[Packing Strategies] How do you lug your stuff?
1Travelers, please reply. We’re interested in how you get your stuff from Point A to Point B. Matching hard-sided luggage? Fancy designer bags? Trash bag full of laundry that you’ll do when you get there?
Explain yourselves!
- 15 comments, 16 replies
- Comment
Unless I am traveling overseas, I put it in the back of my vehicle and take it to my destination. Containerization is done based upon the needs imposed by what must be containerized, and what may or may not need to be done with it in transit and at destination. But no bloody spinner suitcases. I’ll tolerate those damned casters on a carry-on, but nowhere else.
Mules (get someone else to do it)
I try to pack light-ish (backpack, duffel). If anything needs wheels, I’m tempted to call
my friendsFedExlately, when i’ve gone anywhere, it’s been 2 nights or less, and the Carhart Duffle I bought here several years back (2016) has been more than sufficient.
@earlyre I really like the write-up on that item!
I have a set of Eagle Creek rolling duffle bags I got at an estate sale that I use. Other than having to replace the wheels (which was done under warranty despite them being ancient and bought used) they’re awesome. The large one is around 28 inches long. That’s my checked bag if I need one. The smaller one is carry on sized and works well for a long weekend. I also have a large Osprey backpack that’s my “personal item” if I’m flying. It only kinda fits under the seat but I’ve never had any one question it. I pack my gear in packing cubes (variety of sizes from various brands mostly bought on Amazon), toss them in the duffle bag(s) and I’m good to go.
POPSOCKETS! SPROCKETS! DAVY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
@gt0163c Eagle Creek makes, usually, pretty sturdy stuff. At one point they were going out of business and I don’t know if they were bought out or saved themselves, but I still see some of their stuff in outdoor gear shops.
Soft sided luggage and/or duffel bag, depending on length of stay.
(The thing with hard sided is there’s no compression; it takes up the same amount of space whether I need it all or not.)
@narfcake
Plus if you travel overseas sometimes it’s hard to find a space big enough to open a hard sided bag all the way so you can access both halves.
Maybe 40 year old canvas bag with broken handle if I need a checked bag. Airline broke it a few years back. It still basically works if you are patient with it. I should upgrade since I have started taking work trips again. I don’t think about it until I am dragging it into the hotel and it dumps over. Hmmm. Should work on it now since I will be packing again in a couple weeks.
Last flight I used a backpack from here as a carryon for a quick trip.
@speediedelivery backpacks are underrated
Driving I use various duffle bags and my carryon 2 wheel soft sided suitcase. Since I often sleep in my minivan I have all sorts of other junk. While it might affect gas mileage by a mile a gallon, the convenience of traveling with everything including the kitchen sink is nice. If I have to travel with my cats I have a large wire dog cage I built a shelf in so that is in my minivan plus all their junk plus stuff and two cat carriers I stuff 4 cats into going to and from the car cage.
Flying I try to fit it all in the same carryon and a 32L backpack (as my second carry on). If on that rare occasion that doesn’t work I have another soft sided larger suitcase with 2 wheels I use. Zippers are bombproof on them, the fabric is thick cordura, and my limited experience with hard sided suitcases includes them getting cracked by airline employees.
EDIT - This is meh… we who are on here and buy your 3 star and below discounted due to fail to sell elsewhere items use designer bags? Bags that match?
Now Morningsave customers might want heavily discounted designer bags… I (and likely many others on meh) want practical, sturdy, will last a long time suitcases/duffle bags. What they look like is of less priority to me than how they are made and function.
@Kidsandliz
What she said!
…and we haven’t traveled anywhere even for a night or two since 2018, so we have no report on how we haul stuff in that circumstance.
Around town we just use whatever re-useable shopping bags we have nearest-by when we are getting ready to go.
My all-time favorite is our collection of Wegmans “Shopping Tote Boxes”:
Rolling duffel cases. When we visit family in England there’s always crap^H^H^Hgoodies to transport in both directions, but the volume is unpredictable.
One year it was a Barney (I hate Barney) twice the size of the granddaughter that loved him. Another it was a computer (Shuttle “cube”) for grandkids who’s mom could never afford to buy them one.
Always chocolate and other goodies coming home.
Hard luggage is either a waste of space, or needlessly limiting. Roller wheels are uncontrollable, and a waste of space.
Purple soft sided rolling luggage with lots of sections and pockets. I learned that packing cubes are life changing.
@heartny packing cubes
For me it depends on the trip. Domestic I try to stick to carryon luggage only. Just before covid I splurged on an Away hardside clamshell type bag. I love it! It has
*built in compression so I can really maximize my space.
*built in laundry bag for the return trip to keep dirty/ clean clothes seperate.
*built in charger that can pop out when going through security or if you have to check it for any reason
*360 wheels are smooth
*lifetime warranty
Also, it is pretty
lol
https://www.awaytravel.com/suitcases/aluminum-carry-on?color=silver
@tinamarie1974
Those are pretty!
[Spendy too…]
Which color is yours?
@PhysAssist I have the silver. I wanted black, but it was sold out when I made my purchase.
And it is a bit on the pricy side, but if you travel often it is worth it.
@tinamarie1974
All the colors look great though.
Re: the cost, I wasn’t trolling you, there’s no doubt they look solid AF.
@PhysAssist Fwiw, I didnt take your comment negatively at all. Just a comment for anyone contemplating a purchase is all.
It is a bit pricy and I researched a lot prior to making my decision. Pre covid I was on the road frequently so it was completely justified. I was able to use it a total of 2 times before the lockdown. Its been sitting in the corner of my bedroom looking pretty ever since w the exception of one personal emergency trip 2 years ago. Had I known I would have delayed, althouh it appears the current design lacks the removable power bank, which is pretty handy.
In IRK bags of course.
Pelican 1615TRVL Air Travel Case
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/travel-case/air/1615trvl
@Pavlov That looks like a suitcase for someone who’s had more than their share of checked baggage horror stories.
@Pavlov That’s too big for carry-on isn’t it?
I’ve not done this myself, but I’ve heard one strategy if you don’t want to check baggage and run out of carry on space is wearing several jackets at once with oversize pockets. Obviously, once you’re in the aircraft take the extra jackets off.
A variation of this idea that I came up with myself for taking water onto a flight with you. Make a jacket out of water absorbing material… soak it in water, wear it through the security check… then squeeze the water out into a bottle when you get to the other side.
If security questions why your jacket is so wet, just say you sweat a lot, you’ve got Prince Andrew genes.
This might also work with vintage whiskey if you want to take a nice quality drink onto a flight with you too!
I have a cheap four wheel spinner cloth bag that is carry on size that we use for almost all trips. Super convenient and I have packed it enough times I know exactly what will fit in it. I can pack three weeks worth of stuff in it if we’re not going to some place it’s going to be too super cold. Then again there is always the backpack that I carry.
Of course, the carry-on bag frequently becomes a check bag on the way home…3 oz of rum or other local liquors it is not going to make it!
@chienfou you’re allowed to transport as much rum as you want internally
Old Rick Steves back pack for air travel - both domestic and international. Any length of trip. I watch the weight of it, so I can lift it into those overhead compartments. Minimum cosmetics and junk, light poly hand-washable clothes rather than heavy jeans, etc. 83 YO grandmother. No waiting for checked luggage, or waiting for cruise line to deliver, or such. Also, when clothes get so old that only one wear is left, they are my travel outfits. I toss them at destination so I have room for stuff I want to buy and bring home.