Travel Technology - Wheeled Briefcase vs. Backpack with a 22" Rollaboard Carryon

I travel about 150,000 miles/year and my computer bag is getting really heavy with all of the big screen laptop PC, files and gear. I am debating whether to get a wheeled briefcase or a backpack. Is wheeling 2 bags a big deal? Are those wheeled briefcases too heavy to get into an overhead bin - I am 5'2"?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! If you have sugestions on wheeled suitcase and backpack, makes and models, those would be great too.

Many thanks and happy traveling!

YogaGirl

I went through a similar thought process recently and will share what I decided to do, FWIW...

I used to have a big Tumi ballistic nylon briefcase that I would cram full of stuff and it would weigh a ton. I switched a few years ago to a Brenthaven Urban Backpack (looks like it's discontinued but it's at this outlet site (http://www.americanluggageoutlet.com/Default.asp?Page=PRD&CatID=2902&SelID=2904&ProdID=4713) ). I loved it, it is built like a tank, but I started finding it bulky for normal use, and awkward to attach to my rollaboard.

A recent spate of travel involving two laptops and thus very heavy backback made me consider the wheeled briefcase option as well. I strongly considered the Briggs & Riley models. I decided not to go with it because I didn't want the extra weight when carrying the bag on my shoulder. (btw I'm 5' 4" so weight is a concern for me too.) I decided my ideal combination would be something like this:

- a big (but still carry-on-able) rolling briefcase/tote that could hold a couple changes of clothes and some files, and a laptop in a pinch,

- a slim briefcase that could fit in the rolling bag if desired, but could otherwise hold the essentials (laptop, a few files, chargers for all my electronic gizmos).

There are two Briggs & Riley bags (the 20" Upright Business Traveler (http://www.briggs-riley.com/product.asp?pid=244) and the Rolling Computer Multi-Case (http://www.briggs-riley.com/product.asp?pid=242) ) that seemed to fit the bill, but I decided against both of them, mostly because I wanted the laptop bag portion to be a bit more full featured.

So in the end I did something totally different, I bought a new shoulder bag, a Waterfield Designs Large Cargo Bag (http://www.sfbags.com/products/cargo/cargo.htm) in black leather (based largely on the excellent word-of-mouth they've received here and on other sites) and will augment that with a resolution to pack more lightly, and add a smaller rollaboard (maybe the 18" B&R one) for when I have lots of files/books to carry, or have longer than an overnight trip but not as long as a 4-5 day trip.

Lots of babbling but hope this helps!
-nhy

I travel about 150,000 miles/year and my computer bag is getting really heavy with all of the big screen laptop PC, files and gear. I am debating whether to get a wheeled briefcase or a backpack. Is wheeling 2 bags a big deal? Are those wheeled briefcases too heavy to get into an overhead bin - I am 5'2"?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! If you have sugestions on wheeled suitcase and backpack, makes and models, those would be great too.

Many thanks and happy traveling!

YogaGirl

Similar dilema myself. I have been having a lot of pain in my right elbow recently. My personal trainer and I decided it was "tennis elbow" irritated by using a mouse and keyboard. I got a new keyboard and a trackball which helped some. Then I went to my doctor for a rountine exam and mentioned it to him. His first question was "do you travel a lot?" Well yes, about 225,000 miles a year. It is suitcase elbow said he as he demonstrated the pressure direction on the way you hold a suitcase (causing excruciating pain). In addition, after 2 weeks of traveling my left shoulder and neck was really sore (trying to spare the right forearm). The cause seems to be the very heavy briefcase/carryon that I use in addition to a rollaboard. It has all sorts of electronics crap, lots of papers and such and weighs a ton.

I have decided to go the backpack route. I tested one (a giveaway at the meeting I was attending) while on a recent trip and it seemed to help. Ive now transferred the most crucial stuff from my big carryon into it and will try this for a while. I even have a much smaller shoulder bag (metrosexual bag my wife calls it) inside the backpack so I can take it out for occassions when I only need a subset of the tools.

I think having two rollaboards would be tough. And if you are carrying one without wheeling it that is a fair amount of extra weight. As far as brands, my rollaboards are all Briggs and Riley, I think they are the absolute best. My backpack is LL Bean. They have a lot of styles at good prices. You might also look at Eagle Creek, they have some interesting convertable styles and rollaboards with detachable briefcases. Also, with any brand like Briggs and Riley, they have carryon bags, briefcases and backpacks that attach to their rollaboards. I may get the Briggs and Riley backpack if I decide I like that route. It fits neatly on their rollaboard. But for $125 bucks Ill test with the nice LL Bean backpack I already have to make sure I like the backpack modality before deciding to buy the Briggs one.

Oh, and welcome to Flyertalk!!

I have a wheeled laptop case (the precursor to the TravelPro Wall Street) and a B&R rollaboard. The laptop bag has a strap across it that allows me to slide it down the handle of the rollaboard and let it ride on top of it when I'm wheeling about.

This combo works great for me. As for too heavy to get into the overhead. I guess it all depends on how much you put in it and how strong you are. Mine weighs about 25 lbs and I manage though I am a guy and have a foot of height on you. :)

I'm a big fan of the backpack... It frees both hands and has a nifty pouch for my cell phone when I am walking through the airport. I have to admit its a tad unprofessional looking to walk into a meeting with a suit and a backpack. But I don't reall mind.... i consider it "youthful" :D
I have the Targus one and its pretty comfy. It has a few too many straps... like a waist strap. I've been meaning to cut them off.

I am especially glad I switched to a backpack since after reading the flashlight thread on the technology forum I have started looking at flashlight ads and forums and it is likely I will add another 10 pounds worth of tactical lighting systems and batteries to my bag in the next 6 months ;)

I travel about 150,000 miles/year and my computer bag is getting really heavy with all of the big screen laptop PC, files and gear. I am debating whether to get a wheeled briefcase or a backpack. Is wheeling 2 bags a big deal? Are those wheeled briefcases too heavy to get into an overhead bin - I am 5'2"?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! If you have sugestions on wheeled suitcase and backpack, makes and models, those would be great too.

Many thanks and happy traveling!

YogaGirl

Can I ask what you are carrying? Laptop size etc...

I have used backpacks for years, initially with a sleeve on my regular backpack and now with a Swiss Army one that is designed to support technology travel. At first I too felt silly dragging it in to meetings, but not any more given its usefulness. Plus, it is a little bit more secure than lugging the laptop bags that scream "steal me"!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6564611&type=product&productCategoryId=cat08003&id=1077630481064

I have a Swiss Army roller as a carry on .

Depending on my mood I either use a rolling laptop bag ( its upright though - not a flat one ) - that turns into a backpack if the TSA gets fussy ( though so far they havent)

I have lots of right shoulder issues - carrying is not an issue

I bought mine at Target for about $40

Another alternative is onoe of the sporkey little half-height rollers with a laptop compartment and a 20" roller. While walking around you can attach one to the other, and when going into meetings, it can look a bit more professional, if you care.

Generally I do the backpack, myself.

Steve

...is now the wheeled backpack. There are several out there that are a combo backpack/roller bag w/ collapsing handle. I wasn't satisfied with any of the traditional briefcases, laptop bags, wheeled laptop bags, etc. Saw this.. actually a lower end "Olympia" about two years ago on a sale price (like $30 range) and bought it just to try out. Still have it and use it. Depending on how I feel at the moment, I can use it as a backpack w/ the straps, wheel it, or use the handle on top and carry it. I slip a few notebooks, folders, and a Dell laptop in it, carry my passport and travel wallet in the front pocket, incidentals in the side pockets and still have room inside for a one night change of clothes plus laptop charger, cables, paperback to read, etc. It may look goofy carrying it on my back with the wheels hanging down, but when your exhausted and that the most comfortable way to carry it at the moment, who cares. Oh, and BTW, it fits in even the smallest (think RJ) overheads. I've taken it to Europe numerous times (NWA to AMS then KLM cityhopper meet the Fokker regionals) and its been perfect. Fashion statement no, practical yes.

I use a backpack I purchased several years ago at REI and love it. I've tried several different kinds of wheeled and non-wheeled laptop cases and keep going back to the backpack. The combination of even weight distribution plus having both hands free makes it a no-brainer for me.

Since switching to a backpack about 2 weeks ago my shoulder/neck pain is greatly diminished and my luggage elbow is also getting better.

Bumping this up. I'm thinking about traveling with a rollaboard and a wheeled briefcase/laptop holder. (first of all, has anyone tried this? if so, is it easy to manage?) Will the wheeled case fit under the seat (mine is 17"x15"x11" or so)? If it doesn't, I may end up going back to laptop case (strap) & rollaboard route... Thanks in advance!

I use a different configuration - I carry a non-wheeled tri-fold garment bag and a wheeled computer bag, both by tumi. I have found that nobody ever asks to wiegh the computer bag, so I keep everything with weight in there - computer, books, papers, as well as anything I might buy. my garment bag then comes in at 8 or 9 kilo, and I don't have a problem, even when I am flying with an airline that doesn't know me.

I'm thinking about traveling with a rollaboard and a wheeled backpack for my laptop, cameras and stuff. Today I bought my new 21" Samsonite spinner and a medium wheeled backpack. I'm not used to wheeled backpacks and am still considering it (if I'm going to use it or use a Samsonite non wheeled backpack I have), but my cameras, lenses and electronics are heavy and bulky for a tote messenger bag and in my own experience you walk a lot after checking your luggage but my most important and heavy items (electronics) cannot be checked, so carry on and personal bag are those that can really cause neck and shoulder pain. I think this Samsonite spinner can be gate checked if necessary but my backpack with laptop and cameras won't be. And the medium wheeled backpack, I think it doesn't fit under the seat. My dilemma, comfort vs space.:rolleyes:

Bumping this up. I'm thinking about traveling with a rollaboard and a wheeled briefcase/laptop holder. (first of all, has anyone tried this? if so, is it easy to manage?) Will the wheeled case fit under the seat (mine is 17"x15"x11" or so)? If it doesn't, I may end up going back to laptop case (strap) & rollaboard route... Thanks in advance!

I've used a B&R 214 rolling laptop case with a B&R U420 20" upright rollaboard.
The laptop case is 12.5x15.5x7in. It barely fits under an MD80 seat due to the power adapter. Maybe an inch to spare. Under Airbus A318/319/320, there's more room, maybe 2 or 3 inches. 11" thick will be close, very close, I don't think it'll fit, almost certainly not under an MD80, very close under an airbus.

I switched back to my laptop shoulder bag, the combination of 2 stacked rollaboards is heavy, and honestly, I fit more stuff in my laptop shoulder bag. Wheel's and handles take up a lot of space that can be used for gadgets and stuff. Note: I'm an engineer so I have to bring a lot of junk when I fly.

When I need to bring suits, I use a B&R375 trifold garment bag with the wheeled laptop case and I stack the garment bag on top of the laptop case. So when I travel now, I either use the 20" rollaboard with a shoulder laptop bag, or the tri-fold with the wheeled laptop bag.

I've used a B&R 214 rolling laptop case with a B&R U420 20" upright rollaboard.
The laptop case is 12.5x15.5x7in. It barely fits under an MD80 seat due to the power adapter. Maybe an inch to spare. Under Airbus A318/319/320, there's more room, maybe 2 or 3 inches. 11" thick will be close, very close, I don't think it'll fit, almost certainly not under an MD80, very close under an airbus.

I switched back to my laptop shoulder bag, the combination of 2 stacked rollaboards is heavy, and honestly, I fit more stuff in my laptop shoulder bag. Wheel's and handles take up a lot of space that can be used for gadgets and stuff. Note: I'm an engineer so I have to bring a lot of junk when I fly.

When I need to bring suits, I use a B&R375 trifold garment bag with the wheeled laptop case and I stack the garment bag on top of the laptop case. So when I travel now, I either use the 20" rollaboard with a shoulder laptop bag, or the tri-fold with the wheeled laptop bag.


I think you have a pretty good system worked out. Have you (or anyone else) been able to try the BR214 in the overheads or under the seat of a CRJ? Thanks.

I think you have a pretty good system worked out. Have you (or anyone else) been able to try the BR214 in the overheads or under the seat of a CRJ? Thanks.

Never had to fly in a CRJ, so I can't comment. My next trip to SAN, maybe I'll fly through LAX to try it out (there's a commuter to SAN from there). I need a few more AA miles to pay for my Paris vacation trip next year :)

Never had to fly in a CRJ, so I can't comment. My next trip to SAN, maybe I'll fly through LAX to try it out (there's a commuter to SAN from there). I need a few more AA miles to pay for my Paris vacation trip next year :)

Thanks. That is a route I end up on CRJs a lot to, so it will be the same planes ;) In fact I am going there this week and returning through LAX although this time on UA. In any case, I look forward to an update ^

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While the Travel Technology forum was (mostly) the appropriate place for these discussions 4 years ago when this thread originally started, the current home for such discussions is in our Travel Products forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products-639/). I encourage anyone interested in further discussion along these lines to head over there and see what they've got cooking.

sbm12
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