Advice Needed for Airline Carry On Luggage

[Sarah in SC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! I agree. Don't pay more than $70 shipping included for a carryon. The TLS motherlode weekender comes in two forms: roll-a-aboard or backpack. The backpack version that I have fits in the overhead compartment of a regional jet sideways and into a 737 end-on. I can post a photo if you like.

Yep, that's me, too. I chose it because I wanted the convertible backpack feature.

But our OP says he is a roller man, and it is easier to convert an "under" on the toilet paper roll to an "over" than it is to get a roller bag person to see the wisdom of our backpack straps. And, of course, vice versa!

[2017ish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! I agree. Don't pay more than $70 shipping included for a carryon. The TLS motherlode weekender comes in two forms: roll-a-aboard or backpack. The backpack version that I have fits in the overhead compartment of a regional jet sideways and into a 737 end-on. I can post a photo if you like.

I see it at $85 Amazon and 90 at ebags--do they go on sale fairly often?

(No hurry for me, but we have been discussing going with a pair of good backpack bags after retiring and doing some non-dive vacations where we can actually do single carry-on bag.)

[kevink]

We've been world travelers for many years and are firmly in the carry-on only camp. Wheelies are really only viable for very limited first-world travel and not so great even then as the weight of the frame and wheels is considerable. Forget about wheels in the third-world: you don't want to be rolling through what's on the unpaved streets in India, Mexico, etc. and when you start dealing with airlines that strictly enforce not just size but 10 kilo (22 lb.) weight limits you don't want a third of your allowance eaten up by unnecessary hardware.

We rely on our Osprey 46 bags:

https://www.rei.com/product/870903/o...46-travel-pack

Did a 5 month trip in Asia with these a few years ago with total pack weights of 22-23 lbs. and could have packed lighter. And we couldn't have gotten half as good at traveling light without the One Bag site and its packing list:

Using A Packing List :: One Bag

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akck From my experience, as long as it fits in the overhead bins, it's okay. They seem more restrictive on number of carry-ons per passenger, but if the plane isn't full, they'll let it slide.

The problem is, some of those bags really don't quite fit, so people will try, and then turn them sideways, and sit down happy that they got their bag in, not concerned that they are taking the spot of a second bag.

Or, it doesn't fit, and they delay take-off because the bag has to be checked. Just trying to wedge it on slows down the boarding process.

I could go on, but I don't want to turn this into the current beach chair thread. I do wish the airlines were more stringent on the sizes. Depending on the flight sometimes I will upgrade just to get early boarding so that I can get my normal size bag on and sit and watch the mayhem.

I also wish that airplane manufacturers could find better ways to increase storage. In some cases they do, but they are also taking away some floor space with entertainment system hardware under some seats.

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningBum T. I could go on, but I don't want to turn this into the current beach chair thread. I do wish the airlines were more stringent on the sizes. Depending on the flight sometimes I will upgrade just to get early boarding so that I can get my normal size bag on and sit and watch the mayhem. .

So you can carry on beach chairs to keep them away from others?

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo2 So you can carry on beach chairs to keep them away from others?

Believe it or not, I actually carried on a collapsible chair last month! Not one of those 3 legged stools either. This one folds to about the size and weight of a 2 liter soda bottle but is a decent size unfolded. I wanted it for crewing a 100 mile trail race where I'd be waiting for long periods. Fit in my duffle, along with my soft sided cooler bag, and the duffle fit in the overhead easily.

[Scuba]

I have carried the Eagle Creek 22" Tarmac onto multiple domestic and international flights and have never been told it's too big, except for prop plane flights to small towns where virtually all luggage was gate checked.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

[sturbridge]

I love my Tom Bihn Aeronaut 30- not a wheelie bag. Its a duffle type bag. It will also fit European requirements. It is convertible to a backpack but I usually just carry it. Weighs under 3 pounds. Yes, its super pricey and it took me a year to bit the bullet on this one even though I have the money because I'm cheap, but the quality is top notch. I like that there are 0 rings with which you can attach other pouches (so things don't get lost). I also like that even though there are 3 compartments (a main and 2 ends), if you have something long you can unzip on the inside and make it one big compartment. Its a very flexible bag.

[Sarah in SC]

Oh I would love a Bihn bag!! I got one of his little drawstring toiletry bags years ago, and it is one of my favorite things! It is the "valet" one that flattens out so you can see everything in it.

[akck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningBum I also wish that airplane manufacturers could find better ways to increase storage. In some cases they do, but they are also taking away some floor space with entertainment system hardware under some seats.

Bigger is better: Airlines expanding overhead bins in response to common complaint - TODAY.com

I flew on a plane with the bigger bins. It's going to take a little education to get people to put their bags in sideways instead of flat.

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akck Bigger is better: Airlines expanding overhead bins in response to common complaint - TODAY.com I flew on a plane with the bigger bins. It's going to take a little education to get people to put their bags in sideways instead of flat.

Great! Hope that trend goes into more new planes.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba I have carried the Eagle Creek 22" Tarmac onto multiple domestic and international flights and have never been told it's too big, except for prop plane flights to small towns where virtually all luggage was gate checked. Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

+2 on this.

I have been travelling all over the world for business and pleasure for about 35 years and about 10+ years ago I got a 22" Eagle Creek carry on as a present from DW. It's been everywhere and only on my last trip to Europe did the wheels disintegrate from oxidation (age) while pulling it through a cobble stone street in Spain.

When I got home, I called Eagle Creek and they only have replacement wheels that are the same material. So I bought a pair of expensive roller blade wheels ($12/pair) with good ball bearing hubs, drilled out the rivets in the bag corners and installed the wheels on the existing shafts and riveted the corner braces back on. I'm good for another couple of decades or so (haha)!

The other bag I have is a rolling backpack that I use for short duration trips where I don't need a lot of clothes or gear. I'm not that fond of it, but it works.

[Janet H]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sturbridge I love my Tom Bihn Aeronaut 30- not a wheelie bag. Its a duffle type bag.

Also a Tom Bihn fan - durable and FUNCTIONAL. They don't make wheeled luggage but still, the gear is amazing.

They make a cool laundry bag that I always pack - one side for clean stuff and the other for dirty. Clever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArLTdGHNa0g

[Texas Proud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akck Bigger is better: Airlines expanding overhead bins in response to common complaint - TODAY.com I flew on a plane with the bigger bins. It's going to take a little education to get people to put their bags in sideways instead of flat.

I flew a plane many years ago where you could put it facing you, but not on its side... it fit many more bags than the old way. Also, the flight attendants were going up and down the rows fixing the bags where people put them in wrong so there was more room...

[Sarah in SC]

OMG, Janet, STOP IT. That is awesome! I have a hobo roll, which is just a big drawstring bag with interior dividers that reminds me a bit of that, but the Bihn bag in that video is way, way cooler.

Hmmm, Xmas is coming...

[MBAustin]

That Tom Bihn laundry stuff sack is way cool. I may get one for DD who is a minimalist traveler. So is DS but I doubt he cares whether his cleans and dirties are kept separate based on recent evidence (he's staying with us for a few weeks before going off to grad school).

[Janet H]

I have found the stuff sack most useful for socks and underwear which always seem to be a random mess in my luggage - they start in nice neat stacks but as the trip goes on keeping the clean and used separated becomes challenging....

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet H I have found the stuff sack most useful for socks and underwear which always seem to be a random mess in my luggage - they start in nice neat stacks but as the trip goes on keeping the clean and used separated becomes challenging....

I use a trash bag...

[check6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5 I have used this bag FOR YEARS and it has taken a beating. It's quite favored in the airline crew world...it is truly one of the best bags. They also have most parts available for it, so you can make repairs (I have never had to repair mine). It's not a cheap bag...but it's about the best you can buy. LuggageWorks Stealth 22" Rolling Bag - Luggageworks - Brands Sent via mobile device. Please excuse any grammatical errors.

That was made by a company called Pretty Neat Things (Stuff). I used that bag for 20 years flying 15 days a month. It really held up well but was very heavy. Since retiring I bought a cheap, much lighter roll-a-board from Target called Jeep that is holding up well in our overseas travels. I could purchase five of those for one of the "Stealths."

And yes the airlines are redoing the interiors with emphasis on the overhead bins. Was on an A-320 last week where you lift the bin with the bag in it to close allowing you to place your bag on its side like someone else mentioned. The new interior was very modern and well done compared when I flew that exact same plane when it was brand new some 20 years ago.

[brett]

We are on a road trip at the moment.

Stopped at a Costco to look at carry ons. The Kirkland brand was good. We actually own one. BUt it is far to heavy and at 22.5 it is slightly large. We no longer use it as carry on even though the quality and construction is top notch. Our problem is it's weight. A 7kg weight limit does not leave much if the bag weighs 3-4kg.

There was also a much lighter Delsey that was very attractive to us. Two issues. it was too large for many airlines...23 inches. The other issue was that is it had four rollers that were not built in, they were attached externally at the bottom and they were small. MUch poorer quality than the two larger rollers that are built into my current carry on. They looked like they would snap off at the first sight of some cobblestones. Fine for an airport, not very durable for our us.