Good Carryon Luggage?

[jsantini]

Hi All,

I have two trips coming up, one to Disney, and I'm thinking of going all carryon. The carryon suitcase I have just doesn't hold much. Do you have good recommendations for carryon luggage? I don't want to spend more than $100 a piece as I only fly 3-4 times a year and need to keep the extra vacation expenses to a minimum. Even $100 seems like a lot, but if I can minimize all those checked bag fees, it's probably worth it. Also, one upcoming trip requires a trip back through customs with a short-ish connection so having carryon only would at least help me skip the baggage claim part and save time. I'd love to hear what fellow DISers are using for roomy carryon!! Thank you!

 

[DisTwix]

Hi All,

I have two trips coming up, one to Disney, and I'm thinking of going all carryon. The carryon suitcase I have just doesn't hold much. Do you have good recommendations for carryon luggage? I don't want to spend more than $100 a piece as I only fly 3-4 times a year and need to keep the extra vacation expenses to a minimum. Even $100 seems like a lot, but if I can minimize all those checked bag fees, it's probably worth it. Also, one upcoming trip requires a trip back through customs with a short-ish connection so having carryon only would at least help me skip the baggage claim part and save time. I'd love to hear what fellow DISers are using for roomy carryon!! Thank you!

Hey there! I don't have any specifc brand/styles to recommend, but I can say that I am something of a bag junkie. Backpacks, totes, duffels and suitcases - I love them. With the exception of the big semi-hardside suitcase I just bought this year, I've never even paid $50 for any of my luggage, and some of it has been around for a loooong time. I have found Marshalls/T.J. Maxx to be a fantastic resource of random pieces of luggage, at extremely good prices.

I have firmer sided suitcases that are great carry-ons, but really prefer large backpacks/small duffels on pull-out handles and wheels. I've found they offer more flexibility for what I put in them, and they tend to fit in the overhead bin more easily. I prefer the pull-out style handle as I like to loop my other bag over it for zooming around the airport, and they have a "bottom" and tend to stand on their own more easily.

But really, luggage is such a personal preference --- you have to haul one around the store to see how it functions, crack open all the zippers and see what it looks like inside.

Check out Marshalls/TJ Maxx... I'm betting they'll have something great for under $50.

 

[DMGeurts]

Hi All,

I have two trips coming up, one to Disney, and I'm thinking of going all carryon. The carryon suitcase I have just doesn't hold much. Do you have good recommendations for carryon luggage? I don't want to spend more than $100 a piece as I only fly 3-4 times a year and need to keep the extra vacation expenses to a minimum. Even $100 seems like a lot, but if I can minimize all those checked bag fees, it's probably worth it. Also, one upcoming trip requires a trip back through customs with a short-ish connection so having carryon only would at least help me skip the baggage claim part and save time. I'd love to hear what fellow DISers are using for roomy carryon!! Thank you!

I apologize in advance, because I am a Vera Bradley junkie... I love the Weekender and the Large Duffel (on sale for less than $50 on ebags right now)... both of these are carry-on compliant. The Large Duffel being larger than the Weekender... the Weekender has more pockets and organizational opportunities than the Large Duffel.

You can see photos of the Weekender and Large Duffel in the Night Owl print here:
http://verabradleyresources.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=22
If you would like to read the reviews, it's free to join.

Several other prints are available at Vera Bradley's website.


D~

 

[crispychicky]

Another DISer posted some links about traveling only with a carry-on that I found pretty helpful:

http://www.onebag.com/
http://www.travelite.org/

The onebag site has some really good info about what to look for in buying a carry-on, packing lists (that all fit in said carry-on), and other travel tips. I haven't had the chance to travel anywhere since I found those sites, but I'm seriously thinking of asking for an MEI Convertable for my birthday!

 

[jsantini]

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I agree about being a random bag collector, and that's why it was hard to fathom $100 for a carryon. I ended up ordering this bag from Overstock today--I'll let you know how it works out after my trip:

http://www.overstock.com/Luggage-Bags/Olympia-22-inch-8-pocket-Rolling-Duffel/3147701/product.html

My husband is going to need a carryon as well, so I think I'll scope out TJ Max when I have time as well as Kohls to see if there's something there we'd like to try. Looks like the duffles might hold more than a suitcase so I'm interested to try one as carryon for the first time in Nov/Dec during our Disney trip.

This is the bag I'd originally been eyeing, and it looks great but just more than I want to spend:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...oreId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr

I'm thinking of buying my mom a Vera Bradley bag for Christmas, but I need to ferret out what size she wants. I think the weekender looks great for her.

If anyone else has good carryon suggestions, keep em coming!

Thanks, everyone.

 

[solar]

I used to use traditional luggage, but now I use a simple rolling backpack for a carry-on and love it. Also, sometimes I just roll my clothes, rather than fold them and I find they take up less space...great for carry-ons

 

[Debbie-TN]

I have a couple different ones that I use, but the thing I always look for is the ones with the wheels that turn in all directions. I will not buy a bag without them now.

 

[tinkermom23]

Has anyone ever used the eBags Weekender? It's like a backpack/suitcase.
I am thinking that I won't care that it doesn't have wheels. My hands usually have a kid in each one and no spare for pulling anything!

But DH says if it's full, it'll be too heavy for my back....

www.ebags.com/ebags/weekender_convertible/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15026

 

[solar]

I don't have the weekender, but i do have something somewhat similar, so this is the best I can help...

I have this: (the laptop version/backpack...quite similar)

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/downloader_laptop_backpack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15025

What I can tell you about my product, different shape/use, but similar is it's very sturdy, is very comfortable with padded straps, and I loved it so much, I talked my husband into getting one for his laptop as well...I LOVE this bag. It's rugged, it's well made, and after my experience with that bag, I'd happily buy the other and know that I'd end up with a good product.

Sorry I don't have anything specific on the "weekender"

 

[tinkermom23]

I don't have the weekender, but i do have something somewhat similar, so this is the best I can help...

I have this: (the laptop version/backpack...quite similar)

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/downloader_laptop_backpack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15025

What I can tell you about my product, different shape/use, but similar is it's very sturdy, is very comfortable with padded straps, and I loved it so much, I talked my husband into getting one for his laptop as well...I LOVE this bag. It's rugged, it's well made, and after my experience with that bag, I'd happily buy the other and know that I'd end up with a good product.

Sorry I don't have anything specific on the "weekender"

Isn't it great when you can find a product that actually works!!
Thanks for the recommendation!