I have used a backpack but these days my back is more special and may object
I bought a beach bag for the trip we just returned from & I packed my stuff inside in clear travel cubes – I could easily find my stuff but this bag did not stay put on top my roller bag
Help please – suggestions for great bag that stays put on top my roller bag – some have a lip or something….
A hyperlink would be most appreciated
Thank you kindly - jules
You need a bag with a trolley strap that slides over your suitcase handle. Here are two examples from the RS store:
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/veloce-shoulder-bag
https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/flight-bag
There are others on the market. You can also check Amazon.
If you can sew, another idea is to add a trolley strap onto a bag that doesn't have one. I sewed a trolley strap onto a PacSafe tote I used in the past. PM me if you want me to email you a picture.
You want to look for one with a “trolley sleeve” that fits over the handle of your roller bag. Like these:
https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/travel-bags-with-trolley-sleeve/
Make sure the dimensions fit the airline’s size requirements for your “personal item”, usually something like 16 x 10 by 6 (or possibly smaller). It is supposed to fir under the seat.
If you have a two wheeled bag (you don't say 2 or 4), instead of a trolley sleeve, get a bag with small tote handles so you can piggy-back the bag or use add a bag system with a J hook, like flight personnel. This system counteracts the weight of the bag when in motion. Don't ask me how, but it does. This system is much easier on the back...well, mine at least. Putting the extra bag on the top with a trolley sleeve, just adds more weight that isn't counter balanced, in my experience.
My roller bag is the little RS one that fits above us on the plane – I do not sew but engineer husband can…
Looking forward to these links & finally having this challenge solved – hugs to my helpers
I have now traveled to Europe twice with this Baggallini tote.
https://www.baggallini.com/any-day-tote-with-rfid-phone-wristlet/ADT336-BG-B0938-NS.html
I like it a lot as I like the organizational pockets/slots. It also only weighs 1.5# which was a critical factor for me the last trip. I tried to pack in a lighter weight Kipling tote as well as a Le Sportsac tote, both of which have no pockets inside thus no structure and just felt I could not make it work. It has a trolley sleeve although the suitcase I took does not easily accommodate a 2nd bag as the handle is a monopole style.
I do not use the RFID wristlet. Instead, I sewed a split ring down inside the smaller interior zipper pocket and attached my wallet with my passport/money/cards with a Seattle Sports Dry Doc coil tether for security.
I was on a RS Best of Italy tour just recently and used this for my daily "bus bag". It was great for holding water, snacks, iPad mini, rain jacket, umbrella, compact binoculars and anything I thought I might need as we transited from one location to another. It fit well under my Delta Economy Plus aisle seats.
I've been drooling over the Longchamp Pliage tote but really, it is also just an open bucket inside and I would probably have the same issues with it as I had packing the Kipling and LeSportsac totes.
Good luck on your hunt!
I am using my second RS Euro Flight Bag which works very well, stays on top of luggage handle when walking. Fits under airplane seat while flying. I have traveled extensively with this flight bag as my personal item.
Pam,
I've used the Longchamp Pliage tote for years and then switched to the crossbody version. I have had difficulty finding what I need in the bag as everything is stuffed in with no organization. I was just with my SIL and she has the same Longchamp bag and her daughter bought her a purse organizer off of Amazon. I now have it, and while the organizer takes up some space, at least there is now organization with a number of pockets and I'm not digging for several minutes to find what I want. It looks to me like Amazon has purse organizers for a number of different bags. The organizer I have is OMYSTYLE.
I know this doesn't help with the OP question, but thought it could be helpful to others.
I purchased the Belgian designed Hedgren Swing Tote a few years ago that fits perfect on my Travel Pro Suitcase. It stays put. I like the organizational features, it weighs only 1 lb 1 oz., has an adjustable crossbody strap that is removable, dual carrying handles, flat bottom, sturdy & it has a water-repellent coating. https://www.zappos.com/p/hedgren-swing-large-tote-with-rfid-black/product/8974929/color/3 Baggallini is my favorite travel handbag. I have a couple Longchamp bags that I have used as a work bag but not for travel.
suki do you have a link
susan do you have a link - I aggre - gotta be able to find my stuff / not be frustrated
because my RS roller bag - fits above us in the plane is so small I'd like the biggest personal bag for carry on / fit under the seat I can have - ***I am not looking for a purse
OMG - as I am looking so many have health warnings - do ya'll know about that
thank you for the zappos suggestion - think I found my bag!!!
what do ya'll think?
Julie, be sure to look at the weights on the bag in your last link. Depending on the size they are well over 2 pounds and if you are looking to save your back you may need to go as light as you can.
Susan, thanks for that. I've got a purse insert for other tote style bags but they add quite a bit of weight. I'll look at the OMSTYLE one! I'm thinking a Pliage for Christmas. I'm trying to convince my family that we should all buy our own presents and wrap them up under the tree, lol!! And yes, the everything sinking to one mass at the bottom was the issue with the LeSportsac and Kipling soft but light bags.
this is like having lunch with girlfriends - love it - ya'll are so helpful
hugs
Julie,
I know you made your decision, but if you are not pleased with your purchase from ZAPPOS (free return!), I also vote for what Suki uses, and what horsewolfie linked.
I love my RS' Euro flight bag. It is the width of my 22' suitcase; has a snap in the center of the "trolley sleeve," so it stays secure on the suitcase. And it doesn't have a rigid shape, so it can mold to the shape of the items in it. My problem is I tend to "overstuff it."
Julie, The flight bag Suki is referring to is the second link I posted (post right below your original one).
When is your next trip? I ask because in the past RS has had Black Friday sales on luggage and supplies.
Kathy
I have a vote here for the Pliage. It seems "expensive," but they are durable and hard-wearing. I still carry the one I bought 20 (!) years ago in the Madrid airport. And let me tell you, that thing has been all over, and is only in the last year or so starting to show some wear.
So you can purchase/invest with confidence, to my mind !
Ladies look at this video! It's love at 1st sight! - I wear back support off Amazon as insurance to help / stay pain-free when walking a lot- what really hurt my back this trip was standing on the cement floor in cooking school
Yeah – pretty well sold – know all about Zappos – we live in a tiny mountain village & there’s no shopping here – got my favorite pair of walking shoes off Zappos years ago – so comfy & pretty – always get compliments – always go on my RS trips!
but horsewoofie I do want to find your RS bag / see what you are talking about as I do like his stuff – have been using my RS toiletries bag for 20 years or so & I like my new RS roller bag that is so tiny – it’s just so tiny!
Thanks Kathy – next trip is in March to visit son & family when G-kids are on spring break – because we live in a tiny mountain village, we drive to the next town & we at least fly on a tiny plane from there to Denver International – then anywhere
Our next RS trip is Greece next autumn
all to say we have time to find my perfect bag before next trip
Kim isn’t it fabulous when we find something – especially on a trip that we love / use all the time!
I have that Lo and Sons bag-- if you go with that - be sure you get the Deluxe Catalina Bag in SMALL (the SMALL is a personal item bag - the Large is too big -- they also have a new TOTE size I've not seen) --- and get it in the Recycled Poly as it's the lightest. It's a fabulous bag - I do add the Tom Bihn Absolute Travel Strap to it as it's way more comfortable to carry. I do take the RS HideAway tote with me as my Day Bag in town as the Catalina is too big to carry in town.
I also love the Red Oxx Pup bag (again, I use the Tom Bihn Absolute Shoulder Strap on it).
Sorry I don't know how to attach links here, but you can google all the above to find it.
I also have the RS Euro Bag and did not like it as a Personal Item because of the way it unzips, things tend to fall out.
ChinaLake67 thanks for the personal endorsement for what I’d figured I wanted – yeah – was going to go with the small recycled poly – just looking for a take on the plane bag to put under the seat to hold more stuff since roller bag is so tiny – don’t want to check bags –
I have a couple of great purses to be my day bags & husband carries a backpack - I’m excited to have solved this problem with taking it through – even though I use Zappos regularly I hadn’t thought of looking for a bag there until it was mentioned
Thanks travel buddies for all your input
We've used the RS flight bags for approx. 3 years of travel. My partners bag is in fine condition but I've got some rather long and obvious tears in the fabric that I doubt can be repaired. I do tend to fill it pretty tightly sometimes and constantly rummage through it finding things. I might be rougher on it than most might be.....not sure. Anyway I wanted to mention that I wouldn't want anything larger because it barely fits under the seat on the A350's we typically fly. The under seat space in premium select seems somewhat small even though the seats themselves are large enough. I'm so used to it that I'm tempted to just purchase another one instead of shopping for an alternative or being embarrassed by my battered bag.
ChinaLake67
OMG that Deluxe Catalina tote looks pretty amazing for a day bag!
I watched the video
Julie - looks like the TOTE could also be a person Item bag. It's new, so I haven't seen it. But I love the company
Note that the Day Tote”, the smallest Catalina bag, does not have a trolley sleeve.
https://www.loandsons.com/pages/compare-catalina-collection
The next size up, the Deluxe Tote” does have a trolley sleeve, but at 15 x 14 X 7 is a bit larger in the middle dimension than the personal item size requirement of many airlines (British Airways, for example, is 16 X 12 X 6, and Lufthansa is a strict 15 X 11 X 4).
https://www.lufthansa.com/ao/en/carry-on-baggage
https://www.britishairways.com/jba/ba/fi_FI/baggage/bagcabin.html
Right Lola – I was thinking of possibly using the tote for a purse / day bag when traveling as it is so intriguing even though I wasn’t looking for a purse
The small Catalina Deluxeis what I am thinking of as my personal bag on the plane that will attach with a lip on my tiny RS roller bag – that will give me the extra packing space I need with only carryon luggage
Julie, I just traveled with the Catalina Deluxe Tote for the first time and it worked great on my roller bag. I just converted to a spinner and with the Catalina Deluxe Tote on top, it worked out very well which I needed because I had to use a cane for a recent leg injury. The trolley sleeve fit over my handle well and did not fall off my roller bag once. I liked the section below the main bag because I could store a sandwich and fruit for the plane and the perform section kept it from crushing my food.
I used a Tom Bihn travel tray pouch and a packing cube to keep the contents more organized. The outside pocket worked to store my boarding pass and mask. The Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote fit under the seat (I had it fully packed) and I still had leg room.
Thanks for sharing itsv! I’m excited to hear about your experience & to investigate your picks – anything to make traveling easier! Hope your leg injury heals well soon.
I used this TravelOn packable folding tote bag https://a.co/d/6Qq64Tf for my personal item for the plane. It has a rear pass through strap for sliding over the wheeled luggage handle. It also folds up to a 5.5 x 8 inch package and is light weight for storing during the trip.
