The great hand luggage only challenge!!!

[Rikster71]

For me, that's one of the issues with wheelies. At that weight, it's about 4x what I'm wanting as a max.


I had a Samsonite and the wheel broke ages ago, so I agree totally with you. With a bung wheel, they are far more difficult to carry than a simple backpack.


100% agree. I thought my Samsonite would be the bees knees, but it was actually a pain and also, the so called indestructible case material used is no such thing. Mine is cracked, dented, ripped and with a buggered up wheel. Also, wheeling a bag is not possible on some of the terrain I encounter (the concept of trip hazards hasn't reached PNG). Much to my amazement, the back pack I pictured in post #365 above, is made of quite robust material (whatever it is). Last night I tried to weigh it empty and the weight didn't register at all on my hand held luggage scales, so I'll have to wait until I get back to home No.2 to use +1's kitchen scales, but it looks like it may be under 100g. In fact I've been so impressed and the fact the Samsonite needs to go (before it ends up in multiple pieces), I ordered another two of the Caribee's on-line last night. Different sizes so I have a choice now. Total investment for all three (including the one I already have), is circa AU$130 which now gives me a choice of 22l, 24l and 35l. I looked at the 40l that GMOH mentioned in post #372, but it's bigger and heavier than what I want/need, so decided against that one. I should mention however, that I do not need to carry suits!

I can definitely see the value in these, my issue is that I almost always need to wear suits or at the least Jackets, this means these style of bags wear them down and wrinkle them, that would be my biggest concern.

 

[serfty]

ad a Samsonite and the wheel broke ages ago, so I agree totally with you. With a bung wheel, they are far more difficult to carry than a simple backpack

My Sampsonite rollaboard is over 10 years old. About 2 years ago one of the wheels broke. I purchased some replacements from eBay for about $11.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Where you travel is definitely a factor. It doesn't sound like the OP is doing regional, outdoor type travel. 90% of my travel is office to car to airport so smooth surfaces mean wheels are entirely practicable. As off road as it gets is the odd cobble stoned street in Europe so I still think a light 4-wheeler is the best option.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My Sampsonite rollaboard is over 10 years old. About 2 years ago one of the wheels broke. I purchased some replacements from eBay for about $11.

I thought they came with a lifetime warranty? In any case, mine was purchased 4 years ago and the wheel has been stuffed for at least a year now. For me, it's not so much the wheel, it's just that I don't find them convenient (light, easy, compact) but YMMV.

Where you travel is definitely a factor.

Agree. For where I fly, weight is critically monitored. Apparently the altitude causes lift issues so I watch the weight very closely.
Also, here is a photo of the path from the bus stop to my house in Enga province ... and this is
one of the better paths! (BTW, I took the photo for the wild flower that had popped up in the path rather than for the path)!

 

[Rikster71]

Yes my travel is House to Car to plane to Hotel, dragged into the occasional meeting on the return day, and then home, repeat next week.

It looks like I may now go with a Victorinox Werks Traveller, for a spinner they come in at an OK weight, have called three separate repair warranty agents, talked to them about how I travel, and all 3 said go with Victorinox and they serviced Antler, Delsey and Smasonite as well.

 

[serfty]

I thought they came with a lifetime warranty? In any case, mine was purchased 4 years ago and the wheel has been stuffed for at least a year now. For me, it's not so much the wheel, it's just that I don't find them convenient (light, easy, compact) but YMMV.

2 Wheels or 4? - I don't use 4 wheeled rollaboards.

 

[Rikster71]

2 Wheels or 4? - I don't use 4 wheeled rollaboards.

Im about to venture into the world of 4 wheels for the first time, I like the idea being able to easily wheel through the terminal and plane, as per my earlier post, I am just tired of all the people glued to their phone walking into and tripping over my bag. I have survived with two wheels this long and thing it's time for a change - I only hope this doesnt become another bag in the graveyard :-( of failed bags!!!!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

2 Wheels or 4?

Well 3 that work.

This is the one (but be aware, I'm definitely NOT recommending it).

 

[get me outta here]

I got caught short on my 4 wheeler when I first took it out. It stopped dead on the in-floor bobbles that warn an escalator is ahead and I had to leap over the full height of it (was checkin size), to stop me face planting over the top of it. It was a good warning.

Im about to venture into the world of 4 wheels for the first time, I like the idea being able to easily wheel through the terminal and plane, as per my earlier post, I am just tired of all the people glued to their phone walking into and tripping over my bag. I have survived with two wheels this long and thing it's time for a change - I only hope this doesnt become another bag in the graveyard :-( of failed bags!!!!

 

[Rikster71]

I’ve done it, I went with a 4whl Victorinox Werks 20 and have even trial packed for a week measuring as I go.

 

[JessicaTam]

View attachment 149874 View attachment 149873 View attachment 149872


I’ve done it, I went with a 4whl Victorinox Werks 20 and have even trial packed for a week measuring as I go.

Phew! Thank goodness I am not the only one who weighs individual clothes.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I’ve done it, I went with a 4whl Victorinox Werks 20 and have even trial packed for a week measuring as I go.

Which airline do you fly with?

 

[Rikster71]

Which airline do you fly with?

Qantas

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Do you stay at Marriott/SPG hotels? I'm tempted to take advantage of their offer for gym gear for $5 hire as I find the gym gear takes up most space in my carryon.

 

[Rikster71]

Do you stay at Marriott/SPG hotels? I'm tempted to take advantage of their offer for gym gear for $5 hire as I find the gym gear takes up most space in my carryon.

Pretty much only Marriott/SPG, didn’t even know about the gym gear option, must have missed it lol. To be honest my tops, shorts and socks weigh less than a kg all together. I use very lightweight gear which also means it folds small as well. My biggest issue is the second pair of shoes/runners.

 

[juddles]

So does that mean you still have 2 bags? A laptop bag plus your travel gear? So two shoulder bags???

I think my greatest day was when I could finally travel with a lightweight computer, I often double check it’s in it case.

Rikster, no, I only have one main shoulder bag - it has two main compartments, one of which beautifully opens to allow me to take my laptop brick out (it is one of those confounded "rugged" types) for presentation at security. I do also use a small leather man purse (it is a Colombian thing ) just to hold my travel wallet with passport etc - this has a shoulder strap too but the purse itself hangs in front of me at perfect height for those manipulations of docs.

And my overall system works anywhere - as swanning_it is aware, there is just some terrain that was not made for wheels

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Qantas

OK, so that works. I assume you have a second case for all your non-clothes gear (electronics)? VA may not be so easy if they ever actually police their requirements, but for me, it's neither QF nor VA that is the issue. It's my onward flights where everything is weighed (including me) and searched (3 searches each direction), every time (not randomly) and our limits are 10kg checked, 7kg carry on (one only) and they are strict (which I agree with as I'd rather be forced to comply with weights, than have a Twotter that I'm aboard, fail to clear a bloody great mountain range)!

 

[Rikster71]

OK, so that works. I assume you have a second case for all your non-clothes gear (electronics)? VA may not be so easy if they ever actually police their requirements, but for me, it's neither QF nor VA that is the issue. It's my onward flights where everything is weighed (including me) and searched (3 searches each direction), every time (not randomly) and our limits are 10kg checked, 7kg carry on (one only) and they are strict (which I agree with as I'd rather be forced to comply with weights, than have a Twotter that I'm aboard, fail to clear a bloody great mountain range)!

All Aus based flights are QF, so that is about 80% of my travel, everything else is Asia/US and seldom has any tighter restrictions than QF, so I’m good from that front. I have a lot of ex army mates that do FIFO with severe luggage restrictions, and have no desire to share that pain.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So for the Samsonite debate, here are a few pics of my $300+ case that is about 4 years old.

This is damage caused by luggage handlers (mainly AU Domestic) and a poor wheel that seized and wore out due to non-rotation friction. I'd suggest those buying these cases, not believe the claims about the "high tech" lightweight but rugged case. I've looked after this case (in fact for the first few years it always traveled in it's cover until that wore out). They do damage. I've panel beaten the corners back out (the two top ones had caved in). All in all, I won't buy another one.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Also just to update my backpack weights:
Caribee 22l Campus - 411g
Caribee 24l Rush - 548g
Caribee 35l Rhine - 618g
Kathmandu 25l Cortinga - 652g

So I'm pretty happy. The Caribee material is fairly robust and I can now take a 35l backpack rather than my old 25l backpack for roughly the same weight (slightly less in fact) and as a bonus, the front pocket is a better fit for my laptop (The Caribee is larger and more rectangular, where as the Kathmandu is an oval shape which doesn't fit the laptop without a struggle, which I just don't want at the X-Ray conveyor). Time will tell, but I think I have a pretty good combination now ... all backpacks rather than hard cases. My old Kathmandu (below) has traveled more than the Samsonite and has spent probably the same amount of time as checked luggage as the Samsonite (and looks a lot better). This was not intentional, but it dawned on me that my preferred luggage, through trial and error and necessity, has turned out to be soft sided. Even when I need a bigger checked bag, my "go to" is an Asic soft duffel, at just on 1kg! The reality for me is that I rarely carry fragile items that need a hard case so why on earth would I burden myself with wheels and weight?

The Kathmandu is about 6 years old and the Asics is about 5. Compare them with the Samsonite!