Rick Steves' Convertible Backpack vs. Ebags Weekender Convertible

I recently bought the Ebags Weekender Convertible. I have only used it on overnight trips so far. It is well made with a comfortable back strap. The front pocket is great with lots of room. I am planning on using it for my 2 week trip to Italy this June.

However, when I was deciding what to buy, it also came down to the two bags with which you are deciding. Both are very good bags. I read numerous reviews of both and the feed back was very positive. The sole reason I chose the ebag was for the price. It is a little less expensive. In addition, I hit a sale and had a coupon as well.

Having said that, I am sure that the Rick Steves bag is also very good. From what I have heard and read, you cannot go wrong with either bag.

Have fun, good luck, and safe travels!

My husband and I have used Rick's original convertible bag for more than 20 years (yes the SAME bag-still looks new). I am just under 5' 1" and my husband is almost 5'8". I have no problem with the bag! It holds more than enough for our trips- mine usually weighs about 12-15 pounds and my husband's will weigh less than 10 pounds.

I bought one ebags weekender convertible carry on for myself, my wife, and my mother (5'11, 5'8, and 5'3) I have taken them on weekend trips and they are very comfortable. The three of us will be using them for our two week trip to Europe this May.
Like the previous poster, I picked the ebags version because it had all the same features I was looking for, and was nicely priced. I would highly recommend taking this bag, it's not any clunkier then the RS bag, and weighs about the same.

No matter which you pick, I would recommend using the ricksteves packing cubes.

-Brett

I also bought the weekender because of price. On sale, it ran me around $55 Canadian, as opposed to the $130-150 Canadian for the Rick Steves bag. For still less than two Rick Steves bags, I bought 2 of the weekender, and 3 bundles of packing cubes.

I agree with others that packing cubes are a must with this bag - some sizes fit perfectly and really maximize the space. On my 5'5 mom and myself at 5'9, the bag seems to fit well.

I also recommend packing cubes and/or an Eagle Creek packing folder to give the bag shape when you carry it.

I would say that I like the RS bag because it has one large area to pack, giving lots of flexibility.

The Weekender bag has stronger zips. I have come to prefer it.

For either, I use 4 medium ebag cubes (giving me a 6" depth in cubes when stacked, which even allows for a thin folder if I need it) instead of RS cubes, which are 5" deep and thus can't be stacked in a 9" deep bag and still keep it at 9".

Both are great bags, and available on their websites, as well as Amazon, and other places. Shop around. The RS bag is at our local AAA store; if you want to see one, you might check at yours..

Oh, I almost forget. I am 5'2" and don't feel I "stick out the back" too badly. Certainly less than when I have my roller trailing behind me.

Shelby,

If you're planning on doing much walking with a Backpack, it's very important to make sure that you're properly fitted according to your torso size. Most of the weight should rest on your hips, NOT your shoulders. While overall height is a good estimate, it doesn't always accurately reflect torso size.

Given your height I suspect the RS Convertible Bag would probably work for you. You might send an E-mail to Rick's office to see what recommendations they might offer. Incidentally, I believe the Convertible Bag is supplied with several of the RS Packing Cubes.

You might also check out the Eagle Creek line of Packs, as they have a number of models in different sizes, including some with harness systems specifically designed for women. I can't comment on the E-Bags models, as I've never used them.

Some of the features that I look for in Backpacks are a "stowable harness system" (harness is stored behind a zippered panel during air travel, so straps aren't torn-off by baggage handling equipment), a detachable Daypack (works great for carry-on when the main Pack has to be checked), a "shower cap" (great for those unexpected rain storms) and finally a panel-load design (which uses zippers rather than a drawstring at the top, which is more convenient to find contents inside and zippers can be locked providing a minimal amount of security).

Good luck and happy travels!

I've been using the ebags weekender for more than five years. It's holding up really well and was about half the price of Rick's classic bag when I purchased it.

I don't use packing cubes. I roll my clothes and use ziplock bags for small, loose stuff. I often reach into my bag to get out one item and rolling seems to allow me to get in and out without disturbing everything.

I don't think of my bag as a backpack, for me it's just a soft-sided bag with straps to make it easier to carry. It has no internal or external frame that makes it particularly comfortable but does include a waist strap and compression straps that help.

We actually own both of these backpacks. My wife (about 5'6") uses the Rick Steves bag, and I use the eBags Weekender. We're happy with both of them. If you compare the two, Rick's bag feels lighter and less structured. You could almost call it a backpack-shaped duffel. (There's more to it than that simple description, but that gives you a general idea of its flexibility). It also seems roomier than the eBags, especially if you expand it fully. It looks large on my wife's back when fully expanded and fully packed, but she has no trouble managing it. I'm the one who actually seems to have trouble brushing my backpack into people on elevators and crowded buses -- I really need to get better at that!

The eBags Weekender has a more rigid shape and a tougher exterior, more like a piece of soft-sided luggage. It's also slightly heavier and seems a bit less roomy, so that's the tradeoff I suppose. But both bags seem very well made, and I expect both of them to last for years.