4-Wheel Spinner or Two Wheel Carry-on for Traveling in Italy?

This is similar to asking which is the best travel shoe. Everyone has a different experience; try them both out for yourself and decide which one YOU prefer. I strongly prefer the two wheel style, but others just as strongly disagree.

Laura,

What have you been using up until now? If you're comfortable with it, that same luggage should work for your trip to Italy.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/buying-carry-luggage-look-inside-200524013.html?nhp=1
Excerpts follow with bold emphasis added:

Buying Carry-On Luggage? Look Inside First
Consumer Reports August 4, 2016

Even though different bags can be the same size on the outside—the limit is 22 inches (height) x 14 inches (width) x 9 inches (depth) for domestic flights on American, Delta, and United—their usable space on the inside can be very different, depending on how it is configured.

The best way is to inspect the bag for certain telltale space-maximizers. If you want the most interior space possible for packing, look out for these attributes:

Squared edges. You’ll get more space if the bag has squared edges. Interior volume is sacrificed if the bag comes with curved corners.

No protrusions. An exterior protruding pouch reduces total packing space. Compartments accessible from the outside should be configured as inline pockets, not pouches that protrude.

Two wheels instead of four. The wheels on a two-wheeler are partially recessed, yielding more overall volume to the bag rather than the wheels. A four-wheeled spinner has less interior space because the externally mounted wheels steal valuable real estate within the bag’s interior.

No wheels. If interior space is really important to you, forgo wheels. The wheels contribute to the overall dimensions of the bag and thus reduce potential packing space.

Externally mounted handle. Most handles are mounted internally. But if you must be able to harness every square inch of packing space, external is the way to go. The only major brand of luggage that we know of that has an externally mounted handle is Briggs & Riley. This brand also scored among the highest in overall satisfaction among 16 rated luggage brands in a recent survey of 8,218 Consumer Reports readers who told us about their carry-on suitcases.

Bottom line: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that every carry-on bag has the same packing capacity. Being savvy about your bag's interior just may let you take a little more with you next time you travel.

I was just in Italy in a group of six women friends. Two of us had 2-wheeled bags, four of us had 4-wheeled bags. 2 of us never had to stop and wrangle a wheel out from between cobblestones. Guess which two?

Now if I could only have convinced them to downsize their 24" and 26" bags...my little 20" bag pulled along happily behind me and I could lift it overhead with no issues. But that's another story.

This one keeps coming around. My late mother would have said "that's why Baskin Robbins has 31 favors". I have a two wheeled expandable Briggs & Riley. Sturdy, guaranteed for life. I travel extensively and in the US it's my go to carry on. But, for my last 4 RS tours I've used a 21" Travel Pro spinner. I carry less each time I go so the size is not an issue. Yes, on cobblestones I drag it like a two wheeler. I've heard that is not good for these critters, but it's not been a problem. Mostly I'm not on cobblestones and I find four wheeling to be really comfortable-no torque in my shoulder, my low back, on those long trips through the airport and in Eurpean streets.

On my last trip I decided to test out a spinner. On smooth surfaces such as tile, cement, or any other hard flooring, it was excellent. It rolled smoothly and almost effortlessly. On carpeting I had to tilt it and drag like a roller to get anywhere. The same for cobblestones and broken pavement.

If I was going from airport to cab to hotel and back, I would not hesitate to take a spinner. Walking the streets of a major city and I'll stick with my roller.

We just bought our new TravelPro 21" rolling bags (less than 7 lbs.) with the spinner wheels.
What's nice about spinners is my wife and I can each roll the bags sideways down the narrow aisle in airplanes.
With the old style rolling wheels, I usually have to carry my and my wife's bags down airplane aisles at the same time--physically tough.

We just bought our new TravelPro 21" rolling bags (less than 7 lbs.) with the spinner wheels.
What's nice about spinners is my wife and I can each roll the bags sideways down the narrow aisle in airplanes.
With the old style rolling wheels, I usually have to carry my and my wife's bags down airplane aisles at the same time--physically tough.

All two-wheeled bags aren't created equally, in my experience. I have a 22" two-wheeled Delsey suitcase which I really like. The wheels are set at the edges of the bag, which gives it more stability. I had another two-wheeled suitcase whose wheels were set closer together and farther from the edges. Every time I went over a curb or deep cobblestones, it would flip around so I'd be dragging it on its front. I'd have to stop and flip it back around. The Delsey doesn't flip. It'll wobble back and forth a couple times if I step off a high curb but it never flips.

Four wheel bags are great on smooth, hard surfaces like airports and most train stations. Two wheel bags, especially the ones with the larger, roller blade type of wheels are better suited to the rough concrete and cobblestone. In the US we travel with four wheel bags. In Europe is back pack style with no wheels and sometimes with one two wheel bag.

For your question, I would use a two wheel bag.

Short answer----A spinner is useless on cobblestones.

Thanks for the short and valuable answer! :)

Ken,

I have been using a VERY large suitcase. I over pack every trip. Using a carry-on for a two week trip will be a challenge, but I am ready to take it on! I think I will buy a two-wheeler that is expandable and has straight edges vs. rounded. Now to find a bargain...

Now to find a bargain...

A bargain isn't a bargain if a bargain wheel breaks or zipper fails while out of country. Just a thought.

Edgar,
What I mean by a bargain, is that I have seen the same exact suitcases sold at different places for a range of prices. And yes, they were exactly the same. For example, I have seen Mia Torro online for $109 and in TJMaxx for $60. Delsey online for $129 and TJMaxx for $80. That's the kind of bargain I am looking for. I certainly don't want a cheap bag that will break, just shopping for who has the best price on the luggage that I decide to buy. :)

I keep getting emails announcing sales ( and bonus miles if you collect those) from ebags.com. You might take a look.