Luggage advice?

[Rocket777]

Like every other MS4, I'm getting ready to run the interview gauntlet.

I need to buy a garment bag / good piece of luggage and I'm not sure what to get. Ideally, I'd like to get something that I can carry on (always worried about lost luggage) that can hold a suit for the trip.

However, the "garment bags" that I'm looking at seem to have dimensions of 46x20x10, or something similar. It looks like the summation of the dimensions for a carry-on have to add to 45 or less (e.g. 22x10x12) in order to be cleared for carry-on. This seems way to small for suits. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

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[krodUT]

This is the only rolling, carry-on garment bag out there: skyroll.com. You can get it at men's warehouse. It satisfies the dimensions for all the major airlines and is basically a suitcase with the garment bag zipping around the exterior.

Carry on will be clutch when you think you may be tight on time at the airport. It also saves money. Granted the bag was $200. It carries two suits and fits plenty in the interior compartment. Totally worth it.

 

[Gimlet]

+1 on the Skyroll. I had the smaller over-the-shoulder one, which is cheaper but not big enough to hold more than a couple days worth of clothes. But it was straight money for interview season, though, especially as far as my peace of mind went, not having to worry about my suit making it to my destination. Never had a problem getting it on planes...in most overhead compartments it fits in the long way so it only takes up less than a quarter of the space in there.

 

[periopdoc]

Travelpro Platinum or Crew. You should still be able to find some Platinum-5 or Crew-6 pieces around for a reasonable price (The current series is Platinum-6 and Crew-7). The stuff is bombproof and very sweet.

I have travelled carry on all over the northern hemisphere with my Crew-4 series rollaboard. My suit fits in the lid and everything else fits in the bottom. Since 9-11 I just bring small containers of liquids and buy new razors at each town, or pack my razor with my snowboard in winter or my guns in the summer. The only time I checked my luggage was on the flight from Denver to LA for my interview with Cedars-Sinai. I had my snowboard with me so I thought what the hell and just checked everything. Sure enough, my suit and snowboard went on an overnight vacation to Mexico without me. I got into LA at 2AM and the interview started before I could find an open store...

So I shaved with whatever the hotel provided me with, fixed my hair with the free conditioner, and interviewed in my fleece and jeans. It was a fun interview since, before the interview even started, I knew I wasn't getting a spot with them.

- pod

 

[fakin' the funk]

Any carry-on regular luggage will do (though you'll probably need a backpack or somesuch as well). You only really have 2 goals:
1. Never never check your bag.
2. Don't let your stuff get wrinkled. Easy enough. Buy decent non-iron shirts and you're set on that front. Assuming you have a decent wool suit all you do is tuck one shoulder inside the other and fold it up in thirds, gently, put it in a big plastic bag (like a big Target bag) and you're set. I also used an inverted shoebox and stacked my shoes in the bottom of the carryon so the bottom of the shoebox protected the leather parts that could bend or crease. And, I used a cylindrical Tupperware thingy big enough to hold ties, so those didn't get bent/creased either.

When you get to your hotel, run a nice hot shower with all of your suit and shirts hung up and any wrinkles should fall out.

 

[Narcotized]

However, the "garment bags" that I'm looking at seem to have dimensions of 46x20x10

What the Hell, 10 inches thick?? I could fit every suit I've ever owned over my entire lifetime and still have a few inches to spare in that jumbo bag you're looking to purchase.

 

[lord_jeebus]

While on the interview trail I lived out of an MEI Voyageur for 3 weeks. It's the maximum size for a carry-on and I had, among other things, my laptop, 2 suits, a winter coat, a few days worth of other clothing, and equipment to wash and dry everything in a hotel bathroom. The bag can be worn like a backpack, and has an internal frame, but can be converted to a more professional-appearing bag as well. Unfortunately they are basically made to order and it can take weeks to get one.

Google "onebag" for ideas on how to travel with very little - I have lots of tricks but learned most of them from that guy. Since learning this stuff for interviews I have gone on several long international trips with just this bag.

There are also good techniques described online for folding a suit to minimize wrinkles - the most important things are to minimize friction between the suit and everything else, and to use a hotel bathroom to steam the wrinkles out when you have the chance.

 

[xwinniethepoohx]

Just get a garment sleeve that fit in the normal carry on sized roller bag. ebags has one. It works without having to buy a new garment bag.

 

[bugglesworth]

Sorry to hijack, but are you all bringing briefcases with you in case directors ask to see copies of your publications?

 

[Gimlet]

Sorry to hijack, but are you all bringing briefcases with you in case directors ask to see copies of your publications?

Never saw any briefcases on the circuit...pretty much everyone shows up with the standard leather folder.

 

[beavis]

Never saw any briefcases on the circuit...pretty much everyone shows up with the standard leather folder.

I did OK with just a writing utensil and whatever folder the program gave me. Granted, I don't really have anything to show off that I'd keep in the leather folder. If I did, I probably wouldn't carry them in a briefcase with me.

beav

 

[Narcotized]

beav

BBeavis and Butthead; ah yes, brings back memories when quality television was actually worth watching.

911 Operator: "Did you Heimlich the victim?"

Beavis: "What; did I lick his rectum?!?!?!!!

 

[NavyFlightDoc]

I imagine 46" is prior to folding the garment bag in half, so it would be more like 23 x 20 x 5, which is close enough for the gate agents not to care. Plus, if they decide it's too big, they will check it at the gate, which means it will for sure be on your plane, so no big deal.

Just be sure to have a second "personal" bag full of things to keep you relaxed on the road - ipod, reading material, etc.

 

[tennisnr]

Apparently the only carry on bag you'll ever need.

http://www.redoxx.com/airline-carry-on-luggage/air-boss/91018-air boss/100/product