Bagging for a weekend getaway

Oh, the horror! It's 9 am on a Friday, you're already late for a meeting and you're supposed to be heading straight to the station after work and you haven’t even packed a single sock for the weekend yet. Sure, you could have done it last night, but where's the fun in that? Now you're frantically stuffing a toothbrush, sweatshirt and a pair of sneakers into a bag half the size hoping for the best but fully aware that you’ll most likely be swimming in your boxers again. The indignity.

It's always the same old dilemma, what bag do you use for a short trip? Too small and it barely fits your laptop charger, too large and it's half-empty and somehow a bit embarrassing.

Nope, there must be a better solution out there than a couple of extra totes and a plastic bag. Enter the 48h bag.

This was a real challenge, and if you know us, then you know that we don't say these things lightly. It’s the first bit of luggage that we’ve released and there was plenty to put right, at least that's what the 906 of you told us in the survey. No pressure. Thanks for waiting patiently, it’s taken 3 prototypes to get it right.

Back then you were very vocal about your needs, telling us: 'Don’t bother making another bag with a fabric that whimpers at the thought of water, zippers that split after 3 weeks or straps that slice your hands off.

Gotcha...a robust, practical 48h-bag that cooperates with you the carrier it is.

A job that took us on more than a few weekend trips to get the good stuff: to sum it up, that’s 2 years to make a 2-day bag that can last 2 lifetimes.

Ok, we’re not pointing any fingers here but there aren’t that many items out there that get mistreated the way a weekend bag does. You wouldn't squeeze a picnic between 3 suitcases in your car, throw it onto a grimmy train platform and then kick it as you nudge up the queue, would you?

So why put your weekend bag through that? Poor thing.

Let's be honest, luggage will always be collateral damage in our quest for good times and staying in gainful employment. With that in mind, we tested dozens of fabrics to find the one that could put up with all this without breaking. This took us to Charvet, a reputed French weaver, where we found a super thick mercerised cotton canvas double-faced with a robust twill. Solid. So solid in fact that it stands up for itself. Think twice next time you kick it.

Because we wanted to avoid the dilemma of a cotton bag sponging up water, getting crusty and smelling like a wet dog, the 48h Bag has been treated to be water and stain repellent.

The proof is in the pudding...you’ll have a tough time marking it. That’s what SMT, the independent lab told us anyway after giving it a good going-over. They even told us they cranked up the testing on this one. They had a really good go at it trying to find its breaking point by repeatedly hitting it with 89 Newtons of force. If you don't fancy googling that then let's just say there’s not much you can’t carry in there bar a black hole maybe.

Ok, so we've covered some solid ground on the 48h bag, but hey, what good are all these durability credentials if it takes an age to find your passport at customs. A bag needs to be practical as well as tough.

Of course, while the white coats at SMT were getting medieval on the materials we turned our mind to all the other things you asked for like the right amount of space. Weighing in at 43 litres, or 182 cups of good times, the 48h Bag can comfortably accommodate a couple of tees, a pair of jeans, a sweater, a pair of sneakers, a stick of deodorant and that book you've been chipping away at. We've tested it many times ourselves, and it's definitely one you can also try at home.

If putting triangles into circles was your thing back in kindergarten, this bag will flick your switch. There's simply no way of breaking it beyond doing something completely out there. Our zippers are from Lampo, Italy and secured with triple stitching, so it's pretty forgiving.

We piped the seams on the outside to keep it looking pristine. Piping are those filled strips of fabric that protect the stitching. Thanks to them, the bag can stand up by itself like a grown-up.

We added gussets on each side so that opening, packing and closing the bag is a breeze.

For those who know their cms and can park their car in a tight spot, this is what you’re dealing with: 54 cm long, 26 cm wide and 34 cm tall. That’s enough to create a solid triangular shape that's a far trip away from the bulky, cumbersome weekend bag experiences you shared with us. We also checked that it fits nicely into the overhead locker or under your seat as a carry-on so you won’t get stung next time you’re at Stansted. Don’t let Ryanair tell you otherwise.

Best way to ensure a peaceful weekend is to leave your laptop at home of course, but if you have to there's an inside pocket more than large enough for a 15” laptop.

A bag of tricks

Solid: Check. Practical: Check. Check-in: Uncheck.

...but the list doesn't end there.

Show us your hands after a weekend travelling and we’ll tell you who’s got a bag that doesn’t know the meaning of comfort.

No pain, no pain as we like to say. Maison Satab are a strap and handle manufacturer in France with a long tradition of ribbon making. It’s a good job too because this craft has been saving hands a lot of grief since 1905. They’ve done an excellent job on the 48h Bag’s handles: practical length, proper strength and comfort and sewn onto the bag with a triple thread. You can really lug this bad boy around.

Now if you miss the last train and have to schlep it, just clip on the padded shoulder strap and you’re good to go. No more sore shoulders.

That's the fabric, production and design covered - now for the hardware, which is just as important according to you. We set out to find the best out there, stuff that looks good and won’t let you down.

That's why we teamed up with Maison Poursin in France to get our hands on 100% brass buckles, made in France.

They are one of the oldest French buckle makers having started out making harnesses in 1905 when cars were horses. They’ve got serious knowledge about keeping the show on the road, and their buckles are as hard wearing as we hoped they’d be.

The Tricolore of bag making: French double-faced mercerised cotton canvas-twill, French hardware, French handles - all from some of the oldest and well-reputed manufacturers just down the road. Savoir-faire at its finest. We’re a bit excited.

Throw our experts Portuguese makers Belcinto into the mix and you get a lesson in practicality, comfort and strength. Anything packed in the 48h Bag is in safe hands.

Colourwise we stuck with two options that look good whatever the trip:

- A camel with contrasting black, take the show on the road

- A navy blue, some say you can hear the sea if you put your ear close enough.

A few weeks back we committed to giving you the full environmental impact of every item we release. La totale as we say in France.

So this is what goes into, and comes out of, each 48h Bag.

- 14,3 kg of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to travelling 259 km (160 miles) by car. Here’s how our partners at Fairly Made come up with that number link*.

- 13,175 litres of water which equates to 188 five min showers. But that’s not the reason it smells so good.

- 273 MJ of energy, which is about 92 hours heating (in average appartment).

The 48h Bag will be available for preorder for 149€ from Tuesday 11 May at 10am CET. But don’t cut it too fine, the preorder window is only open for 6 days only, or 144 hours.

After ordering, you can expect your 48h Bag to land around end of July.

And for those who're wondering, if it doesn't work out when your The 48h Bag arrives you're welcome to a refund. Return costs are on us.

If you have any questions hit us up in the comment section below or on our international Instagram page.

The Asphalte Team