2 or 4 wheels on the carry-on?

Bags with spinner wheels generally will not fit a 22" limit.

This one from Tuesday Morning caught my attention. I should have mentioned this in my original post. I imagine there are not many that fit the "carry-on criteria" with 4 spinner wheels. If you get a chance to look, what do you think? Thanks. Tuesdaymorning.com Atlantic Expeditions 21 Inch Expandable Upright Spinner

Cynthia, I don,t know that particular bag, but I measured a lot of 21" and 22" bags to buy for our daughter before our last trip. the carry on limit was 22" including handle and wheels. None of the bags with spinner wheels fit.

Cynthia, I don't use wheeled luggage but from what I've seen at airports and in cities in Europe, the four-wheel models can be more "problematic" than two-wheeled models. I've seen numerous people struggling with luggage up stairs and over cobblestoned streets (one of the reasons I use a Backpack rather than wheeled luggage). Good luck with your decision!

4 wheel luggage does not work at all on rough surfaces which are very common in Europe. The small diameter wheels are great for getting caught in the smallest crack and with the high center of gravity the bag tips over very easily. IF using a two wheel bag, which I do not generally recommend, you must select the largest wheels possible so that they the wheels have a chance of rolling over rough cobble stones and broken concrete.

2 wheels for sure. With 2 wheels you can skip and jump over gaps in the cobblestone streets, while 4 wheels will get stuck.

Okay, two wheels for sure. Now, back to the stores. Thanks for the information everyone.

Actually, the correct answer is neither 2 or 4. It's zero. I agree with this fellow: http://www.onebag.com/wheeled-bags.html

Like most questions worth asking, the answer is "It depends." I personally travel as a matter of course with a wheel-less bag. It's much lighter that way, and I don't need to fret about stairs, uneven pavement, cobblestones, or getting it to fit into airline sizers or violating weight requirements. Having said that, I own a 20 inch wheeled bag, which served me well when I tore my rotator cuff, when I sprained my ankle, and when I knew that I would need to carry the bag on city sidewalks for the better part of three miles. So, for me, wheel-less is mostly better, except when it isn't. On the question of 2 versus 4, I have never met anyone with a spinner bag that didn't get annoyed with its shortcomings in use. They seem neat when you are trying them out at a store on their linoleum flooring, but the spinners are much less well adapted to life in the wild.

We bought 2 Rick Steves two-wheeled carry-on size bags and have used them for our last 3 trips throughout Europe (one trip was 7 wks) and we LOVE them. They work great and from what I understand, for wheeled bags, they are the lightest ones you will find... I have a bad back and could never use a backpack.

If weight is a consideration, 4 wheel bags weigh significantly more than 2 wheel bags - which way significatly more than bags without wheels.

Okay, thank you all for your opinions. I will contemplate the wheeless versions of carry-on while leaning toward the two-wheels. I don't know if my shoulders could handle the weight, but I like the idea. Hum, hubby has strong shoulders!

I prefer 2-wheeled suitcases - the most recent one I bought was a Delsey, which is a good brand. It also works well over cobblestones and steps because the wheels are set at the outermost edges of the suitcase, so the chance for the bag to flip over backwards (with the front towards you) as you're rolling it is pretty small. I can't carry a lot of weight on my back so I have never considered a backpack instead of a suitcase.

I have a backpack, but I don't carry a lot of weight on my back, either. With 9# of stuff and a 2# backpack, I only carry 11#. That stuff in a Roll-Aboard or Autobahn roller would weigh 16-17#. There are times when you have to lift/carry your bag, and a roller bag weighs 50% more than a backpack. That's what's hard on your back.

Cynthia, my husband and one son have spinners and love them, but only use those in this hemisphere. I saw those spinners at Tuesday Morning too, but TJ Maxx/Marshalls/ Ross have better suitcases for the same price all the time. ( see also http://www.ebags.com/category/carry-on-luggage/2003536?ne=100 for some comparison shopping) The 4wheelers work well in airports,U.S. road trips and resorts. I know lots of people here love convertible bags but I find those plus a purse or tote is awkward. I'm short and find rough pavement less troublesome with wheeled bags than usually stated. I've enjoyed a discreet badgeless 2 wheeled Tumi for the last 8 or 10 years. Buy Quality! BTW, RS had a poll: the women on his staff did NOT prefer backpacks.

I was long time hold out (had a NorthFace wheel-less convertible that saw me through 25 countries and a two stints living abroad), but I found this bag and have been very happy. http://www.rei.com/product/778779 It is a small-ish convertible (2 wheels), and I now use it for week-long business trips as well. It is the only bag I ever use ... really. I never realized how much lugging a backpack around the airport was, or lugging a wheelie up 50 stairs or a dirt road was until I found this. I once had to re-arrange some things to get it into the RyanAir measuring box, but I got it in. Just don't overstuff it too much. The wheels are really spread out (good balance) and huge (great on cobbles), and it carries surprisingly well as a backpack. There is a similar bag on the store here, but I love this one!

I bought a four wheel for my last trip to Europe, but found myself dragging it as 2 wheeler alot of the time. Four wheels were okay on even surfaces like the airport, as someone else had said. I bought mine, and then a week later I was in TJMax and saw similar bags at almost half the price. Our TJMax had a great selection of both 2 and 4 wheel bags.

I bought my first 2 wheeled Tommy Bahama Nassau 21 inch carry-on today! The original price was $320 as the price tag was still attached. I paid a lot less. It weighed 7 lbs (I took my luggage scale with me) and is quite handsome. It even included a clear pouch with 3 oz. bottles that can attach to the outside of the luggage for swift TSA approval. Now let's just hope I can squeeze my belongings in this new purchase. I've always checked my bags but am looking forward to the challenge. I already feel less angst as my luggage will arrive with me in Munich! Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate you. Prost!

I fly often and I travel with a RS 21" roller carry-on both in the US and in yearly trips to Europe. On Wed. Sept 15 I was flying from Seattle to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines and for the first time ever (I took my first flight in 1946) the gate attendant asked me to put my carry-on into the wire frame near the gate to see if it was the correct size. Well, it was slightly too fat so I off loaded a duffel bag and stuck some stuff into it, including my laptop to get under the 2 item rule, and was allowed to board. I often see people bringing large items onto the planes and have always advocated for the airlines to use that wire frame. Now I got what I wished for. I do not know if this is a procedure that other airlines will also be using but I think they might well since passengers are now taking lots more stuff onto the planes to avoid the charges for checked baggage. Be aware just in case.

I had bought a 22" spinner for my trip this Oct. but with wheels, it was really 23". I then read a thread on this board from a couple of months ago how the spinners are horrible on cobblestones so back to Marshalls I went! I found a 22" total height 2-wheeler so I'm set to go. Italy in 10 days woop! woop!

Charlie, it sounds like I should wear more of my clothes on the plane instead of stuffing my suitcase! I think some call this layering. HaHa and thanks for the headsup.

Claudette, I think we made the better choice. Have a blast in Italy! Ciao~

Cynthia, we call it the Heidi look........... I love my 21 inch RS two wheeled bag too and have never had a problem with cobblestones. You made a good choice.