looking for tips on travel luggage

I didn't intend to check my small duffle bag, but my bag, as well as the carry-on bags of several passenger around me, were checked at the gate. and once we got into the plane, we understood why.
 
I didn't intend to check my small duffle bag, but my bag, as well as the carry-on bags of several passenger around me, were checked at the gate. and once we got into the plane, we understood why.

Good point. Be sure to check the fare class of the ticket you're buying. In the States, at least, some "basic fares" come with strings attached, including no carry-on baggage, and/or you board last and find the overhead bins are already full.
 
My clothes bag:

18 x 14 x 8. Two wheels, pull out handle.

That's all I need. Fits easily in overhead of most planes.

On a recent 2.5 week vacation got more than I needed in it including a suit.

Camera bag is an ONI and it fits under the seat in front of me.

I learned what and how to pack from being in the Navy.
 
I travel a lot, I've used a Samsonite 4-wheel spinner, it's the best carry on I've had
soft sides, correct size for overheard bin. nice padded handle

it's a Samsonite Silhouette spinner - there's a bunch of sizes, mine is the largest that is allowed as carry on I think

http://shop.samsonite.com/luggage/
 
Realistically, I would say go for something with 2 wheels over 4 wheels.
2 major reasons, you get bigger wheels, meaning less likely to break apart or crack when taken off pavement. (Just an inherent design of having spinners sadly)
In addition 4 wheels will eat into the available linear dimension unless you don't mind the bag just being millimeters off the ground.

You're on the right track going with the fabric semi-rigid frame for carry on since you don't need the durability of a hard case if it's just for clothing and not sensitive equipment/camera gear.

Since you won't be traveling too often and, you may be better off saving some money in getting a regular but known brand name (ie. Antler, Victorinox, Samsonite, the usual suspects) but getting something in their mid-range level so you aren't breaking the bank for something you're not using too often, but will have a decent level of durability.

Worked with luggage until very recently so if you have any specific questions feel free to PM
 
my airline max size is 21 inches tall...locally, samsonite has some tremendous sales at a local dept. store. my trip isn't until summer so i have time to do more research and shopping...
amazing but i'm finding luggage almost as interesting as camera bags!!
might spark the travel bug in me...
 
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.
I'll second the opinion on the TravelPro... but my wife and I disagree on the issue of the 4 wheel spinner type. She likes 'em, I will stick with 2 wheels, thanks! Much easier to tow around on sloped surfaces, escalators, stairs, etc. The spinner seems to want to roll off on its own if you take your hand off the handle. They need to make 'em with a foot-operated latching brake.

In addition to the 21" TravelPro for the overhead I have my camera bag to shove under the seat ahead, a bit larger than absolutely necessary for the gear.... because also in that bag is my iPad Mini (back pocket), noise-buster headset, chocolates, boarding passes, turtleneck if it gets chilly... Every year we fly to Hawaii in Oct or Nov and it's cold when we get back!

Have fun shopping.... 🙂
 
I travel often and I'm fussy about luggage. For what it's worth, here is my take:

1. I HATE the bags with four wheels. They are fine for perfectly smooth, level ground like at an airport. But if you have to haul your bag from a metro station to a hotel over rough pavement, or up or down an incline the stability of the two wheel bag is far greater. Also the wheels on the two wheel bag are recessed into the bag, and since they do not swivel, are a lot less likely to break off. I have seen countles 4-wheel bags going around the luggage carrousel with one of the wheels broken off.

2. Unless you have an authorized repair shop in your town or city, or unless you have a very expensive piece of luggage, warranty is of no consequence including lifetime warranty. This is because in order to ship your suitcase to a place that will repair it, you will have to pay shipping both directions. This can be expensive, and impractical especially considering that:

3. Stores like Marshall's often have brand name luggage like Samsonite, Victorinox, Eagle Creek and other brands at steep discounts, like 50% off list price.
 
I agree two wheels are better than 4. Much more all terrain. Bigger wheels, bigger bearings= better most times. Carry on is often size and weight specific (often 22lbs/10kg max.). Lighter is better- provided its well made. Some name brand (expensive) 21" are more than 5kg! Half your allowance for an empty case. Yikes.
 
My suggestion is always avoid black or dark blue luggage. So often I am looking at 150 bags of which 140 are black or dark blue. Then there is that orange two wheel roller and that yellow duffel bag which are mine and stank out from the rest.

My Mountain Hardware duffle bag begin to have the fabric start to separate from its waterproof coating after 8 years of good use. They simply replaced it with a new one.

My Eagle Creek roller has been through a lot. Airports and baggage handlers are easy. It is dragging it along pot holed roads and bouncing up and down curbs and steps that are hard on luggage. And, I would really be in trouble if a had a wheel break on a trip out in the middle of no where. So when my orange Eagle Creek bag was stolen 6 years ago, I replaced it with another exactly the same model and color.
 
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.

This is good advice! I always carry my camera bag as my second carry-on luggage. I go as minimalist as possible for airline travel: one M film body; 2 or 3 lenses; and either an M9 or an even smaller digital like X100 or X10. It all fits in a F5XB or Retrospective 5. Anything more than that is for car trips only.
 
A few years ago the carry-on travel size was 22 x 14 x 9. I knew they were talking about reducing it to 21" instead of 22." I gather from Joe's post that this has now happened? Or can you still carry on a 22" bag within the USA?

In recent years I bought several pieces of carry-on luggage from Sim's, a discount store in St. Louis, until they left town. They are less than half price! The nicest was "Delsey," which seems very well made. One is marked, "Ciao!" and the third is "Pierre Cardin." They have all held up well, though I may have to replace them with 21" bags if the 22" are no longer allowed.
 
Back
Top Bottom