OK, so here's an idea I added to my ideas book back in 2003. At the time I was doing a lot of traveling including lots of long airport walks (Chicago, San Francisco and the like). During these trips I had many moments with roller bag in one hand, briefcase in the other and a need to also be holding my music player, a cup of coffee and my airplane ticket. Ever been in this spot? So, I started thinking about ways that I could simplify my life on the road.
How could I free up a hand or two? Well, the one written up here is pretty low tech and since then I have a number of additional ideas that I'll share - here's the original idea:
If this is the first time reviewing an idea here, please know that I fully recognize that these drawings are dreadful - hopefully you get the point!
So, the handle of the roller bag (think TravelPro) has a "quick-clip" that attaches easily to a belt or strap on the waist. Instead of wheels on the bottom, there are a series of round roller balls that allow quick and easy directional changes and balance the bag so that there is no weight felt on the hip.
Here are the pros and cons:
PROS
- Hands free
- Easy direction changes
- Comfortable and pain free
CONS
- People will stare at you
- Perceived lack of control
A build on this would be to create a bag that is battery powered and follows you (within 1 foot) based on a tracker carried in your pocket. As you move it moves. Don't they have high end golf bags that follow you?
In terms of the first "CON", you might just look a bit silly walking through the airport with your bag attached to your hip. But, hey, remember the first business trip where you used a roller bag instead of the heavy and painful garment bag? Any embarrassment you felt at that time quickly dissipated as you realized that your back actually felt pretty good!
OK, now it's your turn. Comments? Tell me the truth, I can take it . . .
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