I forgot to mention that on my friend J’s recommendation I bought this suitcase-backpack for our recent trip to the big city: I did not want to have to use a wheelie bag for the one-hour walk between train station and hotel. (We could have gotten an Uber, and we were prepared to do that if the weather had been bad, but the weather was perfect and I thought it would be a nice way for town mice to See/Experience the City a little, considering we were not there for long.)
(image from Amazon.com)
It was perfect. It PACKED like a suitcase, but WORE like a backpack. I’d worried I would look like I had a suitcase strapped to my back, but I had plenty of time to observe the effect on Paul (I bought him the same one in black), and he just looked like he was wearing a backpack. This is in part because of something you may consider a positive or a negative: the sides are not rigid, and they soften even more with use. I was able to re-form the case into a rectangle for re-packing, but then it slumps in a backpacky way when you put it on. I liked this, but I could see how someone else might be expecting it to hold its shape, and might WANT it to look like a suitcase strapped to their back.
It has lots of pockets, some of which were immediately useful and some of which will need time and experience to reveal their best function. It has a strap inside, to keep things snug; I forgot to use it. It has comfortable padded shoulder straps; and even though it was fairly heavy (I TRY to pack light, but by nature I am a four-mule overnighter), I didn’t start noticing it until toward the end of the walk. It has a top-handle and a side-handle, which were nice for getting it into and out of the overhead bins.
I was extremely pleased with the purchase. I’ve only used it once, so I can’t yet say anything about how durable it is, but to my non-expert eye it seems sturdy and well-made. Rather than putting it in the barn with our luggage, I put it right into my closet so it would be on-hand for other short trips. I would also use it on longer trips, as my carry-on—especially for trips where I feel nervous about my luggage getting lost and want to carry with me a toothbrush and deodorant and a change of unders, as well as a book and lots of snacks, and charging cables and a water bottle, and the many other things I like to travel-heavy with.
I saw this (or something similar) recommended in a previous post and immediately put it on my list. I have a Big Trip coming up in December and definitely want something like this!
Tapping on the image takes me to the Amazon page for Dolly Parton‘s Creamy Buttercream Frosting. Did the link get stuck from a previous post or is this a me problem?
The universe wants you to have a Little Treat!
Thanks for letting me know—a cut-and-paste had not worked as hoped!
I don’t know why but when I click it takes me to Dolly Parton frosting, which, honestly is awesome. But just a heads up!
Thank you! I think it is a little sign that you are meant to have a sweet!
If we’re recommending backpacks, I love this one for travel as a carry-on – fits my laptop and just the right amount of stuff for me, and it’s a good price. I bought it 4 years ago and it has held up great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TWKZV7V?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1
Ooo. Are we giving other recommendations?
I have way too much luggage.
I love this one when I need wheels and carry (cobblestone, bridges with steps): https://www.osprey.com/fairview-wheeled-travel-pack-carry-on-36l-21-5-fairvwwh36f22-273?size=O%2FS&color=Night+Jungle+Blue&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23379375046&gbraid=0AAAAADDMh1rllfCuXfyTJpE_PZHy_Mkg2&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ZXQBhBdEiwAI5XVWbz9cBgoeXWBSMMSYhFjuEJ5rlYrrzrzT2JCgybFybtp85N2MT0YuhoC6H0QAvD_BwE
I have this set for flying carry-on only. The spinner is really easy to get into the overhead bin. The duffle fits SO MUCH STUFF: https://travelpro.com/products/platinum®-elite-carry-on-underseat-tote-set-vg
I ordered this from the previous rec and it just arrived today! I needed a better carryon bag for an upcoming train trip so that I can also take a roller bag small enough to lift into the overhead compartment.
It does look like it’ll fit more than my usual laptop/carryon.
I have a different brand but similar backpack. My favorite surprise was that, unless I’ve packed it to the absolute max, it fits under an airplane seat. So, I don’t have to worry when they start running out of space. If I were buying it again, though, I’d look for one with a waist belt, like a hiking backpack.
That is a lovely-looking bag.
At the bargain end, a few years ago I bought 2 (used) rolling LL Bean brand backpacks on Ebay — the second because it had an upside-down-U shaped handle that I realized works better for me than the stick-shaped handle that the first one has. It has been a dream — it rolls well, the backpack straps hide away completely (which makes it checkable, in addition to being small enough to use as a carryon) and are very easy to reattach at the base to turn back into a backpack, and it holds a lot. I’m a pretty light traveler, but with that as background, except a few things I stashed in my laptop bag, used it to hold everything (including 2 bottles of gin) to Europe and to bring back everything (including a couple of bottles of wine). Obviously I had to check it to transport the booze (thus the need for a separate bag for my laptop and basic emergency toiletries and such), but traveling around Europe I just rolled and/or carried it (with a preference for the former but a need for the latter in places involving stairs and such). Oh, and it cost like … maybe $40? Heading to Europe again this summer and absolutely planning to pack in that and only that.