Best Bag for Italy trip?

bridget,

That's a very subjective question. All of us here have specific preferences, usually something we've arrived at after many years of travel. In my case, I prefer to use a Backpack rather than a "wheelie bag". There are pros and cons for each type of luggage. I have one question though - what type of luggage have you used so far for other trips?

I'm not sure a Rolling Backpack is the best idea, for several reasons.....

• the wheel mechanism adds weight which has to be carried when used as a backpack.
• the wheel mechanism takes up room and reduces the amount of space for contents.
• in some cases the wheels can rest on the user's back, and transfer stains to the user's clothing (this depends to some extent on the fit and design of the backpack).
• in some cases the wheels can add enough length to the bag to make it too large to fit sizing regulations for some airlines.

I'd suggest evaluating a number of different products to determine which one would be best for your particular situation. You might get some good ideas by having a look at some of the reviews on the One Bag, One World website.....

http://1bag1world.com/

Also, have a look at the websites for.....

• Osprey Luggage
• Eagle Creek
• Tom Bihn

Bridget, like Ken said, we each reach our own preferred solution and equipment over time. RS tours require that each person be able to handle their own bags (is your tour an RS tour?) and limiting yourself to carry-on bags is highly encouraged. I would think about a few things: (1) what airline are you flying on, and what are their carry-on limits; (2) are you taking any additional flights within Europe, and what are those requirements; many flights within Europe have even more limiting carry-on requirements than overseas flights; (3) will you be moving from place to place a lot on your tour, or mostly staying put in one place. Moving around calls for more portability.

My own solution has ended up being the RS 20-inch rolling carry-on, which meets all the trans-ocean guidelines I believe, and the bag itself is quite light. There is a zipper that allows you to expand the bag about 2 inches for extra stuff you accumulate, but expanded it might be too thick for the carry-on guidelines, if anyone is really checking. I have used a nice size zippered tote bag as my "personal item", but recently bought a new Samsonite tote bag that I bought at a steep discount at Macy's. Think I paid about $45 instead of the list $150 or so. It has four new advantages I really liked: it was made to easily slide over the handle of my carry-on, it had outside pockets that my old tote did not, it has a removable shoulder strap which my other did not, and the zipper would take a lock, which my old tote would not. In addition, I pack in my carry-on a sturdy but very light duffle that folds up very, very flat. I figure that if I accumulate stuff during my trip, I will check the duffle on the way home, with shoes, dirty clothes, maybe a small box of books, and other non-breakable items in it. Then anything more breakable, valuable or important in my carry-on and tote. I also pack in my baggage an empty RS Civita daypack for everyday use, it is very light and small when empty. Hope that generates some ideas for you, good luck!

Took my RS 20" roller to Italy a couple years ago, with a small backpack for personal item. Worked well for train, transfers, etc.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I love my Osprey Porter. I have an older model, the newer ones have more pockets which would be quite helpful. My back is fine so it is easy to carry it on my back, actually much more comfortable then dragging a wheeled suitcase around.

In your other thread you mentioned it would be you and your 12-year-old daughter, right? So you need cases that both of you can handle.

Did you decide on a tour that includes Venice? I ask that because the bridges in Venice are actually steps up and steps down...not a ramped type bridge, so you need to be able to lift and carry your bags up and over the bridges. This may make you decide you want one with Backpack straps so you can wear it and still have hands free. Are you looking at the bag Rick calls the Rolling Backpack?

Many of us on this forum are advocates of packing light which means you need to start with a light suitcase. Look at the weight of the bag before anything else. More wheels adds more weight. I traveled for a couple of years with the Rick Steves Convertible bag which has back pack straps. I found I could pack it too heavy and it was too much for my 66-yr-old self, so this year I stepped down in size to the RS rolling 20" bag. I got nearly the same amount of stuff in it for my 5 weeks vacation this fall that I took for 8 weeks the previous fall in the Convertible.

The first purchase I would make is a small luggage scale. You can get them online or someplace like Bed Bath and Beyond. If you look at luggage in person (REI, AAA - some out west carry Rick's luggage, TJ Maxx) take the scale with you and weigh each bag. People may think you are nuts but they won't be carrying your luggage!!

This is exciting for you!

I have been going to Europe multiple times a year foir the last 10 years now. I have used nothing except the Rick Steves classic convertible bag. By itself, the bag weighs very little leaving more available weight for the contents. No heavy wheels or handles since it is not a roller bag and by carrying it no issues with rough cobble stones or stairs. Plenty large enough, for me anyway, to carry everything I need for up to a month (yes, I do laundry on my trips so it is not a month's worth of clothing in the bag!). Also never been rejected as a carry on by any airline due to size or weight.

I use the same bag Larry does, it works fine. A twelve-year-old could handle it, except perhaps for raising it overhead. Fully packed, my wheeled 20" bag weighs less than 8 kilo (about 16 lbs).

Pam -
I am looking at the RS Convertible Carry On and his rolling back pack. I definitely want to be able to back pack it, especially now that you told me the bridges in Venice are steps :) I am all for packing light. Most folks on here speak highly of RS luggage but other brands I am not familiar with yet as a novice. I am just debating if I should do a convertible carry on for me and a rolling backpack for my daughter. Or if we should both do the same.

I also purchased a Pac Safe sling bag for a day pack. Does anyone have any experience with this bag?

Bridget, last May/June I spent 3 weeks in Europe. I used the RS's rolling carry-on and a backpack. They worked great and I even had room to bring back wine and gifts.

Bridget and friends, I hope you are aware that this weekend is the big Rick Steves Tour Reunion of travelers and guides, up in Washington State. All day Saturday he and some of the guides will be streaming their excellent talks and photos about RS tours in various countries of Europe, very worthwhile if you want to learn about, or reminisce about, these tours. Go to the RS web site to find the schedule. Also, in the past they have announced a good general sale on their products, so if you are considering buying an RS carry-on, backpack or other items you might take a look at the online store on Saturday, maybe Sunday too.

Bridget,
I suggest you seriously consider the RS Convertible Carry On bag. We bought a similar bag in 2002 for our 10 day trip to Scotland. We each had one and a day bag, we didn't check any luggage!

I know the travel light philosophy looks daunting, but once you've carefully planned, you'll never go back to hauling huge luggage again!

We still use these bags frequently. They are perfect for extended weekend trips. My Miata has limited trunk space and these work great with the room we have.

They are rugged and well made. They still look good after 14 years of traveling!

It may work for you to get the RS convertible and for your daughter to have the 20" roller. You will have hands free and if she needs help in Venice on the bridges you can do that. One thing to note in Venice as well and that is the suitcase wheels on the cobblestones echo in the passageways (because really most are more passageway than street, lol) and make what RS tour groups call the Rick Steves Rumble, lol!!

Another thing I thought of that might be handy for you two is a small wallet I got from Eddie Bauer before I traveled last time. It is called the Eddie Bauer Connect Travel Wallet. I wore it under my cardigan on the plane and a couple of days I used it as my purse when it was raining and I knew I would have a rain coat on most of the day.

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/travex-reg--connect-travel-wallet/82302314/_/A-ebSku_0232314126__82302314_catalog10002_en__US?showProducts=&backToCat=Travel%20Accessories&previousPage=SCAT&tab=gear&dcolor=032

You should also get a money belt for yourself so after you get thru passport control in your first European airport you can duck in to a bathroom and stash both passports in a safe place. You would wear this under your clothes and keep your extra money and credit cards in here.

You mentioned the PacSafe Sling bag as well, right? Are you planning to use this as a purse? I would not feel comfortable with this as the zippers are in the back and easily pickpocketed even with the locking mechanism of PacSafe. You will want a purse you can wear cross body and be able to have your hand over the zipper tabs as you move thru a crowded area or get on public transport. If you are planning NOT to put money/credit cards/phone/electronics in it and just use if for a day bag for water, jacket, guidebook then it would be fine.

And Larry is right about a discount on Travel festival days for Rick Steves. Usually he offers 20% off for the weekend of a festival. I don't see anything posted on the Store page yet, but check tomorrow.

editing to add: Unless you are going to wear the sling bag to the front? I do have a similar Eddie Bauer bag I use when I go to Yellowstone. I wear it to the front so I can carry my can of bear spray in the water bottle holder and have it immediately accessible.

Oh yes, don't forget that bear spray on your packing list, or maybe better for Italy, wild boar spray! (:->)))

Those wild boar sandwiches in Tuscany can get mighty feisty!

Pam, so I'm in this tiny shop in San Giminagno ordering a wild boar prosciutto and pecorino sandwich, then making small talk with the lady as she prepares my sandwich, all in Italian. "Where do they find the wild boars, is that very near here?" "They're raised on our wild boar farm, right outside of town." "Oh," I said, "a wild boar farm! How about the pecorino, does that come from Pienza?" (which is known for its pecorino.) "No" she says, "that's made on our farm too." "Well, the bread must be made here in San Gimignano too, yes?" "Yes that's right," she says. By now we are bonding a little, so I got more personal. "And how about you, are you from right here in San Gimignano too?" I asked. "No'" she said, "I'm from Rabat, Morocco." Sorry all, I couldn't resist sharing. I realize the story is a few steps away from the original "best bag" question.

That is so funny! A wild boar farm. Or ranch. Run by a Moroccan Tuscan.

Sorry Bridget to get off topic!

I bought a Pacsafe bag and used it once. I found it to be security overkill and heavier than the Mandarina Duck messenger bag I bought to replace it. A money belt or neck wallet should suffice.

I'm once again advocating the Appenzell backpack. On the RS site it's called a daybag, but it's really too large for that. I love a backpack because it's sooo much easier on cobblestones and stairs. And it leaves your hands free. The Appenzell is small enough to be considered carry-on on even the smaller cheapie European airlines, but is large enough to keep me outfitted for over three weeks! Take a look. (I will admit to an unnatural prejudice against rolling bags, or "ankle-bangers," as I call them. And they're so noisy!)

Ask yourself some questions like 1) how many trips per year do you take 2) what is your luggage budget 3) how much weight can you carry up steps 4) do you have a back problem 5) how much walking around with luggage can you stand 6) Do you carry just basics. For value, I recommend RS bags (but not the hard case), Ebags brand bags, eagle creek bags, Eddie Bauer Travex bags. Stay with a bag you can easily lift up on to trains 20" - 21". If you are flying on smaller European planes (as opposed to transAtlantic flights) be sure to stay within 20" maximum. Also,ebags packing cubes really help to fit things into your case. I recommend the medium and slimline cubes. The large cubes are good for big men pants and shirts. Keep your stuff to a minimum.