@RiseGear Jumper: Gear that Rises to my pack better not less challenge! #Review #Travel

I have been lucky in my lifetime to have had the opportunity to do quite a bit of travelling. I would conservatively guess I have flown on at least 100 planes. I have also clocked many kilometres on road trips to PEI, Florida, Mrytle Beach, Boston and Washington DC. A summer road trip has become tradition in our family, as has my twice a year shopping trip with my girlfriend. So it is pretty easy to see why I'm excited to check out the Rise Gear Jumper. 

Rise Gear is a Canadian company who designs their patent pending unique packing system. You may have seen Lee and Sean on Dragon's Den. If not take a look for yourself. 

I will admit I tend to over pack. I'm not sure if that is the Mom in me that needs to be prepared for all things, but whatever the reason it is true. I am not looking to pack less (although granted it is a good idea), I am looking for ways to pack better, and the luggage I choose has to "Rise" to that challenge. Luggage is an investment, so just like the Dragons I need a good return on my investment including quality construction, a good price point, user friendly packing, and more importantly easy functionality at my destination.

Putting my belongings into a hotel dresser drawer is NEVER going to happen. Either I have things in a million ziplock bags or my luggage is chaos after a day or two of rummaging through it looking for the items I want. Clothes are wrinkled and using a hotel iron (assuming there is one in the room) is a pain. When I first saw the Rise Gear Jumper I couldn't believe what a clever and easy solution their portable closet was. It's a lightweight hanging bag with built-in shelves that makes both packing and access to items a cinch. It keeps your clothes from being wrinkled, and best of all the entire thing hangs in a closet, meaning your clothes never have to touch a dusty hotel drawer. It really is a packing system disguised as a carry-on.

Photos from Rise Gear site.

The Jumper comes in three colour options and can be used stand alone or in one of your existing bigger pieces of luggage. Also available is the bigger Rise Gear Roller, which offers the same great hanging shelves in a larger duffle bag style.

Photo via Rise Gear site.

So here is what I personally liked about the Rise Gear Jumper: 

• First, it is carry-on regulation size, and has a slot to attach it to the handle of your roller luggage. 
• It is well designed and made with quality zippers and materials.
• It has three shelves that make dividing, packing and getting to my clothes easy. 
• The hangers are sturdy, and when hanging there is a small zippered compartment on the top and an extra large at the bottom, which to me = options. 
• It can easily accommodate several days of clothes and travel necessities, or is perfect to pack and organize clothes in a larger suitcase with shoes, and toiletries packed around the Jumper, which to me = options.
• I love the fact it hangs and that none of my clothes need to go into dusty hotel drawers or shelves.
• I like clever design, so such an uncomplicated solution to common packing issues appeals to me.

I would love to see a carry-on sized wheeled Jumper. My only real dilemma is whether after I use it for Blissdom a blog conference in October (which it will be PERFECT for), do I keep it for myself, give it to my snow bird parents (perfect for hotel stays on the drive to and from Florida), or give it to my sister who travels for work? 

Keep it for myself of course, and get them their own for Christmas! 

You can see all the colour and product options on Rise Gear's Website or follow Rise Gear on Facebook or Rise Gear on Twitter

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about luggage and packing better.

Note: I received a Rise Gear Jumper free of  charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and reflect my experience with this product and brand.