Patsy:

Wow what a great thread - thanks every one.

Sandy

I just received our Mother Lode eTech Mini 20". It is very light and has great storing capacity. 2557 cubic inches. I really think this is the one I'll keep. The Rick Steve's Convertible Carry On is only 3 lbs (no wheels) & is 2500 cubic inches fully expanded.

Still waiting to receive the TravelPro that yk likes.

Wow - this is Still going - thanks for all the great info. Finally purchased several pieces of the Heys luggage. Two mid-size for my son and dil and two small carry-ons. Will let you know how they hold up after our trip to Canada next week.

I wound up buying the Eagle Creek Hovercraft 22" rolling bag, and have so far used it on a shart US trip (as checked luggage).

Thoughts:
* (Con) It is indeed 23" long, so I can well imagine it not making it as carryon luggage, esp. outside the US.
* (Pro) Very light compared to my trusty Briggs & Riley, but feels sturdy.
* (Pro) Nice long handle!
* (Con/mixed) You don't get the full depth of the bag as open packing area. The inside of the top lid is "walled off" as an open area under a zipped mesh cover, probably to give structural stability to the lid. I found that annoying but understandable. In practice it makes the lid esp. suitable for awkward large stuff -- a folded trench coat, a bag of laundry, a flattened daypack. I wouldn't put anything too heavy in it.
* (Con/mixed) Handle assembly protrudes inside the bag, esp at the top (handle) end, limiting your packing space. (Briggs & Riley suitcases have the handle assembly outside, so I'm not used to this problem.)

As a devotee of the Eagle Creek Pack-It system, I was able to fit:
- 18" Pack-It Folder
- Two Full Cubes (one had to go in outer pocket)
- Half Cube & equivalent of Quarter Cube (beneath Folder, between struts of handle)
- Small Sac of flattish stuff
- LL Bean hanging toiletry bag, medium size (kind of a struggle, b/c not a good shape here -- I may get an Eagle Creek Wallaby II)
- 1 pair sneakers + 1 pair sandals (note that none of the Eagle Creek diagrams on how to pack this bag include shoes!!)
- Misc. items, including large hardcover book
- Space leftover without using the zippered expansion capability: some, but not lots -- outside small (top) pocket, inside-the-lid area (I think I had something small in there).

Traveling with my Mother Lode 20" mini. I love it!!! Fit in the overheads when other carry-ons stuck out. I have the eagle creek packing envelope in the bottom part (big one but not sure of the size) and it's light and very easy to put overhead even packed full.

DH has the Victorinox and had to be checked with AA but not with other airlines along the trip. Maybe AA just wants to get their $15 bag fee, I don't know.

Highly recommend the Mother Lode. It's light and looks small but packs a lot of items.

BeachGirl, what happened to the TravelPro?

yk, sorry, I just saw your note. I kept the 19" TravelPro for domestic travel for dh. I was able to get a lot in the 20" Mother Lode and never had a problem taking it onboard and fitting in the overhead.

A friend of mine got a set of Delsey luggage (I think it's called Helium zip) at Macy's 6 months ago and has loved it. She's gone on 3 trips already with it.

Beachgirl, is the Mother Lode lighter than the TravelPro?

7lbs 6oz for Mother Lode 21". TravelPro 19" is slightly heavier at 7lbs 8oz. If anyone can tell the weight difference they deserve a prize! ;) Amount you can pack is definitely different.

At home, I didn't notice any significant difference other than amount that could fit into the bags. I packed all three with the same contents. With the compartments I was able to fit more into the Mother Lode than Rick Steve's (unexpanded). If you expanded Rick Steve's I doubt you could carry on unless you were first class on a larger aircraft.

We compared Rick Steve's 21" rollaboard, 19" TravelPro and the 21" Mother Lode.

Mother Lode won the vote.

Check out ebags Weekender Convertible and stellar reviews. The budget version of a similar more $ recommended by Rick Steves. I can't believe how much this thing will hold. Have used it for month and longer trips (admittedly I've learned to travel light). It's the best.

I just purchased the following 20.5" only 4.8 lbs. by Landor & Hawa recommended by someone this Fodor's. It is on Discount Luggage.com and they have free shipping.

Size: 20.5" x 14.2" x 7.8"
Linear Inches: 42.5"
Weight: 4.8 lbs.
Warranty: 10 Year

Landor & Hawa's innovative SUB-0-G Collection is the world's lightest luggage on the market. Each aircraft grade fiberglass element frame is strong and durable, providing maximum protection against impact.

I have a Heys carry-on & it fits into the overhead with no trouble. I find it big enough for several days travel. It's got a couple of scratches but no big deal otherwise. It also maneuvers easily.

those of you who have had your luggage sized at the gate. if you make the 22" or less. do they also check whether it is more than 9" deep and 14" wide? I find a side handle often makes it more than 14- especially on the travelpros - more like 14 1/2 - 15. Has this been an issue for anyone that has had their luggage measured at the gate?

I am looking at the SUB-0-G luggage that you just got, Sue878. How does it seem to you "in the flesh", so to speak? The handle looks a little short to me--is it long enough?

I love LLBEan's lightweight set -
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...9-tn&cat4=2946

After one trip to Canada (via air and train) and one trip to Rome - the Heys luggage held up great and worked extremely well, so - Thanks Doug Stallings for that advice as well as to others who offered suggestions.

I couldn't decide, so I bought 3 to compare--the Landor & Hawa 21", the Eagle Creek Centerline 20" and the Antler 20". All less than 7 lbs. Am keeping the Antler. The Landor would have been the winner but with the handle and wheels, it's really 24" high and the total liner inches came to something like 48-49". I'm worried that when the airlines get more picky about carry-on, it won't pass. The Eagle Creek didn't have any inside pockets for small items and the mesh cover on the inside of the top didn't have any give, so it wouldn't be easy to overpack the bottom compartment and have the contents go up into the top. Haven't used the Antler yet, but imagine it will hold up just fine.

RuthMC:

I just took my luggage on a trip and checked it and it was fine. The handle is a little shorter then my other luggage but I really didn't notice it. I LOVED it because it was so lightweight even after it was packed and I don't usually pack light.

how do all these fare on budget European airlines? aren't they stricter as far as carry ons go?

And, I traveled with a back pack on our last trip, first time in decades and was reminded how handy that is. Any thoughts on favorite convertible back pack's like Rick Steves?