Travel Bag recommendation needed. (Rick Steves brand?)

Bob, There are a variety of possibilities you could consider. If you're planning to fly with only carry-on luggage while in Europe, keep in mind these will have to fit the sizing frames there. The wheels can sometimes prevent luggage from fitting the frames. Given your location, my first suggestion would be to take a short drive to ETBD in Edmonds where you can see the various luggage items, and speak with Rick's product specialists. Regarding the prices, IMHO Rick's luggage is very competitively priced. Again with your location, you could also stop by the Tom Bihn factory outlet store. They're usually only open one Saturday a month, but check their website both for product detail and store information. You might also check out the luggage ion at www.magellans.com as they have a wide range of different styles from various manufacturers (including their own line, I believe). Some of the most robust and strongest luggage I've seen is available from www.redoxx.com, but I can't recall if they have any wheeled versions. Good luck and happy travels!

Thanks Ken, I'll be sure to check out those other sites you mentioned. We have been to Rick's store several times, but there's a differnce between lifting a bag filled with crumpled paper inside a store and actually packing your own stuff and hauling it around the world. RS bags seem like ok bags, but I was wondering how durable they were (a common complaint on amazon.com) or how comfortable the 'coverts to a backback' version was to actually carry around. I thought for sure someone on the Rick Steves message board would have some experience with a Rick Steves bag.

We ordered a Rick Steves' rollaboard several years ago. When it arrived, my husband was so impressed with the quality, ease of use, etc., I immediately called to order a second one. They have served us well on many trips, and they are as good as new. We've never had a problem carrying them on. Wheels roll nicely over all sorts of surfaces, including cobbled European streets. The handle slides up and down with great ease, and they are easy to pick up when climbing a flight of Metro stairs, etc. Zippers and stitching have held up beautifully. Every so often, RickSteves runs a luggage sale, so if you are not in a big hurry................ And, every so often they will offer free shipping. But, if you have a trip coming up, order one, and you will be oh so pleased.

I just bought the RS wheeled bag to replace my long-serving Eagle Creek backpack. I would not buy the rolling backpack as you'd have to cope with the weight of the wheels when carrying it. Go for either wheels or backpack. Another good place to look for luggage is REI - they'll load the bags up for you with more than paoer and let you wander round the store.

Please be aware that right now all airlines in Europe weight your hand carry bags before you get on board. Eight kilos (eighteen pounds) is the limit. If you have two bags, most likely they want you to check in one. Some airline don't charge you the fee, but some do. I have a RS back pack with no wheel, weight about four pounds. It is 21,14, 7. inches. The maximum allow by the airlines. Last month, I went to Italy with the RS bag. I pack up all the things I needed in the RS back pack. Total weight nineteen pounds, but the bag is hardly full. It is too big for nineteen pounds of stuff. So I think if you want to carry on. Any roll aboard bag will be too heavy. The roll aboard will weight over six pounds itself, left you only eleven pounds for you stuff.
Now I am looking for a back pack around 19 to 20 inches. Weight under 2.5 pounds with 40 liters space. I have not find it yet.

You might look at the Kirkland luggage at Costco. The prices are very good and the luggage is well-made & very sturdy. My husband and I both have Kirkland luggage and it has held up very well.

Bob, "I thought for sure someone on the Rick Steves message board would have some experience with a Rick Steves bag." That's a good assumption, but not always true. I prefer travel with a Backpack and don't use wheelie bags! Rick's Convertible Rucksack doesn't work for me for a number of reasons, including the fact that the design doesn't allow torso adjustment. A previous reply suggested stopping by REI, so that's something else you could try. In addition to the products I mentioned in my first reply, you might have a look at the Eagle Creek website as they have a fairly extensive range of wheeled luggage. I believe REI is one of their dealers. Cheers!

For years I traveled for work in the US 5-6 days a week. I had luggage for flying and luggage for driving... yeah, it was a terrrible habit. Hauling stuff everywhere I found a rollerbag to be my best asset - especially when you stack your laptop case, briefcase, or other stuff on top. Once we moved to Europe and started flying smaller Euro-liners, our luggage needs changed. I've had Atlantic and TravelPro bags for years and they're about worn out. In Europe, the 22" USA rollerbags are a tight - if not impossible - fit in some of the smaller airline overheads... so I've been researching a new bag. I'll have to buy online as luggage in Europe is terribly overpriced. Recently I wrote about some of the best bags I found (Consumer Reports, ConsumerSearch, multiple travel boards, and other third-party reviewers recommendations). This article might provide you some other recommendations on rollerbags. There are SO many different types of bags out there it really comes down to what you're comfortable with. In the past I bought cheaper bags - REPEATEDLY - so now I invest more to spend less! I still have a soft spot for Atlantic and TravelPro bags but those are 10+ years old. Bags today are far lighter and far more sophisticated. And there are more "brand" options. Good Luck in your search!

We just got back from traveling to Italy (our third trip) and found that there is no consistently applied rule when it comes to carry on baggage. (We had the RS 21-inch Roll Aboards which we really like, plus two daypack bags for our "personal item" bags) Alitalia allowed 10 kg, not 8 kg, although 10 kg seems to be the stingiest standard of the major airlines. They did weigh our carry on bags at JFK (flight to Rome), which came in at 12 kg. The woman behind the counter said that was a little over and so we offered to move some things around (meaning into our "personal item" bag which does not have a weight limit, for some bizarre reason). We grabbed the bags to start to shift things, and she just smiled and gave us our boarding passes, meaning we didn't have to repack those bags. Okay, granted, I had been flirting a little bit with her, practicing my Italian, which might have helped. :-) Our return flight was Air France which (according to their web site) allows 18 kg per bag. They do have a carry-on bag checkpoint you have to go through (at least in Paris they do), but they do not weigh every bag. They let us just roll on through with our bags. They did not weigh our bags on our previous flight from Venice to Paris. And there was no additional weight check at the actual flight gate.

We just returned from a 3 week trip to Italy. We lived out of the RS 21-inch Roll Aboard and they served us very well. I researched the size restrictions for both AirFrance and Alitalia airlines and this suitcase was one of the few to fit their carry on requirements. We each carried the Veloce Shoulder Bags as well. Between the suitcase and this bag, we had plenty of room for our things. The Bag is very versatile, slipping over the handles of the suitcases easily for rolling around and comfortable over the shoulder or as a back pack when needed. We also brought along the Civita Day Bag, Veloce Guide Bag (as my purse) and the Hideaway Tote (highly recommend bringing this with you). As an option to the Veloce Bag, you might want to check out the Euro Shoulder Tote. RS has sales all the time and we purchased all of our bags when them went on sale. Have a wonderful trip. Ciao

I recommend eBags' weekend convertible. (on sale now $59
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/weekender-etech-convertible/15026?productid=56582). they sell a wheeled version, but I can't comment on that since I only have the backpack. Lightweight (just under 4 pounds empty) and great malleability (cinch straps and flexible, non rigid sides for expandable packing). Drawbacks are no wheels (IMHO not good with cobblestones anyway) and lack of protection for fragile items (I don't have this need, so softside is ok). eBags has a stellar replacement policy for their branded items - I've called and procured brand new replacement bag when one of my cinch straps broke off in transit (no proof or return of the bag needed - they just sent the new one, no questions). I have taken this bag on three Europe trips, each 3 weeks long. The only thing I wished for at the end of each trip was that I had packed even less than I did.

I got Rick Steves travel bags heavilly discounted at www.irvsluggage.com I personally bought 4 of his backpack style and one rolling carryon for my family. We will use them for the first time this July! I'd check out IRV's if you decide to buy R. Steves bags. I paid about $68 for the backpack style. Can't beat that price!

With a roll-on, dimensions can be critical. Some airlines are much more strict than others. Many 21" roll-ons are actually a little over 22" including wheels and handle - and can't be reduced. If they are measured, you will be forced to check your bag. For that reason, I bought my wife a Heys USA 20" roll-on (two-wheel, semi-hard sided). It's well made and about the lightest roll-on I found. Other than googleing a certain brand of bag. I consider ebags.com one of the best sources for online purchases.

Hi Bob, I have rick's convertible carry on (or whatever his name for it is) that I use on all of my Euro trips, which generally are about 3 weeks in length. I think that the bag is great, and I haven't had any problems with durability. My wife also has the same bag, which she uses for our trips, as well as her domestic travel. She had a zipper problem a few years back, I contacted ETBD and they sent out a new pack, free of charge. The new pack has had zero problems. We travel carry on, but sometimes check on the way home if we buy wine, olive oil, or other liquids, and they've held up well. I used to use an Eagle Creek convertible roll on, but the extra weight of the wheels (7 lbs, I believe) made it heavier than I thought I needed. Plus, I never wheeled it except when in line at the airport, as I feel that it's so much simpler to wear the bag.
My wife was slower to covert, as she preferred the roll on bag until we went to london, and all of its steps on the underground and underpasses. Then the rolling cobbblestone streets of rural europe (or Rome, for that matter). Finally, crossing all of the bridges (and their steps) in Venice (there are LOTS, believe me) on the way from the train to our hotel, and she converted. Her last 4 trips have been with the Convertible carry on and she loves it. You needn't only use ricks, though, as I really like Eagle Creek luggage, but ricks was simple with no frills an serves me well.

This is what we bought to use for Italy. Have used it for short trips here in the States so far. Weigh approx 1 1/2 lbs. http://www.ebags.com/product/international-traveller/it-0-1-16-carry-on/152707?productid=10102647
It goes on sale periodically.

warning: not on track of Original Poster..... @Karen, that link is to a 16 inch carryon: can you really get all your clothes in that? If so I am impressed! I was at Costco today and noticed Tumi carryons for around $200- still a bargain for the brand, but the 25 inch Tumis were less expensive,about the same as the RS brand. I've had my Tumi 21" wheeled carryon for years & afraid it is too heavy now for Lufthansa. I have the 1.75 lb Campmor softsided bag and I keep using it as a day pack, with room for purchases at the end of the trip.

I have used Rick's 21" domestically, and have had no problems at all. It fits just fine in the overhead bins, handles an extra bag on top, and the weight - for most wheeled bags - is OK. The only thing that worries me is that some of the more recent reviews have me concerned about zippers, pull handles, etc. (but I've seen the stupid things people do with zippers and pull handles, so I take that with a grain of salt). It's great that you can actually go and handle the very bag you would take home; you can pull and tug on things to be sure they're sturdy. Go back with a smaller backpack filled with some things, or just start stuffing a bag with THEIR books, backpacks, etc. I can't believe they don't have any 'stuffing material' you can use to more accurately judge how a bag will work for you. Just go prepared with your own 'stuff stuff'.

My wife and I both have RS 21" roller bags and have taken them to Europe every summer for 3 or 4 weeks for years. We have traveled over smooth surfaces and bad cobblestone streets with no adverse affects. I fly often here in the US and take the same RS bag with me. I have never had it stopped for being overweight either here or in Europe. RS does have sales regularly. If you go up there for one of his classes, I believe he will still give you 20% off of anything you buy in his store. WARNING: If you purchase any RS items from places other than thru the RS store in Edmonds (or online) he will not cover any warrantee that may come with that product. I learned that when purchasing a new day bag from his store where the employee told me to be sure to keep the sales receipt just in case anything goes wrong. I also learned that one of the quickest ways to damage the collapsable handle is to pick up the suitcase by that handle rather than using the hand strap, like when you are going over a curb or up a couple of stairs. Happy travels

@ Charlie. That's interesting about the warranty if you purchase a RS bag elsewhere. I had been keeping an eye out at my local AAA, however all they have are the roller bags and I'm thinking I want a convertible. Will re-think that purchase place!

I'm sure I'm probably the only detractor here, but I'm in my early 70s and a backpack without wheels is a bit too much for what may be a lengthy walk on a hot Italian day. I also like to wear one set of light clothes and have three to which to change and I do like to stay fairly clean with every fourth day being a laundry day. (Our experience with laundromats, by the way, is that we've spent too much valuable touring time seeking out and doing our own laundry and now budget a hundred bucks or so to help the local economy and free up time to see great sites). We happily use the Eagle Creek "Switchback" bags with rollers (they convert into backpacks as well but the wheels are, of course, attached). Each has a detachable daypack attached with plenty of room for carrying the immediate needs and valuables, e.g., camera equipment, and books, mixed nuts, extra emergency underwear and socks. If we are carrying our 22-inch Eagle Creeks we can sometimes carry these on and stow them in the overhead, but sometimes we use the larger 25-inch models when we anticipate needing additional items like neckties, dressier jackets for an opera, etc, and we check these through. We've been lucky so far and have only had a day's lost luggage delay in Rochester, NY. In either event, we carry on the detachable daypack. We're not wealthy but we're older and have profited a bit from our earlier travel experiences (e.g., a compass is a useful and compact item to bring along, wherever you travel in Europe).