Well there go my comments about zippers not giving out on decent bags! But very few people travel as much as you do, Thursday!! Keep us posted on how the bag works out and more important, how the TRIP goes!!

Well, eks, although I hated having to replace the bag, I really couldn't complain about the use I got out of it! And it was getting rather dirty.... I did wonder if my zipper had been compromised by someone trying to break into the bag.

I was very surprised by how hard it was to find one the same size (17 x 11.5 x 6), everything seemed to be bigger, often much bigger. It came piggy-backed with the convertible backpack, and I'd have had to replace both to get one the same size. I was also surprised y some of the prices - the only one the specilist bag shop had that came close was over $300! I wound up paying under $100 at REI

Oops, hit the wrong key. Lots of road warriors travel more than I do, but with rather different requirements! The next trip is just a month taking it easy in Eastern France, haven't decided whether there'll be a trip report, although I did just buy a "baby" computer to take with me. That's why I was willing to go with a slightly sturdier day pack, as it's also my carry-on for the flight, with all the electronics. What I really need is a universal power adapter...

<i>"as long as you are going to check, I don't find much difference between a 21" bag and a 25" bag," - only true if you're only going to one place, the OP is taking trains, where it makes a huge difference!</i>

I don't find a huge difference, even when taking trains or other significant travel. Lifting it on and off of trains takes maybe 3 minutes. For a young-ish person that can lift 50 lbs for a short distance, I just don't see it being that big of a deal. But, ultimately, it is personal preference and what you can handle depends upon your strength and mobility.

I had a 20" Delsey hardside that I loved - absolutely plain
w/no outside or inside pockets - just a shell. I could
really fill that baby up! Sadly, it developed a major
fault line so it had to be put to rest. Now I'm using
a fabric but hard sided 21" Delsey that weighs 7#s. Too
many cutsey inserts and insets but it's sturdy and the
wheels are fine; it's been 'abroad' at least 5 times and
looks new - and I'm not a careful owner!

After many a moon of trying to find the right luggage
combo for carry-on I've streamlined to the 21" + a
Baggallini cross-over messanger bag. It holds my mini
laptop w/cords, my camera and meds and assorted frivolities

After losing luggage, and since becoming old and infirm,
I will go to any extreme to keep what I have manageable
and, most importantly, within my fading sight at all
times. Sad, but true!

My husband, on a whim, picked up a rollaboard for $10 at Target -- because it was purple, not black. He figured $10, it'll last for one trip anyway. It still looks new 10+ years later. (We don't travel a lot but several times a year, and every other year, a month at a time.) Last trip, for the first time ever, we saw another one. It must be equally old; it looked equally good.

Whereas the time we wanted something really sturdy, it turned out to be really heavy. We rarely use it.

Another suggestion - beside the one bag ONLY (pack light, you never need as much as you think), I love to bring a Bagallini zip up bag. I purchased the large lime green one years ago (before there were the current carry on restrictions). It is all zipped up to about a 5" x 9"(am not at home, so can't give an accurate size) bag that I can throw in my suitcase. At the end of my trip, I unzip it and put in all the goodies I have purchased that I don't want to be checked for fear of loss. It comes in various sizes. I recently purchased the one that is 42" total dimensions. Carry on requires 45" or less (height, length, depth). The only place I found for the correct size is online.

In terms of trains: I guess if you aren't very strong, the difference in weight between what you can stuff into a 21" and a 24 or 25" bag could be an issue. But unless you're going to be getting on and off trains several times in a day, several days in a row (which I've never done), I've never noticed much difference in climbing up or down a couple of train steps and stowing bags of different sizes and weights. It's not like you have to do it every hour on the hour for 20 days in a row.

However, that said, certainly the lighter you can travel the easier it is to move around. But it's not a life-altering event to take a 25" suitcase to Europe if you feel there are some things that you just have to have.

"I guess if you aren't very strong" - I guess I'm not very strong! The 20-22 lbs my main pack usually weighs is all I want to lift overhead - especially since I currently have some shoulder problems. Plus not all racks are that big to start with, and I don't like leaving my luggage at the end of the carriage.

I love B+R luggage and have a LOT of it....BUT, the "lightweight" isn't necessarily all that "light" and as much as I like it I ALSO like Eagle Creek products...one of my biggest pieces weighs less than ANY of my B+R stuff.

NOW, to the practicalities of your itinerary...the closest train you are going to get to Bellagio is the station at Varenna-Esino. Fortunately, the walk from there to the ferry dock only takes 10 minutes and it is ALL downhill...but what goes down.....so choose your luggage wisely.

Yep, shoulder problems will certainly make a difference. I've always helped people who were struggling with their luggage on trains, but you can't count on that happening.

The problems aren't just with getting the luggage up on the rack - and you're right, there's often help available with that. You have to get from your hotel to the train, too. I use public transport, and metro and regular train stations tend to have a lot of stairs. But I just don't like lugging around more stuff than I need - some people prefer to travel heavier.

My husband and I both have B&R 22" rolling luggage and really like the product quality and warranty assurances. We looked for the most basic, no frills "box on wheels" we could find. The more zippers, pockets, "helpful" hanging gadgets, etc., the heavier the bag. Expandable bags with the second, large zipper seem especially heavy.

But, no getting around it, B&R is expensive. For many years, we used any lightweight luggage we could find on sale. However, these days with the various carry-on v. check-in issues, we check our bags more often and find the cheap stuff just can't take the abuse.

I use 1e rolling suitcase, either 22" or 24" in size, packed to about 25 lbs. in weight total. I also carry an oversized tote or pocketbook in addition. I check it on the airplane, but it's small enough for me to easily handle getting on and off trains, and to and from hotels on foot or taxi.

Sorry, travelgourmet & RufusTFirefly - perhaps lifting a 25" suitcase that weighs 50lbs is not a big deal to you, but for me, it's impossible. I'm female in my 30s and I'm in relatively good shape without any arthritis or joint problems. However, I am only 5ft2 and petite. It is impossible for me to lift anything over 30lbs to the overhead luggage racks.

And last year, I downsized my suitcase from a 21" to a 19" because I find a 21" still too big and clumsy for me. I travel alone a lot and like thursdaysd, I take public transportation (buses, trains, metros) when I travel. I don't rely on anyone else but myself to carry my luggage, and I can tell you I have no trouble carrying my 19" (weights 25lb max when full) running up 2 flights of stairs if I have to.

4 years ago, I made the mistake of taking a 24" suitcase on a trip with my husband. He ended up having to carry that most of the trip because it is simply too big for me to handle.

This is a great post because it crystalizes a lot of what has been written elsewhere about luggage. Perhaps that is why it is still going after a month.

The right luggage for YOU will depend on gender, itinerary, weather, means of transport, and a few other things.

Gender: the original poster is male but the majority of replies are from women. A 21" suitcase that can get a 5'2" woman through three weeks may be entirely inadequate for a large male. At the same time, men are less likely to have difficulty lifting heavy suitcases, though I, at 6'3" and 260 lbs can't imagine ever needing a 50lb baq. Take what you need but no more.

Itinerary: frequent business travelers and certainly road warriors prefer brands like B&R or Hartmann because they hold up. They are also usually dealing with a lot of paper, a laptop, and perhaps other electronics. Fewer larger pieces work better, with the most expensive stuff in the carryon you know you can take on, even in a junior jet. I can do an overnight, maybe two, with my Hartmann 21" and a Hartmann carry on, but I have to leave a lot of stuff home.

Weather: Yes, I do layers too, but some places in some seasons require heavy coats or special equipment at one end of the trip. Business travel or weddings or other events require starched shirts and suits, and yes, ladies, business associates _do_ notice if you are wearing the same clothes over and over at a conference, even if you call it a different outfit by wearing a different scarf every day. They may or may not care, but they notice.

Transportation: if you are flying to your destination and only rolling your bag as far as the rental car, take everything they will let you check. Why not? If you are taking trains or buses or subways, the less the better. My own personal bete noire is cobblestones. I hate rolling a bag across cobblestones, but I hate carrying it more.

Personal items: some people on this board "can't travel without my water bottle" or a certain brand of shampoo or a second pair of shoes or their Bose headphones or a CPAP or whatever. Being a carryon snob may not meet their needs. At the same time, almost any of us could go through someone else's suitcase and tell them what they could leave at home.
Long distance hikers used to drill holes in the handles of their toothbrushes to save weight. Would we go that far?

We all obsess a lot about this stuff, but the next time you are in an international airport, watch people arriving in the US. Most Europeans -- and especially the British -- travel with enormous suitcases, often, perhaps usually, hard-sided. They check them on planes, roll 'em to the rental car, and enjoy their visit.

yk--I think your situation was already covered in some of the prior discussion. And you don't need to apologize for having medical problems.

Re-read yk's post--I WISH I had her "medical problems" i.e. small and petite!

I used to do the luggage to the max game and now have a permanently damaged shoulder to thank for it. I was taking many business trips a year and thought I had to dress for success i.e. at least three outfits for 5 days. Even if you are "only" going to a rental car, you still have to heave that sucker into the car.

Those days are over in more ways than one. I am so happy with a smaller case although still totally a fan of B&R. My current case expands to 24" but I try to keep the total weight down to <30 lbs until I add purchases or gifts at end of trip.

Anyway, it really is to each his/her own. Without the expander the case is 21" and fairly easy on public transport. With the expander, the size is more awkward but still okay for trains, transfer buses, etc.

Cathinjoetown :)) Yes, my "medical problem" is being born too short, and my upper arms have no strength at all. Unfortunately, I don't think there's remedy for the height, though I suppose I can take some steroids to build up some muscles!

Stay off the steriods; I suspect that would be a bad look for you!