RS Carry on Classic vs. Convertible? And then the Day Bags...???

dhgritz25, yes this is an endless discussion, with no one right answer. I have the Classic, and like it. I have more expensive bags with heavier construction (Tom Bihn, RedOxx, Cotopaxi), but the main reason I like the Classic is that it is so light weight: 2 pounds is pretty light (and I've weighed it to confirm). Some airlines restrict weight of carryons, so it matters. I also have the Civita, and used it for many trips. I like it because it squishes down to almost pocket size. I am sure that there are zillions of other bags that work well, so these are just my opinions. The prices are pretty reasonable too, I think. I see they are on sale now, which is even better.

PS, I like the Civita as a day bag, but its a bit too small for me as the "personal item" on the airplane. So I usually have it packed inside my carryon.

I also like the Civita back pack because it is so light and packs so flat. That is exactly what I am looking for in a day bag. It doesn’t hold a shape at all, but in a day bag I don’t mind that. As for the carry ons, I can’t say. I have the convertible backpack and I love the design with the compartments it has. I find them very useful and helpful in organizing. For me though this bag is a little too big and it really bulks out and doesn’t hold its shape, so I ended up not using it.

My husband and I both have the Civita bag. We have found it to be the best day bag for lightweight items. It is well constructed, and can be either hand washed or machine washed on gentle cycle. Also agree it's too small for a carry-on. My husband uses a backpack for carry-on. My new find is the Hedgren Tote Bag. Sturdy, well constructed, Rfid, trolley sleeve fits perfectly on my TravelPro luggage and weighs less than 2 pounds. Happy New Year!

I am going to be the stinker in the group. (You can give me the evil eye.). The Civita is just okay. I have used it. It's not my favorite. I much prefer a small backpack (daypack) that has a padded back and shoulders and some organizer pockets. Something around 15 liters - less than 20 liters. My pack is no longer made. So, I recommend the eagle creek wayfinder at 20 liters. There is a male/female version. For short women (like me!), I recommend the eagle creek 12 liter, mini wayfinder pack.
The RS Appenzell is a good pack - but it's too big for a day pack unless you are carrying supplies for a family of 3 - 5 persons.
I have the EuroFlight bag. I have issues with this bag. If interested - I can give you the details.

The "convertible" which is slightly more expensive has a few extra features than the classic bag. The Convertible has - better back padding, weighs 1 pound more, hip belt for weight distribution, and a couple of extra pockets - like the Appenzell pack I have. You may wish to compare this to the ebags.com etech 3.0 bag. You really can't go wrong with any choice here. We are "hair-splitters" on this forum and have personal favorites.

I've grown to love the RS convertible carry-on and the civita shoulder bag but I'm a comparatively minimalist packer on this board,
so I'd say my main criticism is that it is bigger than I need for most situations, but not so big that I feel like it's not worth using. A jack-of-all-trades kind of carry-on. I don't need a personal item at all on the plane, so I stick the civita shoulder bag inside the carry-on, and then I use it as my day bag wherever I'm staying.

I was accustomed to using a Sierra Club freebie mini duffel bag and a cotton pillowcase-style grocery sack as my carryon and daybag, respectively, so take that into account when considering how valuable my viewpoint is.

I’m a huge fan of the Veloce day bag. Kind of pricey, but very roomy and versatile. It expands for bigger loads but is just the right size and weight for carrying around all day, either as a shoulder bag or as a backpack.

On the flip side, the Euro flight bag was useless to me. The opening is too deep, causing items to spill out. Might be a good diaper bag, but that’s about it.

Another alternative, if you really want to save space, are the packable bags from Eddie Bauer and High Sierra. They come in various sizes and fold up into their own pockets. Nice for stashing in a carryon if you don’t need a separate flight bag, then for carrying extra stuff on the return trip.

TY all who have responded.