Luggage - Light Weight

Click on the "Travel Tips" link at the top of the page. Read the articles under the "Packing Tips" heading. I hope they will convince you to pack light, pack light, pack light! Then check out the backpacks, wheeled bags, and daypacks in the Travel Store on this site.

The difference between heavy luggage and light luggage will be only a few pounds -- maybe five or six. And very light wight luggage will be more damage prone when checked. If you are trying to stay under 50 ibs by buying light weight luggage, you focus should be on what you are packing. No one needs fifty pounds of luggage. We often go on cruises which require formal clothing and never have a total of fifty pounds for the two of us.

I got one brand called HEYS, a canadian brand. Its light as a feather, and the carry on is a hard top which helps me from OVER packing. I use Rick's cubes and can hold 2 weeks worth of stuff AND have room to spare!!!
BTW I am a petite woman who can actually carry my own case. its that light!

I also like the HEYS XCase. It is light-weight and not overly expensive. I wouldn't necessarily say it is the quality of Samsonite or Delsey but it isn't bad.

Good point, Frank, but I am not the one who introduced the irrelavent topic of the X-Case. I was mearly responding to those who took advantage of the first posting to promote an inappropriate solution. Obviously, unless she is carrying gold bars, the X-Case is not going to hold 45#, so why was the subject even introduced?

I DO agree with you that 40+# of contents is going to require a substantial piece of luggage and that the first place to start saving weight is in the contents. To someone who spends two weeks in Europe with a caryon bag that weighs less than the 17.6# Lufthansa limit, 50# seems obscene.

Long before my first of 5 trips with a carryon, I made a packing list and carefully considered what was really important and what was not. Over a period of several years, I have re-evaluated the contents of the list, eliminating things I don't REALLY need. On my next trip, I plan to shave with a safety razor, just to save the 1# that my rechargeable weighs.

HEYS claims that the X-Case is the "World's Lightest Carry-on" at 5.1#. That is simply not true. They either live on a different planet and have no concept of reality on our's, or they think their customers are too ignorant to notice the misrepresentation.

My $30 convertible carryon bag is a regulation size, soft CARRYON, and it weighs only 1-3/4# (the X-Case weighs almost 3 times that). Rick's lightest convertible bag weighs "less than 2#". Even his expandable bag is less than 3#.

If you really do carry on, the airline weight limit and a scale should keep you from overpacking. And, when not overstuffed, softsided bags have the advantage of conforming to the available space, making them far easier to stow.

Lee, remember she needs something to hold 50 pounds. Not going to carry that on.

I just looked at the Heys website and the xbag
is the lightest that I have seen for a bag w/wheels.
I intend to travel for 3 wks with a rollaboard bag.
I may have to check it but I hope not. I think I can
do it with a 21in bag.

Okay guys, thanks for the feedback. I am the one that wants to get the most out of her 50# limit. All I want to know is what is the lightest weight BIG bag on the market today so that it would not encroach on my 50# of stuff. I do appreciate all of the lectures as to the attributes of traveling with only a carry on.. but hey...that is not going to happen here...not yet anyway. I am going to France for 3 weeks and staying with French friends. So I will not be needing to lug the whole 50# around with me. We will be taking short trips and I can pack lite THEN. I do look forward to the day when I finally see the light.. that I don't need all of this stuff. Maybe if I keep reading the Travelers Helpline, I will become a convert...soon to be a zelot. This is the first time I have ever been on TH. A friend told me about it because she knew that I could get valuable advice. Seems like I really need it. So, anyway, does anyone know the lightest weight luggage? Thanks Patti

Lee

What brand is your regulation $30 USD convertible carry-on bag weighing only 1-3/4#?? Sounds great, please do share the brand name. What are the exact dimensions? Sounds like a strange question but still relevant...

Some airlines require Flight Crew to use carry-on that are even smaller than the regulation requirements for passengers. That is why I am interested in the exact measurements.

I would look at L.L. Bean rolling adventure duffels and some of their quickload luggage. Be aware that there is a (62"??) size restriction as well. We have been happy w/the duffels when we move to/from overseas and won't see our household effects for a few months. Also, if you are traveling w/friends in their car from the airport, not all suitcases fit in a standard euro car.

Have a great trip!

Patti - to get an idea of how much different bags weigh you can start with ebags.com. They even have a categorgy called "lightweight luggage". When you click onto the individual items there is a description that includes weight. You can browse the site, look at the bigger bags and start to get a feel for different brand names that would suit your interest.

One reminder - be sure to leave room (weightwise that is) for souveniers. By the time we return from 3 weeks away we have added several pounds - postcards, brochures, books, etc. especially add to the weight. Of course I might discard my guidebook on the way but we still come home heavier than we left.

Patti - Rick Steves also has a 24" rolling bag that is not sold on his website and is listed at 8#. One of my friends used it for our trip to Italy and it was an expandable bottomless pit. I think she had it completely stuffed and it weighed just under 50 pounds. I have seen this bag in local luggage stores as well as on Amazon and Luggage.com.

I travel A LOT, and I'm also a petite 5 foot woman. The HEYS case may not be soft like a duffle but the HEYS is very light.. lighter than any of my 7 cases I have in my closet. (Yes, my husband thinks I have a thing for suitcases!).

When I travel solo, my HEYS have kept me from over packing (in addition to using Rick's cubes) and I am assured it will comply with carry on dimensions.

I'm not a spokeswoman for HEYS but I am giving my 2 cents on this forum. As a small woman, I like using this brand, and feel for a hard case its extremely light.