ZUCA takes the LUG out of LUGGAGE!

Dear Readers,

Question: What do you get when you mix zillions of folks flying with lots of crazy weather conditions?

Answer: A flightmare!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, except if you’re flying. The holiday season is an especially challenging time to fly due to iffy weather and overcrowded airports and flights.

Even if weather and crowds don’t pose problems, you still have to deal with packing and luggage. One solution to the luggage crisis is, of course, not to check your luggage but carry it on. Many airlines have a per bag fee that strongly encourages careful packing.

Carry On!
But, packing a single carry-on bag is easier said than done. I’m not a light packer. Not too long ago, an organizing colleague and I were heading for a conference, and she challenged me to a packing throw-down. She dared me to pack only one bag, a carry-on bag no less. Long story short, I did pack one bag but it was far from a carry-on. Plus, I left a lot of necessary goodies behind and missed them dearly while I was away from home. It wasn’t pretty!

Since that one challenge, I have improved my ability to pack a single bag, but I could never master the carry-on. Until recently. Now, I have discovered the wonders of ZUCA luggage. I’m totally smitten with the whole line – the Pro, the Sport and especially the backpack. ZUCA is tough stuff. And, tres chic. ZUCA bags have lots of pockets for gadgets, thus appealing to my organizing bias. Their stuff is very well-organized. Let me repeat that – very well-organized. Although ZUCA isn’t cheap, it isn’t over the top either (under $100.00 for the backpack, under $300 for the carry-on in the Pro line).

The Pro and Sport suitcases are on wheels and glide (and I do mean glide) effortlessly (and I do mean effortlessly) on all sorts of surfaces. Even staircases are a snap with these wheels. Best of all, all the ZUCA products fit in the overhead bin on airplanes. The wheels retract so they don’t poke out and catch other people’s hats, coats, scarves in the overhead compartment. Besides effortlessly rolling up and down airplane aisles, the fabric, frame, handles, hardware, wheels and zippers are durable and workable – critical elements to consider when buying a piece of luggage. ZUCA cases are designed to sit on, too, and come with stackable pouches that you can pull in and out like drawers. If not ZUCA, do your homework and check websites for information related to any luggage product you may be considering before your next trip.

Packing Cubes for Containing Clothing Clutter
The very first time I saw these individual packing bags I thought they were a waste of money. Then, I was given one as a gift and discovered just how valuable they are when it comes to keeping the contents of a suitcase neatly organized. Not only do I pack one for socks and undergarments, but now I use one for electronic-cord clutter and another two for long-sleeve and short-sleeve tops. It makes finding things much, much easier. ZUCA calls theirs “packing pouches”, and they’re included in the PRO model, which retails for $285.00, or you can buy a set separately. They’re color-coded and especially perfect for business travelers.

Lost Luggage
My luggage is lost. My very own sons stole my ZUCA luggage! (I said this stuff was cool, right?) Both boys are into paintball, and it just so happens that they can load all their gear into the ZUCA bags and wheel them on the fields. These bags have a built-in seat on top that they use when putting on their protective gear. (Although my boys aren’t there, the seat holds up to 300 pounds.) At the airport, this can be the best seat in the house if your flight is oversold and you’re waiting in long lines. ZUCA also carries a Sport line, which I really need to tell my boys about, so they can return my lost luggage!

One thing the boys are forbidden from using is my ZUCA backpack. I have never owned a better backpack. My Macbook Pro computer fits in it perfectly, and I still have lots of extra room for all sorts of necessities, such as file folders. I have retired my old laptop case! My ZUCA backpack goes with me everywhere. The straps are thick and padded. The zippers have big, fat pulls on them. The pockets are generous and well placed. It is without a doubt one of the very best things I own.

Flying high in the sky isn’t always a well-organized adventure but it sure doesn’t have to be a flightmare!

SPECIAL OFFER: Use Clever Parents coupon code, DSRGT09, through December 19th, to save 15% on ZUCA products. Must use coupon code when ordering online @ www.zuca.com

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