<p>I’ve looked through some of the other CC thread on luggage/duffle bags and read a lot of positive comments about the motherlode. I watched the video but it did not address whether this duffle bag collapses well. I’m sending my son on a trip to stay with family in Europe and they are very tight on space and want him to bring a duffle bag that can collapse and slide under a bed. I’m not sure this one can. Does anyone know? Or have a different bag that they love?</p>
<p>Anything with wheels is not going to collapse the way your son might need it to. How much stuff does he need to take? Would a wheel-less duffle-type piece of luggage work?</p>
<p>Well, I want it to double as something he can use going back and forth to college across the country for the next four years as well. So I prefer wheels. She’d like it to slide under a bed if possible.</p>
<p>We have an LL Bean wheeling duffle (I think it is called the Rolling Adventure Duffle) that can be pushed down when empty (no internal frame except what the wheels ride on). The one I have is the medium, and I use it as a carry on a lot… the wheel base is a tad narrow, but the larger sizes may have a wider wheel base. It also will not stand up on end. But I actually still like it a lot. And I think even the larger sizes would fit under a bed when empty.</p>
<p>Does it need to be wheeled? We have 4 of these Cabela duffles that are inexpensive and indestructible. We’ve used them to haul stuff to school and work great as checked bags. My son just came back from 5 months in London with this bag and one wheeled case. It looks brand new, is sturdy and incredibly light weight (which is important when staying under the 50 lb weight limit) and folds down very flat. [Cabela’s:</a> Cabela’s Ripcord Duffels](<a href=“http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Ripcord-Duffels/1315823.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DRipcord%2Bduffle%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=Ripcord+duffle&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products]Cabela’s:”>http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Ripcord-Duffels/1315823.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DRipcord%2Bduffle%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=Ripcord+duffle&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products)</p>
<p>And it looks like it’s on sale now.</p>
<p>go to ebags.com It is a great site and you can set up a comparison chart. </p>
<p>I have both the Delsey Helium Fusion 3.0 Trolley (28 inch) and the Olympia 8 pocket 29 inch rolling duffle. The Olympia is much less expensive, not as sturdy. I took the Delsey to Europe. S2 took both to college out of state. The Olympia easily folded and he kept it under his bed. The Olympia took up more space and we brought them back home on the plane with us after he moved in.</p>
<p>We have Totes rolling duffles that we’ve taken everywhere, incl Europe (and including as checked luggage.) I think they’re the 25", which fits plenty- and compresses to just a few inches. Incredibly sturdy material, well-secured web handles and straps, long enough pull handles that no one has to bend over to pull the bag. Does stand up on its own. Dirt cheap. Can fit in an overhead. The trade-off: the frame rods that run from the wheel base to the handle, one of the aspects of its durability, add to the weight. Does make it difficult for boosting up and onto a rack or into an overhead bin. Consider that “empty weight,” in making the decision.</p>
<p>We have heavy duty ones and a couple of very light ones, most with wheels. When traveling overseas, weight is an issue. When my kid went to school in China, I went with her to Target and found the lightest wheeled one possible. I think it was 3 lbs, which meant we had 41 pounds for stuff. It was nylon with some sort of board on the bottom and it has lasted for years. The nicer ones are great and can have more pockets for specific things. But it doesn’t matter much what you choose because odds are any will work.</p>
<p>ebags has double cash back today (12%) on ebates site…</p>
<p>I am the resident ebags motherlode fan here and as much as I love them, I must admit that they don’t really collapse enough to go under a bed. The best ones we found for that (and this was awhile ago when our kids were first going to college) were the LL Bean rolling duffles.</p>
<p>Check out the Olympia 8 pocket 29". S2 really kept two under his dorm bed, and it was not lofted (and he still had room for other junk under there too). I typoed in previous post - the more sturdy Delsey bags did not go under the bed, those are the ones we took back home after move-in.</p>
<p>I’m also a fan of the LL Bean duffle, like intparent.</p>
<p>We have 2 LLBean large rolling duffles. DS took them to London for a 6 month study abroad. They are probably 8 inches tall when empty. DDs take them to camp every summer and they easily fit under a camp bunk. Easily recognized if lost when traveling if you get a bright color: our are lime and turquoise and I use a neon pink ID tag. DS also has a medium orange that he uses for travel now that he is on his own.</p>
<p>We’re probably going to use one we have that has one side pocket with a broken zipper. I’m not thrilled about it but DH isn’t anxious to add something else to our collection. Not sure what we’ll use for college back and forth. I do love the Motherlode but it may not be practical for a dorm room.</p>
<p>It is a dilemma as the Motherlode is much better for travel - great wheels, great inside flexibility, stands up nicely. The LL Bean Duffel does not stand up on its end and the lack of structure (which allows it to fit under the bed) doesn’t offer as much protection for your belongings.</p>
<p>We’re looking primarily for a not too big rolling duffle and are going with the LLBean one in size medium. He will primarily be traveling by train and we have another one of these that has worked well for similar travel.</p>