I used to travel constantly for work—Amsterdam, Mexico City, Panama City, São Paulo, London.
During those years, I had no real luggage strategy. And I never checked a bag. One of my first bosses at that job warned me: if I ever checked luggage, she’d leave me at the airport. So, I stuck to carry-on only. At first because of her. Then, out of habit.
The problem? I consistently underestimated how much I’d accumulate on each trip. I’d start with a sleek little carry-on and end up lugging a chaotic, overstuffed tote full of last-minute additions: gifts, new clothes, and always too many shoes.
I still remember the breaking point. I flew to Buenos Aires for a friend’s wedding with just a shoulder bag—thinking I was being chic and minimalist. By the end of day one, my body was wrecked from hauling everything through the airport and city. I caved and bought an overpriced rolling suitcase from a luggage store near my hotel.
The truth was: I was a messy, loosely dialed travel disaster.
Fast-forward to now, and my job at Eagle Creek has (understandably) changed how I travel. I use packing cubes. I bring the right bags for the right trips. I’ve become, dare I say it, a person with a system.
But through all of that, I still refused to check a bag.
That is, until my most recent trip: ten days in Copenhagen and London. I was visiting some fashion-forward friends and wanted—no, needed—outfit options. So I did the unthinkable: I packed a carry-on and a medium-sized checked bag. I know. Crazy.
One of my long-standing travel gripes has been the actual act of rolling bags through airports, train stations, uneven sidewalks, and those charming-but-treacherous cobblestone streets. It always felt awkward, noisy, and deeply uncool.
So, I braced myself for the inevitable “schlep.” But this time, I brought two Tarmacs from Eagle Creek. And let me tell you—game changer. These wheels aren’t just smooth—they’re burly. I was gliding through terminals and city streets with two bags in perfect tandem. It felt like a travel ballet.
Here was my route: Denver to London Heathrow. Tube to West London. Tube back to Heathrow. Flight to Copenhagen. Copenhagen back to Heathrow. Tube to West London again. Then finally, Heathrow to Denver.
Not once—not once—did I feel bogged down by my luggage.
As Head of Marketing at Eagle Creek, I’ve always believed in the quality of our gear. But after this trip, I don’t just talk the talk—I’ve wheeled the walk. And loved every step of it.
In a world where so much feels chaotic, it’s genuinely refreshing when something as basic as travel logistics feels easy.
My Packing List
- 1 Pack-It® Isolate Carry-On Set, which includes:
- 2x Pack-It® Isolate Compression Cube Smalls – with socks and intimates
- 1x Pack-It® Isolate Compression Cube Medium – with tops
- 1x Pack-It® Isolate Clean/Dirty Cube – with workout attire
- 1 Pack-It® Isolate Extended Stay Set, which includes:
- 1x Pack-It® Isolate Shoe Sack – with athletic shoes
- 1x Pack-It® Isolate Clean/Dirty Cube M – with bottoms (jeans, leggings, linen pants, shorts)
- 2x Pack-It® Isolate Cube M - with nicer/evening attire
- 2x Pack-It® Isolate Cube L – layering pieces and light jackets
- 1 Pack-It® Isolate Shoe Sack – with additional pair of sandals
