Luggage for traveling on trains

Luggage has been an ongoing subject on this site. I'd suggest that you read through the "General" threads.

From personal experience, my wife and I have always used one of RS bags. I have always used the standard Back Door Bag (non-expandable). My wife has the short version of the expandable type. Both types fit in the overhead on the plane. We both take a Civita bag and either carry it on or stuffed in the big bag, depending on the airline rules.

Yes, you will be wearing everything at least twice.

For our rolling luggage we generally buy the cheapest thing we can find at Tuesday Morning or Sam's provided it meets two criteria -- good size if not large, sturdy, well attached wheels and an equally sturdy handle. After that it doesn't make much difference, it is just a box on wheels. For us on a 14 day trip we would wear thing nearly five times.

Thanks so much for your great advice and suggestions you two! I greatly appreciate it. Happy travels!

My husband and I use Rick's original bag. It is easy to pack, holds more than enough and is small and light! I switch between wearing it on my back and carrying it. I seldom use the sholder strap. We travel by train almost exclusively. These bags are easy to get on board. I also carry a day bag- sometimes it is a backpack style and sometimes a one sholder sling. Our bags fit in the overhead rack and we don't have to use the luggage racks at the entry to the car. That way no worries about theft! We also wear everything two, three or even more times- exect undies and socks. By the way- we've been using Rick's bag for more than 20 years. Yes- the SAME bag for more than 20 years and they still look very, very good.

I switched from backpack-style luggage to a rolling model a few years ago when I began to feel my age a bit. I hate rolling luggage! The space for the wheels is taken away from interior space, reducing the capacity of the bag. Nearly all budget lodgings have steps at least up to the front door, and very few have lifts or anyone to help carry luggage up the stairs. Cobblestone sidewalks are a nightmare for wheels, and many train stations lack lifts and have long flights of stairs from the platform where you alight to the bridge for the street-side platform.

For the last year, I've worked out regularly at my local gym to get back the strength required to carry a backpack. For this year's travel to England, I'll be using Rick's expandable backpack (unexpanded) for my carry-on bag, and a smallish SLR camera daypack (LowePro) for my "personal item". Check your airline's website for size and weight limits. I'll also be wearing a multi-pocket photographer's vest (the Humvee model from Campco) for any items small enough to fit in the pockets. When carrying the backpack on my back, I can sling the daypack over one shoulder, skewed to the front so it doesn't interfere with the backpack.

To fit up to 4 weeks' needs into this luggage capacity, I pack two changes of clothes, so I have three changes all together. Pack fabrics that can be washed in the sink and that will dry overnight on the elastic clothesline you'll have with you. Do laundry every evening and put the dry clothes away before leaving the room in the morning to get them out of the way of the cleaning staff. A whole Burt's Bees shampoo bar lasts at least 4 weeks and can be used for hair, skin and laundry. For a 2-week trip, take half a bar. I pack a super-absorbent "packtowel" to roll the wet laundry in to dry it as much as possible before hanging. If well wrung out, the towel dries overnight.

No one will notice the repeat wearing of the three outfits, so pack light & maximize the pleasure!

Just personal experience here, but Ireland is a rolled suitcase killer (cobblestone, etc). If you're going to get one, I'd get one with the sturdy skateboard style wheels. Or stick with a backpack

Having toured Ireland with a small rolling case without sturdy wheels, I can tell you I wouldn't want to do it again! :)