5 Types of Carry-on Bag to Avoid

[simongr]

It was a luxurious point in my life and as all my travel is work related it was tax deductible....

 

[Westozi]

We did a six week trip to Scandinavia and the Baltic in June/July. Instead of the usual 2 wheeler carry-ons that we normally take we decided to take two soft two handled bags with zip closure that fold flat when not in use. Needless to say we packed them with as much gear as we would normally put in the two wheelers and found that we were well under the weight (7kg) for carry-on luggage. On departing Gatwick on the way back to Oz we ran up against a very surly young man at the check-in desk who insisted on weighing our bags a second time because he couldn't believe we had (me 4kg and my husband had 4.5kg) so little weight in our bags. Mine included the laptop and associated cables. As the two wheelers weigh a tad over 3kg and the limit is 7kg I know what we will be taking in future.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I've switched over from the wheelies to sports bags for the majority of my flights, and never really had to worry about the weight limits again. I can fit in my laptop, dslr camera + a couple of lenses, and enough clothes and stuff to last me a week.

And for those who insist on wheelies, I always tell them to avoid the 4-wheel types - guess what happens when you leave it for a couple of seconds on a slope.

 

[oz_mark]

I think it's more realistic to state it as the absolute volume difference, which is 60 L or 0.006 m[SUP]3[/SUP]. That translates to a box the size 30 cm x 20 cm x 10 cm, which is a non trivial loss of space.

60L? I think your slide rule needs a service

 

[anat0l]

60L? I think your slide rule needs a service

Do'h! That's embarrassing...

 

[busissi]

Definitely soft sided 2 wheeler. Try Voyager. Have had my carry on for 3 years of solid use. Lightweight, has expansion zip, tough material and inexpensive. I do NOT have my luggage paid for by company and I expect it to last, be durable and easy to pack and drag.

 

[jetlagger]

It was a luxurious point in my life and as all my travel is work related it was tax deductible....

& noted the acquisition was pre GFC
Though I also have a couple of Rimowa Topas alloy models.. I always seemed to get questioned on the price.. Well they were gifted so I'm none the wiser.. But a fantastic travel luggage partner, & have weathered many of journeys.

 

[Bindibuys]

Hey Dot,

I know we had the same antler bag, my handle pole snapped a month ago. Cost me $40 to get repaired at an authorised repairer in Nunawading.

The Antler was not covered by warranty??
Just received brand new size Zero (71cm) from importer, as the stitching on my 3 year old had come apart (apprx 6cm) and they said it was not repairable, so sent new bag.
Got out the sewing kit, strong thread, and bingo - now have bag ready to be used/abused again.
My vote - 2 wheels.
Carry on - Black Wolf - skeddadle

 

[Mal]

Hey Dot,

I know we had the same antler bag, my handle pole snapped a month ago. Cost me $40 to get repaired at an authorised repairer in Nunawading.

Funny that. Mine snapped around 3 months ago. I retired the bag as it was reaching its retirement age. Treated me really well though.

 

[busissi]

Had single handle Antler once, great roller but no provision for attaching 2nd bag in some cases the sleep apnoea machine bag which is allowed on board. Drove me mad on 4 week international trip.

 

[JohnCarrWestwood]

So much blah blah .. I look forward to the day the airlines enforce the size/weight limits . As to the best luggage ,whatever floats your boat.
Personally I travel real light.. for carry on I use a soft back pack for camera, iPad , book , and a change of clothes and toiletries ( just in case). The rest goes into the hold .
Muppets that want to steal extra space they have not paid for by carrying on a rollon ,a huge laptop bag plus a hand bag and a rolled up coat and /or suitbag should be charged extra and have their stuff stuck elsewhere than in the overheads to inconvenience themselves not others.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Only just noticed this thread and I admit to not reading anything past the first page.

For me, I disagree with a number of the OPs concepts.

Cheap? That's me. I generally fly between 40 and 80 sectors a year and my fav. carry-on is now about 5-6 years old and still going (cost well under $100). Just bought another one as a backup. Cost $20. Will it last? No idea but if not, I do own a bin. (it's already flown 5 sectors and still "as new").

I'm a two wheeler as I see the spinners as mobile speed bumps, for both the owners and other pax around them. Two wheelers tend to tow in behind you whereas spinners tend to be beside at arms length causing slow moving road blocks (and occasionally raising my ire). My impression, 2 wheelers are quick and agile, spinners are slow, awkward and imposing. I regularly walk down marina arms and I have no doubt a spinner would have been hurled in the water years ago if I were trying to negotiate them along warped and twisted timbers whereas the 2 wheelers just bounce along behind!

Weight is important and when I (occasionally) buy, I lift each one and the lightest scores far more brownie points.

Handles. Drag out the telescopic handles and test for length (I even go for a walk). Nothing worse than short handles (unless of course you have the matching short legs ).

Last for me, I have at least a half dozen regularly used carry-ons which alternate dependant upon the need on the day, so variety is equally important. These range in size and type from soft sided brief case style if the lap top comes with me (and it also carries a portable usb printer so basically a mobile office), max. allowable cabin size case if I'm away for a few days, small size case if I'm only away overnight or day tripping, hard walled suspension file case for business when numerous documents are required (in some kind of semblance of order), semi-hard case (with flip open lid and 1/2 side) style for when I have more books, standards and manuals and finally a foolscap size compendium with plenty of pockets when I'm only on a quick business meeting requiring little more than my magnetic personality! Of those half dozen, half have 2 wheels, half have no wheels and none have spinners!

Except for my latest addition, I've had all of them for many years and all of them have done extensive travelling and the most expensive was the suspension file case which was $70.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'll confess naivety. I just never thought I would or could think about paying that much for a bag (cabin or checked one). Unless it was made of some superior material or the like (military or aircraft grade...)

life has many stages. The grand a bag is a good stage!

i swear by Tumi.

 

[lanaroberts99]

I've got to disagree with just about everyone. I love my four wheeled, hard-sided Samsonite carry on case. It IS carry-on size, despite the four wheels, it's light as a feather when empty, and I find it heaps easier than a two-wheeler to push, it fits everything I need in it and nothing gets squashed. And if you're flying on Dash-8s, it goes as "premium hand luggage", in the hold, and I want my stuff protected. I particularly don't want my breakfast, which I often take with me when I travel, to get squished.

I agree with the hard-sided, 4 wheeled cabin bag. I have one of these for international travel and a small, soft-sided 2 wheeled for domestic. Even when travelling international "Star Class" in Jetstar there is often NO footrest:evil: (although I think this may be being changed), so I use my hard-sided 4 wheeler as a footrest and it doesn't collapse under my feet. The soft-sided one has the advantage of external pockets which are useful for paperwork, but then again, I generally travel with my husband who LOVES to look after the paperwork, so I don't need it.

 

[Burrito]

Most flights I pack a light duffle with the lappy, ipad,chargers & a change of clothes. If away for more than 5 days the soft sided two wheeler comes along in the cabin

 

[ACervin]

To wheel or not to wheel. Here is a bloke that seems to have spent a lifetime exploring carry-on luggage. His views differ a lot from the above mentioned. The carrry-on guru. Entertaining read, but nerdy. What do you think?

Well I was not able to paste the link as I do not have enough posts. Just got started here. If you look for; one bag.com you will find the site.

 

[alister]

I like my 2 wheel carry on bag that is also a backpack/laptop bag. Arrive at the airport with it on as a backpack and a large suitcase in tow (4 wheeler by the way). Do the bag drop then i can either keep the backpack on or take it off and wheel it around. (Note: this is for extended trips)

The size of the person also needs to be factored in. My business partner is about half my size and mass and he thinks i take too much luggage. I say to him my clothes are twice the size of yours and therefore take up a lot more space. He wears kids shoes and i have size 12's. Of course i need bigger bags!!

North americans are over the top at what they carry on and i see it happening more and more here. Yes you may be able to get your weeks worth of stuff on as carry on but why bother? We will probably only be 2 or 3 taxis apart in the end.

Happy travels.

 

[ash.1111]

Why I love 4-wheel bags. (they're all connected)

EDIT: Ignore the crew bag...

 

[busissi]

So right Alister. We can't all be 5ft 5 in and 50 kg so our clothes must take up more room! Give up arguing (discussing) and make the best of what you can. My M- in-law was half my size ths halfthe clothes. Get real people.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Remind me last time, I was in her hotel room, and wondered how she could fit 2 weeks of travelling into a suitcase <20kg. And when she took her jeans out, I realised why - her clothes were literally half my size.