Best backpack for storage and latter use when traveling

I do the same as Andrea. I fill my extra bag with dirty clothes and put the souvenirs in my carryon.

I do the same as Nancy and Andrea. It is a great bag and you can stuff quite a bit in it.

Eagle has carried a small duffle that packs to pretty small package. I first bought one ten or more years ago and the first one was really, really light weight. Almost too light weight for checking. The later one was a little bit sturdier. I usually check something on the trip home so I appreciated having one that was a tad sturdier. Pam

I take Rick's tote bag. It folds up small, is lightweight, but is sturdy enough to check on the way home. I usually fill it with dirty clothes and put the gifts I bought in my carry on sized suitcase.

There are a lot of choices of fold-up duffles that can be packed one way then unfolded and checked on the home leg.

We didn't pack a bag but had bought enough souvenirs to fill a bag so purchased a big rolling duffel from a street vendor for 8 euros in Italy. We put everything we could in our carry-ons including fragile stuff and put the rest in the duffel and checked it.

I used up my 1/4 roll of ducktape that I bring for repairs reinforcing the seems before I checked it, just in case, but it seemed to work fine.

I have an old Kelty daypack that is light and very compressible that I've used--stuck it in my carry-on, then checked my carry-on for the return trip and put the souvenirs in the Kelty. I've also done the same with a small Jan Sport duffle. Eagle Creek makes a packable duffel that is very lightweight and fits in a small pouch for putting in a carry-on. It's too lightweight to be trusted as checked luggae. EC also makes a heavier weight Cargo series of duffels that can be stuffed in a carry-on then used as the carry-on for the return trip. If you do get a duffle rather than a pack, I suggest getting one with a shoulder strap or the possibility of having one attached. I'm a fan of duffel bags for this purpose since my carry-on is a convertible pack that I carry on my back. I can carry the duffel as a shoulder bag.

Brad, I like your duct tape idea. I managed to burn a big hole thru the back of my backpak/suitcase on our trip a couple of weeks ago, and sure could have used the duct tape. (How did I burn the hole...I sat it on a "floor light" in our hotel room, and inadvertly hit the swich at nite. My wife noticed the smell.)

We used to alwsys take duct tape up when we rode our horses up in the mountains. I forgot how handy that stuff is.

I always carry duct tape now. A few years ago I ripped a whole in my extra duffle and could not find duct tape anywhere at the last minute. I now have a rather pricey bag that I picked up in CDG. I think I've used it only two other times! Always carry duct tape! My roll lives in my suitcase. ; )

Pam