Back in November, when I got the call from FEMA, I knew it was time to step up my luggage game. That’s when I began asking some of my friends who travel for a living what they use for luggage and daily carries. One name kept coming up, Red Oxx.
Red Oxx’s bags are hand made in Montana and offer a lifetime warranty. “OK, so now you got my attention,” was my first thought. As I continued to cruse the Red Oxx website and watch the short videos describing their products, I became even more interested in the types, sizes and purposes of the bags they manufacture. The design of each the bags is derived from a distinctive purpose and an idea of what it is intended to carry.
During my shopping on line, two things happened that sold me on their bags and I placed my order. First was when I read the warranty. It states; “As time rolls a ceaseless course, only the genuine guarantee remains. The mountains will persist, the oceans are bound to endure and Red Oxx will continue to be rugged, reliable, and tough. To the depths of the Amazon basin to the peaks of the Himalayas, Red Oxx Manufacturing is infallible. Our products are guaranteed forever, be sure to include them in your will. Cheers, Jim Markel CEO.” Now They really had my attention.
Second was when I called Montana to discuss sizes for my final selection, I asked why they did not offer bags with built-in rollers. I thought that a roller bag would be nice to have when working through the mazes of different airports. She informed me that they cannot find a wheel system that was rugged, reliable and tough enough to be a part of their Red Oxx bags. I was sold. She said the best thing to do was to purchase a portable luggage cart. Something I never did get around to doing.
When traveling to a new location for a 6 month stay, like I was, it is more like moving and less like taking a vacation. Which means you got a lot more stuff to pack and take with you. As I talked to Red Oxx customer service, she talked me through my requirements, needs and wants. The end result is a system of bags that has fit my needs perfectly to date.
My Arsenal
The Red Oxx Big Bags
For my biggest bag, intended to carry pants, shirts and other bulky cloths, I went with the Safari-Beanos Bag PR-6. The 31″L x 12″W x 12″H sized bag holds up to 70 pounds. My fully packed bag hit the scales at 49.5 pounds, perfect for air travel.
Paired with the PR-6 was the smaller PR-5. This bag measures 24″L x 10″W x 10″H (legal carry-on measurements). This bag I used to pack my smaller cloths like tee-shirts, socks and underwear. I selected this sized bag because when I take a quick flight home for the weekend, I could use it as a carry-on and not have to check any baggage. The side pockets on the Safari-Beanos Bags is great for stuffing those last minute items, or items you want quick access to when on the move.
Organizing with Red Oxx
Next was the all-important daily carry bag. With this choice I went old-school. When I completed my duty in the National Guard in 1992, somehow my ruck-sack ended up coming home with me. Today, I still use the same ruck as my hunting pack. Over the years, I have purchased several back packs for hunting. Each one would break in some fashion and I would grab my old army ruck as my back up. I finally gave up on buying hunting packs and kept on using my ruck. So when I saw the Red Oxx made a modern version of my old ruck, I knew it was destined to be my daily carry bag. Today, after 5 months of daily use, the bag shows no signs of wear. Tough is an understatement.
To round out my selection, I added a Nomad shave kit for my toiletries and a Lil Roy for my electronics. The Lil Roy is a must have for today’s traveler. It is the perfect little bag for keeping all of those chargers, cords and external drives.
Like most of my reviews, I won’t go into all of the details of what makes the Red Oxx bags such tough critters and built like tanks. For the details on the extra hevy duty zippers, stitching and canvas cloth used to make the bags, visit their website. What I will say is that the quality is worth the price. Dealing with broken, ripped, or poorly thought out luggage can make those travel days on the road or air a really pain in the….
If you are looking for travel luggage that will take the abuse of hard travel, I don’t think you can find a better choice than Red Oxx and their selection of bags. In a few months, I will be heading out for a six month tent camping journey across North America and I’ll have my arsenal of Red Oxx bags along keeping my cloths and things organized. I have total confidence that they’ll survive the trip, I just hope I hold us as well as my bags will.
