<So what size bags do you all check>
I check one rolling bag, either a 24" suitcase or 24" duffle bag. I use the duffle shape for beachy vacation where I'm staying put the entire time (it's a big roomier and floppier), or the suitcase shape one if I'm in Europe moving around on the train.

Along with one carry-on which might be an oversized pocket book or a beach bag, again depending on destination.

I didn't mean to ask what size you all checked.

I meant: What size bags do you all take as carry on??

I am getting anxious just thinking of this!

oops, I thought maybe you'd changed your mind ;-)
I don't carry-on only. It's too stressful for me to manage. I have done it in the past (for one 3 week europe trip I used only a smallish Andiamo duffle bag w/a shoulder strap, no wheels) but I didn't like it. I've been traveling w/ wheels and a slightly larger bag ever since that trip.

I did it! I ordered Eagle Creek 20" Tarmac bag. It seemed to get very good reviews. I have to take a break now!

But for certain, I will be back once I start to pack in the middle of next month!

Congrats on the decision & purchase. It's a very nice looking bag (kinda tiny though -haha). Good luck!

Remember that bag weighs a bit over 7 pounds so that leaves you 10 pounds worth of "stuff" to put in it. You might not want to wait until the last minute to start packing in case you decide to add some lighter weight clothes to your wardrobe that you might have to order.

In adddition to the 21" Rick Steves with wheels ,I take another piece of his luggage, Avanti bag, that sits on top of luggagewhen moving about.It fits nicely under the seat in front of me. I use the zipper compartments as my "purse" since my real purse is packed in the larger bag.

eks, I lent my mother my Eagle Creek rolling bag, for her to use as carry on, which she never does, and she called me to tell me how wonderful it was. You will like it; I'm a big fan.

I never go bigger than 20" and often use a 19".

Are those Alitalia restrictions for all flights, or perhaps just in Europe?

Thanks again, everyone.

Suze: Very funny!

I will start the test run soon. The last time I flew home from Europe, my bag got lost for almost two days. I had quite a bit of mozzarella inside so I was quite annoyed. (I had flown home from Naples). I was reminded by my travel partner that, there and then, I made a vow to take only carry on on the next European trip. In fact, I was reminded several times of this vow. Well, now I am halfway there! I just have to figure out how to get the food home--I might have to check a bag on the return but that is not so important..

I am getting anxious just thinking of this!


All this time and effort and stress alr, and you could have just pack a bag and check it!

We just bought an eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible-actually 2 of them. We will be on safari for 16 days and tried many, many bags before choosing this one. We have used them once already and love them. Extremely well-made, top choice of SF Chronicle travel writer and I can get tons of stuff in it. You can use it as a back-pack (it is very light) or with the handles (there are three). I would have liked it in Europe to carry up lots of flights of stairs and on trains. We travel a lot, and this will be our bag. Of course, we travel light.
good luck on your pledge, and have lots of fun.

Whoops,
i forgot to mention that the bag is now on sale at eBags for $40. No, i don't know them or work for them. i just like this bag.

Eks, good for you -- I like Eagle Creek and that will be my next bag. I do carry on only, at least on the trip over.

For now I use either the Rick Steves wheeled carry-on or the without-wheels-with-backpack-straps. I am so glad you went with the wheels. I did the without wheels bag last trip to Italy and boy did I REGRET it! Awful lugging that thing around. I bought it because it was about 3-4 pounds empty but I will not go without a wheeled bag again.

The bag I brought over last time (for purchases) was a bagallini, but I think this time I will bring a very light weight sportsac that I bring over in the carry on.

I also like the Eagle Creek packing envelope for packing internally, and the Rick Steves packing cubes. I had avoided them previously because I really do pare things down to every ounce, but they have well repaid the weight they take up. Also I do include some of the vacuum bags, but watch out for weight adding up.

I like onebag.com as well and recommend it.

Eks, There is no hard and fast rule for the second carryon except that it can be stuffed under the seat in front of you until after take-off. (the 21" of course goes overhead). A cloth grocery bag will fit under even with 4 books and a large purse tucked into it.

My wife and I just did 2 weeks in Nice, 2 weeks in Paris and on week in Amsterdam. We took one backpack each, weighing less than 25 pounds, one large purse (maps, guide books, snacks) 1 computer case with computer and various plug adapters, extension cords, etc. We washed clothes about every 4th or 5th day. While there, wife did some shopping for clothes. We bought wheeled luggage at a second hand store for 8 Euro to bring stuff back in. We had found new wheeled luggage for 20 Euro, but waited and found secondhand before we had to buy something. So, we came back with 2 backpacks, purse, computer case and 2 -wheeled luggage. Only had to carry them once - to the airport, then home on Amtrak. We did not have to lug them all over Europe. We always try to end up in Paris, as our last stop. That is where wife does her shopping for the fall and winter.

The last time I flew home from Europe, my bag got lost for almost two days. I had quite a bit of mozzarella inside so I was quite annoyed.>>

LOL, ek - what was the mozzarella like when you got it home?

The mozzarella was actually fine! It was smoked so perhaps it withstood the trip better than regular.

Meanwhile, ten minutes ago I opened the box with the new suitcase. It is 20" and it is really good looking, but it is also TINY!!


I am tempted to exchange it for the 22" one, but if I do that, I guess there is a chance that I will not be allowed to carry on, right?

You're right; it depends on the airline (and ultimately the person that checks you in) so read the size allowed for carryon carefully if you want a guarantee.

Mine is 21" and I've been lucky so far but I've even seen a first class passenger told that they HAVE to check their 22".

I've also seen plenty of 22" cases taken on board without a problem.

Hi ekscrunchy,

Could you post a link to the exact bag? Also, have you measured it all the way around? What are it's l, w, h?

Thanks!

This is the bag--this link has the measurements--20" x 14" x 9.5"

What do you think?

http://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-c...upright/108076

This is the bag--this link has the measurements--20" x 14" x 9.5"

What do you think?

http://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-c...upright/108076

You're still flying Alitalia, right? And they've still got a single bag/8 kg limit, right?

This bag looks very nice (and well it should for $250), but it's heavy at 7 lbs 8 oz. As has already been pointed out upthread this leaves you with only 10 lbs for the contents.

The specific suggestions that I made in my post to this thread on August 20 may come in handy.

Lots of American airlines will allow a 22" onboard according to their criteria, based on the total dimensions. In fact, I think criteria are usually that it cannot be more than 9x14x22 or 45 linear inches. That is United and Delta's limits, AF is similar but in cm which makes the biggest dimension about 21.6 inches, which is the same for Lufthansa. British Airways is also similar, but actually 1 cm bigger. Of course, what a piece of baggage claims it is may vary from what it really is, in my experience, I always take a tape measure with me to the store to really measure it.

I think the Scottevest is the best idea I've seen. I'm leaving Monday so probably don't have time to get one.
Ekscrunchy it would be great to carry your travel books. I have the Roots official size carry-on. It is soft sided and weights 4.8. I'm off now to find a Scottevest.

That's very heavy for a bag that size. I would expect a bag large to weigh that.

Do you really think I could fit guidebooks (Cadogan, for example) in the pockets of the Scottevest? (Only sizes large and up can fit an iPad in the pocket..according to the site)

For a traveler not carrying a cell phone or laptop, or water bottle, what else do you put in the vest? Too bad one cannot fill the pockets with bottles of liquids like shampoo! Or wine!

There is a jacket option with zip-off sleeves.

http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/E...et_Women.shtml

I guess it's a personal option, but NO I would not carry my guidebooks in the travel vest I was wearing on the plane!

That's 4 lbs not 4 kilos. Last time I traveled to Europe they made me take most items out of my carry on and put my purse in. And no janisj my clothes were not cast iron lol! So this Roots bag is the lightest I could find.

Almost 8 lbs. empty is VERY heavy for only a 20" suitcase.

Suze: Why? Because they would stop you and make you put them in your bag? I have a feeling I would look like a stuffed sausage..plus it costs about $100.

Micheline, I think that the comments about a bag being fairly heavy refer to ekscrunchy's bag (see link a few posts up) which weighs 7 lbs 8 oz. Is your Roots bag the one that's got "Roots" written across the front of it? Googling brought me to Sears (Canadian) which shows that bag and if indeed it only weighs 4 lbs that would be great. Try and post a link if that's the bag you've got.

As for fitting guidebooks into the Scottevest, ekscrunchy, yes, you certainly can. I wear a small (in the women's vest)and the wide pocket across the back will definitely accomodate a couple of guide books. I wouldn't be too worried about whether it looks odd or not: you'd only be using the vest in that way during check-in, when your bag was being weighed. After it's been weighed and tagged as okay for carry-on you can add items to the bag.

Things I put in my Scottevest (which I really only wear on the plane): passport, credit cards, cash, ticket/travel documents (remember, you won't have a purse if you're on a one bag carrier), keys, jewelry, toiletries, meds, sunglasses, head phones (which thread up through the vest itself), eye shades, inflatable neck pillow... I've got an upcoming trip for which I'll be bringing two flat irons (one U.S. current, one not), and both will be in my Scottevest.

So, to sum up: anything I might need during the flight, usual contents of my purse, and things that are so heavy that putting them in my carry-on will make it too heavy. That last category of items gets moved to the carry-on after it's been weighed and tagged.

oh, BTW, I noticed that bad is 9.5 inches deep. I have had a bag rejected by Air Canada solely due to that measurement not due to the height (which was 22). That had some sizer thing that really kind of only measure the thickness and it failed that. I know a lot of places they have those plastic sizers near the gate which is supposed to measure everything, you plop it in there, but on air canada is was kind of like a conveyor belt and mainly measured the thickness.

eks, have you looked at Mandarina Duck? They have a few pieces that are small yet relatively spacious. The problem with the Eagle Creeks (and I was on the floor at REI with fake stuff I needed to pack and a tape measure every weekend for months) is the way they taper at the top. On the one hand you think, "Good, this will easily fit in the overhead bin wheels first," but you lose lots of cubic inches that way.

I'd go into a store if possible.

Good luck!

Thank you, ekscrunchy, for measuring.

Micheline, I tried searching like Therese and came to the Sears (Canadian) site. It doesn't list weights!

Can you post the link to your particular bag? Many thanks.

I'll keep trying but so far I can't find a link for my Roots bag. The tag on it says that it weighs 5 lbs but when I bought it the clerk weighed it at 4.8 lbs. Same on my scales. The measurements are 19x13x7". I know that seems small so that's why I'm considering buying a vest. I seem to be able to get more into it than I did with my larger hard sided bag. The regular price is $175. but last week I paid $68. at the Bay (Canada). It is the one that has ROOTS written on the front. RO18300.

Is this the one, Micheline?

http://www.sears.ca/product/roots-do...1455048?ptag=1

I've used only carry-on luggage for 3 week+ trips before, 2 week trips with my wife in winter, etc. I can't remember the last time i checked luggage.

even more important the luggage itself is what and how you pack.

what - minimize everything. think hard about every thing you put in the bag, whether you really need it, is it something you can get there, can you reduce the size by only taking a portion of it or transferring into a different container. for clothes, you can cut it in half by doing laundry once (in a sink or bathtub) - or just for easy stuff like underwear, socks. user interchangeable pieces for outfits. photocopy key pages from guidebooks instead of bringing the guidebook. use tiny toiletries, etc.

how - roll roll roll. roll all your clothes - it squeezes out all the extra air. stack all the similar pieces (e.g. tops) and then roll it tight.

i guess that wasn't your original question but oh well...

Sorry Therese but no that's not the one. Mine just does not seem to exist online. I'll let you know how it held up when I return from my trip. It is also expandable and it's called the Smooth Collection. It comes in black or maroon and the tag says official size carry-on board when not expanded.

This idea may have already been given in one of the answers, I just skimmed them, but I just bought an Amazon Kindle. I bought the small size with the WiFi and FREE 3G connection, supposedly, even in many countries in Europe. One of the things that takes up a lot of room are books. Not only can I store my books on it but I can also put my travel books on it. Last year on the plane back from Madrid I ran out of reading material and was really antsy since I couldn't sleep. Haven't had time to play with the Kindle yet since we leave in two weeks and I have procrastinated with plans, but hopefully this will save a lot of space.

We started going carry-on about four years ago when our duffles were lost for five days. Our trips last 3-4 weeks. I found these fabulous light wheeled carry ons at an import store and they are great, but they aren't made anymore. Taking carry-on only has been a real challenge to me, but kind of fun. I'm an admitted clothes horse but have learned to buy very packable, thin, items and layer well. The most planning I do is figuring out how to go with the least amount of clothes. I have saved tiny eyedrop bottles to put some of my liquids in, and we immediately go to a grocery store and/or pharmacy when we get to Italy and buy toiletries. Actually, be sure to label the bottles well-I almost had a disaster last week out of town when I put a drop from the eye-drop bottle that I had filled with glycolic acid for my face--in my eye. I had labeled it, but didn't see well. Dumb. dumb. dumb. I have discovered brands that I actually like better than my home stuff and like to buy clothes there to fill in. We always buy a large, cheap bag to take the stuff we buy back home.

We also take a second unwheeled bag that fits on top of the carry-on which I put my important stuff in the second bag in case some of the airlines, while we are travelling in Europe, insist on checking in the larger carry-on. I stick my handbag and backpack in the second bag and take them out on the plane if I need to.
Have fun

And, one more thing, we also roll our clothes and have bought the fabric cubes that zipper to put them in. This has really helped to organize us.