brmsimmons

We are planning on flying to Drake Bay and I am looking for recommendations for luggage due to Nature Air's weight restriction(we also need new luggage too). Looking for something lightweight and sturdy so i can make the most of the 30# weight limit. As always any advice is appreciated.

mlgb

Not specific to Drake Bay, but when I am trying to fly light I use a nylon duffle for things like clothing, and a quality daypack for valuables. The biggest challenge is always toiletries. And wear your heaviest clothing and shoes.

Kinkazote

We have a pair of LL Bean Adventure Duffels, medium size, now $39.xx. Handles and shoulder strap. It says 1.7 lbs. Caveat: they provide zero protection against crushing. We pack these empty inside our regular large bags, and leave the large ones behind at a hotel (with coats and travel shoes) while we do a stint with Sansa or Nature Air. On both airlines, you are weighed with your carry-on at the check-in desk. We try to look very elderly and benign at the counter, and thus far, they have imposed no additional charges on us.

hsmithcr

I bought a wheeled duffel from Ebags and am very happy with it. It fits carryon size and I took a 3-week trip to South America and brought this and a daypack for the trip. It is one of the lightest wheeled duffels.

I would check Ebags - they have a huge selection of bags of all different types.

mlgb

Wheels just add too much weight and often are more hassle with uneven walkways, stairs, etc, than they are worth. I like to go to a store (Marshalls is good) and see what I can easily lift on and off an upper shelf. Some of the polycarbonate "packing case" luggage with an aluminum handle is fairly lightweight (like 5 lbs), and provides some protection, but an inexpensive duffle is going to weigh less than 2lbs and can be folded up and stored inside the main luggage, or used to bring souveniers home.

tully

I use duffel bags that hold plenty for 2 weeks and weigh next to nothing. The one I've been using recently I got at at Target for $10 or so and is made by Reebok. Love that it had 2 compartments on either end to hold (dirty) shoes. Using duffels or a suitcase, I've found I do so much better (read: lighter) on my packing using the ebags packing cubes, have the 3 size pack and they are a tremendous help to me packing and being organized.

hopefulist

I like carry-on sized conversion packs (usually 40-46 liters) that have straps that tuck away if you want them to. Here are 2 great value ones from REI:
REI Vagabond: http://www.rei.com/product/803307
Osprey Porter 46: http://www.rei.com/product/809157

The Vagabond is a bit smaller and has a beefier suspension system - I have a previous model and lots of my friends and family have the one at the link. I chose the Osprey to have a bit more space as I travel for a month or more at a time (but still try to keep it before 20# at the start of the trip). Somewhere I have a more detailed comparison if you're interested.

Here's a popular, good value bag that works the same general way but doesn't really have a suspension system - ok if you don't plan to actual wear it as a pack much:
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/w...vertible/15026

Here's a great pack light site:
www.onebag.com

And Rick Steves has lots of packing advice, too:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlight.htm

Happy trails!

mlgb

I rather like that onebag site, hopefulist.

Especially useful for the OP, the section "What to pack it in", (including a rec against wheeled bags for travelling light).

glover

we were converted forever to traveling light by an initial similar trip to CR with weight restrictions for small plane.

It's several years since then and we both continue to carry the ebay weekend convertible mentioned by hopeful list above. We each carry one of these and another small tote/backpack. This is what we take for all trips now, including our two month winter trips. The bags are cheap but strong and actually hold quite a lot.

volcanogirl

We use the Weekender Convertible bags from ebags.com. I got the recommendation on this board, and we love them. Lots of people here have them. I used to have a 50-pound wheeled bag, and now I can get everything down to around 20-25 pounds with this bag.

brmsimmons

Great info! The ebags weekender convertible looks great and the price is certainly right, though it may be nice to have a suspension system for future treks. The onebag site is very helpful.

hopefulist

I was impressed with the design and construction of the weekender bags. I traveled in Belize in 2009 with my brother-in-law and his wife and they had them. All of us had packs of some sort, mostly Vagabonds or old Columbia Pakmandus. We didn't trek with them but there were quite a few times when we wore them to have our hands free for other things as we were transitioning and the weekenders were pretty intolerable to wear. They learned to back differently to have something solid or at least soft against their backs but even then they weren't comfortable. We traded off a bit so I took turns, not good. Still a great value if you don't plan to use it as a pack, though.

I travel light for about a month in Latin America every summer and it's surprising how often airport transitions, crumbly sidewalks, cobble-stone streets, dirt paths, or lines at the border make having a comfortable pack a trip saver. Just my 2 cents' worth...

john127

I swear by Rick Steve's convertible carry-on bags. Easy to wear on your back, super light weight, and strong! He has an expanding and non expanding model. They are frequently on sale through his site but can also be had for around $60 through Amazon sometimes, depending on color. I highly recommend you check these out - I own 2!

hipvirgochick

I like the weekender bag as well and they come in great colors. I also found a lightweight roller at Ross a few years ago that I love and use a lot, 3+ something pounds, which is nice because it does provide a little more structure than a duffel with out packing cubes.

mlgb

http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...ht-luggage.cfm

tully

Agreed hip, I also have a carry-on with wheels (super light, 3-4 lbs) that is still roomy enough to pack for a week or so, may try it for June trip for 2 weeks or just use my duffel. But I still use my packing cubes , am quite addicted to them.

LindainOhio

I bought the ebags weekender before our trip to Costa Rica and when it arrived, I thought it was never going to fit all my things for our 11 day trip but that bag just grows when you pack it. The packing cubes or ziplock bags work great with this bag to keep items oganized.

We also carried backpacks. Our friends didn't make the weight limit on our Nature Air flight--I think they just had to pay an extra $25.

brmsimmons

I just purchased the Osprey Porter 46 for my husband and I. I liked the capacity while still staying within carryon specs and I liked the fit and construction of other Osprey products at my local outdoor store.

volcanogirl

When I bought my weekender convertible bag, UPS accidentally delivered it to the wrong house, and the people liked it so much that they kept it. I had to send UPS back over there to get it!

hopefulist

Good for you brmsimmons! I hope you're as happy with your Porters as I am. Happy trails!