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Tumi Takes a Hard Line With Luggage
November 04, 2009
By Donna M. Airoldi
Tumi’s Special Markets Division introduced a new line of luggage last week: the Vapor Collection, the first hard-sided collection offered in the company’s history.
Using new technologies with polycarbonate materials, the products are firm but lightweight. Being Tumi, as much thought went into the sleek design as into the new features and technologies.
Why the shift to a hard-sided collection?
“Hard-sided luggage is a trend that started out several years ago in the Pacific Rim and spread quickly to Europe, so there is an element of fashion to it,” says Mike Landry, Tumi’s director of special markets. “That said, in the past couple of years, hard-sided bags have really started to get some traction in North America. They are perceived as lighter and better at protecting the traveler’s belongings. We think we have taken those concepts to new heights. The 20-inch, four-wheeled Vapor piece is fully lined and has a tremendous amount of technology built in, yet comes in at just over 7 pounds.”
Enhanced Use of Polycarbonate Adds Strength Without the Weight
What makes this polycarbonate line different from others is Tumi’s new way of using the plastic to reduce surface scratches and the potential of shattering in the cold, two of the limitations to the material that otherwise is lightweight, durable and highly flexible. The plastic is stacked in three layers, for added strength in all directions: The clear top-layer film hides surface scratches and increases cross-structural strength. The middle layer uses shatter-resistant Tumi ABS material. The bottom layer is a lightweight polycarbonate.
Additional design features, such as raised rubber molded bumper guards—made from high-impact polypropylene, the same plastic used in car bumpers, boat hulls and football pads—and a metallic, printed graphic texture, protect the high-gloss finish and reduce the signs of wear.
Special Product Features
The new Vapor Collection also includes Tumi’s patented X-Brace 45 handle system, which was designed to reduce the chances of broken handles, the “No. 1 cause of luggage failure,” according to a company statement. Unique to Tumi’s Vapor bags, the telescopic handle, housed and protected by a specially engineered outer tube system that is made from extruded aircraft-grade aluminum, features two ridges that form a protective structure along the outer profile. These ridges are positioned at 45-degree angles to absorb blows to the back of the packing case, preventing the inner telescopic tubes from bending.
Additional Specifications
The Vapor Collection comes in black or silver, with three sizes and prices:
#28020: International Carry-On, 19” x 14” x 9”, $395
#28025: Medium Trip Packing Case, 25” x 17” x 11.5”, $495
#28029: Extended Trip Packing Case, 29” x 20” x 12.5”, $545
Each style includes four lightweight wheels which allows for maximum maneuverability and mobility, slimmer aircraft grade aluminum dual tube, patented handles allowing for greater protection from damage and lighter top and side handles, all which contribute to the reduced weights of these bags.
For more information, contact Mike Landry at (800) 669-3181, mlandry@tumi.com, or visit www.tumispecialmarkets.com.
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