Suitcase Dilemma

Just got back from Rome and Paris.

A 29" suitcase will fit on the train, but you will have a very difficult time geting it on and off the train as the steps can be very narrow.

At the main train station in Rome, we were amused by watching people getting frustrated trying try to deal with their large luggage. They were having a miserable time.

Woody

I haven't taken luggage on trains in France or Italy, but when I was in Switzerland I saw bigger bags than that. However, I've heard that carrying 2 smaller bags is more manageable on a train than one large bag.

Frankly I think trying to carry two bags is more difficult getting on and off trains than one big one. But we each carry a backpack (smallish ones also used as our carryons on the plane) plus each of us has a big rolling duffel. I like that as the back pack leaves a hand free for getting on and off the train. The weight is more an issue than the size. Our big bags are always left in the compartments at the end of the cars. A bicycle cable type combination lock will secure it to the rack if that makes you feel more comfortable leaving it out of sight.

Spare your husband a hernia and everyone in earshot a lot of swearing and go with less clothing/shoes and a smaller bag. Especially if he's over 50-55, you don't want to be lugging a 29" monster. I've gone on 3-5 week Euro trips with and without these monstrosities, and the latter were much more enjoyable. Do a search here on packing tips and you'll find ways to pack what you need without killing the porter (husband) so to speak.

I think the 29 inch one should be fine. I am saying this having traveled with a duffel bag the size of a small country on the eurostar.

I am planning on going with a 29 inch one as well for my two week trip.

It also depends on how many train journeys you will be taking. If it's only one or two, then you'll probably be okay struggling with a 29" bag. BUT, if you're getting on and off (and changing trains), and traveling multiple days, dealing with that size will get old pretty darn fast.

I need help with this issue as well.

I did once travel with a 29 inch duffel bag and found the experience horrible! I should have used something with wheels. I also found myself running out of space very easily and could only pack about 4 pairs of pants, and 7 shirts and a pair of shoes. I will definately need that much on my trip, unless I plan on getting some dry cleaned, and I am trying to cut down on the drycleaning cost issue.

I am still trying to find a reasonable luggage that can give me the space I need, and still be afforadable and easy to carry.

Sigh.

We have taken several trips in Europe that were on and off of trains. I carry a 23" roller and wear a smallish pack to keep my hand free, and I had some interesting times boarding the trains. The steps up are pretty steep, and you are hoisting the bag plus yourself. I would not have wanted any bigger bag.

I usually carry a medium duffle that starts out folded in my (small) suitcase, but as I make purchases it becomes an additional piece of luggage. It goes over the pull handle of my suitcase. On trains, I find it much easier to deal with these two smaller pieces than one large (heavy) bag.

I have seen many women who had to request help from fellow passengers with their large bags. If you are taking just one train trip, it might be worth it, but if you are traveling to several destinations by train, I'd re-think the packing strategy and go as small as you possibly can.

Think small.

Any size suitcase will fit on a train - that's not the issue.

The problem comes when you have to make a tight connection and have to traverse several tracks to do it.

The pedestrian access is either above or below the track level where you alight, so you have to go down one story and up one story to get to the next train.

There may be elevators to traverse the vertical distance, but these are rare in smaller stations.

If a trip is over 2 weeks long, we usually take one 26" and one 27" suitcase. We haven't had any particular problems--we don't have to get on and off trains every day; we tend to stay in one place for a few days.

It partly depends on your physical condition as well. Frankly, if the biggest problem on your trip is a couple of minutes struggling to get your suitcase on and off a train, I'd say your trip is going pretty well.

yes, it will fit but I really would recommend you not take it, unless your husband doesn't mind and truly thought that was the only reason (he may have been trying to be tactful).

I am not a particularly light packer compared to some folks on here, and take quite a few pairs of shoes, CD player, some books, and changes of clothing, but even I do not need a 29 inch suitcase when packing for a trip in summer when clothes are lighter weight. I've been gone that long, also, and for my longer trips I take a 25" rather than 22", and I consider that luxurious. I suggest that as a compromise. I do take a small tote bag with that (for carryon essentials on the plane).

There's also the issue of taking a bulky 50-pound suitcase (or more), hoisting it up the steps, lifting it into the racks, and not banging yourself up, banging someone else up, smashing your foot, straining your back, etc. while being pushed onwards by a crush of in-a-hurry people. I think I'd consider getting first-class train tickets if taking such a heavy, large suitcase.

Why make the trip a chore instead of a pleasure? Unless you are to attend some formal events or business ones there is no reason to empty the closet! Just for fun, log the clothing that you wear at home for three weeks. Do you change clothes three times a day? Next load the 29" bag..Take it with you everywhere you go for a week. Check the aircrew. They use a small wheeled case with a small bag on top! Safety...most train pickpocketing occurs at the railcar entrance. While struggling with bags, two bandits come from in the car and one from out. They try to pass. You are the meat in the sandwich! Options, ship ahead. Buy abroad.

Dang, WillTravel, if someone is that much of a clumsy doofus they shouldn't have any luggage!

Some people will be fine with 25 pounds of luggage, but not with 50 pounds. Just as some people would be fine with 50, but not with 100.

Is the 29" suitcase on wheels?

Airlines are really cracking on oversize and OVERWEIGHT bags.

I'd love to be able to take some super sized suitcases and carry everything I MIGHT need, but I've finally weened myself from that dependence. Now, I just need to convince my wife.

My thought it is will FIT on the train but will be a bit difficult to get it ON the train (you normally have to step up high, up narrow and steep steps, down a narrow aisleway.

Also one that big you would need to leave at the rack at the end of the car, as it wouldn't fit overhead for sure, and unlikely fit behind you seat either.

Incidentally, we normally put our two big suitcases on the train, by one of us getting up in the train, the other on the ground. The lower one hands up one suitcase then the other. Getting off we reverse. This works better than trying to manage going up the narrow and steep steps with the suitcase.

No one should ever buy anything larger than a carry on size bag unless it has wheels, in my opinion!

It isn't just an issue of getting on and off the train with that suitcase, and stowing it at the end of the car. To change trains, you often have to change tracks by going down a full flight of stairs, along a tunnel, and up another flight of stairs. There are rarely escalators or ramps. So try carrying your full suitcase up and down stairs a few times, and you'll have an idea what you face.

Packing light/smart has a lot to do with the clothes and fabrics you choose. I routinely take 4 pr. pants, 2 pr. shorts, 7 or 8 shirts and tops, a dress, two light jackets, a sweater, 3 pair of shoes, a hair dryer, etc. I wear the bulkiest items of clothing, and the rest fits into a 22" roller bag.

I am not one of those who cling to the mantra of stuffing everything into a 22" bag, but even to me 29" for three weeks in summer sounds excessive. You should easily be able to fit everything you need--and still have room for purchases--into a smaller bag. I find a 24" or 25" bag a good compromise between the confines of those 22" bags and the space needed to store the big (26" plus) bags.

If your train travel will be mostly in second class, I highly recommend you consider a nice, wheeled duffle bag. They are narrower and roll easily down the aisles of second class compartments (you get more aisle room in first class). There are some stylish wheeled duffles around--my Italian colleagues usually travel with one. They are easier to stow overhead as well. I would also take along a dayback or nylon day bag (Longchamp makes an attractive nylon dayback and it seems like every middle-class Frenchwoman owns one of their "pliage" bags, which come in many colors).

If you already have this 29 inch bag, I would suggest you pack it, then measure and weigh it. Some 29 inch bags exceed the size limits of airlines, and you will be charged extra if they are checking that and catch you. I think the airlines now limit the weight of checked bags to 50 pounds, and charge extra if you are caught exceeding that. Carryon limits are lower, so you will not be able to carryon your luggage if it is that large.

I've not hauled that big a bag around in many years, but I think it would not be too difficult to get it on and off a train, depending of course on your strength. My concern would be that a bag of that size would have to be put in the racks at the end of the car, possibly far from your seats, and where a thief could hop on and off very easily. I do see people securing theirs with cables, but I don't want to have to haul a cable and lock all over, and when my son forgot his combination with his bike in our garage, it was surprisingly easy to cut the cable.

If you haven't yet bought the luggage, consider a smaller, more manageable piece, with wheels. They now have rollers that have a companion bag that can be mounted on the roller; the set can be handled as one bag while walking, but as two when lifting or checking.

My wife and I use 24 inch bags, and can easily carry enough for a 3 or 4 week trip, but then almost all our clothes are washable, and over the years we have accumulated a lot of items that are smaller than normal, in anticipation of using them on tour; for example, she has a small plastic bottle that she fills with the shampoo du jour, as the original bottle is quite large.

Often the "cure" for taking "too much" is to ensure that the person who insisted on it also be required to carry the bag. Tough love works..as long as it remains "tough."

Enzian is right. Chances are that you will have to carry the bag up and down multiple flights of stairs. If you think you can do this with your 29" bag, fine.

I usually take a 22" roller on which I piggyback a small tote. I also wear a daypack. I find that this is about the max that I can handle by myself on the trains in Italy. Another added bonus of the smaller bag is that it fits on the rack above me on the trains so I have peace of mind since the bag is always in my view. It is too easy for your bag to disappear from the end of the train compartment, in my opinion. Also, the compartment at the end of the train tends to fill up quickly, especially if you travel 1st class Eurostar. If that happens, what will you do?

A 29" is much too big. You will regret taking something that large.

You can get by on a 22" if you plan right and get the right clothes.

I use a 20" roller and carry a day bag with shoulder strap. Look in any airport in the USA. It is the way people who travel travel. I can't imagine a need for more stuff, and can't imagine hauling it around.

And Alison is also right! I forgot to mention the "piggyback tote"---this is my carry-on for the plane and rides on the roller bag on level stretches. For all those stairs, I can sling the tote over one shoulder, and easily pick up the larger bag. I am very fit and pretty strong, but just the thought of lugging a 50-pound suitcase makes my shoulder hurt.

In the past I've travelled with a 29"bag but no longer. Besides all the negatives already posted, I've found that the more you take, the more you have to keep track of. Travelling is so much easier with less luggage.

A note about trains and bag size. It all depends on the train...some have narrow and steep steps and once you're on the train trying to find a spot for a large bag is often impossible. I've seen people having to leave their luggage in one car while only finding seats several cars away.

I would just like to know how you all lift those 22"ers up to the overhead rack. The only way I've ever been able to do that was with the kindness of strangers taking pity on me. Doesn't help that I am short, lol. I have the best small Travelpro wheeled carryon that I can put on my back while I lift my suitcase onto the train. When it's totally loaded it weighs in at around 13 lbs. If I am not doing trains, I take my 24" and my little Travelpro. It is like luxury to me taking one that big.

Barb, in answer to your question, I'm not a short woman and I have powerful biceps . I would guess it's hereditary - a couple days ago I saw my daughter pick up a friend who must weigh at least 130 pounds and swing him a bit. But I would still turn into a "clumsy oaf", as Rufus charmingly put it, if trying to manage a 29", 50-pound suitcase up and through an Italian second-class train.

Barb, My 22" packed weighs >25 lbs. and I can lift that much (briefly) over my head - enough to get it into the airplane overhead bin, or the rack on a bus or train.

chisy, definitely check with the airline you are flying for their luggage weight restrictions before you start filling up that 29" suitcase.

Unless you are flying first or business class your luggage weight will probably need to be 50 pounds or lighter. Having just flown with my 29" suitcase (fondly referred to as "the body bag") it was only half full and it weighed 50#.

I know I have flown with my suitcase well over 70# before I realized the errors of my "weighs"

Packing light is a struggle but well worth the effort. Good luck, Deborah

I just returned from a winter trip of 18 days. Despite coats/jackets/scarves and all those other bulky items, the 24" I carried was TOO BIG. I mostly took items that could be washed out.

There were several outfits I never wore. I tended to wear/wash out the same clothes over and over. Next time I'll take about 2/3 what I took this time.

Frankly, I can't imagine hauling a 29" around Europe. Makes my head hurt just thinking about it!

I checked Alitalia this morning for luggage limits and it is 44 pounds. For our past few trips, I stopped using the Jumbo Hefty bags and squeezing the air out. It just made the suitcase hold more and therefore it was heavier. We have never been charged for overweight luggage but I really hate lugging around all that stuff around, especially when traveling by train.

I will be spending nine weeks in Europe this summer, and I will be taking a 22" suitcase. The key for me is in coordinating outfits.

I've had very bad experiences with over-packing. Escalators break down or are non-existent, and I'm a weakling anyway.

OK, so reading all of the posts on here against anything over 26 inches has got me a bit spooked....but it does have me thinking.

When I traveled before, I did feel weighed down--but mainly that was because I had a duffel bag that was between 26-29 inches. I had boots in that back, 4 pairs of pants, and about 8 shirts and my toiletries on the side pockets.

Now, for my longer trip of 2 weeks, I do feel like I would need more clothes. But maybe I could do like others, and just have some of my clothes dry cleaned? I am also wondering if the fact of my duffel bag being so long, but rather narrow, and NOT having wheels was more of an issue.

I will look into bags that are around 24-26 inches.....I just couldn't imagine using a 17 inch or 19 inch bag...I think it would hold like only 1 shirt and 1 pair of jeans!

I will take all of your advice and see if I can really underpack (which is usually my problem!).

The only possible way you should consider a 29" suitcase..(I am assuming it does have wheels) is if you are going directly to a hotel, and staying the whole trip. Then you would only have to handle suitcase once coming and going.
Any more handling would be a big problem for you...and I DO assume you will be handling your own luggage..right? Surely you are not going to saddle your DH with taking care of his own plus yours?

I you want to be a truly free traveler, as opposed to one of those slimey, low-life TOURISTS, then you wouldn't take any suitcase at all. Only carry what you can put into your pockets.

I travel on business with a carry on. It is the sort of think that most people mount over their suitcase. I must admit that when I am on vacation I take a 24 inch expandable and I am not sure why..? a rebelion agains the small suitcase I use on the lear??? really, keep it simple and keep it light. It will save your back and probably a few heated arguments.

Certainly a 29" duffle bag is going to be a pain for traveling, because they are very unwieldy and you can't pack things very well in them. I hate those duffle bags, although they are okay in a small size for a carryon, or a lightweight one as a foldup thing you use when you return for dirty clothes or something. I'd get rid of that thing and get a decent suitcase, with wheels (comment to ilovetravel29 who isn't the OP).

I don't think there's any need to go down to 22" -- I don't, and if you want to take a 29", going down to 22" is going to be quite a stretch. I just think the 24-25" should work out. YOu can't put those overhead on a train, but there should be room in the luggage space or something. Some of the French trains I take, even in first class, don't have any room on the overheads for even a 22", so it's no different. They don't have racks or compartments up there as big as on airplanes, they are very small now, just for hand luggage, really. Well, maybe they still do on some French trains, but not on the ones I've been on lately, you have to leave them in the lugggage area by the door, between seats, etc.

There are a number of large duffle bags with wheels. There are also "drop bottom" duffles which unzip around the middle and have a lower section that packs like a suitcase. Duffles tend to be lighter and easier to handle thsn a suitcase so long as they have wheels and a handle. If you're pretty strong,some,notably High Sierra,also have backpack straps for getting across short distances where dragging somthing on wheels might be difficult. I can tell you a 29 inch suitcase will probably exceed most airlines' weight limits if fully loaded. Some manufacturers aren't even making them that large any longer.

There are also "drop bottom" duffles which unzip around the middle and have a lower section that packs like a suitcase.

That's exactly what I took on my recent trip. 24" Eagle Creek Point A Load Warrior. It's considerably smaller than my 24" hardside (which is exactly what I wanted---somewhere between 22" and 24"). It only weights 6 1/2 lbs...the big selling point for me since we were moving around a lot.

The zippers aren't the greatest, but that was mitigated by the fact that the bag has two built in luggage straps across the width. I supplemented with 2 more straps running the length. Zippers held up fine.

It's a "bare bones" bag, no fancy detachable pouches or anything. But it's very easy to pack (I used 2 gallon ziplocs for everything). Even better---it was very easy to maneuver on trains.

Thank you all for the great advice!!

I thought I would pass on this website for travel size odds and ends. Woolite for .39 for example. The site is minimus.biz. It is very important to remember that it is .biz and not .com! you will get a site on latin otherwise!!

I am waiting on a new bag to be delivered from ebags BTW. I was in paris last month and I resolved to get a smaller, LIGHTER suitcase before traveling again. My 25" is 12lb empty and when full it is just too much. I actually manage it OK but while hauling it up and down steps in the metro I told myself that I was going smaller next trip. I am going with a wheeled tote that will go under the seat or into the bin but taking alot less room. lynda

Here are a couple of websites to get you "in mood" for packing light.
http://www.onebag.com/home.html
http://www.travelite.org/
http://www.packinglite.com/
Not every idea will work for everyone, but you may be able to incorporate a few ideas for yourself.

So far, I haven't come up with the perfect combination, but am still searching. I've tried the 21" rick steve's carryon - too much weight for my shoulders - I prefer wheels for longer distances.
Wheeled 24" - difficult in Metro, Tube any stairs.

Now I'm looking at a combination of wheeled carryon/convertible into backpack (for stair jaunts)with a day pack (would wear it in the front for the short stair jaunts. Also looking for the lightest weight I can find, because when you are struggling, every ounce seems like a pound.
Sorry, couldn't edit out the doubling of the websites.

Great advice!