CR

This is an old link about 22" suitcases. Could provide more helpful advice on the discussion.<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2<BR>

CR

Sorry, the link was wrong. However, the title of the thread was 22" luggage.

Bob C

Everyone has to decide for themselves how much they want to carry. If your going by train then you will need less because you have to handle the bags more. If by car you can carry more. For example we take a 22" bag just for shoes and rain gear when we go by car. But touring by train that bag stays behind.

since you asked !

Again for Peale~~ My real trick is I begin quite a while ahead of time and hang the pieces I am thinking of taking separately (from my normal clothing) and next to my little suitcase on a stand. Then I add and subtract, try on everything, and spend endless nights obsessing about it ;-)<BR><BR>I took 2 nice looking sandals and 1 comfy suede slip on shoes. 4 pair pants/capri, 3 vests, 1 black knit jacket, maybe 8 tops of varying styles, 1 shorts. Oh yes & 1 dressy but lightweight 2-piece pants-thing. 1 bathrobe, 1 sarong, 1 bathing suit. Undies, bras, socks.<BR><BR>Let's see... have I forgotten anything??<BR><BR>Susan

Worried

I always thought that these postings were made by trolls. Now I am really worried that they are made by serious people. No wonder we have some much fun spoofing them.

gb

Thinbk of it this way. You don't need any more for a three week trip than you carry on a weekend trip. (of course, planning to do laundry along the way).

Sue

I usually go for 10 or 12 days, and take a 25", and never wear everything!<BR>Besides the suitcase, I have a carry-on for the plane. It's really too much, but I stay in one place. Once I went to London for 12 days and took a 22". I was thrilled to get everything in, and proud of myself! However, I always seem to go back to the 25". My next trip I'm going by train to several places, and will make myself use the 22", as the bigger one will be much too much hassle on trains, walking to hotels, etc. I'm going to look into an expandable 22".

Rex

Perhaps CR was trying to post this URL:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1395382<BR><BR>Swiss army luggage for Europe<BR> <BR>Author: Joanne ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/29/2002, 10:30 pm<BR><BR>Message: Can someone help me? Second time to Europe and hoping to pack a lot lighter this time. I am interested in purchasing a Swiss Army Trek Pak Plus 26". Like the pack because of the versatility and the quality. Between two people, we plan to take this pack and also a Kelty Redwing 2900 backpack for a 17 day European vacation involving train travel. The bag itself is 17.5" wide. Too wide for train aisles?<BR><BR>I was reading a lot of posts here saying go with a 22". I looked at a 22" and thought, how could I put all my stuff in there? The posts for the backpack portion seem to take up a lot of space. Does anyone own this bag?<BR><BR>Any advice would be appreciated.<BR><BR><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR> <BR>Author: Rex ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/29/2002, 10:50 pm<BR><BR>Message: I strongly recommend you use no bag bigger than 22 inches. You get to take as much stuff as you (reasonably) need by taking a second bag. so much easier to handle two bags of 35 pounds each than one bag of 55 pounds.<BR><BR>And you will probably not take 2 bags at 35 pounds, filled - - if you follow this important rule: Bag number one should not weight more than EIGHT pounds empty. And bag number two should not weigh more than eight OUNCES when empty. In other words, a lightweight medium or small nylon duffel.<BR><BR>These are my other items of advice for luggage and packing, as previously posted:<BR><BR>* I check the larger bag when flying, and I make sure that the smaller bag (carried on with me) has EVERYTHING I will need to get me by for the first 2-3 days after my arrival in Europe - - in case my larger bag is delayed in arriving.<BR><BR>* For either bag (separately), when fully packed, you should be able to lift it entirely above your head, and carry it up one flight of steps without touching wall or handrail(s). Can't do this? It's too heavy (for you).<BR><BR>* For both bags - - TOGETHER - - you should be able to carry them up AND down one flight of stairs. It's okay to brush against walls for this. For most people, this means a total packed weight of about 50 pounds maximum, or maybe as much as 60-something.<BR><BR>* The rules relax for your return trip. Obviously, it's what YOU can manage. but I almost always take a THIRD empty bag (again, typically a nylon duffel). I check two for the return trip.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Fran

Take the smallest suitcase you can. On any trip over a week in length, we always set aside a couple of hours for a stop at the laundromat. It gives you a chance to rub elbows with the working class and is not time wasted.

jeanne

I just bought a great Skyway Varsity 22" (expandable +3") at Marshall's for $59. Great features, sturdy but light...good wheels. They had many Pathfinders, JanSport, and other good brands. TJ Maxx had some of the same items, but Marshall's had the best selection.<BR><BR>I'm going to use it on a 17 day trip this fall along with a rolling duffle which I'll carry aboard. Between the 2 bags, I think I'll have more than enough room, allowing for a couple of laundry stops.

mjs

Pretty much agree with Rex. We each take a 22 inch expandable rolling suitcase (Swiss) plus a nylon carryon that fits over the handle of the 22 inch suitcase.<BR>Total volume is 3850 + 2420 = 6270. Plenty of room. Do pack less than this as we go over with the suitcases not expanded. Do laundry every 4 to five days as well as washing small items every day. Bring a old army nylon duffle bag to carry dirty clothes so we have our suitcases free for bought items on our way home.<BR>This arrangment works well for trains and in cars.

up

up<BR>

Christina

The last time I traveled for over two weeks, I took a 25" and handled it myself, including a couple train trips. I don't regret it and will the next time I think I need that much space as I liked having the right variety of things to wear, especially shoes and I needed a jacket and sweater for coolor weather (and am really glad I had them, it was colder than I had even expected). I don't like wearing only the same pair of shoes every day, either, but some people don't care about that. <BR><BR>I think this is just something you have to decide for yourself, hopefully with experience. I don't agree with Rex that it's easier to handle two 22" than one 25"--there is no way in the world I would want to take two 22" bags. Also, some people I've noticed who talk about packing only in a 22" bag have said say they also take a medium-size backpack -- to me, a med. size backback is another piece of luggage about the same size as a suitcase, so I don't think that's packing so light. I took a 25" plus small carryon and didn't have any major problem. I could lift it but no, I could not run around the block with it but I don't ever do that with luggage, so it doesn't matter.<BR><BR> I don't think the carryon reason works much anymore because that would have to be your sole carryon and I know some airlines won't allow that size any more because they've made me check a 22". I just flew BA and looked out of curiosity and not a single person had a 22" as a carryon, everything was smaller than that (except maybe one garment bag). <BR><BR>I think this is a question that only you can answer from experience as to what bothers you or not. I would think if you are really moving around a lot on a lot of train trips and do not want to spend much on cabs ever (I always take a cab from airport or train station to my hotel--well almost always), the smaller one might be better for you.<BR><BR>oh BTW xxx I am an average in-shape woman and I can do it. Do you know how much kids weigh? Women carry them around all the time.

either one is fine

I agree with Christina above (although personally mine's a 22" because for travel to Mexico I still can take it as a carry-on).<BR><BR>Either a 22 or 25 inch is fine as long as you can lift/manage it yourself (for climbing hotel stairs, up the steel steps onto trains, over your head onto a rack in a bus or train). AND in addition carry only ONE small to medium other bag (carry-on bag, day pack, pocketbook or purse).

ttt

top<BR>

OhNo

to "xxx" who can't lift the empty suitcase over her head - <BR><BR>"In shape" is a very relative term in this country. If you can't lift an empty suitcase over your head, you don't qualify.

Lucy

I'm in the minority & also agree with Christina - I have no idea the exact measurement of my suitvase but its BIG, has sturdy solid wheels & was a lot easier to pull around cobblestoned streets than a much smaller case I have with tiny wheels - I MUCH prefer the bigger bag. When I go over to Europe its half empty which gives me plenty of room to fill it with all the wonderful purchases I make which would be too much of a pain to carry around if they didn't fit in a littler suitcase. I managed quite ok to drag it up & down a heap of stairs when I caught the RER back to CDG on my way home from Paris last year.