What kind of luggage do people use?

[montblanc]

For the last few years I had a duffel bag on wheels and an assortment of smaller bags which I carried on my shoulders or in my hands. This sometimes required two trips to the hotel room and made me feel like a pack animal. This year I decided to buy a roomy 28" luggage piece on wheels and will use that with the duffel bag, hopefully all will fit inside there....

What do you use for luggage and how is everything packed? Would love to hear some tips from savvy travelers.

Thanks!

 

[Tomandtammy]

I havent gone yet but we are considering the rubbermaid drawer containers, at least its our inital thought will have to post more when we finally decide!

 

[stacy6552]

When we drove, we did use the big rubbermaid bins. However when we fly, we use roller cases and backpacks.

 

[JillU-DVC]

If 28" is the largest bag you can bring on the plane, I would suggest buying two of the smaller bags instead of 1 large one.

I bought the largest bag allowed by airlines, and we used to use it all the time to only travel with one bag - then the airlines started cracking down on luggage weight. Now, we can't fly with our largest bag, since it is always over the weight allowance allowed by the airlines.

So, I think we have 2 - 26" bags, both roller bags, that we travel with - even then, I have to be careful about what I put in them, and I always weigh them before we leave on vacation.

I DID buy the 28" largest bag for my parents, who drive instead of fly - they really love the large bag, cuts down on trips from the car when they are unpacking!

As to luggage brands, I really LOVE our Pathfinder luggage - I shopped around for several years before choosing this brand of luggage. It is expensive luggage, that is absolutely true, but we travel 2-4 times a year, and have never had any problems with it (have owned it for at least 10 years now).

They have great wheels, very sturdy contruction (good zippers), and their pull handles lock into place, locking up to wheel the bag, then locking down in place (with a cover) for when you check the bag - I've seen SO many bags going around the baggage carosel that have their pull handles extended, bent and/or broken.

Here is their website, but their site is being updated until the FALL??? So this site may not do you any good.

Pathfinder Luggage Website

But you can find Pathfinder luggage at most luggage stores (Travel 2000, department stores) - I bought our pieces one at a time over a series of years, waiting until my local department store had a good sale on the bags before I bought.

Here's a site where you can look at the Pathfinder luggage (since Pathfinder's site doesn't show you much):

Pathfinder Luggage link 1
Pathfinder Luggage link 2


Hope this helps - good luck with your shopping!!

 

[montblanc]

I think 28" is way over the limit for carry on luggage. We drive so that is not a problem. I checked to see what pilots use and several brands came up. I went with Briggs and Riley, they have a lifetime guarantee and really back up their products...

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I have this great quality bag 32" tall! It's the best. I've used it on a few trips, but now it has to be only for car trips as it's over the size AND weight limits
The last time I used it was last summer, flying to St. Pete w my dbf and 2 nephews. We were staying w fam for 6 weeks so we brought my big bag and 2 duffels plus the gobs of stuff my SIL packed for her kids! (xbox, toys, clothes, etc.) but our stuff was always organized in the big suitcase w eagle creek packits.
I am sad we can't use that for Disney now bc it would be nice to bring one suitcase for the 2 of us. We will need to buy or borrow others (trying to save money), so all these ideas are great to hear! We will likely bring 2 regulation size suitcases, but divide our things over both as opposed to having *his* and *hers* plus our two duffels. He wants to check his so he can bring a laptop. I prefer to drag mine onboard so I know I have a bathing suit, undies, socks, important papers, etc. in case of emergency. I feel more secure having one bag under my control with at least the basics.

 

[daisylove]

what is the benefit of the rubbermaid bins?

 

[liv4pixiedust]

I'm terribly impatient and HATE standing at baggage claim worrying whether my bags made it. Also, I'm a klutz and big bags always end up running into curbs, or walls, or bystanders, or (once) a police car! By miniaturizing everything in our toiletry ensembles and taking some laundry detergent and dryer sheets, my DH and I have managed two 7 day trips without checking a bag. Tight space makes me very selective about my souvenir purchases, but I always put a collapsed box and packing tape in the bottom of my bag to ship home extras (just in case!). I thought laundry would be a drag, but I let it run during our mid-day break by the pool - No biggie!
My favorite bag is a Samsonite with an expandable zipper that still meets regulations!

 

[SparKeLLy]

I have a 28" cheap, but not the cheapest, walmart upright. I've used it for 2 trips to Disney and one Carnival cruise so far and it's holding up fine. Though I might invest in a nicer set of green luggage for our honeymoon.

Inside the luggage I use packing cubes that I got from eBags. I highly recommend them, they make me so organized and my clothes are less wrinkled. I also use the gallon size ziplocks in combination with the cubes. I don't even want to think of how messy everything in my luggage used to be when we arrived at our destination.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you are dealing with young kids, having numerous bags will ratchet your aggravation level up. When you are handling a stroller, you don't have two hands available to pull rollaboards. In that circumstance, using a larger bag or bags and checking tends to be best. (Do carry some sort of clothing change for the whole party onto the plane, though, just in case.)

If you use a larger checked rolling bag, the way to keep it from going over weight limit is to also take a sturdy cloth duffel, put several of the heavier items into it and then put the duffel on top inside the larger bag. When you check the bag, take out the duffel and check it separately, then reverse the procedure when you claim the bag; stuff the duffel in and then roll away from the carousel with just one. I've been doing this on European airlines for years now, as stacks of bags are a pain to maneuver on public transit. One is much better, but they have always been sticklers about weight.

 

[DisneyTeasers]

We always use our rolling, expandable suitcases, two overnight bag, a plastic bin or two, assorted walmart bags (from stuff we purchase on the way), a minivan, etc etc

Seriously, we travel like we ARE pack mules on an extended trip across the blazing desert!!

 

[we3disneygo]

we have a lg.rolling suitcase we got a khol's on sale , it's either 26 or 28, can't remember but it is big. we didn't go over the weight with the airlines. my dd has a 19' rolling bag. and we each carry on a backpack or bag of some sort but check our luggage.