Age, fragility, and carry-on only

I would use whatever bag/suitcase allows you to travel in February. Would taking a backpack type hurt when you take it on & off? Or, will it be a problem to manage picking up your roller bag when you need to go up & down stairs in a train station? Or, is there pain if you need to grab the handle of the train when loading & disembarking?

I love my Cotopaxi 35L backpack type, but I brought my old 2-wheel carryon for the recent Christmas Market tour because I wanted to bring home items, and that bag’s more protective. If you have both types, you could choose which would be best for a particular trip.

Hope you fully heal very soon!

Oh, sorry about your broken arm! Stay with what you always take. If you find the backpack and bag won’t work as you get closer to your trip, go out and buy a cheap roller at a local TJMax or Ross, or your store of choice.

How has your affliction affected the range of motion in your arms, and is it optimistic to expect a complete recovery by February? I still find it cumbersome to put on and remove my relatively small Appenzell pack, which I use as my carry-on - especially in a winter coat - I check my classic RS 22" roller. A full-size backpack, perhaps approaching 20 pounds in weight, would be more difficult for me.

I just returned from 9 days in London and the roller performed as expected - including 10 minute walks from the tube station to the hotel over various degrees of rough pavement, and maneuvering the stairs transferring lines at Piccadilly Circus.

The nature of your trip may be a factor - to what extent will you be on the move? I would play it safe and go with the roller.

I hear you. You're used to a backpack but due to your injury you're not sure if you should use that for your trip in a few weeks or get a rolling bag.

No one knows how well you will be healed by the time of your trip nor how you will feel by then.

But you don't want to pay full price for an RS rolling bag if you don't need to use it. Of course buying the bag now would save money but if you don't like it, or don't use it, you would have to pay to return it. That's not cheap.

So how about an alternative? I'm going to suggest this...

US Traveler 20" Rio

This bag won't last a lifetime but should help you get by should the backpack not work. If you choose the black it's only $36. Other colors are a little more expensive. If it arrives and you don't like it, Amazon offers free returns.

After your trip, should you decide that a wheeled bag is for you, and you feel this bag is not going to last, you will then have time to search for a replacement. If you want the RS bag, there are usually a few sales during the year.

I don't have this bag so I don't have any experience with it, but if the price is still the same when I return to the US in a couple of weeks, I might just buy it to give it a try.

It seems you view your luggage as more than a means to an end. It has become part of your self-image as a traveler. I encourage you to try different types of luggage to see which really suit your actual needs. I change what luggage I use to match my needs and the particular needs of the trip. I personally don’t like rolling backpacks, but it might be just perfect for you. I generally end up with a spinner these days.

hmmmm

I suppose it may depend if the break was in your dominant arm or the other.

If you want to pull a roller is it your stronger arm that can do the work?

And then, did the shoulder get involved in the injury - would you be able to easily get a backpack on and off?

sorry for the ouchie

oh - can you lift whatever bag up to the overhead rack on a train or overhead compartment on a plane? And get it down?