Petite girl -- what type of bag??

My countdown started 2 days ago and now @58 days, but the good news is I will be in France & Swiss while you are there. Half a trip valet is better than no valet at all. LOL! Hope you have a great trip Jami, and good luck on finding the bag for your needs.

Jami, someone will post good info for you, or you can pack all you want, and then take me along to carry it all for you. Have a great trip.

My personal opinion is the type of bag matters less than what's in the bag. If it were me, I'd look for a smallish backpack and do carryon. Pack as light as possible. We like to use the motto: pack the same whether going for a week or a month. Plan on doing laundry, even if only in the hotel sink.

I used Rick's Appenzell(sp?) backpack as my main suitcase in Italy. It's actually considered a largish daybag, I believe. I prefer backpacks because a) hands free, b) distributes the weigh and I have wimpy shoulders, and c) wheels and Europe's streets/public transit don't cooperate well. If you have back issues though, this may not work for you.

Yeah that is the route I think I want to take. A medium size backpack should be good. Now I just have to find it!!

And Tony, I wish I had the extra $$ to have someone follow me around w/bags. Ha.

Depending on when she is going, I might already be over there so cost would be considerably cheaper. To have a personal valet for 3.5 weeks would be PRICLESS!

Oh my. You guys are quite humorous. I am going end of Aug thru mid September. Started my countdown yesterday...48 days :)

EMS.com has a lot of good medium size bags for females that carry alot and will fit on carry-on.

I am also petite and I use a wheeled carry-on. I have zero problems with these on European streets--I have no idea why people say that. Maybe on the WORST cobblestones it might be an issue, but unless you're dragging it on the Appian Way, I don't think you'll have problems. Backpacks are very annoying IMO because a) you bang into people with them b) you have to carry them c) it's not convenient for finding your stuff and stuff gets wrinkled and smashed and d) you look pretty scruffy checking into your hotel with a backpack (not an issue at hostels obviously)

I am also petite. I have traveled with both a backpack and a roller bag. They both have their pros and cons. I think which you choose is very much personal preference.

When I was younger, I used an MEI backpack. If you can carry the weight and are in good shape, the backpack allows you to move more quickly. You also have your hands free to hold a map. I found a backpack to work very well when I was travelling on a budget and staying in youth hostels that were often outside of the city center. You do have to be careful that you don't smack people with the pack on crowded public transportation. If you choose a pack, make sure that it has a padded hip belt that fits well. Check where the straps hit your shoulders once the hip belt is fastened. If you have an outdoor store like REI near you, you might go check out bags and try them on. I think a good-fitting bag is really important. My first bag was similar to the old Rick Steves backpacks (no real hip belt) and it was very uncomfortable for me. When I switched to a different type of pack, it made all the difference.

Due to an injury, I now always use a roller bag. They are now pretty sturdy and I have carted mine across cobblestones many times. The pro is that you have no weight on your back. The con is that you don't have both hands free and they can make a lot of noise. But they are really quite easy to travel with.

Due to age and an injury, I can't carry a backpack the way I used to. But I did not want to drag a wheeled bag around all day when traveling from city to city. Technology has advanced a lot from when I first went to Europe with everything crammed in a small pack. This last trip, I bought a modern pack with a semi-rigid frame and, most importantly, a good waist belt that supported the bulk of the weight of the pack. If you have to carry your stuff, this type of arrangement is wonderful. The one I got was a Lowe Alpine 35, but there are many similar brands. The nice thing about this pack was the frame created an air space between the pack and my back, which kept the pack from making me hot.

In any event, a well-engineered pack permits anyone to carry a load more easily and more comfortably than any other alternative, no matter how small you are.

This approach works best, of course, if you pack light.

Jami,

You might have a look at the Eagle Creek line of Backpacks, as they have numerous models in various sizes, some of which are specially tailored for women. Given your size and weight, a medium sized model is a good place to start, however be sure to pack light!

Note that if you'll be flying with budget airlines in Europe, their luggage requirements are much stricter, so you may be forced to check your Bag.

Some of the features to look for would be a "stowable harness" (stow the straps behind a zippered panel during air travel), a detachable Daypack (if you have to check the main pack, that can be used for carry-on), and panel-load design (with zippers which can be locked - provides at best a minimal level of security).

However the MOST IMPORTANT feature is to be fitted properly according to your torso size. Most of the weight should rest on your hips rather than your shoulders. Given the various methods you'll be using for travel, there could be situations where you'll be wearing the pack for longer periods, so good fit is important!

You might also check Rick's Travel store on this website, as one of the bags there may also fit your needs. The Convertible Backpack is supposedly small enough to meet carry on requirements, but I suspect if this was fully packed, the size or weight would required it to be checked.

If you want a shoulder bag that can also function as a Backpack, you might check the Tom Bihn (Tri-Star) or Red Oxx (Air Boss) websites as they have very well built products that might fit your needs.

Happy travels!

Jami, if you go to a store like REI, EMS or Sun & Ski, not only would you be able to try them on, but the sales associates are pretty knowledgeable and will be able to find one that fits your frame. And it's not entirely about carrying too much. Just because you're petite doesn't make you weak. We women are strong! ;) Anyway, I don't weigh as little as you do, but I'm only 5'0" and not a bodybuilder, and although I needed help getting it on and off, once it was on, I had no problems. (And my bag was pretty heavy because I do not pack light.) Okay, I lied, I had one problem. We were running to get on a train and I had my backpack on. I dropped my water bottle, and it started rolling away from me. When I crouched down to try to grab it, I almost toppled over (the weight of the bag was above my head.) But luckily one of the guys with me grabbed me before I toppled over. So just don't crouch down when you're wearing the backpack!

I am 5' 1 & 1/2". I have used Rick's bag for more than 20 years. It is perfect for me. I can wear it as a backpack, carry it or go over the sholder. Just pack carefully and thoughtfully, and you can have it come in under 15 lb., fully loaded. A few times, I did pack it up to 25lb, but I've gotten better about my choices the more I travel. It really lasts, too- I've used the SAME bag for those 20 years (at least 2 trips a year) and it still looks great.

I too do not understand the problems with a rolling bag. The only time you have to pull it is from train to hotel or from plane to train. We have cobblestones too in our neighborhood, and truly, it just is not a problem. Picking it up to get onto the train is no more difficult than getting on a train with a large back pack. Nor is carrying it up or down a flight of steps at the metro in case the escalor does not work. I think the person who invented rolling suitcases should get some sort of prize. It made travel SOOOO much easier. Every time I use mine I am grateful. When I watch old movies with people and those big suitcases they had to schlep around, it makes me happy that I don't have to.

Jami, I am a 68 year old granny and 5'1 and carry a medium size day back pack and a Rick Steves' Roll Aboard....both fully expanded fully loaded. If I can do you can do it. :). Not as difficult as you think.

Enjoy!

I am a petite gal as well and I did a lot of research before my last trip. I backed very light, but when you add your books and a bottle of water and then hike in circles looking for a hotel while reading a map, the bag does make a difference. Make sure you get a bag that supports your lower back with a harness that goes around your waist. Also a "ladies" bag that has a clip by your collar bone to help keep the shoulder straps in place.

Jo wrote: "I too do not understand the problems with a rolling bag. The only time you have to pull it is from train to hotel or from plane to train. . . ."

Well, not necessarily. What if you're moving from one town to another and you're not going straight to your hotel or not going to any hotel at all? Sure, you can sometimes check your bag at the station or somewhere else, but many times you cannot. Then you have to keep it with you. For me personally, I'd prefer to use the backpack than to drag a bag around. With a well-designed backpack, I can forget that I'm carrying around all those pounds. A suitcase is always going to be there.

Anyway, that's just my personal preference.

I, too, prefer a backpack. A roller bag causes me to "twist" to pull it and if I go very far, my back starts to hurt. If you only go on concrete or have someone else to lift the bag, a roller bag makes sense. Try one in Southeast Asia on a dirt road and you'll trade it for a backpack.

If you decide to look at roller bags, check out the 20.5 incher by Landor & Hawa sub 0 G. It weighs only 4.8 lbs. The interior space is not compromised by the handle & wheels & it isn't full of useless pockets. I bought a smaller one for an up coming trip. I prepacked & found that it hold much more than the Travelpro bag I have in the same size.

I am 5 foot with a very small frame and use a case with wheels. I pack light so I can carry it with the handle on the side if I walk through an area unsuitable for wheels. My case must be pretty robust as it copes with cobbles just fine. I just can't cope with backpacks unless they are tiny day packs especially as so many backpacks are too wide across the shoulders for me.

If you are going to get a backpack get it professionally fitted. When I backpacked around when I was a student I went to a specialist store and the assistant instantly dismissed about 95% of bags in the shop as being unsuitable for my frame and height.

Thank you all for your input. I really helps a lot when it comes to making my decision. I will be shopping soon for one.

44 days :)

Jami

Jami,

Good luck with your Backpack purchase. If possible, try it out fully loaded for an hour or so to see how it feels (some stores will allow that).

Happy travels!

Jami,

I am 4 ft10 1/2 inches. I do weigh more than you do.

I was visiting relatives in Edmonds this past week and got into Rick's store and looked around. I think you will have no problem with either the regular Back Door Bag or the Appenzell. I find the stramps work better if they are all the way tight instead of really loose like I see on kids with book bag type backpacks going to school. With the stramps loose the bag hangs too far down and seems to weigh more.

Good luck finding what works for you. The backpack/bookbag I use is about the size of the Appenzell. It's the L L Bean Turbo Transit II. You can get it from their website or catalog. Or at least look at it there.

Enjoy the anticapation.

Jami,

I am 4 ft10 1/2 inches. I do weigh more than you do.

I was visiting relatives in Edmonds this past week and got into Rick's store and looked around. I think you will have no problem with either the regular Back Door Bag or the Appenzell. I find the straps work better if they are all the way tight instead of really loose like I see on kids with book bag type backpacks going to school. With the straps loose the bag hangs too far down and seems to weigh more.

Good luck finding what works for you. The backpack/bookbag I use is about the size of the Appenzell. It's the L L Bean Turbo Transit II. You can get it from their website or catalog. Or at least look at it there.

Enjoy the anticapation.