Good carry on shoulder bag in Oz

[rtyuiop]

Hi folks,

I'm contemplating going carry-on only in the near future, and after reading a bit on the Net, it seems like the best carry ons for this sort of thing (well, according to the groupthink of the Internet at any rate) pretty much all come from small US companies - the Red Oxx Air Boss and similar sorts of things. Given I'll have to pack light and the bag'll be under 7kg, I don't really see the point in wheely bags, so a shoulder bag is the go.

Given the exchange rate, the thought of paying both for an expensive bag and expensive shipping seems a bit painful to me... Anyone have an Australian supplier for a well built, very light, carry on sized shoulder bag?

Cheers,

Danny

 

[borsa]

A sugar bag on a string?

 

[rtyuiop]

I was seriously considering a nice light hessian sack, after thinking about that 7kg limit!

 

[simongr]

What are you using the bag for if sticking to the 7KG limit?

 

[rtyuiop]

Clothes (mainly business casual), 1 pair of shoes, and (hopefully) laptop.

I realise I might be being a little optimistic with the laptop!

 

[Natt]

Ouch - those bags are not cheap!

I am not a huge fan of over the shoulder bags at 7 kilos - give me a backpack any day (its just too hard to lug them around)

I have actually been thinking about going with wheels - but come unstuck with the extra weight

I use a High Sierra backpack - was about AUD$60 from memory - its cheap and cheerful with side compression straps on two sections.

It does tend to get a tad high when overstuffed.

Depends on how big your laptop is as to how you will go - Have a look at a cheapie netbook if you really get stuck - I love mine for watching movies on plane trips and have had no problems fitting it in under 7 kg

 

[Febs]

Not to stir the pot (too much ), but how often are you likely to get picked up carrying >7kg carry-on? I'd estimate my carry on is always over 7kg, and I've only ever once been picked up on it. They took my bag, tagged it and I collected it at the other end. Not a big deal.

Might be different if you're on an AE Embraer or Dash8 however.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[MDC]

Ouch - those bags are not cheap!

I am not a huge fan of over the shoulder bags at 7 kilos - give me a backpack any day (its just too hard to lug them around)

I second that. Backpacks are my preference too. I've also never had the check-in staff ask to weigh my backpack... not sure whether it has to do with it being on my back and out of sight.

Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone have any suggestions on good laptop backpacks?

 

[rtyuiop]

That's true actually - maybe my expectations are out of whack after getting my (tiny!) carry on weighed twice in a row last year. But now that I think about it, that was the only time.

I like shoulder bags because I like being able to get into them without taking them off! But I see your point, backpacks seem much cheaper and easier to get hold of. Hmm...

Cheers,

Danny

 

[simongr]

Who are you planning on flying with? QF?

QF allow two bags:

Carry-on baggage allowances vary from carrier to carrier.~ Carry-on baggage allowances on Qantas operated flights for adults and children (except infants) are:

Route Piece Allowance & Dimensions Weight Allowance
Australian and New Zealand Domestic All Classes:
2 x 105cm (41in) bags or
1 x 105cm (41in) bag plus 1 x 185cm (73in) non rigid garment bag or
1 x 115cm (45in) bag

if wanting to keep things light - take a backpack for clothes then chuck your laptop and things you need access to in a small over the shoulder bag - or get a netbook and some cargo pants and slip the net book in your pocket

 

[Febs]

I've never had a problem travelling anywhere (Asia, US, Europe, Australia) with two pieces of carry-on, except when Heathrow had that stupid rule a few years back.

If flying internationally, I carry:
- Small laptop backpack, with laptop/document wallet/power packs/headphones/book/etc...
- Small carry bag with change of clothes, valuables etc..
(Plus a small suitcase checked-in)

If flying domestically, I usually just bring my work messenger bag (a leather over-the-shoulder laptop bag) and a small wheely cabin bag.

The backpack always counts as my "personal item" bag under the US system, and I've never been pulled up after 60+ domestic US flights in the last 2 years.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[rtyuiop]

I'm trying to keep just about everything in one bag, so the other bag/personal item is my camera bag. Hate to go anywhere without my camera!

Cheers,

Danny

 

[Evan]

I have used a small size Eagle Creed cargo duffel before if you just want to throw a few things in. Also used a CAT shoulder bag, Otherwise a back pack is nice but i have not found one that really works for me.

Provided you laptop bag is small i have never had an issue on any airline having 2 peices in hand... just remember sometimes if its busy they may ask you to put your small bag under the seat in front for take off/landing.

Dash-8 only ever taken one small bag... but dont often fly them so no issues.

E

 

[simongr]

How big is the camera bag - could it not be included with your laptop?

 

[rtyuiop]

A DSLR and a couple of lenses would be a bit big for the laptop bag, but now that I think of it, if I take a separate laptop bag, the camera could go in the main bag in place of a laptop. That might do it!

 

[MDC]

A DSLR and a couple of lenses would be a bit big for the laptop bag, but now that I think of it, if I take a separate laptop bag, the camera could go in the main bag in place of a laptop. That might do it!

Crumpler have one that might be suitable for your needs:

https://www.crumpler.com.au/flash/flash.aspx#/english/product-details/customary-barge-cu02a.html

Edit: Just noticed they have a few over shoulder ones too.

Also, some airlines state that a camera is allowed in addition to your carry on. Not sure whether a DSLR and lenses would be allowed under this rule though.

 

[Maca44]

I have been using the High Sierra Wheeled backpack as shown hereunder. It is a 22" so okay for international travel, but I think 20" is the max for domestic travel in Australia. You are allowed one carry on and one personal item, and this bag allows you to zip off the day pack. I used it for 4 weeks in the USA/Canada last August and was great, and not too heavy.

 

[rtyuiop]

I'm pretty much set on no wheels. They're just too darn heavy! And I don't mind carrying a reasonable amount of weight in either a shoulder bag or a backpack.

 

[MDC]

Not sure if you're still tracking this thread or whether you've already bought something. I just bought the Crumpler backpack I previously posted. It is possibly the most comfortable backpack I've ever used.

I'm currently doing my first trip with it and carrying a lot of gear: 2 laptops, cables, mice, DSLR and 2 lenses.

Even with this weight, it sits nicely on my back and the heavily padded straps make the load feel much lighter than it really is.

 

[matt.blak]

I use a Lowe Alpine Amazon carryon, its a backpack that can be used as a shoulder bag, it meets the 4o inch limit for domestic & international. They are available in bushwalking stores for about $140.

Pro - light weight, comfortable to carry as a pack, looks light (less likey to get asked to weigh).

I looked at the US bags such as air boss and Tom Binh etc, but the exchange rate and fright costs pushed them to $350++.

I carry a laprtop bag and the carry on and don't have any trouble if I keep the weight of each tu 7kg or under. last trip it was about 12kg total. My experiance is that tehy weigh the bigger bag more often, the laptop bag is less likely to get weighed, so I carry the heavy items in the laptop bag.