Shirt Carrier (luggage)

[Elton]

Dear All

Are there any recommendations for an elegant shirt carrier? I found this one, which looks functional enough http://www.jamesandlongbourne.co.uk/sti ... ollarid=60

[shredder]

Elton,
Your post got my curiosity antennae up... There are carriers and bags designed specifically for certain things, but many such carriers puzzle me. For instance, why would you be carrying shirts separately in a specialised carrier such as this? Even without the more recent restrictions on the number of bags allowed in the cabin or hold, I am struggling to understand why it would be beneficial to have a separate piece for a few shirts or even ties. I am genuinely puzzled and would honestly like to understand the perspective of a potential user. I assume that you are considering a purchase for yourself rather than as a present.

Are you a frequent traveller or an occasional traveller? How many trips do you do a year? How may days are your typical trips? What is the typical mode of transportation? Are they typically long haul or short haul?

I am very curious.
cheers,
s

[Elton]

Dear Shredder

I think that a well packed travel bag of appropriate size would suffice in most circumstances, however this is never the case with me and I always end up with an over packed bag and creased shirts. Now, I could have the hotel iron my shirts, or I could struggle with one of those travel irons. But hotel’s (thus far in my experience) charge a lot and aren’t always great and the thought of running one of those tiny irons over my shirt on the hotel room floor isn’t very a nice one. I’m not a frequent traveller and most of my trips are limited to England and Europe mostly for long weekends, so I’m either in the car or on a plane.

Regards

Elton.

[shredder]

Many thanks for the reply, Elton. I am familiar with bags getting overstuffed, especially after buying or being given a few things along the way. I do agree that shirts are more prone to wrinkling than suits and that hotel pressing service can be potluck; I can't even contemplate travelling with an iron.

I do not have my shirts starched at all. Our help does a superb job ironing my shirts, but I avoid taking poplin shirts on trips since they wrinkle just by looking at them. Instead, I take those that are less prone to wrinkling such as oxford or twill weaves and find them to be quite serviceable even after having been stuffed in the bag.

Do you use, or would you consider buying, other specialised carriers or bags for other items?

best,
s

[JRLT]

I often see attractive leather travel cases for ties in the shops, but luggage is heavy enough as it is with one's shoes, shirts and tolietries without the added bulk of luggage within luggage.

[Costi]

As I keep my shirts on hangers rather than folded, when I travel by car I find easier to pick a few and take them in a separate suit carrier. This way I pack my bags quicklier and no ironing is needed upon unpacking. Some carriers, though probably not designed specifically to carry shirts, are ideal: lightweight, thin, flexible. That's what I expected to see when I followed the link. But if one folds the shirts and packs them anyway, I doubt they will wrinkle much less in a luxurious leather envelope than on top of the stack in a suitcase...

[Concordia]

Glaser Designs has a number of options in nylon mesh that are very handy.

Alternatively, one could get a bag that doesn't induce sliding around-- such as the Gladstone. http://www.swaineadeney.co.uk/products/ ... index.html

[India Mail]

Dear Gentlemen,

Please may I add a few words, as an increasingly obsessive luggage lister and packer, and one inspired by the travel anthology:

DARKWOOD, Vic [pseud.] - 'The Lost Art of Travel', London, 2006,

...to travel in as 'Grand Victorian' a style as possible without porters and valet. First I was delighted at seeing such a shirt carrier, but then read the comments afterwards, and remembered packing for my last trip away - overnight to the West Country (U.K.) for four days.

I travel by train, loathe wheeled luggage, and would recommend limiting one's bags to two items in such circumstances (plus a sturdy umbrella). If such a shirt carrier is carried separately, it adds to ones total, or if packed inside a larger case, adds weight and bulk, as I think Shredder, Esq., implies. I took a small Gladstone and an 18"x13"x6" attaché case to the West Country, packing my shirts in the latter, and was delighted with the result.

Pack the shirts flat on top, lying with a sheet of tissue paper between every layer of cloth within and between each. Fold up the bottom few inches (below trouser waist-band anyway) of the shirt to fit one side of the case, and the collar/yoke the other side. I fold them in half, so one has a vertical crease down the back when hung up, but this will be hidden by the suit's coat. If away for just a long weekend (two shirts) I roll them loosely and pop them on the top of my Gladstone, taking this bag alone. I admit I would take a suit-carrier if needing a second suit though. However, I have packed a smoking jacket once in the attaché case, with no ill effects.

I take such breaks every month or so, spending usually six hours 'in transit', and would pack my shirts thus every time. Do not be seduced by Swaine Adeney's round tie-holders, &c., unless you pile your luggage into your own car. Beautiful though such items are, take a copy of the above anthology instead if you have space to spare. However, if someone can point me to a folding leather portmanteau for sale...

[992b]

<SNIP>

I travel by train, loathe wheeled luggage, and would recommend limiting one's bags to two items in such circumstances (plus a sturdy umbrella). If such a shirt carrier is carried separately, it adds to ones total, or if packed inside a larger case, adds weight and bulk, as I think Shredder, Esq., implies. I took a small Gladstone and an 18"x13"x6" attaché case to the West Country, packing my shirts in the latter, and was delighted with the result.

Pack the shirts flat on top, lying with a sheet of tissue paper between every layer of cloth within and between each.
<SNIP>

I too loathe wheeled luggage, especially when the inconsiderate are using their hard little dustbins to bump me and crowd out the overhead storage. A bag on the shoulder moves offers much improved mobility, especially when confronted by that bane of the wheeled traveler, the step up. However, if you are portaging a http://www.swaineadeney.co.uk/products/ ... index.html as mentioned above, there are several ways to put your luggage on a diet that would be more effective than eschewing a packing folder. My experience is that such folders add little weight to the bag and, although they only partially fulfill the promise of wrinkle free clothing, more than pay back the weight in organization. This is especially true if your trip includes multiple overnight stays.

Another brand of packing folder that one might consider is "Eagle Creek." http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/packing_folders/ These hardly qualify as handsome but are reasonably priced and functional. The ones in our household have proven durable. My current setup uses two of these: http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/p ... eve-40462/ which pack into the outboard compartments of an Airboss: http://www.redoxx.com/Airline-Carry-On- ... 00/Product . I have a similar garment folder from Andiamo which I carry separately and use if I have to pack garments that should go on a hanger (that I am wearing while traveling) into the overhead bin. None of the above match the Gladstone for panache but they do work well together to allow one to meet the size and weight restrictions for carry on luggage.

[India Mail]

Dear Gentlemen,

I think "further research is needed", in the time-honoured phrase, but the above discussion made me wonder whether a piece of large card, cut to size, could be used as a 'flat' around which one could fold each shirt before packing. I am assuming if one travels by car, there is no need for such trouble, as one can, like Costi, esq., pack one's shirts in a suit carrier, still on their hangers.

If I may recommend a 'less engineered' bag, my small Gladstone (5843), recommended, is :

http://www.partridge-europe.com/product ... sp?catid=5

(You'll need to scroll down, and click on the picture.)

Finally, I have just finished reading MULLEN, Richard & MUNSON, James - ''The Smell of the Continent' : The British Discover Europe 1814-1914', London, 2009. Chapter 7, 'Is the Luggage Safe?' is very amusing and informative. A hearty 'Bon Voyage' to you all.