Comments on: Review: Red Oxx Air Boss – bulletproof “one bag” workhorse!

By: Till

Till — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:43:42 +0000

The “military” looks can be explained by its pedigree, see the review. It is about the only thing one can reproach the Airboss.

However, it is for this very reason, that when I needed/wanted to buy such a bag I did not get the Airboss. Instead I got the Easygoing Carry-on. Unfortunately, it is not produced anymore but with a little luck you might find one on ebay.

The main differences are that the EG bag is a tad lighter, the foam panels are actually removable, it uses different zippers and it uses 1050D ballistic instead of 1000D Cordura nylon. It is simply black with no garish logos. There is a very discrete logo that can be cut off if you want to. The shoulder strap is more of the anti-theft variety than of the anti-slip kind (check out Kevin’s review). It was also a bit cheaper ($25 or so). The size and pocket layout are just like that of the Airboss.

Here is my review of it and two other bags:
http://www.1bag1world.com/blog.....otout.html

By the way, the TX2 in that review is also discontinued BUT you can still get a very nice leather version of it made by Royce if you shop around.

So this is clearly a tip for the luggage hunter. But the EG bag is a great alternative to the Airboss in a less martial look.

By: Till

Till — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:10:40 +0000

Alan, there is a very easy solution for the old MLC. Use the warranty. They will most likely give you a new bag.

Patagonia has a very good warranty. They are very courteous. I recently brought in a 12 year old jacket. They exchanged the main zipper (I didn’t even ask that) and resealed the seams (I did ask that). No shipping cost, nothing. They also asked if I wanted a new jacket in case they couldn’t repair mine. How awesome is that?

It will be easiest if you go to a Patagonia shop. But if there isn’t one near you, the website has a very good warranty form. They do ask the “do you want a new one” question also on the form. I actually said NO because they don’t make quite the equivalent jacket anymore of what I had. But for the bag this would probably be a good system.

I’d at least try that way. Perhaps they give you a brand new bag or offer it to you for half price.

Also consider the Burrito by Patagonia. Better for suits. I am a big fan of Briggs and Riley even if they are mainstream. So do look at those, too. That said, an Airboss is never a bad choice.

By: Alan Birnbaum

Alan Birnbaum — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:35:09 +0000

I have sporadically used the original Patagonia MLC, in black ballistic nylon, over the last twenty years, but am considering now replacing it, as the urethane coating on the nylon has started to get somewhat tacky and oozes an odd odor. The bag otherwise is intact. I do see that it has coil zippers, only one of which fully opens the bag, rather than the three three-sided YKK #10. Probably I will sacrifice the backpack straps of the MLC, or the Red Oxx Sky Train, since most of the time, I will have available a luggage cart; not a folding one, but my wife’s 22″ Rollaboard or her 29″ Rimowa.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:12:29 +0000

John,

Thanks; great comment and thx for the tip on Eagle Creek cubes.

By: John S.

John S. — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:23:03 +0000

For a recent two-week trip to Australia (including three intra-country flights), I traveled with the Air Boss and Gator bags. Qantas allows one carry-on bag, plus a personal item, neither of which can exceed 15 lbs (7 kg). My fully packed AB weighed closer to 17 lbs, maybe even 18 lbs, but because it wasn’t overstuffed no check-in agent showed any inclination to weigh it. Contrast that with one poor guy traveling with what probably was a 22″ wheeled bag. The agent insisted on weighing it, even though it clearly would have fit in an overhead bin. He was forced to check the bag. I don’t know, but guess he had no more stuff (and probably less) than I did. The Gator, being smaller than some women’s purses, scarcely attracted any attention.

I’m a small guy (5′6″, 140 lbs). I’ve carried the AB more than once with closer to 23 lbs (laptop and accessories included). I wouldn’t want to trek through Europe that way, but it’s manageable for the type of travel I generally do. I like the flexibility of three sections, and use Eagle Creek sacks and cubes to pack small, loose items like pens (if I’m taking just one bag). That the AB doesn’t have various small pockets is insignificant for me.