The Return of Real Business Travel: How the Air Boss Became the Icon for Men Who Work and Roam

The Return of Real Business Travel: How the Air Boss Became the Icon for Men Who Work and Roam

There's a certain something about airports these days. Maybe you feel it too. As the world opens up, flights are packed again.  You're lining up at security, suit on your back, laptop under your arm, and you can practically taste the coffee in the air. Business travel is back, and I believe it is high time we do it right.

If you know Red Oxx, you know we do not dabble in disposable. We build for the long haul, for the traveler who expects his gear to keep up. That is where the Air Boss comes in.

 

The Birth of the Air Boss

But the story of this bag is not just about Montana factories or rugged Cordura. It is also about listening to folks who spend more time in the sky than they do on the ground.

Let me tell you how the Air Boss came to life.

Back in 2004, a man named Doug Dyment reached out, frustrated with the lack of a truly exceptional business-style carry-on bag. Doug had spent years using the legendary Boyt LG336, the old three-zip Air Bus Carry On that had gone the way of the dodo after Boyt's bankruptcy. He knew what worked and what did not.

Doug had the kind of honest, stubborn clarity that we respect around here. He wanted a bag that stood up to real-world business travel, not just showrooms.

When he could not find one for sale, we invited him to help us build one. The result was the Air Boss, what Doug calls the closest thing to his ideal business bag, and what we like to call the most trusted travel companion a working man can own.



Design Features of the Air Boss

From the ground up, every detail in the Air Boss is there for a reason. It measures twenty-two by fourteen by eight inches, the gold standard for carry-on size, fitting every major airline overhead bin.

  • Three main compartments wrapped with rugged zippers mean you pack with purpose. No digging for your tie or travel charger at the bottom of the bag.
  • Two exterior pockets: One full-length for documents or quick access, and a thinner one for that passport, checkbook, ticket envelope, or whatever you need to keep close.
  • Tie downs: Lash your shirts and pants down in two of the main sections, but leave the center open for your laptop or the items you want to slide in and out easily.

Every seam is double stitched and bound with SolarMax thread. We build it from one thousand weight urethane-coated Cordura nylon, and you get the best in zippers and hardware, YKK number ten chain zippers, military spec handle snaps, and bomb-proof D rings for your Claw shoulder strap.

There is even closed-cell foam padding tucked between the compartments. This gives the bag structure for crisp packing, but enough flex to slide into those overhead bins when space gets tight.

We keep the price honest, and the build quality non-negotiable.

Doug Dyment's Endorsement

Doug has always been up front that his role in designing the Air Boss was a labor of love, not money. He was paid only in one Air Boss of his own.

He often says, “I recommend this bag because it is the closest to my own ideal, being, after all, partly my own design, and for no other reason.” That is the kind of endorsement that does not come easily in this game.

Why the Air Boss is Still the Go-To

If you are new to the Air Boss, let me break down why it is still the go-to for business travel. The bag is designed to be carried with the passport and open sleeve pockets close to your body.

Pack your clothes on this side, and let your own hip cushion what is inside. This bag is the result of travelers working together, an honest piece of kit for a working world.

Now, business travel. Let us be honest. These days, flying is not a luxury. It is a necessary grind. You want to be first on and first off. Every flight is packed.

The Air Boss glides into tight bins, flexes when you need it, and stands tall when loaded or barely filled.

It shrugs off rain, takes the odd bump, and does not complain when you ask more of it. It was born from the demands of real travelers. No pretty looks for the sake of show. Every feature has a job.

And you do not have to take my word for it. I have had pilots ask me where my bag is from.

When you check in, the Air Boss does not get gate checked or redirected. It stays at your side, where it belongs.

Legacy of Quality and New Ventures

Now, I believe in a bag with a story, not just a function. That is how Mike from Bison and Bear entered the picture. He came to our Billings factory with a measuring tape, ready to get me fitted for a set of bespoke, made in America Mel Gambert shirts.

That shirt story begins in Newark, New Jersey, with a tradition nearly a century deep. Mitch Gambert keeps his family legacy alive, hand-built, made to last, intended for men who work, travel, and take pride in what they wear.

When Mike and I got to talking about what we pack, the idea of a new YouTube series was born and is currently in development for the channel.

We want to show our tribe, guys who travel for work, who care about quality, who suit up and show up, how to build a travel kit that outlasts trends and hard landings. All American gear, every bag an Air Boss, every shirt pure Gambert.

Nothing disposable. Honest tools for the job.

We will show you how to fold and pack for those three-city weeks, where you land late and still need to look sharp at breakfast. We will talk about fit, fabric, and what to prioritize in a travel kit that goes the distance.

The Air Boss Features at a Glance

  • Three big compartments to keep your life in order
  • Quick access pockets for your passport and essentials
  • Unmatched construction, featuring Cordura, YKK zippers, and SolarMax thread
  • Flexible structure for tight travel spaces
  • Subtle padding for structure, not bulk
  • Military spec hardware and the Claw strap
  • Double-bound seams because halfway is nothing
  • No Bull Lifetime Warranty

If you want to see how it all works, keep an eye out for our packing series.  We are not selling a lifestyle. We are showing a way to work, travel, and live with purpose.

See what Mike from Bison and Bear is up to here. Discover true American shirt craftsmanship at Mel Gambert.


Build your own legend with the Red Oxx Air Boss.

Travel well. Pack right. Do it the Red Oxx way.

Halfway is nothing.

– Jim Markel, Red Oxx Manufacturing, Made in Montana. Built to endure.

 

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