Carrying stuff.

Travel in the modern era is a great exercise in efficiency and minimalism. Especially flying. My recent experiences at airports indicate there are two prevailing modes of thought here:

- The business traveller who carries a roll-on suitcase that is precisely 1" too big in every dimension to fit in the overhead bin, and a laptop, and a (man)purse, and a jacket.

- The family vacation which checks 2 bags per person, then when they get on the plane realizes they checked the thing that keeps the baby from screaming for the next 5 hours.

I endeavor to break this cycle. Just out of college I swapped out a falling-apart backpack for a nice Victorinox roll-on suitcase. It fit everything, it was bright red. Generally a good piece of equipment. Except that 1) it was awkward to carry and 2) I walk a lot and don't want to click a rolling suitcase down the sidewalk of a major city, for many blocks... it draws attention.

So the Victorinox was sold on ebay.

Enter the 1 compartment, 1 zipper, 1 carrying handle, duffel bag. Many companies make ones which are sized approximately to the airline carry on specifications. The goal was to find one that is fairly priced, made with exacting attention to detail from suitably durable material, and not 'precious'.

(defined loosely as something I could set on the floor of a bus/throw onto a boat/etc and not care if it gets dirty/wet - closely tied to the 'fairly priced' argument)

Filson, Barbour, Tumi, Victorinox, North Face were all eliminated due to high price and/or complexity of design. Many others were eliminated for feeling too cheap or unfinished.

Two contenders emerged - the RedOxx Small Aviator bag: http://www.redoxx.com/product_categories/8/products/22-small-aviator-bag

And the Mills Canvas Shelter Island: http://shop.millscanvas.com/theduffelbags.html

Being indecisive and with a vacation pending, I ordered one of each.

Both are made in the USA and guaranteed as long as the company stays in business. Mills has been around over 120 years - safe bet there. RedOxx - only 20 thus far.

Both use the same nearly-comically-large YKK zipper - good sign. RedOxx has two opposing pulls though - nice touch. And the monkey's fist knot zipper pulls are well done.

Both are finished very nicely - no exposed fabric edges to fray, all seams are finished very nicely.

The main difference is in the material. RedOxx uses heavier Cordura nylon, Mills a surprisingly soft canvas cotton cloth.

Initial signs are good in each case. The cost differential is striking for how similar they are though.

The RedOxx bag is the same price as, if not cheaper than, any similar size bag you'd find at a big box store. Having examined many of those, the RedOxx is far superior in design and construction.

The Mills bag is nice and I like the navy cotton cloth - it's nearly stylish. But it is pricey in comparison to the RedOxx for what appears to be similar build quality, space and function.

I'll use both extensively in the next year and see if anything breaks.