Travel Products - Newbie in need of advice on a lightweight carry-on

I'm new to the forum here and could surely use some advice.

I have obtained a new position within my company that will be requiring me to travel for 4 to 6 days at a time. My work attire will not be consisting of suits but rather shirts/ties/khakis. I'm in need of an upgrade from my duffel and would like to purchase a new 22" carry-on bag. Would anyone be able to recommend a good brand/model as well as offer any general advice?

My budget for the bag, not including additional packing accessories, is approximately $250

I would prefer the following:
- lightweight
- wheels
- extendable handle

I've been reading through the threads and also plan on purchasing a folder as well as packing cubes.

Thank you in advance.

Welcome to FT, djhans73! :)

First of all I always recommend reading the packing sticky. Then the lightest bag sticky. Both on top of this forum. Once you devoured those two, you will know what the lightest bags are and what the techniques and tips for packing efficiently are. Basically, those two stickies will answer your questions and be generally more useful than any recommendation fitting the VERY vague criteria given. For example you don't tell us where you travel, how, how many wheels you want, how light exactly it needs to be, if you are very short or very tall (extension handle), etc. All of these will be needed to make a rec that is only half-way decent.

Then do a search refining what you have learned into more specific request.

Your task is nothing out of the ordinary. Even a shoulder carried bag would work as long as the weight is alright for you to carry.

22 inchers can be unwieldy. Not all of them actually fit in sizers or overhead bins. They are also by definition quite a bit heavier than a 20 incher. I say that because from the packing volume your post suggests, a 20" or even just an 18" model will do fine. No need to go for a 22" model. That is unless you forgot to tell us that you are 6.5ft tall and weigh 300lbs. ;) In which case I recommend a 22" model.

In your price range I'd look for a discounted Travelpro Platinum from a discontinued series. Usually they are excellent bags, very priceworthy and come with a great warranty.

If you plan on putting a briefcase on top of the roller, I advise against mono-pole models. The briefcase will not be steady and swing around. Maddening.

The Travelpro Plat 7 20" weighs 8.7 lbs, comes with a no matter what warranty lifetime (also read that thread) and cost about $220.
http://www.luggageonline.com/product.cfm?product_ID=16715

That would be the no-brainer, top of my head recommendation, given the little we have to go from.

Till

Welcome to Flyertalk

Second tfar's advice about considering a 20 or 21 inch bag instead. While it's only two inches shorter, it fits in way more places than a 22 inch does (trunks, some overheads, etc).

I'm a huge fan of the packing folders, but you have to make sure you get ones that will fit into which ever carry on you buy. And they still have to be large enough to fit your stuff without excessive folding.

I would recommend starting off slow. Don't buy everything at once (obviously you will need the carry on soon), and over time figure out what you need to get it to work for you as everybody is different.

If you don't mind a red bag, take a look at the Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 5.0 21" LT Ultra-Light Carry-On over at e-bags. List is $475, regular price $330, currently on sale for $125. It's seven pounds, six ounces, and has the Carry with Confidence guaranty

Carry With Confidence™ guarantees the product to be free from any manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship for the life of the bag AND covers functional damage caused by common carriers

http://www.ebags.com/product/victorinox/mobilizer-nxt-50-21-lt-ultra-light-carry-on/204086?productid=10108870

I would chime in here with a suggestion.

If I may suggest, since it sounds like you may be new to travelling for work, consider purchasing a lower-priced item and see how it all fits in the first couple trips you take. How it packs/uppacks, how it handles through airports/subways/cabs/lobbies, what airline/planes and overhead sizes, etc. You will also likely see many other bags at airports and hotels. Keep an eye out if you see something you like or a desirable feature. You best can decide what is right for you.

Purchasing a simple lower-priced item first gives you room for "regret" in the budget. Then go out and get what you really want. You might like to check out your neighborhood Ross of other discount stores. I've seen discounted Travelpro, Tumi, Samsonite at some of them.

I went through many carry-ons early in game before settling on a set of features that are important to me. These have now been either given away or are relegated to storing blankets and pillows in the garage.