Travel Products - eBags TLS Boot Bag as carry-on?

Hello fellow luggage fanatics. eBags.com is having an "insiders" (subscribers to their e-mails) deal today with 25% off and free shipping on any purchase. This is about as good as it gets with eBags, sometimes they do offer 30% off, but those events are rare and unpredictable. So I'm wanting to make an order today by 11pm MDT. I performed a search here and didn't find any appropriate threads on my questions.

My first question involves the eBags TLS Boot Bag, available in 3 colors: blue yonder (medium blue), green envy (lime) and "sinful red." Does anyone here own TLS bags in the sinful red color? (I own about 5 of the TLS bags in blue yonder.) Online "sinful red" looks very orange-y instead of a true red. If you own a sinful red bag, could you please describe the color. Is it red or is it orange?

I'm contemplating purchasing the TLS Boot Bag as a carry-on and car-travel bag for my husband. The dimensions of the bag are 14.5 in. deep X 15.5 high X 17.5 long. I realize most airlines specify 9 X 13 X 22 as the maximum carry-on size. So the second question is: Is it silly to purchase this bag planning to use it as the "personal item" for carry-on airline travel?

DH has big shoes and they take up too much room in his suitcase for long trips, he usually packs 2 pairs for a long trip. Last winter I bought him the eTech Weekender Convertible and the eTech Mini 21-inch wheeled duffel in RED. Neither of these bags is very good for a man with size 12 shoes. Hence the desire to buy a bag which would accommodate 2 pairs of shoes, his toiletries bag, an e-reader, and assorted odds and ends. DH doesn't have a computer, iPad, or other electronics, I'm planning to get him a Kindle for a one-month trip to Europe in the fall.

eBags makes an eTech Boot Bag which would perfectly match his other eTech items, but reviews are the bag aren't as good as the TLS. If the TLS bag is a true red, it would go with his other bags just fine. The TLS backpack straps are removable and can be stored in a zippered pocket, the eTech bag doesn't have this feature. He would definitely want removable straps.

Any advice or comments regarding the color of the eTech "sinful red" and the wisdom of using the Boot Bag as a carry-on would be greatly appreciated. The bag is actually designed for winter sports, to accommodate ski boots, helmet, and accessories. But it looks like a great bag as a general carry-on, providing the gate police will allow it into the cabin. Apologies for the length of this post, but my fellow luggage freaks will understand perfectly.

The dimensions of the bag are 14.5 in. deep X 15.5 high X 17.5 long. I realize most airlines specify 9 X 13 X 22 as the maximum carry-on size. So the second question is: Is it silly to purchase this bag planning to use it as the "personal item" for carry-on airline travel?


The bag is too large to use either as a main carry-on bag or as a personal item. Most airlines limit the larger carry-on bag to 45 linear inches, and this bag totals 47.5 linear inches. It might be allowed but that's far from certain, and it will not fit into a standard sizer.

Not all airlines specify sizes for a personal item, but most of those that do say it shouldn't exceed 36 linear inches.

Sinful red is a lighter red, think tOSU.

Sinful red is a lighter red, think tOSU.

tOSU? Sorry, what does that mean?

tOSU? Sorry, what does that mean?

If, and only if, the reference is to The Ohio State University, the color is scarlet.

Sinful red is an Orange Red.

If the bags is not full you might be able to squeeze it under the seat. I have used them during the last year for ski boots (checked).

All my ebags are Green Envy. Very easy to identify. I found the colour very consistent in the different bags of the same colour spec.

I also am a fan of Green Envy on EBags. Really a lively color. The Sinful Red is not a true red.

Not University of Nebraska red.

Not Texas Tech red.

Well, two strikes and the boot bag is out. Posters are correct that (1) it's not really a carry-on and (2) I hate an orangey-red color. We travel a lot by car and DH loves to throw his shoes in the back of the car unpacked. It drives me nuts. So I still might get the eTech boot bag and just use it for auto travel. Thanks to all who commented.

Well, two strikes and the boot bag is out. Posters are correct that (1) it's not really a carry-on and (2) I hate an orangey-red color. We travel a lot by car and DH loves to throw his shoes in the back of the car unpacked. It drives me nuts. So I still might get the eTech boot bag and just use it for auto travel. Thanks to all who commented.

I join you on strongly dislikeing the loose shoe deal when traveling by car. My husband actually loaded up 2 shoes that weren't a pair on one trip and didn't notice his error. We take too much stuff when traveling by car but I'm all for using a bag for his shoes.

Well, two strikes and the boot bag is out. Posters are correct that (1) it's not really a carry-on and (2) I hate an orangey-red color. We travel a lot by car and DH loves to throw his shoes in the back of the car unpacked. It drives me nuts. So I still might get the eTech boot bag and just use it for auto travel. Thanks to all who commented.

If you are using it to protect shoes from being scuffed up while being tossed around, chek out the eBags shoe bags.

If you are using it to protect shoes from being scuffed up while being tossed around, chek out the eBags shoe bags.
Ha, ordered two sets the other day to replace worn out shoe bags. They're supposed to be delivered tomorrow, but eBags ships by FedEx and the driver won't come to my house. I usually end up having to pick up packages at the depot in Santa Fe. At least they're on the way...