I think what you’re missing is that we (females) are trying to carry two things aboard -not just one. A handbag / tote / briefcase of some sort, AND something that has the space of a rollaboard. Are those backpacks REALLY as big as a rollaboard, and can you carry them and a handbag / tote?
I have to say, there’s a Kate Spade one I think is adorable but I can’t get past the hard sides and the spinners. For some reason I just think the cloth / tweed ones can “smush” a lot more than the hard sides. I currently have a Hartmann Tweed 21 or 22 (not sure which) that I love, but the wheels have broken off!
I have a 21 inch two wheel IT bag. Lightest bag out there. Love it but would be concerned if I had to check it.
Just got two Airism t-shirts from Uniqlo which Hanna mentioned. I maybe should have gone up a size like she said but am happy. Go darker colors if you order. White is too see-through for me (but probably acceptable to a lot of people and super if you want it as an underlayer). Super comfortable. Still trying it out. I swear I could put 6 of these in snack size zippies and live out of a purse.
Wearing a backpack, you should be able to carry a smaller personal item in your hand, on a shoulder strap, or in the backpack (since it has more room inside than a wheeled rollaboard).
Okay–rolling clothes individually is better IMHO. Been playing with it this afternoon. You can stuff a lot in and still find items without disturbing much vs the pillow case. If I had real dress clothes (sequins, gown) I’d probably use dry clean plastic to roll them in for protection and more wrinkle free.
I keep trying to find better, lighter bags (and have bought some in between) like the IT bag for short trips and still looking for a good spinner but Delsey bags especially for value are really great. Two wheels, light, durable.
Maybe a guy is ok with schlepping 30 lbs on his back, but an average woman would prefer not to do that. Especially if that also involves carrying a heavy tote with printed materials. Also, no matter how “spine-friendly” backpacks are, they are still worse on the spine than a piece of rolling luggage. Plus, I usually put my tote on top of the roller.
Additionally, I would prefer not to dig for stuff at the bottom of my backpack. Finding stuff in a suitcase does not require a degree in archaeology.
Gouf, those IT bags are pretty sturdy things! Kiddo made 2 international round trips with her mega-sized IT suitcase, and the Ubekibekibekistani luggage handlers did not kill it. It also survived a few cross-country trips until just recently Delta finally killed it by breaking off one of the rubber support thingies. But it was cheap (TJ Maxx) and served its purpose well.
Thank you, ucb, but the backpack won’t work because I’m also slinging the Vera Bradley soft tote ACROSS me diagonally because that’s holding computer and work papers and is heavy. I wouldn’t be averse to a backpack in general, but the backpack would have to be the auxiliary piece to the rollaboard, not the main piece.
When my 20" Rick Steve’s bag comes in soon, I’m going to practice rolling my clothes just to see. I’m going to leave them in there for a day and see what they look like the next day when I unpack. Do you use any of the cubes? I might buy a couple small ones for toiletries/underwear pajamas. I’ve read that cubes are great, but not sure what they are needed for other than organization. Does anyone know?
One reason I prefer to check my bag is that I like using those wide, old-school garment bags. I like to pack everything on hangers in dry-cleaner plastic. It takes me two minutes to unpack at the hotel and two-minutes to repack. And no wrinkles. I do the carry-on thing when traveling with colleagues but it is a hassle to unpack and repack.
An important place to start is the weight of the main bag you are using EMPTY. For example, the link to the Le Pliage roller-board is 10 lbs. From reading “traveling light” blogs etc, you shouldn’t buy the bag if it weighs more than about 6 lbs before you pack stuff. I finally bought a really light, mini rolling bad that met these requirements and it really did make a difference in helping me get my weight down!
I find the cubes most useful for underwear and socks. They do make unpacking quick. Pull out your cube, pop it on a shelf and you’re done. I have one color for my husband and another for me which really helps. Great for trips when you sleep someplace new every other night. Only get the lightest mesh cubes or use ziplocs. If they weigh much at all, it’s not worth it. Only clean clothes go in the cubes, so dirty clothes can just stay in the bag loose or in a large garbage bag.
We have the Rolling Commuter Duffel Bag from Eddie Bauer. It’s on clearance right now for 49.99 in red. Very light weight.
I guarantee that at least the NR-sold Lonchamp suitcases do NOT weigh 10 pounds. I would never buy a roller that weighs more than 5-6 lb. I travel with a Tumi that I bought at TJ Maxx for under $150. The nylon is very sturdy, and the bag fits a ton of stuff. Plus, if I have to check it in, the print makes it stand out of the crowd (the reviewer here was probably upset that for the full price she paid the bag did not walk on its own):
