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Adaptable luggage

Rick Steves’ Convertible Carry-On

I lived out of a bag for most of the past year, traveling with my wife. We visited 11 countries and used all manner of transportation. I used Rick Steves’ Convertible Carry-On Bag, and my wife used the less expensive Back Door Bag.

These bags were great. They were tough enough to withstand our daily abuse; and quite light. The Convertible Carry-On had just the right number of pockets: enough to keep some organization going, but not so many that the bag is all zippers. None of the zippers on either of our bags has given us any problems.

Wheeled bags like the Travelpro Rollaboard are great if you’re going to be places where you can use the wheels all the time. While traveling through poorer countries there often isn’t a good surface for rolling luggage, and the instant you have to carry the bag the extra weight really hurts. The harder shell on those types of bags obviously protects your stuff better, but also makes it harder to stuff under seats.

I only expanded my bag (using the perimeter zipper) a few times, and barely used the waist belt, but it sure was useful when I did turn to these features. The small size (9 x 21 x 14 in.) was great when stuffing the bags under bus seats. Despite the fact that the bags conform to maximum carry-on size, we often checked them because we exceeded carry-on weight limits: Our filled bags are about 28 lb., while we encountered weight limits that were typically around 22 lb.

Of the many things I purchased before our trip, this bag was one that I’ve never second-guessed. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one if this one ever shows enough wear to warrant it. — Tim Newsome

I travel overseas for business and pleasure on the same trips, usually for weeks at a time, where I am both “backpacking” and hoteling in cities. For years I’ve carried a Rick Steves’ bag. It is just the right size. Since it is soft I can stuff it anywhere, yet hoist it on my back when needed. I love it. — KK

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Superior luggage system

Eagle Creek

There may be a better product here and there in a particular piece of luggage, but it’s just not worth my time messing around to find out. I’ve replaced all of my duffels, carry-ons and backpacks with Eagle Creek products, and have been using them for the past two years. I’ve standardized on Eagle Creek luggage because I’ve found their stuff to be uniformly excellent, and it just saves me the frustration of trying stuff out and finding it has deficiencies.

Eagle Creek makes a handful of practical accessories for space-saving and orderly packing. Their Pack-It Folders compress lots of shirts, pants or skirts into a compact, wrinkle-free stack. And their Cubes are ideal for organizing underwear and socks while compressing them and maximizing space. They also offer Compression Sacs, giant Ziploc-like bags with one-way air valves that can compress your dirties into a fraction of their uncompressed size. All of these accessories work quite well with other brands of luggage; they are by no means specific to Eagle Creek.

Another reason I’ve chosen Eagle Creek: the company’s products are extremely rugged and have a lifetime warranty. I took them up on their warranty on a bag that got slashed. I live in San Diego and found that I could just take it by their headquarters rather than mail it in. They gave me a new bag, no questions asked.

Just to qualify as an experienced traveler, I’ve accumulated more than 6 million lifetime miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program, more than two million on United, and a million on two or three others. — Don Lyle

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Professional luggage

Travelpro Rollaboards

The original rollaboard luggage is still the best, not least because the extendable handle unlocks with one hand on the handle. No bending over to release a lock with your other hand while your shoulder pack falls off your shoulder, adding further unwelcome drama to your episode with the airport security check. Since there are now so many rollaboards out there, most of them black, I add bright yellow bookbinders tape wrapped around the lifting handle of my bags. A huge duffel bag with wheels is sometimes necessary for the long or multipurpose trip, and in this I prefer Travelpro’s offerings as well. So I have a quiver of three bags–a small 20-incher for the overnight trip, a 22-incher with suit press that still can be carried aboard on most flights, and a 30-inch duffel for checking everything I might want or might want to bring home. — Stewart Brand

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Versatile overnight carry-on

Tom Bihn Western Flyer

Why is the Tom Bihn Western Flyer better than my favorite suitcase, messenger bag, or backpack? This bag combines the elements of all of these into one super tidy, easy to use package. Like a suitcase, I can pack everything I need for travel. The main compartment is big enough to store days worth of clothes and a change of shoes. I packed for a ten day trip in Nepal in just this bag! The front compartment has a divider to split the compartment in two and generally keeps my toiletries, electronics (chargers, etc) and books organized and easy to reach without digging through my unmentionables. The front pockets are weather sealed and hold my travel pillow, headphones, keys (and all the other bits and pieces I pick up along the way). The bag has an optional handle, shoulder strap and hide-away backpack straps. Because I like the balance and comfort of a backpack, these padded straps are out all the time and keep my hands free for a coffee and/or a roller bag.

And the Tom Bihn is better than my other options because it is super durable. I don’t treat my luggage lightly, and after several beatings, pushings and pullings, and weeks of over-stuffing, the bag looks as good as new. — Kristyna Solawetz

11/11/24