Sexiest Luggage Ever? Tumi Arrivé!

We're going to Japan and Thailand next month, and in the process of preparing for this incredibly exciting vacation, we decided to invest in new luggage.  I say invest to hint at my sales pitch to Aaron, which emphasized our dire need for head-turning luggage.

We started by looking for luggage that was creatively designed with brow raising features.  I suggested we look at Hideo Wakamatu's luggage, which is Japanese, and sold basically nowhere but his website, so it must be excellent.

We considered the Muscular Carry On: Black.  I liked it because it was light, a hardcase (so neatly contained), had four spinny wheels, as we took to calling them, and (favorite feature) didn't have a zipper; it popped open when you released the latches.

Hideo Wakamatu - Muscular Carry On - $219

Oh, and it was $219, which seemed excellent, considering the other brand name suitcases I was looking at that were all polycarbonate were a small fortune.

We assumed since it was cheaper than those bags that cost a fortune, it must have some major drawback we weren't considering, so we moved on to bags that cost a fortune.

::fast forward past 400 emails Aaron and I sent each other about Briggs & Riley, Samsonite, SteamLine, etc.::

Enter, Tumi.

We swung by the Tumi store in the Flatiron district (new!) and made a beeline for the Tumi Arrivé collection; it was deliriously attractive, a feature I placed above all others, including price! We decided on two De Gualle International Carry-On's.

Tumi De Gualle International Carry On

And oh, we didn't stop there.  We were about to shun checked baggage forever, and in doing so, we needed to carefully consider the 'topper'.  It had to have a space for a laptop, and be able to function as an overnight/two day trip bag itself ::winks at minimalism::.

Aaron got himself the Kennedy Deluxe Brief.  It's part everyday bag, part suitcase, part nuclear football.

Tumi Arrivé Kennedy Deluxe Brief

T-Pass; you can unzip the bag and lay it flat for the security car wash, and not have to take your laptop out.

We got the twins monogrammed in the store, brought them home, and propped them up by the dining room table so we could stare at them while we ate dinner.

Oh, good morning.

Oh, what lovely monograms you have there.

Hand stitching!

Call me, maybe?

And in true minimalist fashion, we're getting rid of all traces of pre-twins luggage -- the sagging checked bag, the disheveled carry on, the extra carry on that didn't match the first carry on, the handful of crumpled duffle bags, etc.  All to be donated to Housing Works.

We're elated with the new bags, and are ready to not just travel to any country but also run it, if need be.  Are you loving them as much as we are?