Still looking at luggage to try to get a carryon that's under 7 lbs. I was thinking about the Osprey Ozone but really want a double handle for my personal item. I'm not worried about international size as I would just check it if required.
Does anyone have the Eagle Creek Expanse? I like the weight, 2 wheels, and double handle but it appears there is no outside pocket. Has anyone traveled with this bag?
I have the Eagle Creek No Matter What Flatbed 22" which looks to be an earlier version of the Expanse. It has one quick access, outside pocket, sized for a 3-1-1 bag or possibly a phone, wallet, tickets. It weighs 5.8lbs, has a double handle, and two wheels--I love it. Sadly, it seems EC no longer makes it, but perhaps it's available 2nd hand or online somewhere like Overstock?
Have you considered Lipault? Or IT Luggage? I believe that both offer very lightweight 2-wheeled carry-ons, and am pretty sure that eBags sells both brands. I have a 2-wheel IT that's 17" and 5lbs. Lipault makes a 2-wheel 22" bag with a double handle that comes in under 5lbs. I haven't used one of their bags, but my mom has one I bought for her that she uses all the time. It's a 20" 2-wheeler.
Have you looked at it on Amazon? They have good clear photos showing 2 front pockets.
I do see now that there is an Expanse and an Expanse duffel. One has pockets, one doesn't. Any experience with either?
The Eagle Creek Expanse International wheeled bag is my next carryon...but the one I use now has to die and there is no sign of that happening... I digress. There are two exterior pockets on the front, one for a tablet, key, etc. and the other for paper - IMO. I have the expanse wheeled tote and love it (or actually I purchased it for my husband but have absconded with it, once or twice). Eagle Creek has really well built suitcases with a great warranty.
This spring, I was in Switzerland and flew to Italy.
The cost to check the carry-on was around $40
By keeping the weight below their Kilogram limit, I was able to bring it as carry-on.
Also, my small PacSafe messenger bag is a "small personal item" and was fine.
By checking, you're increasing your cost on each leg of a trip.
My Eagle Creek Expanse has been on a three week trip through Italy last year (lots of cobblestones!), down to Mexico and around the west. I LOVE this bag...lightweight but well made...enough pockets. I just ordered one for my husband last night...ebags website has a sale and the bag was 25% off with free shipping.
Cathy, do you have the regular Expanse or the Expanse duffel and is it the carry-on or international carry-on?
The regular Expanse ....and something else...we found that as nice as spinners can be, we really like two wheels, especially in older European towns and cities. And fingers crossed, it should squeak by on Alitalia’s carryon policies!
Thanks Cathy, and everyone else. I just ordered the Expanse carryon (2 wheeled). Hoping I'll like it as much as those using it do.
I just purchased Eagle Creek Expanse 4-wheel spinner along with the Expanse Tote. I am going to Italy in October and am not sure how well the spinners will do on the streets there as opposed to one with 2 wheels. Also, I'm looking for opinions as to whether the combo (spinner & tote) will be too much weight (11.8 lbs. unpacked).
I also have an Eagle Creek 2-wheel bag that is virtually the same size as the Expanse and an over-the-shoulder carry on that slides over the handle of the larger bag that I have used for 20 years and are still in great condition (9.3 lbs.).
Still have a few weeks to return the new luggage so keep pondering whether to keep the new ones or not. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
P.S. I bought the spinner because I have a very bad back and was hoping not to have to lug it behind me everywhere I go.
I recently purchased the 2-wheel Expanse carryon and won't be packing it until next week, so I can't give an opinion on how it does on a trip, but I know that when we did the Venice, Florence, Rome tour and the terrain we walked with luggage at times, I would have been concerned with the smaller spinner wheels. Depending on if you're doing a tour, checking your bag, etc. I would think that having two bags with wheels might be difficult to handle even if one does fit on the other piece of luggage. When we were in Venice, we had to carry our luggage up and down some hotel stairs and also bridges, so I frequently had to pull my personal item off the handle of my roller carryon. It was an over-the-shoulder bag, but it was fairly heavy. It was manageable, but cumbersome as I'm quite short.
For what it's worth, I'm trying a new approach this year for the Spain tour. I plan to take the new Expanse 2-wheel carryon, and my personal item will be a Lo & Sons Hanover backpack (I am not affiliated in any way). I haven't used the backpack yet, so I can't give an opinion on that either. I wanted a backpack with the luggage strap that was primarily one large open area instead of tons of pockets, would fit under the seat, and was light weight. The Hanover seemed to fulfill my wishes, so I'm giving it a try. My personal item is primarily small camera gear, electronics, and my "on the plane" requirements.
Thanks csjs5254 for your reply. I returned my luggage set yesterday. You covered all my concerns and really helped me make that final decision!
Now I have plenty of money for the Florentine steak (and then some) I'm craving!
You're very welcome jamork.
Everyone is different as to what they can manage. I'm envious of the 70 yr. olds that are 5' tall, barely 100 lbs. and can handle a backpack as their carryon with no problem, but that's not me.
All we posters can do is provide our personal experience and let each person apply what seems to relate to them. hav
I hope you have a wonderful trip! We leave for Spain on Thursday, and have already booked our RS Venice, Florence, and Rome for 2020 (a repeat trip for us).
Hi csjs5254,
I see that you have bought the Eagle Creek Expanse. I am curious to know what size laptop it will likely fit in the iPad sleeve in the front pocket. They mention 13 inch in one of their videos - but not specifically in the description. I have a smallish 14 inch which is almost similar in size to a 13 inch Macbook Pro Retina from earlier years.
Would it be too much to ask you to measure the iPad/tablet sleeve opening width and share it on this thread?
Thanks!
Photography Buff,
I have a two wheeled Eagle Creek Expanse Carry On and a Macbook Pro Retina 13". My laptop is 12½" X 8¾”. The laptop pocket on my Expanse is 12" wide, top (including the opening) to bottom. I hope this helps.
Thanks Charles! That helps. For our France/Belgium journey in 2 weeks, I ordered yesterday 4 different Eagle Creek Expanse carryons for the 4 of us in my family (it looks good deal at $141 on sale - now no longer on sale at $189). But from your reply it looks I should get at least one bag different - most likely Eagle Creek Tarmac (a little expensive even if I can get it on a 25% off ebags deal at $239). Your reply helps - as I do not have to wait for the delivery of the Expanse before ordering the Tarmac.
I cannot believe how difficult it has been to find a 24x14x9 carryon bag with just 2 wheels! Seems like Samsonite and others have decided not to manufacture carry-on bags which fit into these most common airline dimensions. My current Samsonite bags are 24 inches long and 15 inches width.
I had a pleasant surprise in that I just got the delivery of all the 4 bags today - even though it was shipped yesterday night and the shipping method was free delivery for 4-5 business days. Anyway - the bag is awesome. It makes the full use of the 22x14x9 space - or rather as per the specs: 13.75 x 21.75 x 9 in | 35 x 55 x 23 cm. This is perfect because my trip airline (Air France) dimensions are slightly smaller than 22x14x9 at: 55 x 35 x 25 cm / 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in (including pockets, wheels and handles).
Another pleasant surprise - I am able to fit not only the lightweight 14 inch HP laptop but also my 15 inch Macbook Pro Retina (2017 model) into the sleeve. For the 15 inch Mac - I need to lift the opening flap slightly as the length till the flap is less than the 15 inch Mac length. However the laptop itself fits easily as the sleeve itself is longer than the laptop - and is easy enough to store/remove.
I had also bought 4-wheel spinner Ricardo Camden 22 inch bags from Costco (good bag for the price $63). This Eagle Creek bag is almost a full inch longer in space due to having 2-wheels instead of 4. Construction wise the Expanse is slightly better than the Ricardo but not by much. This is fine as very well constructed bags are around 9 pounds (instead of 6) - consuming most of the 8 kg (17.6 lb) weight limits for airlines like Lufthansa.
So all-in-all - I do not think I will keep these 4 Expanse bags and not get a different one like the Tarmac.
