5 Types of Carry-on Bag to Avoid

[MYT105]

I am considering the Air Boss subject to how my travel changes over the next year. My main concern is having to carry it through the airports - although with my rollaboard I think I am getting "tennis" elbow from dragging it around...

Also considering a Tumi sports duffel...

I got the Air Boss about 5 months ago and have done 24 flights since, a mixture of domestic and international, and find it great, used use a Samsonite rollaboard, and can now fit the same amount of stuff in and be over 1KG lighter. I find it is easier to pack and find things and also work shirts can be folded and remain almost wrinkle free. The shoulder strap is great and makes it easy to carry even over longer distances. And if flying on Dash-8s it goes as carry on, rather then my previous bag was nearly always required to be checked.

I also got the Metro Briefcase at the same time and use it daily for work carrying my laptop. They are both well made and very easy to use and carry.

 

[haydensydney]

I just need to chip in and let everyone know what I found in Italy a couple of weeks ago.... the sexiest [four wheeled] hard cased cabin bags i've ever seen - designed by Tommy Hilfiger. Was so tempted to spend the 200 Euro but my better half pulled me back... really light too

EDIT: See more here: Tommy Hilfiger Cabin Luggage - | KOALA.CH

EDIT 2: This isn't an ad FYI lol

 

[medhead]

I also have an airboss. I used to use the shoulder strap but now just carry it by the handle. I think it would actually fit in the overhead of a dash 8, if the staff didn't insist on premium hand luggage for it.

I tried the folding scheme but found it tend to create a bulge as the folded clothes were literally a bundle. I now just evenly distribute the clothes in the side pockets and hold them with the straps. I also use "the original space bag" to compact clothing down. I iron in the hotel but pressed shirt can remain relatively crease free.

 

[harvyk]

So it looks like the consensus is that there is no consensus and how each of us travel, and what we like and dislike is as individual as the person...

Who'd have thunk it???

 

[anat0l]

So it looks like the consensus is that there is no consensus and how each of us travel, and what we like and dislike is as individual as the person...

Who'd have thunk it???

Ta dah!

I think the only real common takeaways are:

• Think about where you are travelling, how you will travel and who you are travelling with. These will all affect:
  • Whether it's practical for you to go cabin baggage only
  • What you can carry
• Check the cabin baggage guidelines of your target carriers before you go out and select your bag. (Get a tape measure with you.) Make sure you select a bag that is within the guidelines of your target carriers. Also, don't forget to take note of the weight of your bag. Checking the guidelines should include:
  • The size of the bag. Note that bag sizes can vary between domestic / international, regional / mainline, etc. There can also be multiple bag schemes, e.g. QF domestic mainline allows either 1 large 115 cm bag, or 2 smaller 105 cm bags.
  • How many bags you may take on board (including garment bags, or "free items" - the latter may include a bare laptop, tablet device, small ladies handbag / purse...)
  • The weight of each bag
• Choose a bag which is durable enough for your needs.

 

[simongr]

So it looks like the consensus is that there is no consensus and how each of us travel, and what we like and dislike is as individual as the person...

Who'd have thunk it???

I totally agree - that is why there are no absolutes. My original post probably came across as a string of absolutes but that was only because I thought OP's original opinion piece was stated as fact when it was in fact just opinion - an opinion that was heartily agreed and disagreed with.

 

[kevrosmith]

I've been making great use of my Tom Bihn Tri-Star. I loved the reviews on the web site and YouTube and so I dropped into the factory in Seattle when I was there recently. I've also converted to packing into packing cubes which fit nicely into the compartments. While it's added a tiny bit more weight, the convenience of packing gear into the cubes and then shoving into the compartments is great. No rollaboards with their range (yet) but they have back-pack style where the straps can be hidden away. Very sturdy construction, rip-proof, water proof etc. and have been designed with a frequent-traveller in mind I reckon.

Otherwise, my general principle is to buy as light as possible: I take my portable travel scales along with me to the shop, pull out all the stuffing and check what the base weight is. Without wheels, I find it's easy to get sub-1.5 kgs, with wheels, you're often struggling (though not impossible for higher $$s) to get below 3kgs.

 

[Mardi]

The eBags Motherlode Weekender is a maximum legal carry on size bag with tuck away back pack straps and a tardis-like interior. They don't deliver to Australia so we ordered two and got them sent to our New York hotel when we were going over there in September.

Having said that I LOVE LOVE LOVE my raspberry pink Samsonite 4-wheel roll aboard. It matches my customised Timbuk2 medium messenger bag and between the two of them I can fit an enormous amount of stuff in - the messenger has a slot to put it over the Samsonite's handle. Plus I've never had trouble wheeling it on four or two wheels. I did think that it held less than our 2-wheel Antler but when I measured the internal capacities of each the Samsonite came out slightly ahead. I presume it is OK size to carry on but I have only travelled business with it except for one trip on a Dash8 when it was checked at the stairs.

 

[medhead]

Oi! Stop being so reasonable you lot. There is one absolute - no wheels for cabin luggage.

 

[airside]

Opinion it was, stated as fact - certainly. That's the way all good opinion pieces should be (that is, they should be mildly controversial to promote discussion). I just had a few free hours on a Sunday afternoon which I tried to use creatively after spending all week researching which bag I myself wanted. In case you couldn't tell, I ended up going with an Antler size zero four wheel domestic.

 

[simongr]

Just checked on line (and will confirm tonight if I remember) that the Tumi 22in I have is 5kg empty :shock:

 

[kevrosmith]

Just checked on line (and will confirm tonight if I remember) that the Tumi 22in I have is 5kg empty :shock:

And I'm sure you only fill it with 2kgs worth of items to keep under the (Qantas) 7kg per item limit!

 

[Blinky]

Just checked on line (and will confirm tonight if I remember) that the Tumi 22in I have is 5kg empty :shock:

My one comes in under 2kg, which gives me some room to move.

 

[simongr]

And I'm sure you only fill it with 2kgs worth of items to keep under the (Qantas) 7kg per item limit!

Yes.. of course...

Actually with my travel recently being primarily domestic mid week and thus not having a requirement for casual Friday clothes I think my laptop bag has been heavier than my rollaboard...

Hmm - I think I might experiment with Red Oxx Air Max in the new year...

 

[serfty]

My Samsonite "Ultralight" soft 105cm rollaboard (2 wheels) weighs in at 2.6kg empty.

 

[anat0l]

That's the way all good opinion pieces should be (that is, they should be mildly controversial to promote discussion).

I have to disagree with you on this one: an opinion piece need not be any bit controversial to provoke discussion effectively, and your opinion piece was anything but 'mildly' controversial.


The Antler bag you selected looks pretty good, and weighing in at only 2.4 kg is a bonus.

 

[k_sheep]

OP I actually really liked your writing style. Sure, I don't agree with a lot of the content, but meh.

I've used a backpack (High sierra ones of various types as they fall apart!) my whole life until about 2 years ago when I started very occassionally travelling semi-professionally.

My only regret with my rollaboard is the handle - only has one on the top, not the side. Much more comfortable carrying it on the side. True, it's never too heavy, but I go a lot of places with many many staircases!

 

[AVC]

Well, the 4 vs 2 vs none argument really depends on what else you're lugging.

I find the 4 wheelers are great as you can pair them up (a 4 wheel carry on paired with a 4 wheel checked bag). One Sherpa (read - husband) can easily manage four bags. That's suitcases people!

If all you have is one bag then it's a different story.

Reminds me of a M*A*S*H episode:
Houlihan to Trapper (who is carrying a duffle) - "Isn't that Frank's bag?"
Trapper - "I thought you were Frank's bag!"
*scowl*

Miss VC decided she wanted some fancy-pink-fairy-print 2 wheeler as her carry on (cheap as, fortunately). After my wife tried to manoeuvre it along with her own carry on and suitcase (both 4 wheelers), she was ready to bin it before we had even gotten to the terminal doors.

We ended up buying a high-end Samsonite 4 wheeler before the trip ended. Pink, of course.

 

[ozmille]

Ok, after reading those comments categorically stating that 4 wheeled trolleys are too big for carry on I actually took the time to measure my Samsonite and it is 105cm...

Ok technically it is not a 4 wheeled bag as each wheel is double. So my 8 wheeled bag is still inside the limit to take 2 on board for domestic and under the limit to take 2 on international.

 

[Mal]

And the antlers are a good bag. I punish my bags well... and apart from minor issues over time they hold up well.