Time to select luggage and additional bags for our trip to Italy...suggestions?

Larger wheels, good size handles...so you are looking at larger bags, ones you need to check. Reconsider this. Besides the risk, albeit small, of loss or misdirection, you will have to haul these big boys, lifting, dragging up and down stairs, on and off trains, etc. A larger wheeled bag can be quite heavy and a challenge to transport. Ther larger the bag the more you will pack that’s just the nature of packing, so they will be heavy. Visiting 6 locations means transporting these many times. Consider scaling back to a European size roll aboard (ones a European airline would allow you to carry on). I favor spinners as I find them easier on my bad back but others will differ. You’ll find you can pack enough clothes for many weeks if you are willing to hand wash or get laundry done occasionally. See this video for one example https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PDn9l20NlWw. As for backpacks, I’lll leave that to others. I carry a small duffel that sits on my rollaboard and pack a Ricke Steves Civita bag for daily touring. For luggage brands I favor spending a bit more for quality. You don’t want zippers or wheels failing while you are traveling and a quality bag will last many years. At the top end are brands such as Briggs & Riley. The higher end lines made by Travel Pro offer quality and good value. BTW, you seem too be asking the same questions repeatedly in your posts. What more information do you need? Have a great trip!

As long as you can each comfortably manage the carry on and backpack (try packing them and hauling up a flight of stairs) your choices should work fine. The key here is "comfortably". It may seem silly to practice packing a bag, but it's far better to find out at home that your luggage is too heavy or unwieldy to handle than on your trip. One thing to also keep in mind is that European hotel rooms are, on average, significantly smaller than U.S. hotel rooms - so smaller is good! Having your arms and hands free is definitely good as well.
Sounds like you're on the right track - have a great trip!

The broad idea of each person having 1 rolling carry on size bag and 1 daypack backpack is good.

Details to consider - if your “big” bags are carry on size and weight you probably want to carry them on the plane. No chance of them getting delayed, you have everything with you if your flight is cancelled, and no waiting around at baggage claim.

I don’t like daypack backpacks, but that’s personal preference, many will disagree. I find it hard to get to my stuff, and I don’t like not being able to see it. It just seems like it would be so easy for someone behind me to steal from it. So I use cross body bags - still hands free but I can see it at all times. Also I don’t need to stop walking to get out my camera, phone, sunglasses, or anything else.

So you only have the two direct flights US- Italy?
For me, although I always carry on, a major factor is whether you are staying in your arrival city for a day or longer or, directly moving on to the next destination? Should there be a delay with your checked bags, however unlikely, it will be easier to deal with the logistics if you are still in the arrival city. Once, for a family reunion in Italy, one of the group's luggage was lost- and even "only" several hours away from the airport it took a couple days and them hauling back to the arrival airport to reunite with it.
Factor in the wheels for carry-on restrictions, for future travel.
Train stairs on and off are often very steep and narrow, make sure you can safely lift them on and off.
Lastly, do consider weather protection, if you decide on a soft- sided bag. On a domestic flight I was forced to gate check my beloved soft - sided Lipault bag and it arrived soaked through...

....purchasing 2 light weight carry on size bags with 2 good/larger wheels and good length handles.... That is double of what we would take. We take one carry-on size, backpack style of bag. And then a relatively small day bag that can either be on a shoulder strap or back straps. And you could sub a carry-on size, rolling bag for the back pack style. It is a matter of personal preference and some do not like the weight on their back. We prefer the backpack style just to have free hands but at 76 we may be approaching the time when have to switch to rolling bags. Maybe next trip.

I see from one of your other threads you're traveling for 23 days. You've had some recommendations on brands on past threads but I'll add that I also don't like to use a backpack for my day bag.

I DO use a light day pack for my personal item on the plane as well as using it as a "bus bag" when I am on a Rick Steves tour. Otherwise, when I am out and about in a city I want a purse that I can swing in front of me and have my hand on the zipper when I go thru crowded areas. I pack my purse in my main bag which is a 21" carry on. I have checked this the last couple of times and as mentioned above I was staying put for several nights in my arrival city in case my suitcase needed to catch up with me.

I traveled this summer with my brother, SIL and her sis. The Sis had a 22" rolling bag for her checked luggage but also had a rolling bag for her carry on. That did not work very well. The smaller roller (maybe was a 16"?) would not stack well on the 22" checked roller and pulling 2 separate rolling bags was not working. It seemed like the wheels were going their separate ways!

For several years I've used Rick's Veloce bag but I switched in January to a LiteGear Mobile Pro day pack for my airplane carry on. https://tinyurl.com/y87wrv2x I switched because the Veloce is wider and takes up most of the foot room when it's placed under the seat. The LiteGear bag is skinnier and a bit taller so it works better for allowing room for my feet. The thing I don't like about the LiteGear is that the straps seem to be a bit too wide for my shoulders. They are fine for short airport/walk to the hotel distances but I could never use this for a hiking day pack as it would be sliding off my shoulders.

I also use a packing cube in my carry on for things I will want in the seatback pocket during the flight. This helps me not to forget anything or lose it down into the depths of the seatback.

One thing also to know is that whatever luggage you get you'll wrangle on and off a boat in Venice AND the bridges you see in Venice are not ramped but are steps. This means carrying a rolling bag up and over every bridge between your vaporetto/Alilaguna stop and your hotel.

Just updated my original post.

Frank, you pack all of your belongings into only one carry-on backpack and only one day backpack...2 bags total, for 2 travelers?
Have to give this some thought.

Oh good...I read your update and see yes, you'll use smaller cross body bags for your usual day bags and just use the day pack on the plane. I think you'll find this works well.

I do exactly as Pam does:

I DO use a light day pack for my personal item on the plane as well as using it as a "bus bag" when I am on a Rick Steves tour. Otherwise, when I am out and about in a city I want a purse that I can swing in front of me and have my hand on the zipper when I go thru crowded areas. I pack my purse in my main bag which is a 21" carry on. I have checked this the last couple of times and as mentioned above I was staying put for several nights in my arrival city in case my suitcase needed to catch up with me.

My 21" wheeled bag is RS's and as hard as I try to use another of my bags, I never get there anymore. It still looks like new inspite of the use it has received, and the checking of it. I think his bags are on sale this weekend also. In addition, my backpack (PI) is this bag. Sometimes I use it when I'm out all day with my DSLR as a day bag (sometimes I just put my camera in a grocery bag), but I always have a small cross body bag that contains what I really need, which is in my PI in transit, permanently attached to me when I am out and about. The wheelie has been thru snow, rain, hills, cobblestones, curbs, etc. I keep the weight to 20-22lbs, with both items together coming in under 30 lbs. I find this perfectly manageable for the little that I need to lift onto transport or carry up stairs, etc. Lots of time I attach my small backpack to the suitcase when I am wheeling. My husband uses the attach a bag strap, I don't as much as it depends on the size and shape of the underseat bag.

If I am staying in the city of the airport for a couple of days; i.e., London/Heathrow, which is usually the case, then I check my carryon bag so I don't have to have to hassle with it in the airport or on the plane, etc. and am there long enough for it to catch up with me if it is delayed; I've never had a problem. I always check it on the way home or on inter-europe flights. I find the checked bag system perfectly efficient. YMMV That being said, the system changes thru time.

So...I think your plan is excellent.

OK you changed your original post after I posted my reply. You had large bags you were going to check, now they are carry on, but you are checking them. I think based on this and your multiple other posts where you covered this ground you are really not listening. Over and out.

Big question. ..2 wheels or 4?

Regarding the irregular terrain in Italy, all the steps, and RR station steps, wouldn’t a. 2wheel bag better suited for this trip? Venice, Florence-4th floor, vernazza, sienna, praiano, Rome.

What are the maximum allowable dimensions for the under the seat bag on Intl. flights?

This is airline specific. Look at your airline's website.

I have 2 wheel 21" bags and have never wished for a 4 wheel bag, especially when on irregular surfaces. The only advantage of the 4 wheel bag is in airports and going down the airplane aisle.

My 'other under seat' bag is a 20 liter Eddie Bauer back pack. This gets lightly packed as the 'day bag' when at the destination

For me Travelpro hits the right spot of quality and price.

I have always used 2 wheel bags, but just got a 4 wheel Lipault one because it's about 1.5 pounds less than my RS 2 wheeler. I have two of those, one older model that we've used many times in the past, and one newer one that's a little smaller. We never check anything, and bring along a backpack and a tote for overflow. The biggest concern on our upcoming trip is Alitalia's 8kg limit for carryons. We have been weighed once before, and were able to manage to stuff enough in our backpack and tote to meet the limit. Size has never been an issue, we've always found that the bags are big enough, but that is a tight weight restriction! I'm hoping that if needed, I could only use 2 of the 4 Lipault wheels, and after the comment above about it getting soaked when gate checked in bad weather, I'm going to pray for no rain! We have two connections in Italy, one from Rome to Parma, and one from Naples to Rome--that seemed better than taking trains from and to Rome, and was less expensive--but I suspect the planes may be smaller than the transatlantic ones.

I definitely echo the suggestion to carry on and not check to avoid any problems. I think we have sometimes checked on the way home, though, and haven't had any problems. Of course, at that point, I can wait for my dirty laundry to arrive!

Make sure you measure the wheels in the height of your bag. Luggage manufactures do not always do that so don't believe their labels . if you have a 21 or 22 inch suitcase that needs to include the length of the wheels on it won't fit in the overhead . I find that the suitcases with the four wheels or multi directional wheels make the suitcase lose some interior packing room or it's a 22 inch suitcase plus an inch or two of wheels which makes it too large to go into the overhead. Unless you can slip by the airline attendants and put it sideways but there's always a risk that you'll be stopped or there won't be enough room. This depends on airlines some are 21 inch restrictive. I use a over the shoulder bag For underseat that has a pass thru so The handle of my rolling bag passes through that attaching the shoulder tote to the Rolling bag, We like travelpro for rolling suitcase. Spouse uses a backpack that has a pass thru for rolling suitcase handle and has A convenient water bottle pocket on the side We never book luggage.

You changes to the original posting makes a lot more sense.

......Frank, you pack all of your belongings into only one carry-on backpack and only one day backpack...2 bags total, for 2 travelers? .......

Not quite. We each take one carry-on size backpack style bag. My bag generally weights around 22-24 pounds since I take the books and couple heavier items and wife's bag is around 18 to 20 pounds. That goes into the overhead on the plane. In addition each have a smaller bag that wholes a few items needed on the plane - ear plugs, eye shade, couple candy bars, ipad, etc. - misc stuff for the airplane. You might call it a large purse, small book bag. Mine is kind of square - big enough for an ipad - and has both a shoulder strap and backpack straps. It doubles as our day bag when sightseeing. Wife's is more of a tote bag with a shoulder strap. When cruising we do take an addition carry-on size bag, rolling bag for the extra items we need for the ship.

Thanks to everyone for some great tips.

Just found a company that makes a bag with the features that we were looking for. Up to this point the other makers were falling short in some way. The Dakine bags have 5 star ratings, limited lifetime warranty, nice build for maximum usable space, quality fabrics, quality handle that extends out long, a cup holder built into the top for waits in long lines, expandable case, quality zippers and larger wheels that are urethane coated and have precision ball bearings for the Italian terrain! They even make a full line of backpacks which we can use for under the seat storage. All with realistic pricing with free shipping.
https://www.dakine.com/en-us/bags/travel-bags/luggage/status-roller-42l-bag/

Like the look of the wheels.

We did about the same thing two years ago to Italy and are currently in Switzerland carrying the same luggage configuration. We will be in Italy next week. We check our 21 and 22 inch two wheel rollers. two wheels because that is what we had or could borrow. We bought appenzell backpacks and that is our carry on on the plane with our two changes of clothes,electronics and toiletries. Our rolling bags are very lightly packed so clothes move clothes from backpack to rollers while moving between cities. We then have room for food and souvenirs and the my clothes totally seem to expand while traveling issue. We also carry pacsafe crossbody metro 100 bags as our personal item on plane and then around the daytime in cities. We have used the appenzell while hiking in Switzerland a lot-they are a little big but needed room for coats and layers and lunch and water and umbrellas. On way to airport from home our driver said you pack very light. I still think it is too much but everyone is different. Oh we also have family of 4 and one roller Is halfway filled while moving between cities (it is carried on the plane as a medical device) with a cpap machine that is large because it has a heated humidifier on it.

Not being sure if you already bought that Dakine, I will mention that it's pretty heavy before you put anything in it. Beyond that, I have found that my clamshell bag (different brand) is a royal PITA because there is rarely anywhere to open it in any room I've stayed, so I have to empty it at each location.

The 40L bag is lighter, appears to open differently and be more hotel room user friendly.

I do carry-on only, period. After trying an embarrassing number of combinations, I use either a Lipault spinner like this one or an old Eagle Creek 2-wheel load warrior bag.

They are each under 6 pounds. I find the spinner much easier to move around and being able to turn it sideways to push it down an airplane aisle is very helpful. If needed, I can tilt it to pull it on only 2 wheels over bumpy terrain. Lipaults are available from many online sources. Unfortunately, my exact Eagle Creek bag is no longer available, but other similar Eagle Creek bags are also available from a variety of online sources.

I slip a sleeved, cross-body, "personal" bag over the handle. I have many made by Baggallini, but my favorite is the Hobo tote. These bags are also available from many online sources.

I also have many little Baggallini purses, but my favorite is this Pocket Medium cross-body bag. It's soft and can be folded to fit in the Hobo.

Thanks again for the information!

We have a question for you. We were just discussing how often we have found luggage dimensions that are conflicting, sometimes in the text on the same online page. When we chat at ebags, they often come back with the incorrect answers. This led us to the question as to what happens to those who buy luggage that they think is the correct size (based on the seller's specs), but when they get to the airport they find that it does not meet the airline requirements? Obviously they can check the bags, but at what point in the process do they discover the problem and is it a hassle?

I was told by a travelpro rep that most airlines add an additional inch all around on their inspection racks. Is this true?

When you receive the bags in the mail, measure them yourselves. Also, I've found that in the reviews very often someone will provide the correct measurements.

..... was told by a travelpro rep that most airlines add an additional inch all around on their inspection racks. Is this true?..... I have never heard that but I have never measured one of the boxes either. If anything, I thought they made them smaller. Maybe I will measure one the next time I am in the airport. Most of the reported bag measurements that you see are the measurements of the bag itself and often does not include the handle and the wheels. There was an article last year in Consumer Report that compared measured sizes against the reported sizes. Only one or two bag companies past the test. You can probably goggle the report.

The issue with spin bags is strictly physics. The small the radius of the wheel the easier it is to catch on a crack, in a hole, etc. A wheel with a longer radius will roll more easily over rough ground. Two wheel bags have larger wheels and they are partly recessed into the bag so bigger wheel doesn't add as much to the length while spinner wheel had to be completely outside the bag.

The airline cares about the overall size of the bag and, for European airlines, the weight. The bag manufacturers and sellers frequently provide the interior measurements or only the body measurements, but the airlines go by the outside measurements -- including the wheels and handles. Their sizer boxes are set up with that in mind.

I had an annoying experience with a British Airways sizer box. The structure, square tubes, was on the inside. That made my perfectly sized, Eagle Creek bag with 3 soft sides difficult to put in the box and almost impossible to remove from it.

So when you measure, be sure to measure from the floor (bottom of the wheels) to the top of any handles for the height. Measure across the usual stiff back of the bag at its widest point and including any side handle. And measure the depth through the deepest part of the bag, usually the bottom where the wheels are.

The differences between the interior packing area, sometimes called the body, and the overall size may not seem like much, but if the airline measures your bag or makes you put it in their sizer and your bag is too big, you have a problem. The Lipault carry-on I linked previously, has these numbers that aren't listed by every online vendor that sells the brand:

Body Dimensions: 20.6" x 13.2" x 7.9"

Overall Dimensions: 21.6" x 14.9" x 9.4"

If I fly on Vueling next summer, I may have to check it just because their 20cm (7.87") depth requirement is too narrow for my bag.

Note: Just discovered that EasyJet will not allow both a carryon for the overhead and a small personal bag for under the seat, UNLESS you've purchased Extra Leg Room or some type of upgraded seat....grrr!!!!

Okay, now what happens when you are at the airport and your bag does not meet the carry on qualifications. You were assuming it would and planned to carry it on. What do you do at this point in the process of check in, security, etc.? Are you delayed in the process of check in, security, etc.?

If you measured your bag when it arrived you will know if it qualifies. If your measurement (and weight) is OK, you check in on line and do not go to an airline counter. You go thru security and to your gate. If it is an airline that requires an unperson check, you just do that with the gate personnel. Security does not care how big your bag is.

So if you don't know your bag is oversized at the airport, it's your bad. Measuring and weighing is an easy solution to that. If it is sized correctly, but the bins are full, they will get check your bag for free.

Many airlines now charge more than twice as much if you discover you must check the bag at the airport compared to what you would have paid during online check-in. You can find the fee information on each airline's baggage-allowance webpage. I am not happy about paying $25 or $35 to check a bag, but paying $75 would be far worse. You will not find me trying to sneak an extra inch or an extra pound past the gate agents.

Okay, now what happens when you are at the airport and your bag does not meet the carry on qualifications. You were assuming it would and planned to carry it on. What do you do at this point in the process of check in, security, etc.? Are you delayed in the process of check in, security, etc.?

Never assume anything. Make sure your bag meets their carryon requirements. Otherwise be prepared to open up your wallet.

I’ll just add that if I carry on, I prepare my bag as if it might have to be checked at the desk or gate checked. In other words, nothing of value or importance goes in that bag. If it’s one of the Low Cost Carriers that only allows one bag ( no purse) I’ll have a packing cube/purse of important stuff I can just pull out.

I learned the hard way - on the way home from first RS tour, reservations on Delta but it was a code share out of Florence on Alitalia which weighed and measured. I had to step out of line when my bag did not meet their measurements to pull out my Kindle, chargers, etc so that bag could be checked. It was a rookie goof but lesson learned.

Side note: a few years ago I took my empty "carryon size"suitcase to the United sizer at SFO to test it. It DID fit -- with a little shoving -- but when I packed it at home the sides bulged out so far I could see it wouldn't fit. And that was U.S. DOMESTIC airline rules. Luckily, we don't object to checking bags, and always pay the at-booking checking rate rather than worry about size and weight at the airport (with outrageous at-the-counter charges.)

Well, I will provoke an argument and say that I agree with you each having one carryon size case that you may or may not check, one small backpack for use on the plane or train for essentials, and one small crossbody bag for everyday walking around use.
I travel to Europe every year, last year three times, for the past 30 years; and this is what I take every time.
I also have never bought expensive luggage.
I buy the lightest and most sturdy I can find, and least inexpensive, in that order.
I've had the same TravelPro bag for years, and roll it over cobblestones and up and down stairs each time.
Before that, I had an Air Canada case that lost the rubber from a wheel, when I bumped it down cement stairs from a top floor apartment in Florence.
It also had lasted for years before that, and was inexpensive.
I use packing cubes to fit everything in, and we rent apartments so can wash clothes frequently, thereby packing less.
This year I'm going down a size to a smaller Samsonite with four wheels.
Even with four wheels, you can tip it back so it rolls like a two wheeler.
You take what you want!! and as this is your first trip overseas, you will then decide on each subsequent trip what works for you.
You are doing some thoughtful planning, so that's a great start!

Highly recommend Briggs & Riley, 22". Very light for the size, easy for train/metro travel. That and a backpack, like you and others suggest. Buon voyage!

Highly recommend the Eagle Creek 20" international road warrior. (If I were better at this the link to it would be right here:_______________________) It has lots of grab handles, including a large X on the top of the bag that can be used to carry by running your arm under the x and carrying in front of your torso. Nice when exiting the plane. or up and down stairs.

It also weighs about 5 pounds. I keep my bag weight to 17 pounds. Am short and nearly Medicare-eligible, so this bag makes a lot of sense for me.

I will add that I do not like bags that have the zipper running down the middle so the contents are split between the top and bottom of the bag. Easy to pack at home, but your hotel room may not be as spacious. Much prefer a single large compartment, and my favorite packing toy: packing cubes.

Is this the bag you have? Is that T-shaped handle comfortable for you? I've tried T-shaped handles and found that they hurt my hands.

I love Eagle Creek bags and have the bigger 22" one with the U-shaped handle. But I'd love to step down in size for my next trip.

Thanks again, to all, very good thread.

After much deliberation, we decided to purchase 2 of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078VGLQCV/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

When we found these bags listed for only $108. each, it helped make our decision easier. They normally sell for $185..

Lots of great features included the largest storage capacity that we found- both closed (2700 cu in) and expanded (around 3500 cu in).

Ykk zippers, built in cup holder, ball bearing wheels that are urethane coated for shock absorbtion and smooth rolling, strong and long handle, and a company that takes care of their customers. And, weighs in at 6 lbs.

TLS makes a great line of bags with excellent design and features, but they weight in around 9lbs-we are over the Medicare age. Great bags, but seemed like a bit too much bag weight to begin with.

Really like a lot about the Eagle Creek line of bags but had a hard time with the price tags and the T-handle. My mechanical inclinations were telling me to avoid this style. We were shopping at the LL Bean store today and looked at their bags which were almost identical to the Dakine that we purchased. Theirs did not expand and were seling for $269 and weighed alround 7.5 lbs.

We find out soon if our decision payed off, or not? And yes, this bag unfolds in half, but we are hoping to use this to our advantage...we see soon how our decision plays out??

Hoping someone can share some advise for packing.

Thinking that locks for the zippers are a good idea. Any ideas as to specific locks/styles to buy?

Also, when packing is it a good idea to use the packing cubes...advise on brands, styles, etc.?

Ideas on ways to pack electronics. We are taking 2 phones and their chargers, iPad and it's charger, 2 sets of wired headsets,
and the socket adapters for Italy. Thinking of bring 3 of these adapters. These wiil all need to be packed in the under the seat bag.

Suggestions for a good bag for toiletries?

3-1-1, use a zip lock bag?

Bagalini...on a video I saw that they made a plastic rollup for daily essentials. Good to use? Just went to their site and did not see one?

Hi OP;
For years , I have not used a padlock of any kind on my suitcases.
Instead, I use zip ties/cable ties that you can buy in any dollar store.
They come in different sizes so you can use ones that fit each zip.
Don't put them through the bits hanging off that you use to pull the zip closed with, but through the actual openings where each side of the zip comes together there.
You can cinch them in really tight, and if you use black ones, you can't see them till you look very closely.
The only thing is , is that you have to bring a small pair of scissors with you to cut them off when you want to unpack.
I just put a pair of small scissors in the smallest outside pocket of the case to do just that.
As far as I recall, in 30 years, I've never had the ties removed by security or airport staff.
If it's missing, you know right away that someone has been in your bag.

And yes to packing cubes!
Get a set , or two, that has different sizes.
If you're travelling light, the really big sizes aren't much use.
Amazon has lots to choose from. I got the ones made by Bagail.

Watch a few packing videos on YouTube; you'll be amazed at how efficiently you can pack a bag after seeing how other people do it!
Happy packing.

Since you’ll be staying in apartments you won’t have a room safe. While plastic ties work for in-transit, they won’t do if you want to lock up a suitcase and leave it in your room. Something like this https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Cable-Retractable/dp/B00I5IWCPA/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1536098519&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=lewis+and+clark+tsa+approved+luggage+locks&psc=1 will enable you to lock your bag and secure it to something non moveable in the apartment. Yes, TSA locks are simple to hack but this is better than nothing. Otherwise consider a small padlock with a cable, but, if you wind up checking a bag stateside that will be cut off. Also, keep in mind TSA does not exist outside of the US. If you check a bag locked with a TSA lock (or any lock) in Europe it will likely be cut off.

I have used the TSA locks at both Heathrow (packed 3 jars of jelly and a bottle of cider) and in Rome (olive oil and pasta sauce) and have yet to have the lock cut off (knock wood). If they get cut off I'll just go and buy a new one.

Quick follow up after our trip to Italy. We used 2 Dakine carry on 2 wheel suitcases that worked great. Also, followed the packing video that a forum member provided showing how to fold clothes in a suitcase-perfect, thanks!
We also planned on using 2 backpacks for traveling and touring. Glad we had a last minute change of heart. We purchased a very lightweight and collapsible shoulder bag for plane travel only, and also a Travelon Shoulder bag for plane travel and everday touring. Plan worked really well. We shared carrying the Travelon during the touring days and one of us was always hands and weight free-easy and safe way to travel. Four bags for the plane, and only one shoulder bag for touring.
Thanks to all for all the input.

Hi! We are going to Italy in April and did lots and LOTS of research on bags. These are the two we are going with and we're using compression packing cubes for our clothes. The second bag has wheels and converts to a backpack. The first bag has a strap that slips down over the wheeled bags handle so "someone else" can carry both of them!. Lol.

https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101

https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/tls-wheeled-weekender/358331?productid=10651275

The site has 30% off right now and they are BOTH within carryon size, plus they expand 3" to bring back souvenirs.

Good luck!!!

I use packing cubes as well, from AMZN, but for luggage? I found you cannot beat Marshall's or TJ Maxx
for quality and price, I bought a Samsonite 4-wheel 22x14x9 carryon a month ago for $79 there,
IF you have one of those in your town. We have several here, and all of them have a ton of luggage
at good prices.

And every single bag has spinner wheels.

I would suggest each of you not pack separate bags, but rather each split your stuff between your bags, so if one bag gets lost neither of you lose everything. If you have two different color packing cubes, it is easy to sort when you need to.

one carry on bag...one in the overhead bin...state side...in the economy carrieres in the EU they charge for bags

Hey Lynne and mtvaughn....he got back almost a month ago....