The Two Bags That Survived 200,000 Miles of Travel

2025-09-19 00:00:25.854

Last year, I traveled over 200,000 miles. I visited 14 countries and spent around 150 nights away from home, which meant spending almost half of my life living out of a suitcase. I don’t say this to brag – being on the road this much is not something to be proud of – I say it so that you can trust me when I say that surviving a travel schedule like mine requires having the right bags. Over the years, I’ve tried everything from big rollers to tiny duffels. In the end, these are the two companions that you’ll always find by my side as I sprint from one connection to the next, and what sets them above so many other options. I splurged on my first Mission Workshop backpack in 2012. Called the Arkiv, it had a modular design that meant I could expand it as needed. After 12 years, it finally started to fall apart. I knew I wanted another bag from the made-in-USA company, and after days of agonizing over all their new options, I went with the Rhake. The Rhake isn’t as configurable as the Arkiv, instead offering a useful selection of built-in pockets and pouches. A tablet sleeve for my tablet right in front makes it easy to access, even when the pack is properly stowed under the seat ahead of me. There’s also a padded sleeve with a side-zipper for my 14-inch Lenovo X1 Carbon laptop, and a 22-liter cargo pocket for bigger items. The Rhake’s hallmark storage, though, is the two zippered sections that fold open sideways. The one on the right opens to expose a generous pocket, where I keep my international power adapter and charging cables. The other side has a series of flat pockets perfect for my passport, travel cards, a small notebook, and a clip for my car keys. There’s even a water bottle pouch that cleanly tucks away behind a zipper. Once you have everything loaded in, you can cinch the two straps that run horizontally around the pack, giving the Rhake a clean, compact look despite its capacity. I spent the premium to get a pack made of waterproof Polyant VX-21 fabric, which is inspired by sailcloth. That, combined with the roll-top, means getting caught in the rain is no problem. At $545 as-configured, the Rhake is not cheap, and it’s not perfect, either. The strap that holds the roll-top closed is too long and the clip too fiddly (I replaced mine with a magnetic Fidlock buckle). I’d also prefer vertical access to the laptop pouch (it’s hard to access in cramped economy seats), but this pack has proven to be a great companion. And, with a lifetime warranty, I expect it to be with me for a long time. My suitcase was a bit of a splurge, but considering I spend more time wheeling this thing around international airports than I do driving my car or riding my carbon-fiber race bike, I decided to go for it. And I’m glad I did. The 19 Degree Aluminum is among Tumi’s highest-end suitcase models, and it looks like a million bucks. The company was clearly aiming at other premium rollers like Rimowa, and in my opinion, it bested them all. The 19 Degree is made of rigid aluminum, black-anodized in my case. After all those flights, a good portion of that finish has been scraped off, but that just gives it more character. When buying a suitcase, it’s important to get one that’s going to age gracefully, because it’s surely going to see some things. I chose the International Carry-On size, which matches global carry-on recommendations almost perfectly, so I rarely have to check it. On one of my first trips with the thing, an angsty Italian gate agent told me it was too big to carry on and demanded I check it. Instead, I turned to one of those “Your Suitcase Must Be This Small” templates. The Tumi slipped in with barely a millimeter to spare, silencing them and immediately earning this roller a 22-by-14-by-nine-inch place in my heart. I love the chunky, briefcase-style locks and the cushy handles, but my favorite feature is how well it rolls. This thing glides so smoothly that I often just let go while I’m traversing the terminal. The 19 Degree just rolls along by my side, no fancy motors or tracking required. I’ve had my 19 Degree for seven years now, and I can’t say it’s always perfect. In 2021, one of the locks jammed, trapping my clothes inside. With a little provocation, I managed to extract my suits and ties and other bits of formalwear. Tumi replaced the suitcase for free with a newer model featuring updated locks. I’ve had no issues since. I understand that the $1,295 here is a huge asking price. For a slightly more budget-friendly option, consider the polycarbonate edition. It has all the same looks and functionality in a design that is three pounds lighter and $500 cheaper, though without those chunky, spring-loaded locks. The Rhake also slips perfectly onto the handle on my 19 Degree, saving my back when it’s really loaded down. If you spot me speed-walking across the terminal, this combo is surely what you’ll see by my side. They’ve survived many trips around the globe, with hopefully many more to come.