While at Kohls today, I looked at the luggage. I’m not close enough to knowing what I want to purchase, but wanted to point out that Samsonite and American Tourister (both with high list prices) are on a good sale… no coupon needed.
I also researched and checked out multiple rolling duffels before buying Eagle Creek (twice). Other contender for us was Patagonia and we considered Osprey because we know multiple people who really like that brand.
Thank you - The bag itself looks great, just toooooo big for me. Even a 25” is large for me at just 5”1’ - trying to stay in the < $150 range as I wouldn’t be getting much use out of it beyond this one trip.
So it sounds you are looking for a rolling duffel bag no bigger than 24 inches and under $150. And that it can be sturdy enough to be dragged on uneven surfaces. The search is on!
Looks like it meets the requirements (for @justamom ) and LL Bean has been known to have a great return policy. (It’s not as great as it used to be, but still pretty good).
I have multiple rolling duffels in my attic that haven’t been used in 15+ years. That was all we used for the vacations with the kids; it was easier to stuff then, the flatten once we got to our destionation and had unpacked.
We did consider a 24” suitcase and even bought one and were loaned another one. We ended up returning both because they were just too big and too heavy for us to manage easily. We are so used to our smaller 22” 2 wheeled suitcases we can bring aboard airplanes. Those extra few inches really did make a difference for us when we tried to maneuver them (even empty — with no clothing). Yes, we are “wimps.”
I used to have a jumbo rolling duffle. It held a lot (including once I think a booster set), but I got to dislike it. If you tried to stand it up, it tipped over. And it was hard to organize (pre-packing-cubes). Prior to that, I had a non-rolling duffle, and I really did like that it had end pockets I used for socks, underwear, other small stuff.
So, I own this one…(https://www.target.com/p/swissgear-zurich-wheeled-48l-duffel-bag-black/-/A-92105807#lnk=sametab) which is basically the same size, and I’ve resolved to using it if I can’t find something else. I do like the split level, so that I can put my backpack in the lower part. Which is why I’m looking at the next size up (25”). But maybe one packing area would work better. I used mine for another bike trip & put my seat & helmet in the lower portion - it was a tight fit for my clothes though (since I needed biking pants & padded undies). This coming bike trip I won’t be carrying a helmet or seat. But want to pack my backpack in whatever I use while I’m in motion on trains and busses.
We have a couple of the biggest LL Bean rolling duffel from move-in days. (Benefit - the lay flat under a bed!) They were heavily abused and are still in use, so if you’re hard on things, these are a good choice.
Classy! I moved into dorm with jumbo trash bags, which lol also fit under the bed. Ditto for our daughter. (Our son had to fly to his college, so he had suitcases.)
We moved the entire house contents across town - without hiring movers or buying any packing supplies. Trash bags and those big Ful duffels we had were used to move closet contents! Pack, move, dump… repeat. Dishes traveled in laundry baskets. I’m shocked we haven’t destroyed anything in the process!
I flew from home to OR and CA for college and law school with orange boxes as my luggage. 2 orange boxes taped together hold a lot of stuff. I could bring up to 4 orange boxes as my “luggage.” I could always see MY luggage. When I didn’t need as much stuff, I had a dark green military duffel bag from the surplus store. Didn’t buy “real” luggage until we got married & then got huge hard sided Samsonite suitcases with wheels in the corner. After a few trips with those, the smaller bags with wheels came out & we donated the big suitcases and got soft sided smaller wheeled bags. We could fit more in the smaller bags.
I like the idea of waterproof sneakers. Then my sneakers and waterproof footwear could be same item. Looked at a pair of goretex running shoes (maybe Brooks?) for our last autumn London trip… but I ended up wearing waterproof low hiking boots and bringing running shoes (I did not actually run, was tickled though that my kids ran along the Thames together)
Dishes traveled in laundry baskets. I’m shocked we haven’t destroyed anything in the process!