College Travel Gear

Luggage: Size (and style) Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:36:00 +0000

In the process of selecting luggage, travelers have been concerned about balancing practicality and style - choosing bags that are durable and hold what they need while also making a positive fashion statement.

As more charges and restrictions are placed on what travelers take with them on flights, size and weight are beginning to matter a lot more. In the past two months several airlines announced that they would be implementing new charges for checking bags. U.S. Airways is adding a $5 surcharge to its fee for customers paying to check bags at the airport (rather than online). Delta Air Lines will now bring its second-bag fee to international travelers.

These additional costs for air travelers are making an impact on what they take with them. The trend is for bags to get "smaller and larger". That is, travelers are selecting smaller day bags and compact cases that fit in the plane's overhead compartment; or they go big with one large, wheeled travel bag that they can fit more into, allowing travelers to check only one bag.

Due to the weight restrictions on any checked bag, the manufacturers (such as Swiss Army Brands) are developing lighter, stronger bags that hold more but can easily be carried and does not have to be checked.

Style is still key and offering our bags decorated with university logos is a big step towards distinguishing your bag from everyone else's. At CollegeLuggage.com we think that showing your team spirit is the only way to fly.

Swiss Army Luggage Helps $43 Million Last Longer

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:13:00 +0000

A Swedish countess has asked a judge to negate her prenuptial agreement with the wealthy executive who is divorcing her, insisting she can't possibly live on $43 million. Marie Douglas-David, 36, wants at least twice that much from former United Technologies Corp. chief executive George David, 67, saying she has weekly expenses of $53,000. Her attorney said that David had figuratively "put a gun" to her head to get her to sign a pre-nup requiring her to survive on only $43 million.

At $53,000 per week, times 52 weeks per year, her existing divorce settlement would barely last her 15.6 years. Though we have no photograph to show, she is a lovely young woman who no doubt has many wealthy older men that are either stupid enough, wealthy enough or masochistic enough to sweep her off her feet and away from this court-imposed life of poverty ($2,756,000 per year) that she has been forced to endure after being divorced from that cad George David. Let's not even dwell on the "figurative gun" (again, we have no photos but imagine someone holding their hand out like a gun with the thumb straight up and the index finger representing the "figurative barrel"). It's scary stuff.

We have a good short-term recommendation for the countess: Next time you're going through your $53,000 per week in expenses, purchase your luggage and travel necessaries from CollegeLuggage.com. Our prices are reasonable; our designs are contemporary with a European flair (sort of like the countess) and our Swiss Army travel and business gear lifetime warranty will doubtless outlast your next marriage(s). You can even specify embroidery of your coat of arms on each luggage item, since we are no longer limited to just college logos. Perhaps a small, tasteful "$" embroidered on each item of luggage would suffice?

Iowa State Luggage and Business Gear - Where Quality & Value are Built In

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:04:00 +0000

When we started to produce our line of Swiss Army™ brand travel and business gear for Iowa State University, we knew it had to meet certain criteria in order to be equal to the high standards of Iowa State's alumni, fans, faculty and students. With that in mind we proudly introduce CollegeLuggage.com's I-State Werks Traveler™ luggage and business gear line.

Quality

Each and every item bearing the Iowa State University's I-State logo has been made to the exacting standards of our Swiss engineers. We use hollow stainless steel tubing for the framework for strength and lightweight performance. The wheels on our I-State Deluxe Travel Bags (available in four sizes to suit your needs) are in-line skate wheels, the zippers are triple the standard for travel bags and are coated to resist corrosion. The telescoping handles are fitted with ergonomic adjustable handles for maximum comfort during use. The exterior of each item is finished with a soil-release coating to repel dirt and moisture, and to clean up easily. The I-State logo is embroidered directly into the front of each item to help you show your school spirit.

Value

All of the travel and business gear items we offer to the Iowa State Cyclones come with the Swiss Army "Carry with Confidence" Lifetime Guarantee. If your luggage malfunctions Victorinox® will repair or replace it at no charge, for as long as you own it. If you calculate how many times you would need to purchase cheap luggage (before it becomes broken and useless and needs replacement) over the lifetime of just one of our Swiss Army travel gear items, you'll see that we actually save you money in the long run.

Whether you are in the market for a I-State Wheeled Travel Bag, I-State Laptop Bag, I-State Garment Bag, I-State Expandable Brief, I-State Duffel Bag or I-State Backpack, we have you covered. Regardless of whether you want gear for strolling around Ames or travelling around the globe your best value for the money is right here on the I-State Luggage & Gear web page that's packed with "Go Cyclones!" style.

SEC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Florida vs. Alabama

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:22:00 +0000

Whether you do the Gator "Chomp" or bleed crimson, you probably already know what's at stake in this year's Southeastern Conference championship game. The Florida and Alabama football teams have battled five previous times in their conference title quest, but "This will be the biggest game that the SEC Championship has ever had," says CBS analyst Gary Danielson. "Both teams have a chance to play their way into the National championship game."

Head Coach Nick Saban has turned the Crimson Tide in his second year at the Alabama helm, much like Urban Meyer did when he brought his "spread offense" - and the 2006-07 BCS crown - to the Gators. "It's the defensive master vs. the offensive master, old school vs. new school," Danielson says.

Even the quarterbacks are a study of contrasts. Danielson believes the Tide's John Parker Wilson, "is now just learning to handle the pressure of being the Alabama quarterback," while Tim Tebow, his Heisman Trophy-winning counterpart at Florida, "has got the spotlight on him and he loves it. His teammates relish his ability to lead."

FLORIDA GATORS TRAVEL - Getting There is Part of the Game

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:36:00 +0000

The NCAA records collegiate football fan attendance for the 615 schools in Division I, II and III of 47, 909,313 for 2007. Don't let that number throw you - people were counted more than once if they went to more than one game.

Over at the University of Florida, the Gator football fans, alumni, students and staff helped set the record with nearly .7 million people traveling to Gainesville, Florida for the home games - many did not have tickets - they just journey to UF to say "Go Gators" or "Chomp 'Em" and to be a part of the Florida football tailgate scene. For every fan cheering the football at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (aka "The Swamp") , there are 2 more outside watching on portable televisions and doing the same. Florida currently holds the #1 Ranking in the Princeton Poll for "Students Pack the Stadium".

Under the charismatic leadership of Coaches Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan, with Albert & Alberta presiding over all, the Florida Gators are a force to be reckoned with. In 2006-2007 Florida's football and basketball teams held simultaneous National Championships - a feat never before accomplished.

As a perennial SEC powerhouse, Florida football is the epitome of fan power for football, basketball, baseball plus 22 other contemporary Gator sports teams. The Florida fans are famous for their willingness to travel great distances to watch their teams compete. For these Gator fans, getting there is just the beginning.

When it comes to collegiate travel, we have the finest Florida "Gator" luggage and travel gear available anywhere. Fully licensed, made by Victorinox® Swiss Army brands, each piece of this remarkable luggage is engineered to exacting Swiss Army standards, and comes with the traditional "Gator Head" logo embroidered on the front of each item. Every item in our entire program is available in black or in bright blue with black trim. The Swiss Army lifetime "Carry with Confidence" guarantee is a significant value-added addition: Our UF luggage will outperform and outlast whatever you're now using for travel or business. In the long run, this Florida luggage and business gear will save you money every time you don't have to replace it.

As a loyal Gator fan you need this luggage to proudly show your support. Do you need a nice gift for a college undergrad? Are Florida gifts always on your list of things to get? Then consider our collection of Gator tote bags, wheeled bags, backpacks, attaches and more!

With traditions dating back to 1851 and sports rivalries such as the Florida-Georgia Game in Jacksonville (aka "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party) the Florida Gators deserve a luggage line worthy of the teams and the fans. At CollegeLuggage.com we are happy to make it happen.

Don't forget a
Florida Gators
Chillin' Bowl
for Game Day Tailgating...
or whatever!

UGA BULLDOGS TRAVEL: Getting There is Part of the Game

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:11:00 +0000

The NCAA records collegiate football fan attendance for the 615 schools in Division I, II and III of 47, 909,313 for 2007. Don't let that number throw you - people were counted more than once if they went to more than one game.

Over at the University of Georgia, the Dawg football fans, alumni, students and staff helped set the record with nearly .7 million people traveling to Athens, Georgia for the home games - many did not have tickets - they just journey to UGA to say "Go Dawgs" or "Who let the Dawgs out?" and to be a part of the Georgia football tailgate scene. For every fan cheering the football "between the hedges" at Sanford Stadium, there are 2 more outside watching on portable televisions and doing the same.

Now that the team is comfortably under the charismatic leadership of Coach Mark Richt, and with Uga VII presiding over all, the Georgia Bulldogs are a force to be reckoned with.

As a perennial SEC powerhouse, Georgia football is the epitome of fan power for football, basketball, baseball plus 22 other contemporary Bulldog sports teams. The Georgia fans are famous for their willingness to travel great distances to watch their teams compete. For the Bulldog Fans, getting there is just the beginning.

When it comes to collegiate travel, we have the finest Georgia "Super G" luggage and travel gear available anywhere. Fully licensed, made by Swiss Army brands, each piece of this remarkable luggage is engineered to exacting Swiss Army standards, and comes with the traditional "Super G" logo embroidered on the front of each item. Every item in our entire program is available in black or in red with black trim. The Swiss Army lifetime "Carry with Confidence" guarantee is a significant value-added addition: Our UGA luggage will outperform and outlast whatever you're now using for travel or business. In the long run, the Georgia luggage will save you money every time you don't have to replace it.

As a loyal Bulldog fan you need this luggage to proudly show your support. Do you need a nice gift for a college undergrad? Are Georgia gifts always on your list of things to get? Then consider our collection of Georgia tote bags, wheeled bags, backpacks, attaches and more!

With traditions dating back to 1785 and sports rivalries (in some cases) over a century old, the Georgia Bulldogs deserve a luggage line worthy of the teams, the Redcoat Band and the fans. At CollegeLuggage.com we are happy to make it happen.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY - Getting There is Only the Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:16:00 +0000

The NCAA records collegiate football fan attendance for the 615 schools in Division I, II and III of 47, 909,313 for 2007. Don't let that number throw you - people were counted more than once if they went to more than one game.

Over at Arizona State University, the Sun Devils football fans, alumni, students and staff helped set the record with nearly .6 million people traveling to Tempe, Arizona for the home games - many did not have tickets - they just journeyed to ASU to shout "Give 'em hell, Devils!" and to be a part of the Arizona State football tailgate scene.

As a perennial Pac 10 powerhouse, Arizona State football is the epitome of fan power for football, basketball, baseball, archery, badminton plus 17 other contemporary Sun Devils sports teams. The ASU fans are famous for their willingness to travel great distances to watch their teams compete. For many of the fans, getting there is just the beginning.

When it comes to collegiate travel, we have the finest Arizona State University luggage and travel gear available anywhere. Fully licensed, made by Victorinox® Swiss Army brands, each piece of this remarkable luggage is engineered to exacting Swiss Army standards, and comes with your choice of either the traditional ASU "Sunburst" logo or "Sparky" embroidered on the front of each item in full color. The Victoronix® Swiss Army "lifetime guarantee" is a value-added addition - our ASU luggage will outperform and outlast whatever you're now using for travel or business. In the long run, the Arizona State luggage will save you money every time you don't have to replace it.

As a Sun Devils fan you need this luggage to proudly show your support. Do you need a nice gift for a college undergrad? Are ASU gifts always on your list of things to get? Then consider our collection of ASU and Sparky tote bags, wheeled bags, backpacks, attaches and more!

With four campuses (Tempe, West Campus, Polytechnic or Downtown), the Lantern Walk, A-Mountain, the Victory Bell, the James G. Hudson Sun Devil Marching Band and a grand tradition of maroon and orange, our Arizona State University gear will get you there in style.

AGGIES TRAVEL - Getting There is Part of the Game

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:30:00 +0000

The NCAA records collegiate football fan attendance for the 615 schools in Division I, II and III of 47, 909,313 for 2007. Don't let that number throw you - people were counted more than once if they went to more than one game.

Over at Texas A&M University, the Aggie football fans, alumni, students and staff helped set the record with nearly .7 million people traveling to College Station, Texas for the home games - many did not have tickets - they just journey to TAMU to say "Howdy" or "Gig 'em" and to be a part of the A&M football tailgate scene.

As a perennial Big 12 powerhouse, Texas A&M football is the epitome of fan power for football, basketball, baseball plus 25 other contemporary Aggie sports teams. The Aggie fans are famous for their willingness to travel great distances to watch their teams compete. For the Aggies Fans, getting there is just the beginning.

When it comes to collegiate travel, we have the finest Texas A&M luggage and travel gear available anywhere. Fully licensed, made by Swiss Army brands, each piece of this remarkable luggage is engineered to exacting Swiss Army standards, and comes with the traditional Texas A&M logo embroidered on the front of each item in "Aggie Maroon" and white. The Victoronix Swiss Army "lifetime guarantee" is a value-added addition - our Aggies luggage will outperform and outlast whatever you're now using for travel or business. In the long run, the Texas Aggie luggage will save you money every time you don't have to replace it.

As an Aggies fan you need this luggage to proudly show your support. Do you need a nice gift for a college undergrad? Are TAMU gifts always on your list of things to get? Then consider our collection of Aggies tote bags, Aggies wheeled bags, Aggie backpacks, Aggie attaches and more!

With traditions dating back to 1863 including the TAMU white towels, midnight yell practice, the Aggie Elephant Walk, the Aggie Whoop, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band and a list of others too long for this article, we humbly offer our Swiss Army "Aggie" luggage as one more tradition in an unbroken line of Texas A&M pride and honor.

Don't forget a
Texas A&M Chillin' Bowl
for Game Days!

BUCKEYES TRAVEL - Getting To the Game Is A Big Part of the Game

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:28:00 +0000

According to the NCAA, collegiate football fan attendance for the 615 schools in Division I, II and III came to 47, 909,313 for 2007. Of course, people were counted more than once if they went to more than one game.

Over at The Ohio State University, the Buckeye fans, alumni, students and staff set the record with nearly 1 million people traveling to Columbus for the home games - many did not have tickets - they just came to OSU to be a part of the football tailgate fun.

As a perennial Big 10 powerhouse, The Ohio State University is the epitome of fan power whether for football, basketball or any number of other contemporary collegiate sports. The Buckeye fans are famous for their willingness to travel great distances to watch their teams compete.

When it comes to collegiate travel, we have what we believe is the finest Ohio State University luggage and travel gear available anywhere. Fully licensed, made by Swiss Army brands, each piece of this remarkable luggage is engineered to exacting Swiss Army standards, and available with the traditional Ohio State logo embroidered on the front of each item. The Swiss Army "lifetime guarantee" is a value-added addition - our Ohio State luggage will outperform and outlast whatever your now using for travel or business.

Whether you are a fan of Ohio State football or Ohio State basketball, you need this luggage to proudly show your support. Do you need a nice gift for a college undergrad? Are Ohio State gifts always on your list of things to get? Then consider our collection of Buckeye tote bags, wheeled bags, backpacks, attaches and more!

Don't forget an
Ohio State Chillin' Bowl
for Game Days!

Swiss Army Collegiate Luggage = Big Savings on Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:08:00 +0000

United Airlines recently followed Delta and doubled the charges for a second checked bag to $50! Oh, joy.

That gives you fifty good reasons to consider the Swiss Army Collegiate Luggage model WT-22. This lightweight, sturdy, deluxe rolling bag is the largest size you can carry aboard any domestic aircraft. At 22" wide x 14" across by 10" deep (10.5" on 2.0 WT-22 models), the WT-22 is roomy enough to hold all of your luggage with room to spare.

Plus, it comes with your favorite college logo embroidered on the front (and don't forget the Carry With Confidence Guarantee). Even if you aren't a frequent flier you will appreciate the savings every time you travel by air.

The SEC - They Will Make You A Believer

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:30:00 +0000

The second week of the 2008 College Football Season is in the books and four (or five, depending upon which poll you read) of the top 11 slots are occupied by schools in the SEC. Georgia, Florida, LSU (last year's National Champions) Auburn and Alabama are ALL vying for a top slot this early in the season.

Here at CollegeLuggage.com, we are pleased as punch to see so many of the schools in our Victorinox® Swiss Army Luggage program doing so well. If you are a frequent visitor to our luggage website we suggest you bookmark this page and come back each week to see what kind of special offers we are making as our teams continue to rack up the wins.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GATORS SAY: "HERE'S THE PARTY!"

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:59:00 +0000

The University of Florida can raise a glass to another national title: Best party school in the country. The Gators, known for wild celebrations following national championships in football and basketball, delightedly took the party title away from West Virginia University and beat out the University of Mississippi and Penn State University, in the Princeton Review survey of 120,000 students released in late July.

The University of Florida has made the Top 20 party school list for the past 15 years, but has never been Number 1 until now. A university spokesman said the party school reputation comes from the school's athletic successes. The Gators won two national basketball championships in 2006 and 2007 and one national football title at the end of the 2006 season.

"The fact that we have three national championships in two years is probably a major contributing factor," spokesman Steve Orlando said. "We know our students like to have a good time." He defended the school's academic climate, noting Florida's incoming students have a weighted grade-point average of 4.1 and an average SAT score of 1,300. Florida also came in first this year in the category of students who pack the stadiums.

In recognition of these sterling accomplishments, the fun-loving folks at CollegeLuggage.com would like to invite all of the Gator fans to visit our website and see the newest version of our Gator Chillin' Bowls.

No party is complete without at least one Chillin' Bowl. Made of nylon, vinyl and neoprene insulating foam, they weigh less than 1.5 lbs. empty. Each bowl will comfortably hold a large quantity of your favorite chilled beverage for hours with NO exterior condensation. We even include a chromed steel bottle opener in its own little holder on the side. With the Gator Chillin' Bowls on hand your parties are sure to be chompingly good fun for all.

Lighter Luggage = Lower Airline Travel Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:50:00 +0000

Beginning nine years ago, Victorinox® Travel Gear by Swiss Army Brands developed a strong, durable yet lightweight line of carry-on luggage items for the seasoned traveler. The objective was to match the strength, durability and packing capacity of hard-sided luggage with the ease of handling and lower carry weight of soft-sided luggage.

Their solution was the Werks Traveler "WT" Line. Each of these Victorinox® Werks Traveler travel bags is made of 1280 Denier ballistic nylon fabric stretched over a hollow tubular steel frame. The zippers, handles and hardware are all rated for more than three times the industry-approved standard for travel. The wheeled bags travel on in-line skate wheels designed to handle the shock of stairs, the damage of "droppage" and the disdain of luggage handlers at airports across this Great Nation of Ours.

In a comparison test, our Swiss Army wheeled bags were rated as 30% lighter than other comparable brands. With the built-in expansion gusset, this means you can carry much more in the same space and still meet the airlines' weight maximum for carry-aboard luggage. Combine this with our "Carry with Confidence" product guarantee and there are multiple sound reasons to switch to Swiss Army luggage.

What's more, we embroider your favorite school logo on each bag to help you sport your school name with pride and locate your baggage more quickly. Swiss Army Luggage: Saving you extra charges for checked bags while giving you more freedom when you travel!

Uga VI - The Passing of a Legend

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:31:00 +0000

Collegiate Luggage .com - Remembering Uga VI

The beloved mascot of the University of Georgia, Uga VI, passed away at the age of nine on June 27th, 2008. Anybody who knows anything about the sport of college football knows that this, according to the UGA faithful, is the premier mascot in all of college football (and maybe even all of sports).

I personally had a chance to meet this fine animal and even pet and take a picture with him as a guest of the UGA Alumni Association in their skybox suite during the halftime. He was exceedingly friendly and actually seemed to enjoy the attentions of the loooong line of fans waiting semi-patiently to meet him and take a picture together.

With me that day was a friend, Matt, who had recently been displaced from his home in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. He had lost his car, house, tools (he is a carpenter and movie set-builder), and all of his possessions. My wife gave up her ticket to the game so Matt could come with me and forget his troubles while watching Georgia's football team win a home game. He wrote to me upon hearing about his favorite bulldog with these words:

"It was because of your generosity [inviting me to the game] in a time of great tragedy for me that I had a chance to meet Uga. Who would have thought that something as simple as encountering a friendly white bulldog would make such a difference? That afternoon meant a great deal to me - I will never forget it."

Uga VI, who would have turned 10 on July 22, will be buried in a marble vault in the Southwest corner of Sanford Stadium with his predecessors.

Carry-On Luggage: Once A Luxury, Now A Necessity

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:04:00 +0000

Just two short months ago in our March 25th Collegiate Luggage blog article we noted with minor alarm/resignation that Delta Airlines and American Airlines were now charging $25 to check a second piece of luggage on any and all domestic flights.

We then called your special attention to our Victorinox® WT-22 Deluxe Wheeled Travel Bag, which is the acknowledged largest available bag that may be carried aboard most domestic airlines. In the two months since then, other airlines have adopted the $25 fee for a second bag, making our WT-22 a smart investment since it would save you $50 per round trip when carrying it aboard instead of checking it.

Now, American Airlines has a new policy designed to make air travel just a bit more expensive: A $15 fee to check your first bag, followed by a $25 fee for each additional checked bag. And it appears that the other airlines will follow suit.

So, let us once again point you to our WT-22 Carry-On and remind you that this is not only some of the strongest, best-designed, lightest-weight luggage you could invest in, but it will pay back a "dividend" every time you wheel it aboard the plane.

Collegiate Luggage's Victorinox® Travel Gear by Swiss Army Brands lets you proudly sport your favorite school's logo on your luggage, and now helps you save serious buckaroos on your travel budget.

Two wonderful things for one reasonable price.

$600 Economic Stimulus Rebate Check: Pay Up or Party Down

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:46:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com: Where complex financial issues are dealt with in five paragraphs or less.

This May the U.S. Government will begin sending out $600 Economic Stimulus Rebate checks (or $300, depending on the circumstance) to taxpayers everywhere in our Nation. From extensive reading and interviews we have been able to determine that "The rebate that will be sent out in May 2008 is a credit to the taxes you'll owe on 2008 income, but it is a new credit, so you don't have to 'pay it back'." In other words, this $600 is an "advance" on a new credit that will be presented on 2008 tax returns when you are filing your taxes in 2009 for the fiscal year 2008. Got that?

Setting aside the warm, fuzzy "Pay it forward" nature of this rebate, we citizens have been given the fiduciary responsibility of spending these monies in such a way as to do the most good for ourselves and our Great Nation. Rather than just letting the money burn a hole in your pocket, we at CollegiateLuggage.com strongly urge you to invest at least a portion of the rebate in Swiss Army Brand™ travel and business gear.

First of all, our products represent a good investment because they don't depreciate like most luggage items. Each item we sell comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. Second, with airlines now charging $25 per bag to check more than one piece of luggage aboard the aircraft, our WT-22 Deluxe Wheeled Bag earns back nearly 10% of the purchase price of $275 every time you travel because it carries the most stuff of any item of luggage that may be wheeled aboard domestic aircraft. None of our competitors can make this claim. Carry it with you on 6 round trip flights and it will have paid for itself!

So, when your rebate arrives, proudly convert it into Swiss Army collegiate luggage, knowing that your actions have, in a small-but-meaningful way, been helpful to yourself, your family, your community and your grateful Nation. It's what the Swiss would do.

Swiss Army Travel Gear: Embroidery Second to None.

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:31:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where every now and then we wave our own flag.

This particular post concerns the way we decorate each item of Victorinox® Swiss Army luggage before it is sent to our customers.

Each of the deluxe travel bags, backpacks, duffel bags and cases in our line is made of ballistic nylon which is a very tough but flexible fabric designed to withstand the rigors of airline travel and especially airline baggage handlers. You could say that Victorinox® has deliberately over-engineered the product in anticipation of the world of mistreatment that awaits it.

When the time comes to embroider your favorite school logo on the luggage, we use a specially designed embroidery table to hold the product in place while a computer program moves it along a pre-designated set of horizontal and vertical coordinates beneath the embroidery sewing "head". This is done while the actual embroidery head remains stationary, giving us the tightest-possible weave and the best-looking logo reproduction with no pinching or buckling of the design.

Our process of embroidering one item at a time means that your Swiss Army purchase is decorated individually, to order. By contrast, regular embroidery equipment is intended to decorate "thin" fabrics used in polo shirts, caps, sweaters or jackets, and makes use of 12-head embroidery tables to simultaneously run up to a dozen items at one time.

We use all-polyester non-reactive-dyed thread along with a special backing substrate for our embroidery so there is no pull-through, no color bleed and no color fade. Our embroidery designs are intended to last as long as the luggage items they adorn.

Take a moment to examine the close-ups of the various school logos shown on these web pages. You will see that our embroidery coverage is solid, with no gaps or loose stitches. We take enormous pride in the work we do on our luggage and on our luggage decoration. For this reason, when you carry Swiss Army's collegiate luggage products you "Carry With Confidence™".

Swiss Tracker Global Bag Tracking System

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:30:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com

Disaster... you've lost your bag!

Not to worry. With select Victorinox® Travel Gear by Swiss Army Brands luggage items you receive the benefit of the free Swiss Tracker™ Bag Tracking Program. With Victorinox®'s bag tracking program, we help to reunite you with your lost bag anywhere in the world for free.

Here's how the Swiss Tracker™ program works:

Each bag bears a unique tracking ID number on the bag's ID tray and a 24-hour a day, 365 days a year phone number. If someone finds your lost Victorinox® Travel Gear bag, they call our the worldwide customer service hotline number and Using your unique ID number, we will work with them to reunite you with your bag. We will notify you, arrange pickup, and then arrange for delivery of your bag -- at no cost to you!

The program is activated via a registration form in the bag.

The Swiss Tracker™ Program is available for the following travel gear products:

Mobilizer® 24 - 30340201 / 30340203 / 30340208 models
Deluxe Garment Mobilizer® - 30341701 /30341703 / 30341708 models
Paratrooper - 30341801 / 30341803 / 30341808 models
Collapsible Gear Mobilizer® - 30340401 /30340403 / 30340408 models
Louvre 17 - 30322001 model
Wainwright - 30321901/30323101 models
Empire 17 - 30322101 model
Big Ben - 30322601 model
Parliament 17 - 30322901 model

Look for the Swiss Tracker™ Globe icon on our travel gear product pages to indicate which items offer this unique and free additional feature.

AS HEALTHY AS A 'GATOR

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:13:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com: Where science is more than just a seven-letter word.

I read a fascinating article in my April 25th issue of THE WEEK magazine, regarding the remarkable health of alligators - they almost never get sick. They have super immune systems that ward off virtually every virus and bacteria, and scientists are now trying to figure out their secret, to create treatments that could be used by humans.

Researchers found that when they exposed alligator and human blood samples to 23 types of bacteria, the gator blood killed them all, while the human samples destroyed just eight. "Alligators tend to get into tussles and fights", Lancia Darville, a researcher at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge told USA Today. "They have torn limbs and scratches that are exposed to all of this bacteria in the water, yet they are never infected."

It appears that gators do not rely on customized antibodies to destroy micro-invaders, but have proteins in their blood that kill off everything that seems remotely alien to their system. "They don’t need to be exposed to any microorganism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi [bulldogs, war eagles, blue tick hounds, elephants, wildcats, gamecocks or commodores] for their bodies to respond against them," Darville says. As soon as the chemical structures of these key proteins are understood, she says, they can be examined for their potential as human cures.

Here at CollegiateLuggage.com we believe that gators love the taste of our travel gear. Is it a factor in their amazing immune systems? Try our business and travel gear for yourself and you be the judge.

COLLEGIATE LUGGAGE: "Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU"

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:55:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - If it's about college stuff, we're game.

Speaking of game - I imagine that by now everyone has had plenty of time to discuss last Monday's amazing NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game. I already have one article in my weblog about the Game focusing on the importance of little things (i.e. free throws and the making thereof) but today I have another: The meaning of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" and the accompanying chant.

I should fully disclose that as of my writing this blog entry our program does not have Kansas University as a member school. But I have been so taken with their school chant (not to mention their amazing performance during the Tournament) that I have decided to go after KU for our Swiss Army Brand Collegiate Luggage program. Just keep your eyes on this website to see if we get 'em.

Back to the subject at hand: The world famous Rock Chalk Chant evolved from a cheer that a chemistry professor, E.H.S. Bailey, created for the KU science club in 1886. Bailey's version was "Rah, Rah, Jayhawk, KU" repeated three times. The rahs were later replaced by "Rock Chalk," a transposition of chalk rock, the name for the limestone outcropping found on Mount Oread, site of the Lawrence campus.

I had never heard this chant before last week. Now, I can't get it out of my head. The wording is not really that big of a deal, but the way it is chanted is almost magical. I get chills. Listen [MP3] for yourself and see if you don't agree.

Again, CollegiateLuggage.com congratulates the Jayhawks of Kansas University on their 2008 National Basketball Championship and reminds their students, alumni and fans to stay tuned to this space - blue Swiss Army luggage is just a heartbeat away.

Collegiate Luggage: Missed Free Throws As A Metaphor for Life

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:08:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where painful memories and happy times take turns.

Like many fans of collegiate sports I spent the past few weeks avidly watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, savoring the March Madness and marveling at the levels of pure athleticism evident in each game. This was, in fact, the first time that all four of the #1 seed teams at the beginning of the Tournament all made their way to the Final Four contest in San Antonio. So it promised to be yet-another fun ride. I didn't have a particular stake in the contests so I watched for fun as Kansas and Memphis played for the National Championship.

In the end, Memphis was undone not by a better team or better coaching, but by a bunch of missed free-throws during the final seconds of regulation play. This absolutely made me crazy. To fully understand my frustration, I must tell you an anecdote from my high school years (we are talking the 1960's) in a time before there was Gatorade.

I was the manager of our high school's basketball team. This meant that I took care of towels and equipment, made sure that the basketballs were all properly inflated, helped tape the player's ankles, got things ready before practice and cleaned up afterwards. All of the little stuff that helps make the team go. We had a great coach and a team that had won the New Jersey State Championship just one year earlier (prior to my starting high school).

So, imagine my dismay when our regular season record in my first year with the team was 12-8. And we lost all eight of these games by a combined total of 21 points. (That averages to less than 3 points per game). If a game went into overtime, we lost. If we had the lead going into the last 90 seconds, we lost. If we were making a legitimate comeback during the last 90 seconds, we lost. And the source of this awful, sad, frustrating, dispiriting sequence of disappointments was missed free-throws.

That's right, free-throws that weren't made were the difference between victory and defeat for one whole season. Our players easily shot 100 practice free-throws (also known as 'foul shots') each, every day. Most of them had been playing basketball and shooting free throws for 6 or more years by the time they stepped on the court in our team uniform. We didn't have any 'bad' free-throw shooters - just good and better.

Do the math with me: At least 100 practice foul shots per day times at least 300 days per year = 30,000+ practice shots per year. Multiply by an average of six years = 180,000 practice free-throws during their young lifetimes. I know they did the work because I was often the one spotting for them and keeping count. Every starter on our team could sink 10 for 10 with his eyes closed. But when the clutch moment came and we needed those couple of points to tie or (heaven help us) win, we got zilch, zip, nada, nathan. I used up every wish I had earned, I prayed to everyone and everything I could think of including the patron saint of comfortable sneakers and still we lost.

So, of course, watching the final couple minutes of the NCAA Championship Game last Monday evening I couldn't help but notice that the Memphis players were apparently having the same problem that my high school team did a scant 40 years earlier. As I mentioned before, I had no real stake in this game but by the end of regulation my heart was racing and my mouth was dry and for a short-but-seemingly-endless moment I was back in time watching the wheels come off. I was in basketball fan hell.

So, my condolences to the Memphis team and fans, my congratulations to the "Rock Chalk Jayhawks" and my fair warning to all of you: When life presents you with a free-throw, you had better make it count.

Victorinox "Carry With Confidence Guarantee"

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:18:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - Victorinox® by Swiss Army Brands College Decorated Luggage

Register your CARRY WITH CONFIDENCE™ GUARANTEE!

Carry With Confidence™ Guarantee

The Carry With Confidence™ Guarantee covers repairs of a functional nature for damage caused by common carriers. Additionally, this guarantee ensures that your product will be free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the bag. We will cover damage to your product caused by a defect in the workmanship or materials. This guarantee does not cover cosmetic damage or damage to contents. As with any travel gear product, component parts - particularly moving parts - will show wear over time, and may eventually need to be refurbished or replaced. If such wear and tear occurs, we can provide you with generous options for repairing or refurbishing your product. The Carry With Confidence™ Guarantee applies to versions 3.0 and later of E-Motion® 360° and Mobilizer NXT®, version 2.0 and later of Werks Traveler™, and all versions of Architecture® and Navigator CS™.

Please direct any questions to our Customer Service Department:
TRG Group, 2047 Westport Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146. 1-888-658-0717

Carry With Confidence™ Plus Guarantee

Every Tourbach™ product is guaranteed to be free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the bag. The Carry With Confidence™ Plus Guarantee also covers repairs of a functional nature if the damage is caused from abuse or mishandling by a common carrier. If necessary, we will provide a bag to you in an expedited manner for use until your bag can be repaired or replaced. This guarantee does not cover the contents of your bag or damage from ordinary wear and tear. As with any travel gear product, component parts, particularly moving parts, will show wear over time, and eventually may need to be refurbished or replaced. If such wear and tear occurs, we can provide you with generous options for repairing or refurbishing your product.

Please direct any questions to our Customer Service Department:
TRG Group, 2047 Westport Center Drive, St. Louis, MO63146. 1-888-658-0717

Lifetime Warranty

Victorinox® Lifestyle Accessories 2.0, Lingo™ and University products, and all versions of Ground Force™ are guaranteed for the life of the product to be free from any and all manufacturing defects in material and workmanship. We will cover any damage to your product caused by a defect in the workmanship or quality of the materials. We have the right, at our option, to repair or replace the merchandise. The guarantee does not cover damage resulting from abuse, neglect, improper handling or common carrier damage. The guarantee does not cover ordinary wear and tear. As with any travel gear product, component parts, particularly moving parts, will show wear over time, and eventually may need to be refurbished or replaced. If such wear and tear occurs, we can provide you with generous options for repairing or refurbishing your product.

Please direct any questions to our Customer Service Department:
TRG Group, 2047 Westport Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146. 1-888-658-0717

Luggage: Now Carry-On Makes Good Sense

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:24:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts and opinions share equal time

It's official. Delta Airlines has joined American Airlines in what will likely become a new, industry-wide policy of charging $25 to check your second bag (and your third bag and so on, ad nauseum) on all flights.

This past February 5th we reported in this weblog that United Airlines (later joined by American Airlines) was the first airline to charge a $25 fee for checking more than one bag and speculated (correctly) that other airlines were going to wait just long enough to see how things went before they followed suit. Less than 2 months later the writing comes off the wall and onto your credit card statement if you happen to travel heavy.

Which brings me to the same advice that we gave everyone in our February 5th blog entry: If you travel by air, why not use one of our WT-22 Deluxe Expandable Wheeled Travel Bags? Available in your choice of four colors (Solid Black, red with black trim, sapphire blue with black trim and emerald green with black trim), these bags are strong, lightweight, ergonomically-designed and approved for carry-on with all domestic U.S. airlines. They look great with your college logo on the front, and they are Swiss-engineered to hold more stuff in more places than any other comparable bag. Dimensions: 14" W x 22" H x 10.5" D (expands to 13" D).

Each bag comes with the Swiss Army Brand "Carry With Confidence" lifetime manufacturer's guarantee. Though moderately costly, you will realize significant savings traveling with this bag. By our calculations, after six round trips the bag will have more than paid for itself in full (12 trips @ $25.00 that you didn't pay for a second checked bag = $300 savings. The bag costs $275.00). Do the math - you'll see what we mean.

As for the new fee to check a second bag, my prediction, based upon nothing more than my luggage-seller's intuition, is that more airlines will join American and Delta in their quest to increase revenues. Now is the time to face the music and get out ahead of the inevitable increase: Order a Swiss Army WT-22 and laugh all the way to the checkout counter.

"CHOMPINGLY": Collegiate Luggage Coins a New Adverb

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:36:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts, opinions and adverbs share equal time.

Our Swiss Army collegiate luggage program is just over 2 years old as of my writing this blog entry. The first three schools to join our program in February of 2006 were Georgia, Georgia Tech and Florida. In a wonderful get-acquainted gesture, we were invited by Florida's Alumni Association to join them in Atlanta in March of that year for the SEC Tournament Game Day "Gator Gathering" to display all of our blue Gator-logo Swiss Army luggage products for the fans to see.

With headquarters in Sandy Springs (a northern suburb of Atlanta) most of my prior experiences with the Gator Nation before adding them to our program were limited. But the invitation was irresistible and we went. And it was at this pre-game celebration that their fans introduced me to "The Chomp".

HOW TO CHOMP
For those not familiar with "The Gator Chomp", it is a sign of support and recognition shown by Gator fans everywhere to encourage their teams. No special equipment is required. First, extend both arms directly in front of you, at shoulder height with palms facing. Then, open both arms wide and quickly bring them back together so the palms clap. You have successfully "chomped".

I was quite taken with this gesture. And from that day forward, when I would complete an e-mail message to any of the Florida Alumni office folks or their Gator Clubs or to my Gator friends (including but not limited to my company's bookkeeper Peggy) I would sign off with: "Chompingly Yours". Apparently, nobody could remember an instance when the word "chomp" had been used as an adverb because it immediately generated lots of keen interest and positive feedback.

Being the generous fellow that I am, I released the newly-coined expression for general use to my Gator friends and business associates and bade them good fortune. Now that you've read this article, you too are hereby granted full, free and complete permission to use "chompingly" as an adverb any old time it suits you. Who am I to deny the Gator Nation their chompness?

The Housework-Challenged Husband

noreply@blogger.com (Glen) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:21:00 +0000

CollegiateLuggage.com - Where facts, opinions & laughter share equal time.

One day a housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to his wife, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," she replied, "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, "University of Oklahoma."