Searching for a really light , but strong, 22" carry-on, wheeled bag.
 

Just got back from Europe. I lugged aroung an expandable 22" roll-aboard bag, which worked alright, but was too heavy. The bag alone weighed 12.5 pounds. When fully loaded, it weighed only 23 pounds. That's silly! I need that big a bag, as some some of my stuff is light, but bulky, and I like the expandable feature for the stuff my DW buys.

Can anyone suggest a replacement bag that weighs significantly less, but is sturdy enough to stand up to international travel?

Thanks,

:-)

Yes, this is very light weight, but pretty rugged. I have an entire set.

http://www.ebags.com/international_t...?modelid=19538

I faced the same problem when we went to Italy for 2 1/2 wks. I loved my old suitcase, but it's way too heavy. After lots of research and asking myself which features I really use, I settled on the Eagle Creek Point A Load Warrior. Only 6 1/2 lbs and the multiple handles were really nice during train travel. It's expandable.

It's not "fancy", no plastic pockets or gizmos. But I use heavy duty ziplocks for everything anyway. Unlike most duffels, it opens book-like and the lower compartment is sturdy enough to keep clothes in place. I really like the built-in compression straps. On planes, I add a luggage strap running lengthwise.

In short, it suited my needs perfectly...my back liked it even better!
http://tinyurl.com/ykxckr

Shop around for price. I paid about $115 in January.

The "expandable" feature addds some weight. Both my two suitcases (1-22" and 1-24" weigh 7.5lbs empty and are plenty sturdy. No special brand. Both bought on sale for ~$50 at Marshalls or JC Penny.

Try the Delsy brand. They have a very lightweight model and it can often be found for CHEAP at TJMaxx and Marshalls.

Tumi has a very lightweight model, but be prepared to PAY! Great lugagge, but very costly!

Thank you all for your responses. I like the claims for the Delsey "Helium" luggage that CarolA suggests, but their website is pretty vague about the weight, other than it is "-up to 40% lighter". Nowhere do they list the weight, that I can find. I have emailed them.

Bookchick, I like the features of the "International" brand that you have, but when I looked up the 22 incher, it weighs exactly the same as the one I have, i.e., 12.5 pounds.

I'll keep looking.

:-(

The 21" roll-aboard bag at www.ricksteves.com weighs seven pounds. Also check the Expandaire line at www.atlanticluggage.com.

Hey, I've seen the Delsy at TJ Maxx and Marshalls and they were a great size, liked the look, and were very light. I thought they looked very flimsy though and passed. I'm used to a hardcase 22" Samsonite that was $300 and is incredibly sturdy and rolls like a dream. I love it but it's a problem on EU airlines with their crazy weight restrictions.

For those of you who have Delsy's -- you haven't had problems with the shells cracking, etc? I'll run out and get one if enough of you say they hold up fine.

The Delsey's that I've looked at weigh up to 12 pounds, so don't buy one unless you are sure of the weight.

If you don't need this immediately, it's worth looking around. I just bought a 2 lb. Kelty duffle to use as a carryon and found it on sale at Campmor for half the price I saw elsewhere.

Campmor, ebags and Sierra Trading Post have good prices -- and some of the camping gear places have really lightweight rugged stuff.

Fishee,
When shopping for bags I was seriously considering the polycarbonate "shell types" (Delsey and Int'l Travller). I had the same concern as you.

I saw a display at Steinmart right after Christmas. They were indeed very light. But when I looked closer several had golf ball size dents and/or hairline cracks. Bookchick says hers work fine, but the floor models scared me off.

I looked at one model on this page
http://www.delsey.com/pages/collection.php?lng=uk
and the weight was shown in kg (figure roughly 1 kg = 2.2 lbs).

Which model?

Oh sorry. I misinterpreted your post. Yes, the weights are displayed for all models.

I'm sorry, Holley, but I don't see the weight listed for any of the models on tht page, just the dimentions. Where did you see that information?

:-)

Well - just clicked on three of the bags on that page and all listed the weight

ok i see the weights but they are all more like 4.5 to 6.5 kg not 1 kg.

which one only weighs 2 lbs???

i would pay good money for a suitcase that light.

oh sorry, i'm a dunce. i understand holly was giving us the conversion not stating the weight of a suitcase.

Suze,

I misread Holley's post the same way. She was only converting 1 kilogram to 2 pounds for the OP, not saying there were any that light. Holley was only saying you can figure out the weight of Delsey products with this link.

in that case those suitcases are still too heavy.

again 8 lbs max is typical for a 22-24" rolling suitcase and not difficult or expensive to find.

seems it is often the fancier brands that are so heavy that Swiss Army Victronox (?) for one.

For my next trip, I'm junking my 8-lb wheeled suitcase in favor of a 2lb duffel. I pack to stay under the carry-on weight-limit, which is 30-40 pounds. I don't need to wheel that light a load, and the wheels just add weight and subtract from what I can pack.