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Luggage

Many readers may be flying as part of their travel. If this is you, remember that the airlines limit the amount, and size of the carry-ons. Some airlines are more strict than others on the size limitations, although this seems to be more the case on very full flights, or during the holidays when people carry lots of shopping bags loaded with wrapped presents.
When you go to the airport, the airlines supply their check-in counter areas with luggage sizers, which are metal frames in which you can "test" your bag. Place your bag inside the sizer. If it doesn't fit, you are supposed to check it in. Of course with travelite, the idea is to avoid packing that much in the first place.
It is important for you to know what the size allowances are. The FAA only specifies a maximum total dimension of 45 inches. Each airline has slight differences. The maximum-allowable bag (I call it a "maxibag"; what Doug Dyment calls a victim of "creeping bloat syndrome" by the manufacturers) for Delta, Northwest and United Airlines are 9" x 14" x 22", while American limits its carry-ons to 9" x 13" x 23". Supposedly, this is the largest that will fit under your seat. To be honest, I have never been able to stuff a maxibag under my seat; I usually end up putting it up in the overhead. In addition, if you use the soft-sided Cordura-fabric travel packs that I recommend to you in this FAQ, your pack will end up larger than the above size if you stuff it! Here is an easier way to remember the maxibag limit: 21" by 14 "by 7". Everything is in multiples of 7! Handy, huh?
Being forced to use the overhead has some disadvantages. If you board after others in your seating area, some people may have taken up all the overhead room. Did you know that the overhead bin above you is not reserved to your seat? If your maxibag is heavy, you may have to heave it up into the overhead; something difficult if you are not tall. FAA regulations apparently prohibit the flight attendants from heaving them for you as well. Having to retrieve your bag from the overhead also takes extra time if you need to leave the plane right away (e.g. for a tight connection). On the other hand, bags that fit under the seat can be used as an ottoman or foot stool (especially for short-legged folks like me). If you have a little "flight bag" like I do (that includes ear plugs, eyeshade, etc.), you might want to take that out before you stash your maxibag in the overhead; your other option might be to use a travel pack with a zip-off day pack, so you can leave the day pack by your feet for easy access.
Most airlines limit you to two carry-ons. However, there are some items that are not counted toward your carry-on allowance. These include things such as umbrellas, cameras, and small purses. However, be aware that large hefty camera bags and purses [yes ladies--you know what kind I mean! I used to carry large purses with me that had three-year-old rolls of Life Savers that magnetically attracted lint balls. I called my purse "the Black Hole" because things got sucked in and I never saw them again] do get counted as their own carry-ons, and not freebies.
If you are used to domestic travel in the US, you will be surprised that the airlines tend to be stricter about this carry-on limit on international flights. Apparently, carry-ons when weighed in pounds aren't too heavy--but as soon as they get beyond our own borders, the weight of our bags somehow convert themselves to kilograms--and whoa nelly--cursed are those kilogram-heavy carry-on bags! If there is more than one unit of them, down they go to the plane's underbelly!
Do keep in mind that "trying to get away with as much as you can carry on" is not in line with the travelite philosophy. Those who overload themselves in the cabin become nuisances to others. How many times have YOU been hit in the face with a shoulder bag of someone walking past you in the aisle? Seen too-heavy bags fall from the overhead bin onto a passenger's head? Seen someone taking up more than a reasonable amount of overhead bin space?


Duffel Bag

The traditional duffel bag with the hand strap and optional shoulder bag has been an old standby for many years. There are a couple of different types of duffel bags. There is the log, or sausage-type of bag that we usually refer to as a gym bag (although I've seen all sorts of fancy "gym bags" lately). These are tubular, with one long zipper across the top.
Some fancier duffel bag models are now available from companies such as LL Bean. These are designed specifically as carry-ons. Some have C-shaped zippers on the top, making it easy to pack folded clothing into the bag. Many of these types of bags have side pockets that can hold toiletries or important papers. Eagle Creek's "Cargo Voyager" bags have the added feature of zip-away backpack straps on the back of the bag, allowing users to carry the bags hands free.
Advantages: These gym bags are usually very lightweight. Without too many pockets or compartments, you won't forget where you put things. The single compartment will also make it fairly easy to stuff with your clothing. Things like rolled socks will find room fairly easily in this bag.
Disadvantages: Many gym bags are not made of very hefty fabric. Carried for long periods of time, the seams can fray pretty easily. Many of these bags are also long and skinny, making it difficult to place under the seat.
Important features to look for:
-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles in case you need to pull your bag quickly.
-Look for detachable shoulder straps.
-Look to make sure the shoulder straps are adjustable.
-Shoulder straps should have a pad on it to protect your shoulder.

Shoulder Bag

The term "shoulder bag" can be used for many things, but in travel, usually conjures images of the standard shoulder-strapped carry-on bag. We've come a long way from the old Pan Am bag, though--those were little more than the previous duffel bag, shaped into a rectangle and sewn with faux leather (made from the hide of the elusive North American Nauga).
Some of the more common travel shoulder bags today come from companies such as Lands' End, which is famous for its soft-sided cotton briefcases.
Advantages: Since these are made with travel in mind, the construction is generally better than duffel bags. They usually also have exterior zippered pockets for things such as your plane tickets. They usually also have small handles in addition to shoulder straps, which are usually detatchable to stash out of the way.
Disadvantages: As is with all shoulder bags, you are limited to carrying your bag only on one shoulder at a time. If you have a particularly heavy load and are walking a distance, you might feel like you shrunk a couple of inches when you reach your destination. If you do not want to carry the weight, you would need a separate luggage cart.
Important features to look for:
-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy (look for YKK zippers).
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles in case you need to pull your bag quickly.
-Look for detachable shoulder straps.
-Look to make sure the shoulder straps are adjustable.
-Shoulder straps should have a pad on it to protect your shoulder.

Garment Bag

Garment bags are meant to be carried on. They are supposed to sit lightly in your overhead, or hang in a closet on the plane. The garment bag is the standard piece of luggage for those traveling on business, as it keeps clothes from wrinkling. Unfortunately, a goodly amount of people abuse their garment bags in ways the manufacturers never intended (or are willing to admit). This abuse comes in the form of stuffing them so full that they barely snap at the bottom closures together.
Have you ever seen a traveler carrying a garment bag that looks so stuffed the traveler might as well be wearing a red suit and a jiggling belly? Garment bags, unlike any of the other bags listed here, seem to expand exponentially when overstuffed. That is, when there are too many items packed into a garment bag, it makes the bag very difficult to fold over at the shoulder strap points. This causes the garment bag to look like an A-frame house, where the two bottom ends are spread way out.
For the purposes of this site, I do not recommend the use of a garment bag as your carry-on. If you are traveling and you must take one with you, use something like the minimalist Eagle Creek Cargo Commuter Suiter , which fold in thirds and fit under your seat.
Advantages: Airline personnel will usually never ask you to check in a garment bag. Clothing will wrinkle less. You might have the benefit of having a flight attendant hang your bag for you in the closet.
Disadvantages: Too easy to overstuff. Most models do not fit under the seat. Limited to suits, dresses and other items that hang well.
Important features to look for
-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles so you do not have to rely on your shoulder strap
-Look for detachable shoulder straps.
-Look to make sure the shoulder straps are adjustable.
-Shoulder straps should have a pad on it to protect your shoulder.
-Look for a clasp or clip on the bottom of your garment bag, so that you can keep the two ends of the bag together.
-Make sure there is a handle or a hanger that will allow you to hang the garment bag lengthwise in the airplane's closet.

Rolling Upright

The story I've seen in TravelPro's ads is that the inventor of the "Rollaboard" (TM) is a former airline employee who combined a piece of carry-on luggage with a luggage cart. For years, these rolling uprights were the exclusive domain of airline personnel, who had you thinking it was a status symbol.
These are the current darlings of the travel circuit. Unless you've been in the rugged outbacks of Mars, you've probably seen these around. You certainly can't miss them when you're at the airports. In fact, your odds of tripping over someone's rolling upright is probably as high as your walking into someone representing a religious cult who wants to convert you or sell you magazines.
Nowadays, every luggage company has its own version of the rolling upright. Some are soft-sided, some are molded. Some have extra straps, clips and pockets. But all have two elements in common. The first is that they all have two wheels, and the second is that they all have a telescoping handlebar that extends lengthwise out of its body, allowing you to pull it like a not-quite-yet-trained puppy.
One thing to be particularly careful about: Because of the popularity of this style, many luggage manufacturers have adopted the wheel-and-handlebar format to entire lines of luggage. Just because you see these features, no longer means they fit as a carry-on bag. Also, you need to inspect the bag carefully before making the buy. The handles have to go somewhere when they're not telescoped out. Where do they go? Is the casing for it on the outside (where it adds to the external size of the bag), or on the inside (where it takes up precious packing space)? Those with the casing on the inside usually have one big bump sticking right up along the middle of the bottom. How hard will packing be for you then?
Advantages: These bags are miracles for people with bad backs or who have trouble lifting and carrying heavy items. Rolling uprights are great if you intend to stay in metropolitan areas with modern amenities, where all the streets are paved. This means going straight from the airport to a taxi, to a hotel with a porter.
Disadvantages: While paved roads are fine, these bags are terrible over unpaved paths. They are also rather inconvenient to lug up and down a flight of stairs. They also do not do so well in public transportation: They're awkward on your lap, take up a lot of room on the aisle, and mark you as a tourist or traveler. Most of all, keep in mind that they really are like dogs. That is, you keep it on a leash, and you get it to sit and stay (and roll over when it goes in the overhead). But you can't carry it under your arm or over your shoulder when its paws--erm...wheels--get tired from the bumpy pebbles on the road.
Don't know what to look for when choosing a rolling upright? Read "Flight-crew luggage" from Consumer Reports (December 1, 1995 v 60 n 12).
Important features to look for:
-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-For soft-sided versions, make sure the corners aren't too flimsy.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Make sure the telescoping handlebar can be locked in place.
-Make sure wheels are easy to roll, and are not too recessed as to make it difficult to lug up a flight of stairs.
-Look for a hook in the front to hang extra bags.

Backpack

There are two different types of backpacks: The rugged ones built for serious outdoor camping/hiking, and the ones that carry your books to class. Depending on their size, both could be used for travel. However, some hiking backpacks use external frames, making them impossible to carry on. To check them in, many people wrap them in a large plastic bag to contain all of the various straps and things that would get snagged.
Bookpacks are a great way to go, especially if you can find a large one to carry everything you need. Some of them have side pockets that fit pairs of shoes or umbrellas. Most bookpacks comfortably fit under the seat, and they do not have too many straps to get in the way. They have the added benefit of being very comfortable to carry, because their shoulder straps are almost always padded. Some models also have padded backs for added comfort. Some even have waist straps, to distribute the load on your back well.
Important: If you decide to use a backpack, here is my sternest warning: Do not use a top-loading bag (the type with a cinch closure on the top only). You've seen them--they saw a real boon the last two or three years. The smaller ones were particularly popular with young women, who used them as purses. These packs are very difficult to find things in, because the opening is small and only at the top. You will end up messing up your nicely packed stuff because you can't find this or that. Use a bag with a fairly full C-shaped zipper all the way across the front.
Advantages: Easy to carry, easy to clean. Comfortable to walk with for long distances, easier to look casual in. Can serve double purpose by being a day pack once you reach your travel destination.
Disadvantages: You look like a low-budget traveler or a college student, and you can't really carry the backpack any other way besides one shoulder or two. Some models with lots of straps may catch on other things.
Important features to look for:
-Make sure the seams seem strong.
-Make sure the zippers do not seem too flimsy.
-Look for a little loop at one end, through which you can install a little padlock (and lock it onto the end of your zipper).
-Look for a separate set of short handles so you do not have to rely on your backpack straps
-The backpack straps are adjustable and feel comfortable on you.
-The backpack straps should be padded.