Packable duffel bag with intention of checking on return flight

I have done this a jillion times. Unless you get really unlucky (which I had happen once to a much sturdier bag), it will be fine.

The other option is to check the carryon (you don't say what type you are using, but I assume it's something that would survive checking), and carry on the packable duffel.

That’s a possibility G3rry. My daughter has a hard side spinner while I am debating between an eBag MotherLode Jr backpack or my TravelPro. One of the things I am thinking about looking for is a small teapot and maybe a cup so I need something fairly sturdy to protect them while carrying on, but with two of us, I could possibly stow those carefully wrapped in her case and check whichever piece of luggage I take.

Do you gave a Home Depot near you? Or an Amazon delivery account? Asking because she might consider purchasing some 2 inch thick foam rubber to take with to buffer the item. Just a thought.

Dirty laundry makes great padding for breakables if the seller isn't able to box it up for you.

I would not put anything like a breakable teapot in a bag that’s going to be checked. And I would make sure you are within size restrictions and weight limits for a carryon going home. I watched, horrified at the way the carryons not making the limits and gate checked, were tossed from the airplane walkway and bounced onto to the tarmac to be loaded on the plane.

Could you consider asking the vendor to ship it to you? If not ask them to pack it for you…..just be aware you might have to unpack it when you go through security en route home. LHR is notorious for checking parcels etc.

We have done something similar before except just purchase an inexpensive bag at our destination to ship whatever portion of our stuff we were comfortable checking, that left our carryon bag to bring back treasures we purchased. One time we discovered we were carrying around cold weather clothes we were not going to need for the second leg of a back to back tours. Our hotel was happy to store a bag for us until we returned.

I have a zip into itself duffel I offen take for the same reason and it's some kind of synthetic fabric, no protective coating. I would stuff yours with dirty laundry ( that's what I do) to make it a solid shape and it should be fine. More to the point is the space either option will take in your carry-on but presumably either would lay fairly flat?
Hopefully you can cushion the teapot in your backpack, the shop will likely give you something to wrap it in.
Sometimes I don't need the duffel after all. I try to find very small gifts!

Margie, I agree. I was hoping to find room for something breakable like that to be in the carryon luggage only, which is why I was asking about also packing an empty lightweight duffel to check on the way home (with things like clothes to make room for any gifts purchased). If I find a shop/ vendor that will ship to the US I would certainly take that option if the costs weren’t too bad. Lesley, I wasn’t aware of that procedure at LHR. Good to remember that.

I just know we want to buy a few things this trip and am trying to see the best way to do it. Bon voyage, it may be that we, too, look for smaller items. I am taking a raincoat which has some decent sized pockets. Claudia, that’s an idea about a bit of packing stuff- maybe a few sheets of bubble wrap, which I already have. Thanks everyone for the advice so far!

I would pack all your clothes in the carry-on bag that will be checked (i.e., hardside spinner or Mother Lode) and then pack the breakables and souvenirs in the duffle bag and carry that on. I did that in Scotland and felt much easier having the stuff with me that I wanted to bring back. Clothing is more replaceable than souvenirs, imo. But of course, a lot depends on what and how much stuff you buy. :-)

Since checking a bag will cost around $70, why not look into shipping some things home.

If you're concerned about your purchases, ship home most of your clothes the day before you get home. I'm guessing you have other clothes at home you could wear until the shipped ones arrive.

I've shipped things from the UK to the US a few times and never had a problem. It took less than a week.

Frank, I was wondering about that, too. Can you share with me how you did this, where you shipped your things from? It would be fine to go without some of the clothes for a bit. Thank you!

Mustlovedogs--I have shipped things home many times. The post offices have prepaid boxes that you can buy, take them back to your hotel and fill them, then return them to ship. Almost always the boxes have arrived within a week back home to OR/WA for us. I just got back from Norway last night and on Thursday we passed a shipping place that advertised shipping such items, but it was not an official post office. So do a google search for where you are headed and then you will know what will be close to your hotel.

You could always buy a cheap duffle over there.

That is a good idea about shipping. I did that in Germany and it was cheaper (albeit a bit more time consuming) to send a box back home. Mine arrived about 2 weeks after I got home (but that was Germany—not sure about the UK). And I would do what Frank suggests, which is to ship most of your clothing home, and carry-on the stuff you want to protect.

You could always buy a cheap duffle over there.

That is definitely true! TKMaxx (just like TJMaxx in the states) always has bags. I found one at the TKMaxx in Edinburgh for around £7 lbs, and checked that with my clothes so I could carry-on the souvenirs.

I have used two ways of shipping things back to the US.

When I bought a rolling bag, I used Send My Bag to ship it home. They ship boxes as well. The shipping is done by DHL but it's cheaper going through Send My Bag.

Two months ago, I just bought a shipping box from WH Smith and took it to the Post Office. I used "International Tracked" service and it took five days from London to me in the US.

I have shipped my dirty clothes home using Mailboxes Etc. several times, dropping things off the day before I fly back home. This frees up my carry on for souvenirs and also lightens my load in general.

Thanks everyone! I think this shipping idea makes a lot of sense. That would be nice to have it taken care of before going to the airport, too. I will look into the locations for the stores and post offices to see which is more convenient.

I have a packable Eddie Bauer Duffle that I took on my Christmas market trip last December. On the way home I checked it (free) stuffed full with dirty clothes and anything else that was non breakable to lighten the load of my carry on bag. I packed anything fragile or important in the carry on. It came through with flying colors.

Most Post Offices in UK big cities are actually in shops like convenience stores and souvenir shops. You,'ll see a "Royal Mail' sign. They're safe to use.

Through a quick search I see the closest post office to our hotel is the Paddington Quay branch. From their website, it looks like this international postal service is available. I’m still searching to see if they have the boxes there, if it’s a manned office, etc.

I always have a strategy for souvenirs.

I typically pack 33-35 Liters of "stuff" in my 40L Osprey Porter backpack. I love my bag, it has semi rigid sides that seem to me more protective than the smaller bags, so I don't want to use a smaller bag, even though I could.
On the way to my trip, my personal item is a Tom Bihn medium sized messenger bag.
I pack a nylon fold into itself bag. I have the RS bag for one of my sons and I have an off-brand bag in neon green with a longer strap that I like and it matches my Osprey bag.

I usually buy very little in the way of souvenirs. An occasional T-shirt for someone, a scarf or two for me. These easily fit in my Osprey. Then at the airport I buy quite a few local chocolate bars and sweets. My husband always asks for one and I take a stack to the office to share with co-workers. I can fit the airport purchases and the contents of my personal item in this the extra nylon bag.

Last year, my son purchased some Calvados in Normandie. It had to be checked. I purchased a small, hard shell bag that we checked. Neither one of us wanted to check our Osprey bags, so we didn't! We wrapped the Calvados bottles with clothing.

In less than 2 weeks I am going to Paris. I am planning on going to quite a few flea markets. Who knows what I will decide to purchase. I bought a new fold into itself bag that is a little larger and thicker. I want to buy at least 2 vintage dinner plates and one of my sons wants a beurrier l'eau and the other son wants something military related. I also might get some porcelain Limoge boxes and vintage jewelry for Christmas presents. I am taking some bubble wrap with me. I am going to pare down my packing a bit more than usual (4 tops instead of 5, no PJ bottoms, I can wear my jacket home instead of packing it). I fly Delta in Premium Select and feel confident I could get away with packing my Osprey all the way to 40L if I needed to. The trouble is, the plane back to Cleveland is sometimes small and a 40L pack isn't going to fit in the overhead. I will put all of the breakable items in my personal item and if I buy too much stuff be prepared to check my Osprey. I have 2 free checked bags with my ticket and status, so I won't want to pay for shipping.