luggage help needed

At 13 in. x 21 in. x 9 in, the Essential Carryon might be too big for what you want, but I've used it for 2 whole weeks at a time in Europe. It's very light at 1¾ lb and just a little smaller than regulation carryon size. Incidently, you can't fill the Essential Carryon (or any other bag, for that matter) to 2825 cu in and expect to carry it on. The regulation size (55x40x20 cm) for most European airlines is 2685 cu in and that includes the volume of the bag itself.

Justine ,, doesn't matter how long I go for ,, 10 days or 3 weeks,, I pack about the same and either sink wash, or buy a new top if bored of my old stuff( doubles as a souvenir of my trip,, )
I have a cheapish carry on size suitcase,, think its about 20 inches by 14 ,, give, can't remember exactly .. The reason I didn't invest in a super well made bag is I have no need to,, since I handle my luggage all the time( do not check it) I don't subject it to the wear and tear that airport luggage handlers do,,its lasted for last 4 or 5 trips to Europe so figure I am doing ok,, cost me about 60 bucks at a department store.

As Pat said, you can pack the same quantity for several weeks as you do for only a few days using a carry on or duffle. As you get older, you may need more changes of shoes for comfort, but can still pack things inside your shoes before putting them in the carry on.

There are literally hundreds of bags available. If you could give us more information, we can help. Do you want a convertible backpack style or wheels? Do you strictly want to carry on or are you looking for a smaller bag but plan to check it? Are you willing to do laundry along the way, either by hand or in a laundromat, or do you want to carry 10 days worth of clothes? (If 10 days, forget the idea of a carry-on.)

I mentioned Eagle Creek on another thread that is on this same board a few down from yours. They sell suitcases & backpacks in many sizes. Whatever you choose, take it for a test run in your hometown fully packed with everything you want to bring for your trip. Go out for about 1 hour and test your ability to maneuver it on flat & bumpy sidewalks, up and down stairs, hills, etc., lift it up over your head to simulate placing it in an overhead bin on a plane or train. If it seems like too much for an hour at home, it will be too much when you get to Europe. You will then need to re-think what you really need. I've found that by packing lots of underwear and only neutrals I can avoid having to get to a laundromat for 7 to 10 days and I can mix my outfits up and make everything do double duty by wearing it twice (except for underwear & socks). To keep it fairly light, I try to bring clothing that is similar to the Jet Set Knit you'd find at stores like TravelSmith. It drapes well, resists wrinkles & weighs next to nothing. I do bring at least 1 pair of jeans or Capri pants depending on the season. Jeans now come in lots of different weights so not all of them are heavy. Don't think it matters if you are young or old when it comes to bringing more than 1 pair of shoes. Even a well broken-in pair of shoes can start to give you blisters if you are walking 10+ hours a day which is likely something you don't do at home. Wear the heavier shoes on the plane & pack the lighter ones.

I swear by Patagonia's MLC (Maximum Legal Carry-On) bag (on their website, look for style No. 48107). It converts to a backpack, has never been "challenged" by airline staff as too large to take aboard with me, wears like iron, and fits everything I need for 7 - 10 day European jaunts. Per the website, here are the dimensions: 45 L (2746 cu in) 20.5" x 13.5" x 7" Fits a 17-inch laptop. The website also says it fits 3 - 5 days' worth of clothing, but I get more than that in with ease. I like to travel light, sink wash clothes if they get funky, etc., etc. so it is plenty big for me.

Try the Briggs and Riley website. I starte carry on only years ago, and have travelled for up to 1 month with plenty of clothes, in December and July. It is the only way to go, and with the delays and cx on flights, you always have it with you.

When I came back from my last trip to Europe, I took everything from my carryon bag and put it in a cardboard box of known L & W, then measured the height. It came to 1400 cu in. I bought an Appenzell bag but didn't like the way it opened or the non-hideaway straps. Then someone mentioned the Goodhope Carryon Bag, so I tried it. It has all the features of the RS convertible bags, and everything fits, but just barely, so I'm not sure I want to take it to Europe. I did use it for a three night, no wash, cross country trip last year. As for the Patagonia bag, except for the weight and cost, I like it. The true volume (LxWxH) is 1937 cu in (32L), which would give me some extra space. If you REALLY filled it to 45L, 2746 cu in, it would exceed the allowed size (2685 cu in) of just about every airline in europe, and the bulging sides would probably exceed some of the allowable dimensions for US airlines.

Briggs and Riley is great... it's also an investment. For an occasional traveler skip it. I took the Rick Steves 21" rolling suitcase on a 3 week trip to Europe and that worked great. I do't do backpacks and the luggage must roll. Another affordable brand that has a cult following by some frequent flyers is the Kirkland Brand found at Costco. I think they have 22" For my weekly travel I use a 22" Roller Board, that cost a lot but comes with a life time gurantee etc... That said, I just don't think you need that much luggage if you only travel a few times a year.

My wife and I both have and use RS 21" roller bags that we take to Europe every summer for about a month. We purchased them at RS headquarters in Edmonds, WA (they are available elsewhere on this web site) and have had them for years. Both have been replaced once by the RS folks for problems that they said were manufacturing defects - both involved handles that would either not extend or retract. We also use them for short trips like this last 4 days in Van, BC.. We have never had any problems pulling them around anywhere as have some folks who have posted on this web site. They are on sale here often.

Ten days isn't very long. Two bottoms and four tops, an extra pair of shoes, underwear/socks plus what you wear on the plane can get you through weeks and fit in less than a regulation carry-on. Keep your toiletries down to two lightly packed quart-size baggies, one wet and one dry. Your only problem then is making sure your carry-on fits into any airline's carry-on limits.