Tumi Carry-on Review – The Tumi Alpha International Expandable Compact Carry-On

The Tumi Alpha International Expandable Compact Carry-On (style number 22018) is as top-notch as any of my other Tumi carry-on bags. I’ve given it a trial on five trips so far and it’s been excellent.  It’s perfectly suited for an overnight / two night business trip, but no more than that as it is on the small side.  The great thing is that it’s guaranteed to fit in the overhead of any airline and it will always pass the test at those bag test boxes at check-in or at the departure gate.  Although small, this bag does extend to an outside depth dimension of 11.5” which is pretty good.

Unlike some of Tumi’s other Alpha range carry-ons, this bag only comes in black although still featuring Tumi’s signature ballistic nylon fabric.  Which, I assure you, is practically indestructible.  From what I’ve read, Tumi were actually the first company to introduce ballistic nylon as a material for luggage over 25 years ago.  It’s one f those things you practically take for granted now.  Well in my opinion, if it was good enough to prevent flak for pilots, it’s good enough for my suitcases and the flak they sometimes have to take from baggage handlers!

The exterior features of this Tumi bag include a spacious u-zip pocket on the upper face, a large full-width zippered pocket beneath this, sturdy carry handles on the top and side, a super high quality (/i.e. non-shaky and solid) extendable telescopic handle, a convenient add-a-bag connection system so that you can stack your other bags onto the carry-on as you are towing it from place to place and finally some neat and secure ticket pocketing.

The wheels are also a distinct indicator of the quality of this Tumi carry-on.  They are so smooth running and practically silent when you’re on the move.

Moving on to the interior features… The main space in the bag is of an adequate size, although one thing I felt it was lacking was the removable garment bag which is present in my other Tumi carry-on bag.  There are, however, four internal zip pockets which are handy for stowing away the odd item or for separating your laundry.  The cross straps and clickable buckle are perfect for securing the internal contents of your bag during transit as they seem considerably wider than the flimsy straps you often get with other bags.

This Tumi carry-on bag comes in at around $550 on average.  You can shop around if you want, but the cheapest place I’ve found it for sale online has to be here.

All in all, this model of Tumi carry-on luggage has everything you need for an overnight airline trip and it is well worth the money. If you want to look at some further reviews of this carry-on, why not check out some of the ones listed on here?  If you’re looking to buy a Tumi carry-on then you definitely can’t go wrong with this model.

How to pack your bag like a pro

It’s simply amazing how much this guy can pack into his suitcase.  I’m going to go and try with my Tumi carry-on.  I suppose the only annoying thing will be if the airport staff then remove it all for a search!

Tumi Alpha International Zippered Expandable Carry-on – Tumi Carry-on Luggage Review

In this review we’ll be looking at the Tumi Alpha International Zippered Expandable Carry-on, one of the leading models of carry-on luggage.  Apart from it’s inherent quality – being a Tumi bag – the main reason I say it’s a leader in carry-on luggage is because it is one of the few bags that actually meets the universal airport requirements for carry-on luggage.  You can save yourself that infuriating and humiliating moment when you’re forced by airport staff to stuff your carry-on luggage in those annoying size-test metal boxes, only to find out that you’ve got it stuck!  I’ve found, that even when extended to an extra 2.5” depth, there is still no problem getting it in and out of those boxes.

That said, this Tumi Alpha carry-on is the smallest in the Tumi carry-on suitcase range, meaning that it is really best suited to shorter trips – any longer than a weekend would be pushing it, really.  On my most recent trip I managed to fit in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, two shirts, underwear and my laptop quite comfortably.  I also had books and toiletries in the outer pockets.  Not a huge amount, I know, but at least when your packing, you know that you’re not going to be challenged over it being oversize.

The external dimensions, as previously stated, are small but don’t let this make you think that the bags features are in anyway compromised.  This Tumi carryon is made from super strong ballistic nylon (throughout) and can come in a range of colors including black (as pictured), brindle, espresso (which is what I’ve got) and navy.  Tumi also offer monogramming for added customization.

The remaining external features include a deep and well protected u-zip pocket on the upper side of the carry-on’s face, a large front zip pocket in it’s middle plus a handy and durable hook with a secure fastening tab on the top – which enables you to drape another bag over the carry-on when you’re in rolling mode.  This ‘add-a-bag’ feature, as it is known, can apparently support up to 200 pounds!  It makes makes traveling a lot more pleasant to be able to stack items via this hook.  If you have other Tumi brand bags such as the Tumi tote bag or other Tumi business bags, stacking is made even easier as they all have specific black connecting sleeves that are designed just for this purpose.

Another thing that’s really pleasing with this Tumi carry-on are the state-of-the-art inline wheels.  They ride on a solid steel axis, the smoothest sealed bearings and shock-absorbing bushings.  You can barely hear the carry-on rolling at all… even between differing surfaces such as marble to carpet as you often get in airports.

Still focusing on the exterior of this Tumi Alpha carry-on, the extension handle is of a superb quality.  It is nice and chunky unlike some pathetically flimsy ones on other brands.  Although nice, sturdy and fat, it is surprisingly light probably due to the fact that Tumi have incorporated high-grade aircraft aluminum.

The quality of the zipper is also superlative.  Tumi cleverly patented this feature called the ‘Omega Closure System’ in which the zip’s puller actually breaks away if it get’s caught up in anything.  This means that your saved from having to replace the entire zipper like you would with other bags.

The Tumi Alpha International Zippered Expandable Carry-on’s interior is surprisingly spacious for such a compact item of luggage.  There is a nice full-length removable garment sleeve for shirts or one suit maybe, a hanging hook, a zippered tie pocket, two normal zippered pockets and a pair of wide clickable straps for securing the carry-on bag’s contents.

The bag’s average retail price is $595 from most vendors, but I’ve seen it sell for as low as $525 from here.

I’d say this bag has served me exceptionally well for all my short breaks when I’m using air travel.  If this is the sort of travelling you find yourself doing often, I couldn’t recommend this Tumi carry-on highly enough.

There are a number of well considered reviews on Amazon that might help you gain some deeper insight into the qualities of this carry-on.

Tumi Alpha Compact Laptop Briefcase Pack – Tumi Laptop Bag Review

This is a review of the Alpha Compact Laptop Briefcase Pack, an excellent business laptop case from the Ferrari of luggage manufacturers, Tumi.

The Tumi Alpha Compact Laptop Briefcase Pack is amongst the best business laptop bags on the market.  Backpack models often don’t really cut it in the boardroom as they can look a little too casual.  However, this Tumi laptop bag has enough style and obvious quality to make it fit into any serious office environment.

The sleek and luxurious black finish comes courtesy of Tumi’s signature full-grain napa leather.  The laptop bag doesn’t disappoint on comfort either, as the luxurious leather is incorporated into the extremely comfortable and strong adjustable shoulder straps.  The external features are all spot-on and include a leather carry handle (in the same napa leather), front zip pockets on the upper section, two u-zip pockets on the face, a couple of roomy zip pockets on either side and a bottle holder.

The interior features of this laptop bag are perfectly suited to all of your possible business needs.  They include a dedicated and secure laptop compartment which is ideal for any laptop computer up to 15” screen size.  There is also a removable file divider with a magnetic flap closure mechanism.  Additionally, there is another removal pouch deigned for accessories – perhaps for your mouse, thumb drives, recordable media etc.  There are some further media pockets, a business card holder, a pen holding loop and a leash clip for securing your keys.  Tumi really has thought of everything with this business laptop bag.

Overall, I’d say the bag is fantastic due to it’s roominess and accommodating shape.  You really do have a wide opening when it’s unzipped, which really helps when your trying to fish things out of it.  The width of the base is also great as it means the bag basically never tips over when you’ve got it sitting on the ground.

I can see this Tumi laptop bag lasting 20+ years, but the one thing I would make sure to look after is it’s leather.  You should make the effort to treat it with some good quality leather conditioner every year perhaps?

Tumi are justified to include this compact business laptop holder in their ‘Alpha’ range, because it really does stand out as the leader for this type of product.

The price is very reasonable given its overall quality and the quality of the materials – in particular the leather.  You can typically get hold of the bag for around $600.  But the cheapest place I’ve found for it is $595 from HERE…

There is the added bonus of a free return policy with this Tumi laptop bag as well as an excellent general warranty.

All in all, I’d say if you’re looking for a quality business laptop that’s going to last you the rest of your business life, then the Tumi Alpha Compact Laptop Briefcase Pack is the choice for you.  Have a look at these reviews on Amazon if you want some further insight into the quality of the laptop bag.

Tumi Alpha Wheeled Garment Bag – Tumi Garment Bag Luggage Review

In this Tumi luggage review we will be looking at the Tumi Alpha Wheeled Garment Bag.  Specifically, the 22031 model.

The Alpha Wheeled Garment Bag is one of Tumi’s most iconic items of luggage and is considered as probably the best of all wheeled garment bags available on the market.  It is ideal for the serious and uncompromising business traveler who’s looking for luxury, durability and style.  Tumi have really thought of everything with this bag, and from personal experience, it is worth every penny.

Let’s take a look at this rolling garment bag in more detail, then…

The main inner compartment of the Tumi Alpha garment bag is very roomy and can hold up to five suits while the rest of the inner compartment has a number of areas for stowing away all your usual accessories; be it cufflinks, belts, ties, etc.  The interior features include some lateral zip pockets, neat corner pockets, a sturdy hanger bracket and a hanger hook.  There are also tie-down straps to secure your belongings safely during travel.  Finally, there is a sealable shoe pocket; perfect for keeping your clothes clean.  The depth and volume of this main compartment is just perfect as it can hold so much, yet doesn’t seem to make the case seem excessively bulky from the outside.

Moving onto the outside, the exterior features of this Tumi garment case include two u-zip pockets on the face which have great depth and are sturdy enough to prevent your belongings getting completely crushed in transit as can so often be the case with other garment carriers.  These u-zip compartments are ideal for additional folded clothes, your toiletries or even some books.

There is a high quality combination lock on the strongest part of the bag’s frame – right beneath the handle.  Speaking of the handle, it is probably the best quality one I’ve had on any suitcase.  It isn’t in the least bit flimsy as so many can be.  The handle, especially when fully extended, can be a real let down with these types of garment carriers but with this Tumi, you can definitely feel the quality.  No rattle, no cheap ‘aluminiumy’ sound and it never sticks.

Additional features include a durable, detachable laundry bag.

While it might sound quite pricey (in the region of $870 plus), you could easily pay around the same for a far inferior product.  You are talking about a serious piece of kit here.  The most cost effective place I’ve found to get hold of it is HERE… where the price doesn’t seem to rise above $845, so you could be looking at a nice saving of $25!

I’m very happy with the overall appearance of this garment bag and it hasn’t let me down yet at all.  It is super strong too and weathers very well due to Tumi’s ultra durable ballistic nylon material.  I couldn’t recommend this case highly enough.  If you are a serious business traveller like myself, then the Tumi Alpha Wheeled Garment Bag is a must have.  It is highly regarded on Amazon and has a number of glowing reviews (click here) if you want to check them out for further confirmation of it’s quality.

One final thing, the bag includes a ironclad Tumi warranty and the exclusive tracer protection system which is a lifesaver if you’re unlucky enough to lose it.