Travel Products: Trends for 2008

There was so much variety at this year’s Travel Goods Show in San Diego it’s hard to imagine narrowing it down to a few trends, but most of the new products fit in at least one of these four categories:

Light, lighter, lightest

With consumers demanding lighter bags and airlines changing their policies on luggage weight, most manufacturers showcased lighter products — and are competing for the title of lightest bag!

Products include Antler’s Size Zero collection, the Claiborne Semi-Hard Rolling Upright by Randa Luggage, Landor & Hawa’s hardside cases including a new zebra pattern, Rimowa’s new Salsa Deluxe line, Titan Luggage’s new Four Diamond Collection that pairs a light hardside case with a new virtually scratch-proof finish and ZERO Halliburton’s aircraft aluminum and polycarbonate cases. And, the perfect accessory: the Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale helps travelers figure out if they meet their airline’s weight limit!

Polycarbonate continues to be deployed for hardsides, being incredibly light, tough and strong. New this year were some interesting textured surfaces, resembling everything from rib or diamond patterns to faux stone to grid blocks to a Japanese tatami mat!

Green — it’s more than a color

With the public’s newfound enthusiasm for ecologically sound and environmentally worthy products in demand, the industry has stepped up and created travel items utilizing recycled PET for bags and laptop cases (Shoreline’s act2 Bottles to Bags laptop sleeve, which won this year’s Buzz Award at The Travel Goods Show), bamboo for super-soft travel blankets and eyeshades (from pb travel), jute combined with recycled PET (Ricardo Beverly Hills Berkeley Collection), and recovered leather scraps (pb travel’s Eco-Friendly Collection of personal accessories). And leather goods manufacturers such as Tony Perotti Italy are using vegetable dyes in order to be more eco-friendly.

Recycled content of some type — any type — seems to be a hot commodity; it’s a trend we expect to see grow in the next several years.

Everything on wheels

When you think of wheeled pieces, what comes to mind? Luggage and carry-ons, of course. Duffel bags and backpacks, good idea. Laptop carriers and totes — why not? Chances are, if it has a handle you’ll find it on wheels.

Products include Clark & Mayfield’s Stafford rolling business case, David King’s rolling duffel in leather, Eagle Creek’s Roundabout wheeled tote, EnE Group’s The Sharper Image vertical computer trolley that lets you secure a computer case or backpack onto a larger rolling case, the Fortuno Rolling Tote by Swany, McKlein’s detachable wheel-and-handle system on several of its business cases, Traveler’s Choice hybrid rolling duffel with a polycarbonate bottom and ZÜCA’s Pro, part briefcase, part carry-on, part organizer with a built-in seat and removable pouches that stack like drawers.

Travelers seem to like the stability of four-wheel bags, most of which use four swiveling casters for smooth maneuverability. And that trend is sure to continue to grow now that more air carriers are charging for a second checked bag and could mean that travelers may opt to check one larger bag rather than two smaller bags.

Travel products as fashion accessory

Colors and prints have been steadily gaining in popularity for some time, with just about every manufacturer offering options for those customers looking for an alternative to conservative bags. Even black is getting more fashionable, with black-on-black materials and prints or colorful trim added for a bit of flair; and “jewelry” on bags similar to those on fashionable handbags. “Corporate but cool” continues to push the conservative end of the market toward fashion, but if you’re looking for something different, there are endless varieties of new colors and prints for the truly adventuresome!

Corporate but cool: Clark & Mayfield’s Parkside in white Napa leather, French 1946 Illusions 20" weekender, Vallavista’s new Owl Collection uses 100% post-consumer recycled materials for the “green” set and Zeyner’s leather motorcycle-inspired business cases for the executive with a Harley in the garage.

Colors and prints: Heys’ xcase Exotic line of lightweight luggage in a variety of new prints ranging from tiger, snake and leopard to polka dots and checkers, Tumi’s new Voyageur Collection with classic, streamlined silhouettes in yellow and other fresh fashion colors, Titan’s newest X-2 suitcase in vibrant fuchsia and McKlein’s line of women’s business cases in a host of vivid colors — and many, many more!

Don’t forget accessories: cinda b’s new cosmetic set, Kena Kai’s DataSafe® wallets and passport cases that protect against identity theft (second-place winner in this year’s TGA Product Innovation Award), Lodis’ clutches and wallets in supple leather and vibrant colors, LUGbuddy, which secures any item to a wheeled suitcase, mysmartpac’s His and Her collection of disposable personal care products, Onesole’s interchangeable shoe that allows the consumer to change tops easily for a different look and Dimo Gear/WalletBe’s cell phone accordion wallet purse in numerous colors.