From: Donald Newcomb on

"RPSinha" <rpsinha(a)null.void> wrote in message
news:030820060955513592%rpsinha(a)null.void...
> Another suggestion was Rick Steves Convertable carry-on bag; $99.
> <http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&
> theParentId=8&id=139>
>
> Do you have any expereince with these? Or, do you have another
> recommendation?

I recently purchased the Rick Steves Convertible Carryon bag as a lower cost
alternative to some of the other maximum carryon bags (e.g. Red Oxx, Tough
Traveler, Patagonia). I have not yet traveled any great distance with it,
only a one-week road trip. Here are some random observations:
Pluses:

1.. Converts to backpack. Has a hip belt, which the current Patagonia MLC
lacks.
2.. Fairly light weight.
3.. Small laundry bag was included.

Minuses:
1.. Does not come with shoulder strap. Must purchase separately.
2.. Lacks any support to hold a rectangular shape. Even using packing
cubes it becomes a fairly shapeless blob. I'm looking for some sort of
light-weight stiffeners to add to the load.
3.. I dislike the "portrait" format and would prefer the bag open in the
"landscape" mode.
4.. I would like more internal organization. The Tough Traveler Tri-Zip
looks better organized to me.
5.. The compression strap ends dangle free with no place to be tucked
away.

> Finally, do you find any particular *colors* either very good or not so
> good for rugged travel?

Some shade of brown? Almost all my luggage is black. The only advantage of
black is that you can match luggage from different manufacturers without any
problem. With other colors it would be impossible to get a match. I'd
imagine that any light color would be not so good since it would show dirt
and wear.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net



From: Donald Newcomb on

"nobody" <nobody(a)nobody.org> wrote in message
news:44D389A3.80D973FB(a)nobody.org...
> Someone mentioned pulling rolling luggage on sidewalks. Isn't that a
> recipe to destroy the wheels ? They may be nice on a smooth airport
> terminal floor, but on concrete with cracks every couple of metres,
> those wheels won't last long, unless you are simply going from a
> building across the sidewalk to a waiting taxi.

It depends on the wheels and the sidewalk. If you have high-quality wheels
and a good sidewalk there is little problem. I've towed my TravelPro bag for
miles (with more weight than I could possibly carry). And worst case
scenario, I have to order a new set of wheels. I can see problems in some
place like Portugal where the sidewalks are made of little blocks of
limestone with sand in-between.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net


From: BB on
On Fri, 4 Aug 2006 20:23:26 -0500, Donald Newcomb wrote:

Re: Rick Steves Convertible Carryon bag:

> 2.. Lacks any support to hold a rectangular shape. Even using packing
> cubes it becomes a fairly shapeless blob. I'm looking for some sort of
> light-weight stiffeners to add to the load.

I agree with you on this, but I've taken it on two extended trips, and
carried it many blocks (we often had a car so I can't say many miles) and
its shapelessness hasn't been a problem.

> 3.. I dislike the "portrait" format and would prefer the bag open in the
> "landscape" mode.

You lost me on this one. When you're using it as a backpack, its in
"portrait" mode; when you use it with a shoulder strap or the side handle,
its in "landscape" mode. Like the girl carrying it in this picture, this
is how I almost always carry it:

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/images/products/bg-xsb_04.jpg

> Some shade of brown? Almost all my luggage is black. The only advantage of
> black is that you can match luggage from different manufacturers without any
> problem. With other colors it would be impossible to get a match.

The disadvantage of black is it matches (and looks very much like)
everyone else's luggage. Its particularly bad if you have to check it. As
frustrating as it is to find your black bag in a sea of black bags,
there's also the worry that someone else might think its theirs and walk
off with it.

--
-BB-
To e-mail me, unmunge my address
From: marika on
On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 14:10:54 -0400, nobody <nobody(a)nobody.org> wrote:

> PeterL wrote:
>> > I cannot imagine a scenario in which a wheeled bag is more attractive,
>> > unless it is so heavy that you simply cannot lift it - such as an
>> > equipment container on 4 casters.
>>
>> Wait till you are 50 yrs old Miguel.
>
> If you keep fit, then carrying a well designed backpack is not
> age-limited. I've seen older people hiking in the wilderness with
> backpacks.

move the hypothetical to a typical downtown in a typical city. i am
always worried about someone getting into the bag say when i am on a
crowded conveyance but unable to determine what is happening behind me in
terms of theft.

>
> If you're out of shape, even a 25 year old will complain about a
> backpack.
>
> And it is very true that a backpack allows you to move aroud much faster
> than when you are lugging some luggage (either wheeled or now) AND has
> the advantage of leaving you with 2 usable hands.
>
> There are suitaces that convert into backpacks. They are not "great"
> backpacks from a support point of view, but for airport stuff, it is
> great.

From: Miguel Cruz on
marika <mcenko(a)mindspring.com> wrote:
> move the hypothetical to a typical downtown in a typical city. i am
> always worried about someone getting into the bag say when i am on a
> crowded conveyance but unable to determine what is happening behind me in
> terms of theft.

I've never had this happen, despite traveling a lot, favoring public
transportation, and always using a backpack. If you suspect someone is
getting friendly with it, just twist around gently, the motion will be
amplified in the back and make it difficult for them to keep hold.

I secure my pack's zippers with a large paperclip through the handles,
nothing high-tech but it seems to work. My laptop is in a smaller pack
which I wear in the front.

miguel
--
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