Time far a wheeled bag?

Thank you.

This is the first two wheel rolling design that I've seen in a while. Though I haven't been looking. Also looks like something I'd get.

Might mention that you can strip all of the "Ad campaign" stuff off your link and it still goes to the bag*.

https://bellroy.com/products/lite-carry-on

(*though it adds a couple of parameters not related to ads when it gets there)

I've got a convertible Eagle Creek international carry on from about 10 years ago. It's great for going hands free at times (I bought it for a specific recurring trip when I had five flights of stairs at my destination) but it feels quite weird over longer distances because the part against my back is so rigid and flat, even with good padding. It is great for spontaneous wearing when it turns out the quickest route to the destination is 99.9% uphill cobbles (thank you, Bodensee), but ultimately it serves both functions adequately rather than one really well. 20 minutes on my back is about the limit.

On the Bellroy: I spent 20 minutes eyeing it in a shop in Sydney recently. If I had the cash and any way of justifying the purchase, I would have got it. (The wheels are replaceable! It looks so funky! It's light! Well organised! It comes in dark orange!) If I flew on bigger planes more often, or started doing more weekend city trips again, I'd absolutely buy it. But you're paying a lot for the design, and it is small.

(Full disclosure: I love their stuff. However, I'm guilty of liking style not over but as much as substance in my suitcases. There are worse vices, but also more sensible choices.)

No personal experience, but just looking at the photos, I wonder how much of a 'snag' hazard the side handles are. Do the reviews you saw comment on that?

A rolling backpack reminds me of this--- https://motormox.com/12-amphibious-cars-that-let-you-drive-on-land-and-water/ --- neither a good boat nor a good car.

Anita, a couple of thought questions for you:

• How much weight do you typically carry during a trip?
• What’s your normal range of weight that your Tom Bihn weighs when you leave for a trip?
• Is the daypack heavy or bulky, causing more discomfort, or is it small & lightweight?

I agree with others that you probably want to go either with wheels or with a backpack type bag but not a combo. I use a Cotopaxi 35L for my backpack bag, and I know I would be annoyed if it had wheels and bars next to my back.

If the questions above point to needing wheels, then go that route. I’m carrying 14 pounds total when I travel, but I will be bringing my old 2-wheel suitcase, instead, to the Christmas Markets trip coming up soon. I know I will want to surpass the 14 pounds when adding some nice Christmas souvenirs.

I'm in agreement with the other responders- including what a cool design the Bellroy has! Wheels are going to add weight, too
I had the same Tom Binh and the same issues on longer treks, say, train station to lodging. Also I am only 5'1" and it was big.
Now I have both a wheeled option and have replaced the Tom Binh with a 30 liter Peak Design. It opens like a clamshell and I really like the option to expand it a couple inches. Even expanded it meets smaller plane carry on dimensions.
If it's a city trip or on carriers with more generous weight allowances, I take the wheeled one- and the backpack when it's that kind of a trip.
I advise to keep your trusty backpack and find a lightweight rolling suitcase (mine is the smallest July brand) so you can choose whichever best suits your plans. Happy shopping!

I think one of my concerns about wheeled bags, as I look at the specs more, is that the capacity of the carry on size bags is smaller than my current bag. I see the Bellroy is only 38 litres, where my Tom Bihn is 45. That 7 litres could be a significant difference. My current bag tends to be between 20 and 25lbs at the start of a trip. I carry a small 15L daypack that is for my camera and accessories plus any electronics and things for the flight. On the way home these two bags won’t change much because I always take a small, foldable duffle bag in which I put any souvenirs, and I will check my main bag. I have watched tour members struggle with a wheeled bag in certain locations so have appreciated being able to throw my bag on my back, but I would also appreciate being able to pull my bag when I have accumulated an extra bag of stuff that won’t fit in my daypack. Recently, I forked out for a taxi to the airport in Paris instead of the train (how I arrived) because I was going to have to walk 15-20 minutes to get to the train with one bag on my back, and one in each hand. Then, at the airport I was likely going to have to get on the tram again, and then walk a fair distance to get to where I could check my bag. I do a fairly good job of packing only the essentials at the start, but I fail on the way home. Which is why I’m considering a different bag. If only Tom Bihn made a bag with wheels.

Osprey gets good reviews.

Here are a couple of links about their Daylite Carry-on Wheeled bag and how the blogger packed it.

https://packinglighttravel.com/travel-tips/luggage-and-packing/osprey-daylite-carry-on-wheeled-duffel-40-review/

https://packinglighttravel.com/travel-tips/luggage-and-packing/one-bag-carry-on-travel-by-nesting/

Something I'm still aspiring to. True one-bag travel. A purse that fits into a day-bag that fits into a suitcase that fits in the overhead compartment of an airplane. Yikes!!!

BUT

Backpack style needs a hipbelt to make it comfortable to carry that way.

Suitcase needs carry handles on the sides to make it easier to handle.

Wheels need to be durable like in-line skate wheels.

Bag needs to be light-weight.

I know. A Mary Poppins bag!

The Belroy bag claimed they use in-line roller skate wheels.

"A rolling backpack reminds me of this--- https://motormox.com/12-amphibious-cars-that-let-you-drive-on-land-and-water/ --- neither a good boat nor a good car."

They also say that about Seaplanes, lousy boat, lousy plane. But just the thing for landing in back country lakes...

The Samsonite Ecodiver has a 51 L convertible model at around 2.8kg. I've tried it on in the past and it was a total no-go for me, but it was the shape and rigidity that made carrying it awkward more than raw weight, plus I am very short. If you're already used to 45 L and fly airlines where you can get away with a bit more weight then it could be an option.

Both Osprey and Samsonite bags come up in pretty much every search, but, both companies make so many different bags that it’s hard to know which ones to look at. So thanks for the specific recommendations for these bags. They both look like good options. I really need to find some place near me that carries them so I can try them out for size.

The more organization a bag has, the more pockets, the less packing room.

If you look at something like the Osprey Daylite Wheeled Duffel 40 you'll notice it has few organizational features but the wheels do take up some room. You'll find this with any wheeled bag.

You give up some packing room for the convenience of wheels.

Even if Tom Bihn made the Aeronaut with wheels, either the wheels would take up room or the bag would have to be much bigger to hold 45L. And then it would be too big for carry on.

I have an Osprey Fairview 36L rolling backpack that has been on four trips to England. They’re sized for females and very comfortable. I have no complaints. It will be accompanying me to London this Christmas and Scotland next summer.

The Bellroy Lite Carry-On looks awesome, super light and simple, but since it doesn’t turn into a backpack, you’d lose that flexibility you’re used to. If you want something that can roll but still be carried comfortably when the streets get rough, check out the Osprey Sojourn or Ozone Convertible, or even the Eagle Creek Expanse Convertible they’re solid options that actually pull off both functions well. If you mostly stick to cities and airports, I’d say go for the wheels. But if you still find yourself wandering through cobblestones or stairs half the time, keeping the backpack option might still save you a few curses along the way.

Most of those options also hold less than 45l, though - it will depend on whether OP wants wheels or capacity. Hopefully they can find some stock to check out in person.

Eastpak also does a two-wheel trolley convertible in the 40l range (Strapverz), though unlike my other recs I've not seen that one in person.

(I did once own a regular wheeled Eastpak that was fine - I just didn't much like the feel of the fabric. A friend liked the colour regardless, so I sold it to her. 🙂)

Thanks for the Osprey Sojourn suggestion. I just watched an extensive review for the 45l version, and it is a great bag. Too bad it runs at over $500 here. Might have to watch for a sale. The Eastpak bag is also interesting. I had not looked at them before. The backpack set-up does not look as good as the Osprey, but it might be good enough.