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- Lo & Sons bags are made of high-quality materials and feature thoughtfully placed pockets and compartments, plus other travel-friendly details.
- The company’s first bag it created, the best-selling O.G. Overnight Bag ($275), is designed with an innovative suitcase-handle sleeve that makes traveling much more convenient.
- Lo & Sons currently has more than a dozen travel-bag styles to choose from, including the roomy Catalina Deluxe Large Weekender Travel Bag ($148) and the Claremont Leather Camera Bag ($298).
- The Insider Picks team has reviewed eight different Lo & Sons bags so far. Keep reading for our thoughts on each so you can decide which one(s) to buy.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the company, Lo & Sons makes stylish, travel-friendly bags that optimize on space and function.
Founder and CEO Helen Lo originally launched Lo & Sons with the mission of creating a travel bag that alleviated the back pain she developed in her mid-60s. If this was hindering her from enjoying her wanderlust, then it must be affecting others as well. This need sparked an idea that birthed the O.G. overnight bag, a smartly designed shoulder bag with a suitcase-handle sleeve for easy transportation.
From there, Lo & Sons’ success drove the team to developed over a dozen other bags, including overnight bags, laptop bags, camera bags, clutches, backpacks, and more — for both men and women. Lo & Sons prides itself on only using high-quality materials to make its bags, careful placement of pockets and compartments, and travel-friendly details, like the aforementioned suitcase-handle sleeve, so you spend less time fumbling with your belongings and more time exploring.
At first glance, some of the bags probably seem kind of pricey, but consider what you’re getting for the money: Many of the bags convert to multiple styles (the $128 Edgemont goes from backpack to tote in just a few steps) and all of the bags feature useful pockets and compartments, for everything from your shoes to your laptop depending on their size. There’s none of that, "What am I supposed to do with this?" business. It’s obvious how much designing and testing Lo & Sons has done before launching each travel bag.
The Insider Picks team put eight different bags to the test, traversing New York City with them and even traveling across the country and overseas with the bags in some case. Our travels and daily commutes were much improved as a result. Keep reading for our thoughts on each bag so you can decide which one(s) to buy.
Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote
Lo & Sons
Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote, $128
Read our full review of the Edgemont here.
With its structured form, multiple well-designed compartments, and ability to convert between two different styles in just a few steps, this backpack tote boasts value that far outweighs its $128 price tag. I’ve been using it as a work-to-gym bag, and it fits all the essentials for both purposes, but still manages to feel fairly light and very comfortable on my back or shoulder.
Its stash pockets, perfectly placed under the arm, make it easy to access IDs, keys, and MetroCards, and are one of my favorite features of the bag. I also love that the material is eco-friendly and water-resistant, and specifically the Navy Camo pattern is subtle but stylish. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter
The O.G. Overnight Bag
Lo & Sons
The O.G. Overnight Bag, $295
Read our full review of The O.G. here.
The O.G. Overnight Bag has quickly become my go-to personal item on flights. Its suitcase-handle sleeve is a game changer; now I can rest assured that when I rest my personal item atop my carry-on it won’t fall off. Inside the bag are some even cooler features, like a padded laptop sleeve, a separate shoe compartment, and tons of pockets for organizing everything from my pens to my earbuds. The O.G. also comes with a messenger strap for easy and comfortable carrying across your body or over your shoulder, and it’s made of a durable and water-resistant nylon, so there’s no need to worry about it being ruined by coffee spills or bad weather. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy for Insider Picks
With all of all the smart features, I’ve found I’m able to fit just about everything I need for a weekend away in this one bag, unless it’s winter (because sweaters and coats are just too bulky). Even though the bag is so structured, it’s really lightweight, making it really easy to carry, even when loaded with clothing and toiletries. While pricey, I think it’s worth the $295 investment. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter
Catalina Deluxe Large Weekender Travel Bag
Lo & Sons
Catalina Deluxe Weekender Large Travel Bag, $148
I took the Catalina Deluxe Weekender Large Travel Bag on a couple of short road trips. Packing a bag is easier than lugging a suitcase around, but I usually travel with the weekender version of this blue and white striped nylon Baggu tote. It’s weightless and holds a lot, but it lacks structure and organization.
By comparison, Lo & Son’s weekender is made out of thick canvas — it’s heavy duty, but can be folded when not in use. I have yet to max out the large bag on a weekend trip, even with packing sweaters and bulkier items. If I were traveling to a warm-weather destination, the bag could easily fit a week’s worth of clothes. The bottom compartment comes in handy for separating out shoes and heavier pieces of clothing, but I did find the zipper hard to maneuver when the bag was empty, since the weight of the canvas bag weighs it down. Overall, this is a well-made travel bag and one that I will definitely continue to use. — Lauren Lyons Cole, director of Personal Finance Insider
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – frea@businessinsider.com (Francesca Rea)