Whatever you decide on, don't try to carry something too heavy. There's plenty of luggage combos you could use given the particulars but the key is to keep weight in mind.
You'll need to schlep it across terminals, pick it up and put it in the overhead bin if it is too large to fit under your seat, and possibly tackle long flights of stairs.
I find backpacks or reasonably sized tote bag with wider straps to work the best. Messengers tend to strain my back if the weight is greater (camera, laptop, book, clothes, 311, water all make it heavy). A side body flap type bag can be improved with the Tom Bihn Absolute strap or the Op Tech Neoprene strap. Crossbody type purses can also work well if they have a nice wide strap.
Last edited by freecia; Jul 23, 2011 at 12:34 pm