Convertible Carry-On vs 21-inch Roll Aboard

Crystal, It's difficult to offer advice for others on the subject of luggage, as everyone has different preferences. However, I can provide a few comments based on my own travel methods. I prefer to travel with a Backpack (which includes a separate Daypack) as I find that's the most convenient method and it leave my hands free for boarding trains or whatever. I briefly used wheeled luggage in the past, but don't foresee ever using it again, as I find it awkward and annoying. However, many others here prefer "wheelie bags". A few points to mention regarding the "Convertible Carry On Bag". It likely won't be accepted for carry-on if it's heavily loaded, either due to size or weight. Also, that particular product doesn't work for everyone. It doesn't have any provision to adjust the torso range to fit the user (most of the weight should rest on the hips, not the shoulders). It also doesn't have an internal frame, which means that contents tend to settle at the bottom. It's a good idea to use Packing Cubes or other methods to maintain some amount of "shape" while the Pack is being worn. I've spoken with people that really like the Convertible Pack, and others that found it didn't work for them. In reality, most people only carry it for short periods of time (ie: train station to Hotel) so weight carrying comfort isn't a major concern. If you're able to get to Seattle on Jan. 15th, you'd be able to talk to Rick's product specialists, look at the luggage "first hand" and attend a presentation on the tour you're taking (merchandise is usually discounted during the ETBD travel events). I'm sure the group here will provide you with lots of information to make a good choice. Cheers!

Crystal: We did just what Ken suggested: We went to ETBD last year and explored the luggage options. My husband loves the convertible carryon and he was able to carry it on every flight, no problem. I tried it on and it did not suit me at all. I am short and it just was not comfortable. I selected a 21 inch roll-aboard, and was very happy with it. I do not find it awkward, but it is noisy on cobblestone streets! I was able to haul it up-and-down stairs in railway stations, B&Bs, etc., but I kept it to about 21 pounds. We used packing cubes and I am a big fan of those for organizing. Get some smaller ones (Eagle Creek has a nice selection of small rectangles) for cords and converters, use one for laundry items and first aid, etc. We also each had a day pack, BTW, the Civita. Laurel

As Ken pointed out it is really personal preference. Neither is a perfect solution so it depends on the compromises you are willing to make. For us, we use wheeled in the states and backpack style in Europe. The wheel luggage is always heavier and you have tendency to pack a bit more since your are not carrying it. I find wheeled a pain in Europe because of the narrow, poor sidewalks, cobblestone, no curb cuts, and the sidewalks and street are crowded which limits ability to move freely. We tend to use a lot of public transportation which is more difficult with wheeled. If you use taxi more, then the wheeled is less of a problem. I have stood in more than one check-in line and watch every wheeled bag being rejected because it would not completely fit in the box. And have flown on a lot of planes where big wheeled bags were accepted. It is a dice roll. At 68 we will probably reach a point where the wheeled are necessary but till then we will stick with the backpacks, Headed to Germany in two weeks with our old Rick Steves' bags.

We use roll-ons because they're easier for each of us to handle with less strain on backs and shoulders. Sometimes we have a day pack or carry bag as well which we rest on the roll-on as we walk which makes it easy to move it all around.

I bought one of each. My girlfriend got the RS convertible carry-on (it holds more) and I got a wheeled backpack from eBags. Whenever the situation arose to where I could roll my bag, I would just clip hers to mine and I would roll them both...she then didn't have to deal with it at all. She appreciated that a lot and we ended up getting married. Maybe it was because of the bags! ;-)

As we've gotten older, the wheeled luggage makes tons more sense. Our aging spines just can't handle a full backpack any more. :-) Also, I really like the big sturdy wheels and handle on the RS wheeled bags. Great for cobblestones.

It is such a personal preference. My husband usually uses a 21" wheeled carry-on and I always take a backpack for our 3-4 week summer trips to Europe. Recently he switched to a spinner type of carry-on to better fit down narrow isles when we travel by train. Now he prefers that type because he can push it slightly in front as he walks as well as pull it--less strain on his back and shoulder. I like to be able to move quickly and quietly with my backpack regardless of the terrain.

I absolutely love my Eagle Creek ORV trunk. it's a convertible bag, but looks like a cool suitcase with the backpack straps hidden behind the zipper. it's served me really well over 4 trips to Europe. I've checked it each time. last time I had my hiking poles in the bottom. I like that my bag is soft and can conform into spaces that a roller bag could never go. I also like that the weight of it is at least 5lbs less than a roller bag. I'd skip the RS brand and look at Eagle Creek, you will get better quality for sure.. Eagle Creek is a much better brand than Kiva (the company that makes RS stuff) My vote: NO Wheels!

Crystal, If you think a Backpack might work best for you, I'd suggest having a look at other brands as well, just for comparison. I've used both Eagle Creek and Osprey, and the quality has been excellent (although like many manufacturers these days, the newer packs don't seem to be as robust as earlier models that used Cordura nylon - this is also true of ETBD packs). Regardless of your height, if a Pack is properly fitted according to your torso length, most of the weight will rest on your hips and not the shoulders. I tend to prefer a "panel load" Pack (with zippers) rather than a "top load" Pack (with drawstrings at the top), as I find it easier to access the contents and locking the zippers provides at least a minimal level of security. Cheers!

For us, there are few situations that make a carry bag a better option than the 21" wheelies we use. Those few situations would have made any luggage a problem no matter what its format was. Sometimes the situation is just crowded. In lines, we want to "park" all that weight. The Wheelies win out over any other kind here. The wheelies can contain a "day pack" with all the room they offer, and we use those also as every set has day packs included. We bought a set in early 2004, and near seven years latter, and five major trips later and monthly commutes with a 1.5 mile walk in Seattle we are still using the same sets of Rollie luggage. And these were cheap sets - less than $50 each. The weakness is the wheels. ALL ROLLIES ARE MARGINAL IN THE WHEELS. I cut all the old wheels off and retrofitted them with hardware-store, heavy duty, replaceable and inexpensive caster wheels.
These sets are going to last us forever and wheel replacement is like $6 every 50 miles we pull them. I have well over 150 rough miles on one 18 inch Rollie bag and it is still going strong. This was a 39 dollar, set from BiMart with $10 invested in the wheels as a retrofit. Serious travelers always ask where we got these heavy duty rollies, cause they see the wheels. Nothing available right now, will survive for very long on the cobbled stones and curbs and rough pavement. Ours does, but they are sort of customized to handle it.

Thank you everyone for your tips and suggestions. I am strongly leaning toward the Roll Aboard. I am only 5'3'' and have a very short torso. I'm afraid a 21 inch pack would never sit right. Plus, I've always traveled with a roll along and a day sized back pack, I'm not sure if now is the time to switch up what I am used to and has worked well in the past. I do appreciate all of your help, you've given me many things to consider.