looking for tips on travel luggage

[back alley]

i'm no world traveler...barely leave the couch these days...but i'm looking for one of those bags on wheels and pop up handles...not for gear but clothes.
my understanding is that it needs to be 21 inches high at the max in order to fit inside the overhead compartment of the airplane. soft sides seem to be the preferred material along with 4 wheels.
any info/tips/experiences shared will be appreciated...and brands too!

 

[Moto Mark]

I'm a big fan of padded camera inserts, they allow you to use any bag you like and your gear will be safe.

These days I've been using the Tenba inserts and Tool Boxes:
http://www.tenba.com/categories/tools-accessories.aspx

I have a regular unobtrusive black carry on bag with rollers and I have a old beat up military style shoulder bag for when I'm out and about. Neither one screams "expensive gear inside".

 

[kxl]

Get the "spinner" type of wheeled carry-on luggage. They're four-wheelers so you can push them in front of you or alongside, instead of dragging your luggage behind you.

The ebags brand is a good value.

http://www.ebags.com/category/luggage/f/carry-on~spinner?origin=left_nav

 

[madNbad]

Look for luggage that is not too heavy. Airlines are starting to look at not only the size of the bag but the weight too. My wife and I are in the process of replacing our old Victorinox, which has served us very well but its' older design and weight prompted a change. We decided to go with Travelpro. It's much lighter than the old luggage, has the four wheel spinners and is not too expensive.

 

[Out to Lunch]

As a perpetual traveler I've gone through many carry-on bags. Not cheap but the best in terms of durability and weight: Samsonite. Check for sales. Cheers, Peter

 

[Chuck Albertson]

I travel a lot, and prefer Tumi - well-designed and very durable, and you pay for that. Go for the two-wheeled granny bag, a bit lighter and more compact than the four-wheelers. Keep in mind that "allowable" sizes vary from carrier to carrier, and especially from aircraft to aircraft - what fits into the overhead bin of a 777 may not work on a regional jet.

 

[back alley]

i travel by plane about every 3 years so a lesser built brand might survive with me...lightweight, easy mobility are key points for me.

 

[Pentode]

Wheels tend to break after a while. Look for the most durable wheels you can find. There's a good chance the bag will outlast the wheels.

You may want to look at some hybrid bags such as those by Osprey or Eagle Creek. They are a cross between a small duffel and a more rigid carry-on bag. They can be a little easier to squish into a smaller overhead bin. I've had excellent luck with Eagle Creek's products.

 

[rybolt]

Travel Pro for me. I got tired of replacing bags every couple of years and dragging a one-wheel bag through airports. I just bought a Travel Pro 21 inch Spinner made to International carry on specs, to use as a camera carrier. I'd been using a Tenba rolling case but finally realized that I didn't need the armoring of the Tenba as it was never going to be checked. The Tenba weighs almost 12 pounds empty. The Travel Pro weighs 5 pounds empty.

 

[Orbiter]

You might check out this source of travel-related gear and information: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/travel-bags

The link points you to the bags they sell. I've bought several things from them over the years and have been happy with everything.

 

[Dogman]

I second Travel Pro luggage. I think the Crew series is about midline--I have a couple of Crew 9 pieces but it could be up to Crew 10 or Crew 11 by now. Seems to be well made, certainly enough for my only rare to occasional air flights. I also have a piece from the Marquis (?) line which is lighter weight and doesn't seem as durable but it's okay. Probably available on Amazon, at least it was when I bought mine.

The biggest downside to the Travel Pro luggage, at least for me, is the handle framework takes up space inside the bag which means you have less room for stuff and the inside area is not perfectly square. Not a big problem but just something of which to be aware.

 

[KenR]

I would never put my photo gear in my carry-on suitcase as occationally there is no room in the overhead bins because they are either too full or too small (on some puddle jumper flights). If you have to gate check your suitcase you would lose sight of your gear, perhaps with disasterous consequences. Therefore if I carry a camera it is in a small "personal" bag that I know will always be with me. Happy trails.

 

[back alley]

i plan to use my tenba cooper bag for the trip, it has a back that can slip over the handle of the carry on. i'll also add my meds/syringes and food bars for the trip.

 

[madNbad]

When you pack your medications, original prescription bottles are best. They're labeled and take the guess work out of what it is. For the injectables, a copy of the prescription should suffice.

 

[back alley]

When you pack your medications, original prescription bottles are best. They're labeled and take the guess work out of what it is. For the injectables, a copy of the prescription should suffice.

the injectables come in a box with my info printed on it...i usually put everything in a clear baggie also.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

"to fit inside the overhead compartment of the airplane".

The rest doesn't rally matter. Then I read it first my impression was it is about luggage bag which is checked in to be abused. But you are asking about regular not to be under abuse bag. Any bag with allowed size will do.
One thing to mention. For this overhead compartment thing I have purchased black, leather and fancy, flaying case on wheels and with handle which most of the slick pilots and slim stewardesses are pictured with. Went to Pearson with it and was told what at Pearson (GTAA) it is not allowed as

"to fit inside the overhead compartment of the airplane".

because of the ... wheels. They forced me to check it in.

 

[Tin]

I would never put my photo gear in my carry-on suitcase as occationally there is no room in the overhead bins because they are either too full or too small (on some puddle jumper flights). If you have to gate check your suitcase you would lose sight of your gear, perhaps with disasterous consequences. Therefore if I carry a camera it is in a small "personal" bag that I know will always be with me. Happy trails.

Yes, I was about to say that too. There was one time I flew on either American Eagle or Virgin Air, the overhead bin was so small that my soft duffle bag had to be checked in in the luggage storage. (Yes it was small as that used to be my children's travel bag when we went on a weekend car trip.) So never plan on carrying your camera equipment in any carry-on bags except in a small camera or messenger bag.

 

[majid]

As with camera bags or tripods, you can buy once, cry once, or make a false economy by buying cheap and end up paying far more over the long term, while still having to deal with shoddy luggage that lets you down when you can least afford it.

I recommend Briggs & Riley luggage. They may not be quite as stylish as Tumi or Hartmann, but they are well designed and unlike anyone else they have a lifetime no-questions-asked warranty, no matter who is responsible - just ship the bag back to them and you'll get it back within 2 weeks as good as new.

I have a bunch of bags from their Baseline series in khaki for consistency, but the warranty applies across their entire line.

I don't recommend their expandable bags in large sizes. The mechanism is fine for carry-on sized bags, but is not robust enough for full-sized ones.

 

[back alley]

just to be clear...i NEVER check gear...as i said above, i'll be using my tenba cooper bag for gear and meds.
i've seen a couple of brands advertise a lifetime warranty...hard to beat if the customer service is good.

 

[rybolt]

I fly worldwide and usually for 30+ days at a time. I take quite a bit of camera equipment with me as I'm usually places where I can't replace or repair if it shuts down. Since my only option is to carry the equipment onboard I make certain that the aircraft is capable of handling the camera bag in the overhead compartment. Sometimes this leads to some odd routings but I won't fly anything smaller than an MD80. I'm also a musician and go through the same process when I need to fly with a guitar. My guitar case is an ATA approved case but it does fit in the overhead on an MD80 or larger aircraft so that's what I go with.