suitcases

More new bags and gadgets

gear,

Because you can never have too many bags or gadgets, here are a few more items displayed at the International Travel Goods show in Las Vegas last week.

3_FlyBelt

Taking off a belt before going through an airport metal detector can be a hassle and putting it back through your pants loops on the other side just wastes more time.

The Royce Fly Belt (MSRP, $75) tackles that problem with a metal belt buckle you can just detach from the leather belt before walking through detector and then reattach it on the other side.

6_Nuki front opening suitcase

No need to unzip and fully fold open a suitcase to access or repack an item with the Nuki line of front opening hard shell luggage.

Available in three sizes: 20″ carry-on (MSRP: $199), 24″ medium checked bag (MSRP: $249) and 28″ large checked bag (MSRP $299), and in four designs: Hounds tooth, rococo, black and silver.

7_Zensah - blue coffee bean socks

Zensah has a new line of environmentally-friendly Coffee Comfort Socks (MSRP: $29.99) made with yarn infused with coffee-bean shells, which help make the socks comfortable and odor neutralizing.

Available colors include sky, rosy, cloud and twilight — but not cappuccino.

New travel gear & gadgets

gear, ,

Blackpool SuitcaseArrives

The latest designs in luggage and the newest ideas for travel gadgets were on display for three days at the International Travel Goods show in Las Vegas last week.

For CNBC.com, I put together a slide show of the product innovation award- winners and several other items that caught my eye. Here are some samples…

4_Arm-share

Tired of fighting over who gets to use those middle armrests on the airplane? The inventor of the Arm-Share gadget thinks he’s got a solution figured out.

1_OrgoLite

“Boutique” hotel often equates to “no room for your stuff in the bathroom.”
The Orgo Lite inventors came up with a solution for that: an expandable cosmetic kit that can sit over the sink.

5_Baseball bag

Sports fans can carry their gear in bags made out of the same material used to make basketballs, golf balls, soccer balls and baseballs – stitching included. From Zumer Sport.

8_Walter + Ray BendyMan Flashlight and stand

Fun, inexpensive and useful – the quirky and colorful Bendy Man from Walter + Ray is a flashlight and a gadget holder in one.

Who buys luggage at the airport?

Airports, luggage, ,

women with luggage

I’m all for a very wide array of shops and amenities at airports, but whenever I see luggage for sale in a terminal I’m a bit perplexed.

After all, if you’re going on a trip, wouldn’t you already have a packed suitcase with you?

Bags break, of course, and many people do end up over-doing it a bit on the souvenirs, but I’m on a quest to hear some first-hand stories from people who have purchased a piece of luggage in an airport.

If that’s you, please leave a note in the comment section below. Your story may end up in a future column.