Small duffel bag instead of a roller

I see the bag only weighs 2 lb 2 oz, that’s pretty light. So only 8 lbs of clothes shoes and other stuff, congrats on a light pack. 40 liters is a lot of space too. Are you planning on carrying it backpack style?

No because I am already carrying a backpack which I need for the trek with my rain gear and poles. Toiletries are provided at the guest houses. Additional luggage is transferred from Ryokan (Guest House) to Ryokan.

Hiking poles are the subject of many inquiries on the forum, and the conclusion I have drawn is that if they have pointed tips, they are not permitted in the passenger area of an airplane (must be checked).

Mine have rubber tips so TSA says they are allowed at the discretion of the agent. I'm checking them anyway as I have on my last three hiking trips.

You're all set, then. Have a great trip!

Thanks! We are excited.

The duffel link is not pulling-up for me. Perhaps, because I am not an REI member?
40 liters is a good size. I did get a brief glimpse before the image cut-out. Eagle Creek and Deuter offer similar bags. Osprey may have something in this category, as well. Patagonia has the black hole line-up.
Practical - no muss, no fuss - type bags. I like simple and straightforward.

I've been using this small duffel quite frequently on recent trips and it is really well built, but not exactly "lightweight" - https://www.redoxx.com/products/safari-beanos-pr5-medium-duffel?srsltid=AfmBOoptMCCsT5JpgkYohZsmNQ01GeMe0pV6VSmEKKO-1GEXMgmfQi7v . It fits under the seat nicely and I believe it's also about a 40 litre capacity.

I'm still experimenting with the lightest way to pack. Both my husband and I used duffels on our last trip, to Greece in an attempt to avoid having to gate check our bags (We fly economy.). My duffle was 20", about 2 lbs. empty and 10 lbs. packed and his was a little larger. and heavier I found that the duffle was awkward to carry either with the handles or the shoulder strap, and 10 pounds can get heavy if it is carried on one side of your body for any length of time. The straps of my bag were not padded, so they dug into my hands and shoulders; padding would have added weight.

For our next trip we are returning to our small roller bags and paying for early boarding on our flights.

Hey Ken,
I have a few RedOxx bags. They are the tanks of the bag world. My husband and I use the PUP, the Gator, and the CPA shoulder “briefcase.” I think their packs would be too hefty for me as a woman. I think the MUTT would make a great 3-4 day bag for a man and still fit underseat of a plane.

Sun-Baked,

Red Oxx truly are the "tanks" of the luggage world, and they should easily last a lifetime. I also have an Air Boss which I use for domestic trips by car (it's too big for carry on when fully packed). My Beanos PR-5 duffel is perfect for carry on although it's a bit heavy as I pack my dSLR and two lenses there, as well as the usual carry on items. It fits under the seat nicely.

More @ Ken,
RedOxx bags have very high water resistance. So much so, that I don’t worry about them in heavy rain situations. My husband had a bag in heavy Florida rain. When he got home, he feared ruined work papers. Opened his bag and was greatly relieved to see so little wetness. His important work papers were protected. Dry, except for a minor edge near the zipper. I, also, had a bag in rain.
Same results. No water in bag.

The PUP bag is my daily go-to bag. It would make a good underseat bag and can hold 1-2 days of clothing in packing cubes, along with flight comforts. But, I recommend adding the comfort shoulder strap for long hauls around airports.

My husband uses the Gator bag for underseat airplane travel. It holds his papers and flight comforts. (No Clothing.) Stands up under a seat. Still has leg room.