Luggage questions
I will be in Italy (Rome, Florence and Assisi) for 13 days not including my travel days in January. I'm planning to go carry-on only. I currently have both a ebags Weekender Convertible (similiar to Ricks convertible) and a 22" roller bag. Does anyone have experience trying to roll a roller bag in Rome? Which would be easier to get on and off of the trains? Or, has anyone used one of the convertibles with a lightweight small luggage cart?
Also, I haven't seen any posts discussing the use of a 2nd smaller bag. Do you use a 2nd bag like a tote or daypack? And what kind of features are important to you in a smaller bag?
Kathleen
Minneapolis, MN USA 10/21/09
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The second bag should be something you can sling over your shoulder and be considered a purse, computer bag or small backpack to pass muster with the airline requirements to be your second carry on.
Rollers are great everywhere except on big cobblestones, that is why they have handles. Train stations, airports, normal sidewalks, no problem. You will be lifting it over curbs, up stairs and up onto trains and then up into train baggage racks.
No to the cart, you can't easily carry those on planes. Stack your day bag on your roll-on for moving around.
For carry-on only, you're allowed one larger bag, like your 22" roller, and a smaller item like a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer case.
Some people push this second item to something a little larger, but some airlines are getting picky about the regulations, and may make you check something that's too large. I flew home from Hawaii the other day on a Boeing 757 whose overhead bins were so small a 21" roller wouldn't even fit, so they were going through the crowd at the gate making people check bags of that size to their final destination.
Usually, for me, carry-on-only means a Rick Steves 21-inch Roll-Aboard and a daypack.
I was in Rome, Florence, & a number of other cities for a month last summer. I used Rick's roller bag (which has big wheels) and did not have any trouble rolling it everywhere I went including over cobblestones. I used the handy handles to get on/off trains & go up/down stairs without any problem. You'll do this a lot over there, so pack light! Consider using packing cubes to organize your stuff.
I used a LeSportSac purse which is light weight, has a strap long enough to wear cross-body, has handy pockets & an expandable section, will carry everything you need, & it's machine washable when you get home. I did not need a second suitcase or daybag.
You do need a money belt!
I also took an empty tote bag that zipped shut for things like laundry & picnicking. On the way home, I checked my dirty laundry in the tote bag to make room in my carry-on suitcase for the art I bought in Rome!
You're going to find lots of conflicting answers because there really isn't one.
Rolling bags vs convertibles? This really is personal preference. Those who like convertibles will tell you that wheels are bad on cobblestones, lifting on and off trains can be a problems, they are heavier, and if you plan to fly on any discount airline in Europe, chances are they may not be allowed.
Those who like wheels will say it is easier to get around, you don't have to lug extra weight on your back, and you can attach a second bag to the handle of a wheeled bag.
Then there is your third choice--a convertible bag with a separate cart. Samsonite makes the "Micro-mover" which can easily fit inside a 22x14x9 bag and weighs about 2 lbs. I tried something similar once and found the bag and cart would topple over if I walked quickly or turned corners too sharp.
So, really, the choice is yours.
As for a day bag...most of us carry one. Usually either backpack style or messenger bag style. For me, the daybag fits into my regular bag (a convertible) on travel days. Others, keep them separate.
It's not really important what type of day bag you have, what's most important is how you carry it--especially in Italy. And that has been the subject of numerous threads on this board.
Oh, and wear a moneybelt.
Now after all of that....if you can handle it, I vote for using the Ebags Weekender.
I use a 22" roller bag and a tote bag that slips over the handle of the roller bag. I stow the roller bag and keep the tote as my under the seat bag. I put my purse in the tote. I also carry a fold up bag (bought it from this site) in case I need something more for my return flight home. I have never been told my extra bag is too large. I have very recent experience, as I am on vacation right now. :-)
As for cobblestones, I have not been to Rome, but mine worked fine in every place I have been to over the years with cobblestone streets.
So Frank, is there a secure way to carry a backpack in Italy? Do you lock the zippers when you're out for the day? Or do you carry your daypack in front?
I have the money belt already, but I'm trying to decide if I have anything at home that will work ok as my smaller bag.
The thing I like about the convertible is that it holds more than the roller, and is a lot lighter in the event I do have to lift it on to a train or into the overhead. But I tend to switch off between them depending what type of trip it is.
As far as the daybag goes...it depends on the type. When I used a backpack, I used RS' Civita bag. It was so light, I usually carried it over one shoulder rather than as a full backpack. However, if I wore it as a backpack, or when wearing my convertible bag, I'd do something to keep the zippers together--either lock or carabiner or something.
I've now switched to a messenger bag to keep both hands free.
With either one, when on public transportation, or in a crowd, the bag was moved in front of me. I also tried to put "expensive things" at the bottom of the bag. Hard for idle hands to reach.
Hi, I find roller bags really awkward to use, especially in crowded subways. They always seem to wrench my shoulder out of place as I try to keep them under control.
I like backpacks because they move with me. Plus you keep both hands free for holding onto my handbag, dealing with money, etc.
I've carried a light backpack in my main bag for day trips, and used a large handbag for a "personal item". I fill it with the heavy stuff - guide books, cables, etc to lighten the main bag!
I switched to wheels from a backpack a few years ago. I had to learn how to pull the thing without straining my elbows and shoulders. Watching other people with their luggage, I figured out that a loose arm with palm facing back works best for me. I change arms regularly. There is some strain, but I rarely travel with luggage more than a few minutes at a time. On stairs, such as in the Metro, I try to use both hands to hold my bag. That saves on arm and shoulder strain.
I rolled my bag in Rome. Rough but not impossible. If you have a bag with sturdy wheels and it is not too heavy, the cobblestones won't kill you. The backpack is ok if you can handle it. I found that it strained my neck and shoulders taking it off and back on, like a very heavy sweater.
My second bag is the very light, soft RS bag. It can be crammed into the larger bag if necessary. I use it for a daybag. In Italy, especially Rome, don't carry anything valuable in your daybag. It's too easy for thieves to help themselves in crowded situations.
I use a NON wheeled bag. My bag of choice is the Eagle Creek ORV. It has hidden backpack straps. The wheels are fine if you want an additional 8lbs of bag to haul around. You will have to carry that bag up steps in subways and up and out of trains.
My second bag now is a PacSafe Metro 200. The zippers all lock and it's large enough for my Sony camera and day tripper type of items. The PacSafe bag goes across my shoulder, so it's really secure.
For the plane ride over, I bring a backpack as well. I put my Pacsafe bag into the backpack so I only have 2 carry on items, and the backpack carries what I need for the overnight trip, as well as offers me extra room for items I might purchase on my trip for the journey home.
My vote for you is to use the ebags Weekender - I promise you, you will not be sorry you have those straps to carry that bag on your back. You will also have more room to pack items...the wheels in the 22" roller bag take up interior space as well as add weight.
We each use the Rick Steves' 21" Roll Aboard and a day back pack 15" x 19" x *10" (*expanded after flight) as carry ons. Inside the day back pack are our StashSafe 200, laptop, etc., and other stuff. The day back serves as our purses.
We have at times checked our Roll Aboard. Depends on the airlines. If for instance we are flying Lufthansa all the way to our destination...even if we have to change planes...we will check the Roll Aboard.
The Rick Steves' 21" Roll Aboard works great on the cobble stone streets and sidewalks.
We also use combination locks on all openings on our day back packs and would move one of the #'s in order for us to gain easy access to the opening.
In my opinion, it deters would-be pick pockets.
I use the ebags weekender and my wife uses a carry on with wheels. We have been many places, including Rome. I think her bag is preferable in airports and train stations while mine is preferable walking in town or climbing stairs.
I think you can go either way. It's easy to pack a roller bag too heavy because you don't notice until you have to carry it, so don't forget to pack lightly.
As for the second bag. I take a daypack (my wife doesn't bring an extra bag). It's tucked in my carry on and not used as a second bag. It's used on non-travel days for carrying rain shells, lunch and picnic stuff, etc.
For air travel, I put my "plane" stuff in my daypack. When I board the plane, I pull out the daypack, stick it under my feet and put my carry on in an overhead bin.
One of my personal security rules is to always reduce everything down to "one handle" - one thing I need to keep track of. I lost a camera in Munich a long time ago because I had too much stuff to keep track of. I honestly can't say if it was stolen or I simply left it behind on the city bus when I got off.
Hi, I agree with most on this post that the RS 21" rolling bag works great over cobblestones and is easy to lift when necessary because of the extra handles. For my day bag I've used a RS Civita bag, but for my trip to Italy last month I went to Kohls and got an inexpensive tote type carryon and a nylon fabric shoulder bag (like a Le Sport Sac) which I could either pack in the tote or squish in the top of the tote to meet the carry on plus personal item requirement. It worked great, gave me lots of options and I will do this again in June when I go to Italy.
About a second, smaller bag. I carry a Eagle Creek convertible bag - I mostly carry it as a shoulder bag, for security, but it can be converted to a backpack. I mostly only use it as a backpack when I'm outside of a city, when I'm not so concerned about theft.
My bag is smaller than a regular backpack, but still big enough to carry extra items like a sweater, water bottle, umbrella, as well as guidebooks. I don't think Eagle Creek makes this item any more - I'd guess mine is 10 years old by now - but you could look for something similar.
My family now says they prefer roller bags, after using RS carryon. They did not enjoy carrying it on their backs because we had a lot of "stuff" we wanted to bring back!
I never found my Ebags roller bag to be a hassle on cobblestones or anything else. I also agree about taking another bag that could be folded on the way over and stuffed on the way back.
I prefer roller bags. 22" aren't really getting so heavy that you couldn't lift them anymore up a curb or a flight of stairs. Unless you fill them with books ... which I have done in the past and stopped since I found a bookstore that ships world-wide with no shipping costs.
Which bookstore was that? My daughter loves to buy lots of books which is why she probably hates her bag on the back!