*REVIEW*Take Me Away WEEKENDER in Choco

[TropicalGal]

Hi Ladies! I'm submitting this review on location from Princeton, NJ where I met up with my Choco Take Me Away WEEKENDER.

Yesterday I took my weekender into Manhattan for an overnight and it was pouring rain! No umbrella could have kept the weekender dry. So, weekender got sopping wet. And I mean sopping. A baptism in the world of travel. This is what the weekender is for. If you're going to cry about your luggage, then you should get a Le Sportsac. (I'm not panning them; I have them too and I love them.)

I decided not to fret about the wet. This is life. This is travel. Weekender is a workhorse bag. This bag is going to be tossed around, squished, etc. during its life as my travel companion -- so a little rain better not affect anything. And it didn't. It dried up beautifully. In fact, this is a bag that will look better when it is smooshed and slouchy and travel worn.

Of course, I will nourish it and treat it with water repellant spray when I can -- but just wanted to let you know how me and my weekender got to know each other!

The bag is a perfect size: not too big, not too small. Can be fit into overhead airline compartment or "under the seat in front of you." Comfy, padded shoulder strap. Handles are ergonomically designed so they don't hurt your hands if you are carrying by hand. Pink lining inside with a variety of pouches and pockets, key strap too. Outside zipper pocket for passport, etc. Not at all heavy!!!

The only "but" I have is the leather tassle strips on the two zipper pulls seem to be a little too delicate/thin for the weight of these zippers and the hardcore use they will get.

Unlike Lovebags, I didn't go wow or melty when I first saw the Weekender. This bag is not sexy like BE handbags -- it is a classically shaped piece of luggage in elegant choco leather and does its job in a quiet, chic way. (If you look at other leather carry-ons, you will see that the style/shape doesn't really vary all that much.)

I'm very happy to have Weekender in my life and will feel very polished as I travel on airplanes and trains, looking effortless and tranquil amidst the fray.

[Cornflower Blue]

Many thanks for your review TropicalGal!

Good news that it's the perfect size and can withstand a bit of rain! (or in your case, a lot of rain!!)

Also good news that it can go in an overhead locker or under the sat in front of you on a plane.

In your opinion, will it easily take a full change of clothes, shoes and a washbag? Also, do you think it might be practical as a gym bag as well?

Hope you're feeling tres chic on your travels!

[TropicalGal]

Jackie says the Take Me Away Weekender can hold enough clothes for a weekend...and she is perfectly right. Three days' worth of clothes/shoes. It would be too big for me to use as a gym bag. Her smaller bag, the Overnighter, would be better for a gym bag in my opinion...but it depends on how much stuff you want to take to the gym.

For a two week trip to Europe, I would pack a small suitcase to check and then pack the weekender as a carry on bag. Then, I would use the weekender for smaller overnight jaunts during the trip. And I would put my handsfree messenger bag inside the Weekender during flight, so that I'm only walking around the airport with one bag. I like to look effortless and don't like to juggle a lot of luggage when I travel.

Some of you might prefer the smaller Take Me Away Overnighter for use as a carry on bag. It all depends on your traveling style. I know from experience that if I have a small carryon, that I inevitably regret it because I can't fit in fragile things I might want to take home with me.

Travel is hard on a bag. That's why I like having the elegant but tough Choco leather...in a bag that will get smooshed and probably used as a pillow at some point.

[lovebags2]

Tropical Gal, GREAT review!!!

No, the choc weekender, does not give me the "Wow" factor either. It looks more mainstream, I agree. But, still just beautiful. It has more of an 'earthy' edge to it for this style.

It was my WINE weekender, that totally gives you that heart racing feeling. That one, turns heads!!! I"ve already received several compliments on it, whereas, I don't expect others to stare like they do over my wine. My wine is absolutely stunning and so different. You just never see a weekender in this color and leather. I can't wait to get the matching overnighter for it.

The chocolate has more of your typical weekender "look". But, we know better. There is nothing typical about BE even in just your basic brown travel piece!

[lovebags2]

Also, Jackie and I were discussing yesterday "our" chocolate weekender set. She is in Sweden for the week at the moment and took hers along. She was actually providing me yesterday with her review over the weekender and overnighter. She RAVES about it ladies.

Jackie was telling me how she loves how "squishy" it is when she tosses over her wheeled luggage.

I heard her overnighter went to the pool everyday and is the perfect size.

What I really enjoyed hearing her mention, was how much the chocolate weekender/overnighter will soften with time. Right now, my wine is amazingly soft and slouchy but I've also been using it for months. My chocolate has more of a stiffer feel and I mentioned that to Jackie.

Her reply was, "Jen, just give it time and your chocolate weekender will be even softer then your wine". Great answer!!!!!

[valkyrie360]

Great review TG, and great update Jen! You guys are soooo making me want a weekender!

[TropicalGal]

Hi everyone. I'm back home now. Just wanted to let you know that I even checked my Choco Weekender in as luggage...and it came out just swell. It got nice and smooshy in one trip -- what with the rainstorm, and having it go through the Continental baggage system. All is fine. Now I'll go treat it with nourisher and water repellant. It really feels like "my" bag now.