Anonymous wrote:I travel every week for work. I never check my bag unless I’m on a long overseas trip. For a 4-5 day trip, I have a Timbuk2 backpack and a small Ricardo/Samsonite 4 wheel roller from Costco. I view these suitcases as disposable and replace them every 3-4 years. I don’t want to call attention to myself using a $1,000 suitcase. Also, I’ve had to replace a suitcase during a trip once because the wheel broke. Luckily, there was a Costco nearby and they exchanged it. Even if they didn’t take it back, it’s $70 how a new one.

The thought of sending suitcases to the landfill every 3-4 yrs makes me shudder. Just buy a quality suitcase and stop wasting the earth’s resources. You don’t need to spend $1k to have a quality suitcase. Stupid.

Anonymous wrote:Patagonia black hole duffel 40 L. It has backpack straps or you can just use a handle. It would fit on top of a rolling bag if you don’t want to use the backpack option. Fits a ton but still counts as a carryon.

Unless you fly private or class, this will have to be checked on almost all EUR/IATA flights. 40L was acceptable as carryon 20 years ago.

Another vote for Rimowa. Light, well-constructed, lifetime warranty. The carryon size fits in US/EUR/IATA flights.

I travel every week for work. I never check my bag unless I’m on a long overseas trip. For a 4-5 day trip, I have a Timbuk2 backpack and a small Ricardo/Samsonite 4 wheel roller from Costco. I view these suitcases as disposable and replace them every 3-4 years. I don’t want to call attention to myself using a $1,000 suitcase. Also, I’ve had to replace a suitcase during a trip once because the wheel broke. Luckily, there was a Costco nearby and they exchanged it. Even if they didn’t take it back, it’s $70 how a new one.

Patagonia black hole duffel 40 L. It has backpack straps or you can just use a handle. It would fit on top of a rolling bag if you don’t want to use the backpack option. Fits a ton but still counts as a carryon.

The whole point of checking a bag is so you don’t have to carry as much on board. Fill your checked bag to the gills (get a larger one if necessary), then find a small, lightweight tote to bring on board. Laptop, sweater or wrap, water bottle, maybe a change of clothes or bathing suit to ensure you can immediately enjoy your stay even if your checked luggage goes missing. What else are you lugging to the gate?

I just went through a ton of reviews, bought a Monos pro, tried to pack it for a three day trip and realized it hardly fits anything. I couldn’t make it work. I thought the warranty was a great idea since it had never left my house but they wouldn’t take it back since I’d recycled the box. So, avoid Monos. I went back to samsonite.

For a trip no longer than 9 days, I use my Rimowa carry on, which has an external laptop compartment plus a small one I use for cords and another medium size pouch that I put my quart bag of liquids in. Also, will carry my Neverfull and will roll that thru the airport on top of the Rimowa using the handbag straps to anchor.

If it's a really long trip or I have to include formal clothes, I check a large or medium Rimowa.
Since both roll ons, have their great telescoping handle, I can actually roll both in one hand upon airport arrival or departure. Sometimes I will replace the Neverfull with my Tumi backpack, if it's a business trip.

My carryon is a small hiking backpack that I can fit under the seat in front of me. It’s very lightweight but has a waist and chest strap so it doesn’t feel heavy even when it’s loaded.

I researched this heavily a couple of years ago and ended buying calpak. It's fine.

If I had it to do over, I'd just get some samsonite at TJ Maxx. Do look at the restrictions on the airlines you travel and take a measuring tape with you. The manufacturer sometimes gives you dimensions not including the wheels. And the airlines include the wheels.

TravelPro Crew Rollaboard 19".

There was a recent thread on exactly this topic.

A Nomatic backpack for carry-on, with a checked bag with wheels.

I use a Rimowa carry on and then a Longchamp Le Pilage M that houses my K28 and the rest of my in-flight needs, like phone/air pods/kindle. I always fly class though so I don't need to bring much as a lot of amenities are provided.

So after several international trips I realized I am doing it wrong. I usually check my big Away bag and carry a separate bag over my shoulder - I have a Longchamp I love. But it doesn’t have rollers and in my ideal scenario I would have a duffel-like carryon with rollers that would then stack on my larger bag? I have seen some online but they are all cheap or the $1000 Tumi version. Would ideally like something in between. I always end up overpacking the duffel and then having to haul a heavy bag through the airport.

So- how do you pack for a big trip and what carry on do you use, if you are checking a bag? (I know a lot of people don’t check bags but I am asking people who do)