Greetings Travelers!
I'm planning a trip and need luggage advice. The last time I traveled (I'm 86 years old), the carry on suitcase didn't have wheels and I was so tired walking all over the airport...not just tired but in pain. So I need a suitcase to book on the plane that has a space where I can put a carry on, so I'd have one large thing to stroll in the airport with until I book the bookable luggage on. . But then when I book the big luuggae on, I need to use the carry on suitcase and it must have wheels. It's a long trip and I cannot be in pain.
Why is this so difficult to find? I've seen people in airports with just what I need. Where can I buy this without taking all of my travel money?

Your thread has been moved from Technical Support to the Travel Tips forum.

It should be VERY easy to find small, lightweight carry-on sized luggage with wheels. Its actually harder to fine them without wheels. You can find then everywhere -- from discount places like Ross/Marshall's to Walmart/Target to Kohl's to JC Penney to Macy's, to upscale places like Nordstrom or Tumi. They are sold just about everywhere. On line too of course but I like to buy luggage in person so I can check out the features, feel/weight, quality of the wheels etc.

Something like this: https://shop.samsonite.com/luggage/l...06266XXXX.html

Last time, at age 86, I booked a large luggage and then had a carry on that I had to put over my shoulders. By the time I walked all over the airport my shoulders were in pain. So hear's my question: Is there a luggage company that makes a large suitcase to book with a space where a carry on can fit. Here's the problem: I need the carry on to have wheels. Does this exist? I see people puling suitcases with a carry on top, but do those have wheels? I'm planning a long trip and need this help asap. I know I can pull two suitcases at the same time, but is there a better idea?

A 2nd thread has been moved from Technical Support to the Travel Tips forum and merged with your original topic.

You need two suitcases both on wheels (which is kind of a pain in a different way). The larger one you check thru, the smaller one cabin size but also with wheels for ease in going thru airports.

That should not be hard to find. I never buy expensive luggage. No idea where you live but I find mine at places like TJ Maxx or Nordstrom Rack. You can shop online, but for luggage I really do like to see it in person and roll it around the store before buying.

I had Eagle Creek carry on with wheels for many years and thought it was great. After a few uses I bought one for my partner, It's in the moderate price range.
LL Bean might also have something for you.

Bags with wheels are inherently heavier and while stacking two bags each with wheels might work in some situations as soon as you are faced with stairs or rough ground it becomes problematic.

My preferred solution is to use a day back (with a hip strap if needed) along with my rolling case. Day packs are much better for your back and easier to carry than a bag which you carry with one arm.

I looked up to see what a day pack was...similar to a backpack, right? I think my Kipling bag which I call a "backpack" might be a semi-day-pack, because its has padded shoulder straps but the bag itself is not padded. I've taken it on every trip for that last 30 years or more.......this is the NEWER version of the one I use, but very similar. but since I carry it on the place, and if a daypack is easier to carry, I guess I could switch....

https://poshmark.com/listing/Kipling...hoCXk4QAvD_BwE



They look nice. But I have been carrying a shoulder bag, fairly large. Can you manage both?

The OP hasn't been back since November, but I like the topic.
checked bag - a bag too large to be a carry on, what the OP calls bookable, these are roller bags
rollaboard - a bag with two or four wheels that can be a carry on
spinner - a bag with four wheels
trolley strap - a strap/sleeve on the back of a small bag that goes over the handle of a larger roller bag

I use a rollaboard spinner with a small 2-wheel rollaboard that has a trolley strap. I check the large bag and carry on the small bag. It is, I think, the setup that I think the OP wants.

Here is, approximately, what the OP has:
Carry Me Away - 2 PC Carry On Luggage Set | Maxlite by Travelpro
The problem is that the smaller bag (tote) has a strap and no wheels. The shoulder strap is a problem.

The fact that my small rollaboard has a trolly strap means that it is designed to be stacked on top of a large bag. I imagine there is a compatible larger bag, designed to work with it. My two bags are different models, not a set. The main problem is that the strap just barely fits over the handle of the big bag. Another inch or two wider would make the strap easier to put on and take off. The wheels on the small bag are not a problem when stacked, maybe because the small bag is a bit wider. A smaller issue is that there is not much space between the handle of the large bag and the top of the stacked small bag. This is a small issue and is only when I need to use only two wheels of the spinner, like going over a curb (and too lazy to go over to where wheelchairs go).

>> similar to a backpack, right?
Right, just smaller. For a day hike pack what you need into a day pack. If it has a hip strap, then it is probably too big and heavy for the OP and really is meant for hiking.

There is no dealing with stairs at an airport. There are escalators and elevators. There can be a lot of walking in airports and can be tiring enough for some people even when not carrying anything.

There is no rough ground to deal with. You wheel the stacked bags out of the airport. The driver loads the bags and the porter unloads them. Or you get other help, like the relative picking you up. The only place that is tiring/painful is at the airport.

The OP really could just request special assistance, i.e. rides from check-in to the gate to plane door to baggage claim etc

I did end up with two suitcases. It worked out okay.

Just to piggyback on this thread. Does anyone have any suggestions for compression packing cubes. We have some regular Eagle Creek packing cubes, but needed some compression ones, as I want to be able to do a shortish trip for a week with just a carry on and a small backpack. I am not noted for packing light. I am planning on wearing a light/midweight jacket and a sweatshirt on the plane, and sneakers.

I did eventually purchase in Japan a carry on bag with wheels. Yes, I pulled two suitcases through three airports, but better than throwing my shoulder out of place with a heavy bag. Thanks for the advice.

Japan!?
I hope you used the luggage delivery service (takkyubin). You can travel around the country hands free. You can ship one bag ahead so that it will be at your hotel when you arrive (and maybe already in room). Send the other bag on the travel day and it arrives the next afternoon.

In Tokyo under certain circumstances you can have same-day delivery from the airport to your hotel. Otherwise, it is next day. You can ship a bag from your hotel to the airport two or three days before your international departure.

I finally bought a spinner (four-wheeled) carry on and I am amazed by how wonderful and easy it is to glide it through the airport.

Coingrats, ekscrunchy, on making life a bit easier.

Your daypack has a loop strap handle on top. When you have your spinner ready to roll, place your daypack on top of it. The strap on your daypack is probably too small to fit around the spinner handle. But with the daypack resting on the spinner, see if you can hook the strap part way on the handle of the spinner. Hold the strap in place on the top of the handle and let the spinner carry your daypack. The only time you might have to wear the daypack is when getting on/off the plane.


Here are some options for a small bag (handbag, backpack, rollaboard) with a travel sleeve:
The 12 Best Personal Item Bags, Tested and Reviewed
I got the small version of the Paravel foldable pack with trolley sleeve. But my 30-year old $20 Jansport daypack works well enough by hooking the handle strap over the spinner handle.