You might want to put the Genius Pack 22″ Carry-on on your holiday or birthday wish-list . If you do any travel at all, this is the bag to have. First warning however, Genius Pack is a new brand, so if you have to have a big name on your bag, like Tumi or Swiss Army, this is not the bag for you. However, if you want above standard quality and a ton of useful guy-friendly features, read on.
First of all, the Genius Pack is solid. I compared it to other Tumi, Swiss Army, Swiss Tech, and brands and right away, you notice the zippers, which are just bigger and stronger, a key failure point for a lot of bags. Even the handles are thick neoprene which feels soft in your hand.
But it’s in all the little twists, that this bag really shines with new, not before seen features in a suitcase. Some seem a bit whimsical, like a little zippered hole where you can slide in an mini-umbrella, but others are genius. For example:
1. Built-in laundry chute – an exterior pocket lets you load dirty laundry so that the weight of the rest of the packed bag collapses it to make it take less room. There’s a “Compression Air Valve” to release air, though this looks like more of a gimmick than anything else since the enclosed laundry back is not air-tight. The laundry bag is removable for ease of unpacking.
2. Included toiletry kit – yeah, you probably have your own, but it’s a nice touch since it integrates in the rest of the bag. I once had a colleague who packed his toiletries each time he went on a trip. If you are “this guy,” do yourself a favor and have a pre-packed kit for travel and never stress about forgetting your razor again
3. Special marked compartments to help you organize and remember what to pack. It’s hard to forget underwear or socks if that pocket is empty. I usually use underwear and socks to fill in empty spaces in the bag and to cushion breakables, so these may not be used for the purpose they were intended. There is a packing checklist on the inside of the bag. Yeah, that’s a little geeky but I’ve been on too many trips where I forgot my undershirts or belt.
4. Integrated power station and mini-speak compartment. Again, a little crazy, but I do carry an extra power backup whenever I travel so it’s nice to have a place for it. I carry mine in my backpack though.
5. Spinning wheels so you can pull and push. This is no longer a “new” feature, but nice to have and so much easier on your back. In tests, I did find the wheels here a little less stable than the Lipault bags that my wife and son have, but it’s still easier to roll than my old Tumi.
6. 5-year warranty (competitive with other leading brands)
Most of all, this is a fun piece of luggage with a little humor built-in.
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