As many of you know in early November I traveled to Atlanta to speak at the All Things Silhouette Conference. In preparation, I purchased the Silhouette CAMEO rolling tote for around $60 on Amazon so I could take my CAMEO with me.
The CAMEO travel bag is large enough to fit the machine as well as all the cords, a laptop and a lot of other tools and equipment you might need. The problem is the rolling tote is actually too large. If you are traveling around town the bag may be okay, but if you're planning to fly with it - count it as checked bag. Ugh...
The over-sized size is just one reason I would say 'pass' on this bag for the CAMEO. One might think 'How hard can it be to put a bag together?' Well, let me explain...because the CAMEO tote comes with no directions. Along with the wheeled tote, you get a bunch of padded velcro pieces and one large insert that, if you're like me, you flipped around 89 times to figure out how it was supposed to properly fit in the bag.
The easiest (and I use that term loosely here) way to explain how it should fit in the bag is to tell to find find the laptop sleeve. You want that compartment facing against the inside of the bag on the opposite side of the zippered CAMEO compartment. Sorry I know that's confusing....
So when it's positioned correctly, the insert should sit like this - but of course on the inside of the bag.
Here's a view from the top when it's fully assembled and all filled up.
The smaller padded pieces can be placed at whatever distance apart you desire along the top to create compartments (a Mint would fit nicely in here!). This is actually nice - I like to customize my stuff so I can use it how it's best for me!
Since the area where the CAMEO actually fits into the bag isn't real snug, however, I was afraid my machine would get jostled around. I actually used several of the padded pieces to buffer the machine - especially since it was now out of may hands and into the plane's cargo area! I did insist they add a 'fragile' sticker...and the nice man at American Airlines obliged as I handed over another $35 to check my now extra checked luggage. Double ugh.
There is some good news in all of this - I'm happy to report my Silhouette CAMEO arrived in one piece so for that I can say the bag did a nice job of protecting the machine. On my way home from Atlanta, though, I refused to check the bag separately. It was like I was taking a stand - I shoved the entire thing - with the CAMEO inside - into my suitcase. You think I'm kidding? I'm not...and I have no shame in showing off my packing skills.
And yes, since I know you're silently asking, you can add HTV to your bag. The heat press didn't work so well, so I resorted to an iron.
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The Silhouette CAMEO rolling tote may not be terribly functional for air travel, but at least it's cute!
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Thanks so much for figuring this out for me. I wasn't going to throw away my Silhouette box until I knew how to use my tote! I really appreciate the information! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know that I wasn't the only one to struggle putting this thing together. I have the pretty pink one. I found that with that bag, my cameo is really snug inside it. In fact, so snug that it is really difficult to get the thing inside. I see that it is way too long to be a carry on but I do like your inventiveness for getting it back home. Kate
ReplyDeleteYou might be better off shipping it via FedEx, UPS, etc... straight to your hotel ahead of the conference next time. ;o)
ReplyDeleteI used my bag twice now. The first time it kept flipping over when I pulled it. It does that if you place too much on top. i didn't have that problem the second time. I do like how the machine has its own padded compartment. However,I do like like the design of the top compartment.
ReplyDeleteI have the aqua tote!!! I confess, someone else ended up doing assembly! I have a limited amount of patience with that kind of thing. It is a bit snug where the machine slides in, but that might be a good thing so it doesn't bang around. I use it a lot!
ReplyDeleteI liked the pink one better but it was discontinued before I could order it. ÷(
ReplyDeleteI liked the pink one better but it was discontinued before I could order it. ÷(
ReplyDeleteI purchased the tote during the wonderful Black Friday sale and the day before I received it I went to a friends crafting gathering. When I got home my husband offered to help carry my bags in. I had my Came on top of my vinyl and I adjusted it before he took it upstairs to make sure it was in a more stable position. Never the less he tilted,the bag and the Cameo slid out. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it landed on my foot. There was no damage to the machine but I couldn't get a shoe on my foot for 2 days. My Cameo will no longer leave my house outside of the rolling tote!
ReplyDeleteI have had one of these for a few years. Mine did not come with all the fancy dividers...just the single one for the Cameo below and it's pretty snug. My biggest critiques are that the velcro on the handles is annoying if you try to carry it instead of rolling. Also, it's SUPER top heavy and won't stand up without you holding the handle. That being said, I use it constantly so I guess it's been worth it.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing!
ReplyDelete