Make Your Luggage Last With Sail Tape

Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom

Airlines claim that they use reasonable care in handling checked luggage but I don't believe that one bit.   In just one short flight from Chicago to Boston, my brand new spotless Tumi suitcase appeared on the luggage claim belt belly up, like a turtle on its back, with scuffs on the corners and dents in the plastic.  Other parts of the ballistic nylon shell were frayed as if sandpaper was rubbed against it.  I have started to seriously wonder how long any piece of luggage can last in today's travel environment.  

Of course a major step to making your luggage last is to always carry your luggage on with you and avoid checking it in.  Unfortunately, you won't be always able to do this (e.g. Abandon ye any hope on the small regional commuter planes).

This is where sail tape comes in handy.   Sail tape is made in a variety of colors (include the all important color black) and a 2 inch wide 25 foot long roll will cost around 14 to 15 dollars [1].  You can also use the lighter spinnaker repair tape.  

Why not just a cheap roll of duct tape?  Sail tape comes with an adhesive backing that you peel away.  This allows you to carry a thin strip of tape (instead of a bulky roll of duct tape) for repairs on the fly.  Sail tape can be applied to damp surfaces (though it is best if the surface is clean and dry) and it is waterproof and flexible over the long term.  It applies on smooth and can be permanent - but it can still be removed later if you so desire.  Duct tape, on the other hand, doesn't adhere well to wet surfaces, becomes mucky around the edges and eventually gets brittle and starts to peel.  Sail tape also has rip stop characteristics whereas you can rip duct tape easily with your hands along two axes.

So aside from repairing a tear in your luggage (apply the sail tape to both the inside and outside of the tear), perhaps the best application of sail tape is a proactive one.  When the luggage is still brand new and the surfaces are clean and dry, use the sail tape to reinforce the areas you expect will get the most abuse from handling and the elements - this means the corners, the bottom area (when held upright) near the wheels, as well as any part that comes into contact with the ground when the luggage is in a natural resting position.

Note that at airports you might have limited access to scissors which you will need to cut sail tape.  If you can't bring scissors with you and you can't borrow them from the airline officials pack a few pre-cut strips 3 to 4 inches long.  Strips of those lengths will usually be enough to cover any tears.   
 

[1] Bainbridge International Ripstop Nylon Tape sold at West Marine as of February 27, 2010.  http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/50843?&cid=chanintel&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=50843.

Give way to transit buses - they make driving easier.

Copyright 2010 Conan L. Hom

I drive a car and take the bus.  As a driver, I make a special effort to give transit buses the right of way but there are many other drivers who cut them off and don't allow them to merge into traffic.  It's a rare instance when I say that people should follow my example and in this instance there are a few compelling reasons.  

If you are socially conscious:  When you cut off the bus, you save yourself 2-3 seconds but you delay every single passenger on board by 2-3 seconds. If there are 20 people on board, you've saved yourself 2 to 3 seconds but have caused a combined  total of 80 to 120 seconds of delay to the passengers.

If you aren't socially conscious:   By giving way to a bus, you make its trip quicker, smoother and more reliable.  That makes it more attractive to potential users.  Each person choosing to take the bus instead of driving (I acknowledge that some could bike or walk instead) means one less car on the road.  For you as a driver that means less congestion.  This is especially important during peak travel times when the number of cars on the road is above the "free flow" capacity of the road, and each additional car adds increasingly more and more delay to the system (until gridlock occurs).