouver through crowds (I would never to back to single direction wheels)

* the internal frame is lightweight and takes up very little space; this might be an issue after several more flights, or if it encounters a particularly rough ride with baggage handlers, but so far the extra space means more room to bring home souvenirs!

* the wider handle is both a blessing and a curse; it's a blessing since it's easier to grip (foam rubber padding is also user-friendly), but it's a curse since most conventional carry on bags do not have a "piggyback" sleeve that is meant to fit over such a wide handle - in fact, I have yet to find one, and even IT Luggage's own brand of carry on bag doesn't work well with this suitcase

* for a non-exandable case, it does hold a lot since the soft shell stretches to fit whatever is inside; this can make the bag front heavy and somewhat tippy, but I haven't found that it's a big deal

One downside I discovered before I bought my bag: IT's "guarantee" is not really a guarantee at all, since IT disavows itself of liability if the airline causes the damage.  Since I don't plan on jumping up and down on it, the only way the bag could get damaged is via airline mishandling, so it's kind of a moot point.  Oh well - I found my bag at a TJ Maxx store, where it was only $40.  For that price, even if the thing only lasts for two or three years, it will have been worth it in saved money on chiropractic visits alone!  In short, though I was leery about the strength and durability of this bag, I would recommend it if you want to travel light.