We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you’re an avid traveler, skip the fight for the flatscreen TV at Walmart this Black Friday and keep your eyes peeled for travel accessories instead. Not only is this a great time of year to get clothing and gear for your next trip, but you’ll need some good-quality luggage to get it to your destination, too. From bag scales to suitcases, organizational tools, and more, now is the time to stock up before the holiday travel season. If you plan to travel over Christmas or New Years, grab a new suitcase and some accessories while they are on sale instead of waiting. Here are the five best Black Friday luggage and accessory deals you can snag before your next vacation. And, if you’re looking for a specific kind of suitcase, these are the best carry-on suitcases in 2025 for every kind of traveler, according to research. Over 40% off select colors for Black Friday, this Samsonite Freeform 2-Piece Luggage Set in sky blue is currently available for $196. 34 (down from $349. 88) on Amazon. This set includes two rolling suitcases with dual spinner wheels. With one slightly larger than the other, you could use one suitcase as a carry-on and check the other, or use one at a time for different-length trips. The luggage pieces in this set are both hard-shell suitcases, made from “scratch-resistant polypropylene.” Prices vary based on which color you choose, and the luggage set is available in 10 colors, including black, white, amethyst purple, light grey, mint green, navy, pink rose, powder blue, sky blue, and white/grey. The carry-on suitcase measures 23 inches by 15 inches by 10 inches, and it weighs 6. 5 pounds. The larger, checked suitcase measures 31. 1 inches by 20. 9 inches by 13. 8 inches, and it weighs 9. 6 pounds. Inside each suitcase are dividers, elastic straps to hold your belongings down, and an organizational pouch. On Amazon, this set has an average of 4. 3 stars out of over 16, 000 reviews at the time of writing. The reviews for these suitcases are overwhelmingly positive. Samsonite is a well-known brand, and many users report the suitcases are well-made and durable. One reviewer wrote after using Samsonite’s suitcase that “the size is perfect for airline travel. It meets cabin requirements, and the extra interior space surprised me. The straps, divider, and little pouch kept everything neatly in place no more rogue items sliding around like a tornado passed through my suitcase.” If you don’t need two new suitcases, Samsonite also has several other suitcases on sale for Black Friday. Another piece of rolling luggage, this product can work for both short and long trips, with the ability to expand to accommodate more items. The American Tourister Stratum 2. 0 is a hard-shell suitcase that is expandable and has spinner ball wheels, allowing it to be pulled along easily in an airport or train station. Price varies by color on Amazon, with sets ranging from $78. 10 to $115. 59. Colors available for this suitcase include slate blue, jade green, purple haze, soft coral, jet black, and white. Measuring 28 inches long, it’s recommended for a one- to three-day-long trip on Amazon; however, reviewers found that it had a much longer lifespan given its size. Currently, this suitcase in slate blue is on sale for $83. 66 (down 44%). On Amazon, this suitcase has an average rating of 4. 5 stars out of over 2, 000 reviews. Reviewers of the bag say that it is durable, surviving multiple long trips and time in checked baggage. As one of the brand’s larger suitcases, reviewers stated that the bag had enough space for trips of up to two weeks long, making it versatile. One user said about this model: “2 trips from Germany to Hawaii with several stops along the way, this suitcase has held up great, I average about 25-30lbs of items. Wheels are strong even over the cobblestones of Europe.” Maybe you don’t need a whole new suitcase. If you’re looking for a weekend bag to take with you on a quick trip or even to the gym, this Etronik bag is on sale for Black Friday and is very affordable for a small duffel bag. On Amazon, this bag comes in two different sizes. The medium bag in beige is on sale for $19. 99, and the large is on sale for $32. 99 at the time of writing. Both bags include a USB port, so you can charge your phone while traveling with your own portable charger, and there is a separate zippered bag for any wet items or items that could leak. The medium bag measures 18 inches by 8. 7 inches by 13. 5 inches. The large bag measures 20. 5 inches by 8. 8 inches by 15. 7 inches. This multi-purpose duffel bag includes a shoulder strap and handles. Those who have bought the bag generally have good things to say about it, noting in particular that it’s of good quality and spacious for a weekend bag. It currently has an overall 4. 6 star rating with over 12, 000 reviews on Amazon. One reviewer said the bag can hold about two to three outfits, but this will depend on what you want to carry and where you’re going. Another buyer said about the bag, “So many pockets to fit things in. The design is great and the straps are very comfortable, while in the airport I’ll often take the small flap on the bag and put it over my suitcase handle.” This accessory could come in handy when you’re packing for a trip especially if you don’t want to be surprised with extra fees at the airport. For travelers who tend to overpack, this could save you money (and it’s a good way to figure out if you really need those extra 15 pairs of underwear in your suitcase). The Travel Inspira Luggage Scale is a portable, digital, hanging baggage scale. It’s the number 1 best-selling item among luggage scales on Amazon with 4. 7 stars out of over 4, 000 reviews at time of writing. This little device will tell you if your bag or suitcase is over the airline’s weight limit for checked baggage. If it is, you’ll have time to remove some items or move them around between bags at home before the airline fines you for the extra weight. Air travel is expensive enough nowadays. For only $7. 80 (40% off) on Amazon, this product can help you avoid unexpected extra costs when traveling. The luggage scale has a capacity of up to 110 pounds and comes in multiple colors. The scale comes with a battery already installed, so you’re able to use it as soon as it’s delivered. And if you find your suitcase is over the airline’s limit, try one simple trick that just might get your overweight luggage under the limit in a flash. Lastly, for under $20, this This BAGSMART travel toiletry bag is on sale for Black Friday. When traveling, in addition to a suitcase or duffel, you need a separate toiletry bag. In hotels (and particularly hostels, if you’re a budget traveler), it’s helpful to have a toiletry bag that can be hung in a small space. The BAGSMART travel toiletry bag comes in two sizes, has a hanging hook, and unfolds to reveal four different compartments. At the time of writing, this product is listed at $14. 99 for a medium bag (34% off) and $18. 04 for a large bag (22% off) on Amazon. Folded, the medium bag measures 10. 8 inches by 3. 5 inches by 7. 9 inches, and the large bag measures 12. 6 inches by 4. 3 inches by 9. 1 inches. When unfolded, while the larger bag is bigger, both have four zippered compartments made of waterproof plastic, plus one exterior pocket. Easy to travel with, this bag can work for short or long trips or even visits to the gym. The toiletry travel bag comes in 12 different colors/patterns, so you can pick one that matches your new suitcase. This is a great way to organize your toiletries while traveling and keep them consolidated in one place. With 4. 8 stars and over 60, 000 reviews, it’s clear that consumers like this product. There are a lot of travel-related Black Friday deals out there, and among them, a lot of reduced-price luggage options and accessories. In order to come up with this list, we considered the types of luggage that one may be looking for and made sure to have some variation in the products recommended (i. e., suitcases versus weekend bags versus other necessary luggage accessories). Among each category, we looked for the best bang for your buck. Of the sales going on, these picks offer good price reductions for the type of items presented. In addition, we considered positive reviews when compiling this list to make sure these items were generally well-liked by consumers. All these items currently have over 4 star ratings. Now that you’ve got luggage taken care of, skip Black Friday and Cyber Monday and book your vacation on Travel Tuesday.
https://www.islands.com/2037480/black-friday-2025-luggage-deals-vacation/
Tag Archives: christmas
Try Thanksgiving without the turkey
Close your eyes and picture Thanksgiving. What do you see? If you’re like most Americans, a particular image probably pops into your head a large turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie. It’s the same meal you see in every movie, every sitcom special and every supermarket ad from October onward. Now, take a look at your actual Thanksgiving table. Does it match? For my family, the answer is a resounding no. Our feast is always a delicious chaos that never quite makes it onto a Hallmark card. The gap between the Thanksgiving we’re sold and the Thanksgiving we live creates a quiet rift. The holiday becomes defined by a narrow checklist of specific foods, and if your table doesn’t check those boxes, it’s easy to feel like you’re celebrating on the sidelines. There was always a feeling of exclusion during Thanksgiving conversations among friends or at school because I couldn’t tell you what stuffing or casserole tasted like. And whenever I tried to chime in on my experience or what my table looked like, I was looked at as if I had six heads. In fact, I had never even had turkey on Thanksgiving until two years ago, because for my family, Thanksgiving isn’t about replicating a 17th-century New England meal. Instead, it’s about taking the idea of a harvest feast a day dedicated to gratitude and abundance and crafting it onto our own rich cultural roots. And we are far from alone. Across the country, tables groan with the weight of dishes that tell a different story of America. In countless households, the centerpiece is a pot of biriyani and jerk chicken, celebrating Caribbean traditions. In others, it’s a platter of tamales, a labor of love that brings the family together for days of preparation. For many Italian American families, lasagna or baked ziti often shares the stage with, or even replaces, the traditional turkey. The scent of a whole steamed fish, symbolizing abundance and prosperity, fills the kitchens of Chinese and Taiwanese homes. This incredible diversity reveals a core problem. The mainstream narrative of Thanksgiving is too narrow to hold our vast and unique realities, so its focus should move away from the food. The holiday’s “branding” is weak, not because gratitude is a flimsy idea, but because its commercial packaging is monotonous. When the symbol of the holiday fails to reflect the people who celebrate it, it’s no wonder the connection feels fragile. The holiday seems easier to brush aside in favor of the more universally marketed Christmas. So, what is the solution? It’s definitely not to force a turkey onto every table. To connect, to be seen by our loved ones and to give thanks for the bounty in our lives is the holiday’s true, beating heart. This need is a profound and universal human constant. This is what we are truly hungry for, far more than any specific pie or sauce. By shifting our focus from the menu to the meaning, we can reclaim Thanksgiving from the brink of irrelevance and restore its power. The solution is to perform a simple but radical act of reclamation to remember that the power of Thanksgiving was never in the turkey, but in the “thanks.” It was always in the intentional, sacred act of pressing pause on our hectic lives to gather together and openly express our gratitude by collectively building a meal with our loved ones. It’s time to consciously shed the pressure of the “traditional” checklist and pour our energy into what truly matters to us. Let’s build our own traditions, ones that resonate with the specific, wonderful people at our table. What might this look like in practice? The ritual of gratitude: Make going around the table to share what you’re thankful for the nonnegotiable centerpiece of the meal. No one-word answers. Let it be messy, emotional and real. This single act is more central to the holiday’s purpose than any poultry. The joy of connection: After the meal, don’t just scatter to different screens. Dig out a board game, start a puzzle, put on music and dance, take a walk through the autumn leaves together. Prioritize activities that foster laughter and conversation. The freedom of the feast: And yes, this includes the food. Give yourself and your family unconditional permission to cook the food that you actually love and are thankful for. Is your family’s idea of a celebratory feast a massive pot of gumbo? Then make that. Do your children dream of your homemade lasagna all year? Let that be the star. And if it’s about the cranberry sauce, stick to what you know. The most “traditional” thing you can cook is the dish that holds the story of your family. By embracing this mindset, we stop celebrating a historical reenactment and start celebrating our own lives. A holiday that celebrates us in all our diverse, flavorful and grateful glory is a holiday worth making room for, long before the first Christmas carol begins to play. Suhiliah Lall is a junior majoring in cinema. [ITALICIZE] Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial. [ITALICIZE].
https://www.bupipedream.com/opinions/try-thanksgiving-without-the-turkey/173142/
DAN GAINOR: The 5 craziest stories of October — from Karine Jean-Pierre to PETA plaques
We have passed the spooky season of silly “No Kings” protests and whines about White House renovations. Halloween marks the start of one of our favorite times of year: eating. The three biggest food holidays all land within two months.
Halloween came right after an event commemorating the recently departed revolutionary Assata Shakur, the former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army who escaped a New Jersey prison to Cuba 46 years ago. In other words, another cop killer.
According to the New York Times’ loving farewell to Shakur, she murdered “state trooper Werner Foerster, who was killed, and another, James Harper, who was wounded.” Notice a trend? You should. Shakur died in September, or I’d dwell more on the media’s love fest for her. Watching Zirin lament the poor health of “the country’s best-known political prisoner” was bad enough. For the record, I lament his health, too, just not in the same way.
### Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
If you travel the back roads of the United States, you will encounter oddities: large monuments to furniture, trolls, a giant elephant, and even Carhenge (just what you think it is; Stonehenge is better). Count wacky museums in that list.
But we are losing one—Leila’s Hair Museum in Missouri. Alas, Leila Cohoon died at 92, and now they are “rehoming the collection of more than 3,000 pieces to museums across the country,” according to the Associated Press.
The AP describes the hair art coming from “past presidents, Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe, and even Jesus” (that last one, I kind of doubt). Hair art used to be how people remembered loved ones or captured keepsakes of famous people. The museum also drew the attention of celebrities from comedian Phyllis Diller to Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne.
It’s good to see other museums taking on these unusual memories, but that’s one less cool roadside stop.
### When You’ve Lost the Washington Post
Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made the news in October—and not in a good way. She should be used to that after an inauspicious term in her role, covering for President Joe Biden’s obvious dementia.
“KJP,” as she is sometimes called, has a new book out, *Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America*. In World Series terms, she whiffed on all three. Don’t wait to buy your copy.
Even the Washington Post had unkind words for it. Book critic Becca Rothfeld wrote a lead 190 words long with six semicolons and two em dashes. She complained that KJP had only given up on the Democratic Party because it helped “usher a doddering Joe Biden out of the 2024 presidential race.”
[CLICK HERE FOR MORE]
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/dan-gainor-5-craziest-stories-october-from-karine-jean-pierre-peta-plaques
Texas lawsuit targets Tylenol
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### Remember Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse?
A colleague in the newsroom mentioned the name yesterday, and although I hadn’t thought about it in decades, the smell instantly came back to me. Also, the talking Christmas tree.
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### NIH Says There Are No Banned Words. Hundreds of Grants Were Changed Anyway.
There’s no formal list of banned words or phrases at the NIH, officials say. And yet, researchers changed the titles of more than 700 multi-year grants from 2024 to 2025, according to an analysis by former agency leader Jeremy Berg.
The vast majority of those edits involved removing words like “equity” and “disparities” that denote an area of study clearly and consistently condemned by the Trump administration. Such compromises can alter the course of a project and the questions scientists address.
STAT’s Anil Oza spoke with nine current and former NIH officials, as well as five outside researchers, who described the often demoralizing and ambiguous process.
“What is infuriating about it is the fact that we cannot access the ground truth. There is no ground truth,” one NIH program officer said. “Was it necessary to censor this person’s work? I don’t know.”
For another sense of the stakes: Anil told me that he reached out to 150 outside researchers to find five who would speak to him, “which I think shows the fear people have about losing their funding,” he said in a DM.
Read more on implicitly banned words, and what it all means for the future of science.
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### Texas Lawsuit Targets Tylenol
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed a lawsuit yesterday accusing Tylenol’s makers of deceptively marketing the drug to pregnant mothers and asserting unproven claims linking its main ingredient, acetaminophen, to autism risk.
The suit alleges that the companies violated Texas consumer protection laws by hiding the danger that acetaminophen posed to fetuses and young children — again, unproven.
Texas also alleges that Johnson & Johnson fraudulently transferred liabilities arising from Tylenol to Kenvue to shield assets against lawsuits.
The suit was filed in rural Panola County and requests a jury trial in the Republican-leaning East Texas county of about 23,000 people.
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### The Surprising Impact of Organ Donation Opt-Out Policies
Many countries have adopted an opt-out approach to organ donation, where every eligible person is a donor after death unless they choose to opt out. This policy has been shown to increase both registration rates for deceased organ donation and actual donations made by deceased donors.
However, a study published yesterday in *PNAS Nexus* found that overall, countries can still be left undersupplied using this strategy because fewer people become living organ donors.
Researchers analyzed data from 24 countries that implemented opt-out policies between 2000 and 2023. The results showed a 7% increase in deceased donors but a significant 29% drop in living donors overall, driven by a reduction in altruistic donations (organs donated to non-family members).
The researchers believe this is due to a community assumption that the opt-out policy has eradicated any previous organ shortage. Clearer communication about the effectiveness of the strategy, and the continuing need for living donors, may be the best way forward, the authors conclude.
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### What Are Those Weight Loss Drugs Called, Again?
On a recent weekday, STAT’s Alex Hogan went to the epicenter of biotech: Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. When he asked industry workers on their lunch breaks what those blockbuster weight loss drugs are called, most said the same thing: Ozempic.
But of course, that’s not technically the generic name for GLP-1 medications.
In Alex’s latest video for his Status Report series, he explores the possibility that Ozempic could someday lose its trademark if the name becomes the generic term for an entire category of product — think: Dumpster, aspirin, thermos.
“If you’re a trademark lawyer, you have this conflicting instinct,” law professor Robin Feldman told Alex. “You want the name to be on the tip of people’s tongues so they buy it without inciting ‘genericide,’ as it’s called.”
Watch the video now. It’s a fascinating topic, and Feldman provides great insight, including why genericide is less common in the pharmaceutical space. On top of that, you’ll also get to see Alex shred on some (name brand!) Rollerblade inline skates.
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### The Wrong Name for a Huge Problem?
In 2021 — when everything I knew about AI chatbots came from Vauhini Vara’s brilliant, prescient personal essay in *The Believer* — Valerie Black was a Ph.D. student researching how people use chatbots for help coping with suicidal thoughts.
Black argued then that it wasn’t necessarily crazy or unusual for people to do so, highlighting how few outlets exist to discuss suicidal ideation.
But these days, the language of insanity is exactly how many describe society-level problems with chatbots. The bots hallucinate, while people report AI psychosis.
For example, “the term AI psychosis shifts focus away from misinformation as an addressable issue, implying that the problem is something inherent to AI or the user’s psyche,” Black writes.
Read more on what Black sees as the bait-and-switch strategy of large language model (LLM) companies navigating these discussions.
In a related First Opinion essay published today, two researchers and clinicians argue that doctors need to start asking patients about chatbot use.
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### What We’re Reading
[Additional links or summaries could go here.]
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Stay informed and engaged with STAT’s coverage of these critical health and science stories.
https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/health-news-tylenol-texas-lawsuit-nih-glp-1/?utm_campaign=rss