NEWS – A couple of days ago, I told you all about Leatherman’s latest gear which just happens to be t-shirts and hats instead of multi-tools. Now another huge player in the multi-tool/EDC world has rolled out (see what I did there?) new versions of their Spectra line of rolling luggage.
The 65% of the new Spectra 3.0 line of luggage features construction made of SORPLAS™, a high-performance recycled polycarbonate by Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation. OK, I’ll give them points for that, but the rest of the luggage is just the same as most other rolling luggage on the market. They don’t even have a built-in bottle opener or tweezers! What the heck were they thinking?
I do like the red color of the luggage (it’s also available in every guy’s favorite color – black). The Spectra 3.0 line of luggage comes in several sizes and at least the carry-on sizes do have what Victorinox calls an integrated multitool panel. But don’t get excited because from what I can see, it just has an ID tray, USB port, and space pen. Still want one? Start saving because prices start at a whopping $520 for the carry-on sizes and go up to $650 for the larger sizes. Get more info at swissarmy.com
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This design has a fatal flaw. I spent many years working at airports in many countries and often in what’s called the baggage make-up area or baggage break-down area. The make-up area is where departing bags are loaded into containers and the break-down area is where the bags are taken out of the container and put on the baggage belt to eventually go to the arrival area. In this process the bags may actually travel a half mile or more on twisting and turning conveyer belts to reach their destination. At really large airports these conveyer belts service many flights simultaneously with off branches using what is called (really) a rammer. As the bag goes along the conveyer various sensors are reading the airline baggage tag and when the bag reaches the right off branch a large flat-faced pusher comes out of the side and rams the bag onto the correct off branch. This has to be done with some force to get the bag off the main conveyer quickly and not slow down the line.
Combine all of this with baggage handlers who drop, throw, kick, and manhandle bags to get them into and out of the correct container.
The common thing in all of these areas is that the floor is littered with baggage tags (not the ones the airlines use but the ones people buy and attach to luggage handles) and bag wheels. Lots and lots of bag wheels. They get knocked off or ripped off all the time.
What you want is a suitcase that has the wheels integrated into the case so that about 50-75% of the wheel is protected. Yes, that does intrude on interior space but you probably won’t get stuck trying to maneuver a suitcase around with a broken wheel. Yes, the wheels usually can be replaced. But that doesn’t do you much good when it’s 1:00 am and you’ve just gotten off a 12 hour flight and trying to get to the parking lot or pick-up area.
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LeoB,
Excellent advice! Thanks for sharing behind the scenes information.
It actually does have built-in tweezers as well as a pen and charging port.
They also come with one of those pin tools used to open sim card slots. Those can be handy.