I am in the market for a large, wheeled or spinner bag. I have a Samsonite Hyper 26 incher which is wonderful, but I find too small for the two week or longer journey that I often have to make. I ask because ebags is offering a 29 inch manuever spinner for $149, which sounds like a great deal. But I see there are 30 inch Hypers. Are these too big to be manueverable in airports? I also dont want it to be too heavy.Any great largish spinners out there I should look at?
Honestly, stick with the bag you have and pack smart. This is not to say that you don't pack well already. When you move up to 29-30 inches you definitely risk the bag being too heavy, being too big to go in taxis (Europe), being hard to handle getting on/off hotel and airport shuttles, in and out of trains, ad infinitum. I travel by train a lot and families bring gigantic bags for each person which take up the entire luggage area in the sleeper or coach cars. Then there's no room for my single 21-inch (1-week trips) or 25-inch (1 to infinity weeks) bag.
Please don't tell me you can't travel with a 26-inch bag. I once traveled for 9 months through Africa and Europe with a 24-inch Boyt. I held teaching jobs along the way (required professional clothing back then), took mokoro camping-in-the-open safaris, went through 3 seasons and every conceivable type of weather. It's easy if you pack the right combinations of clothing and shoes.
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Posts: 11
This is just what I was thinking when my new used 29" Prosecco Rimowa arrived yesterday. It seems gigantic. It is replacing an old 2-wheel 29" Salsa that was lighter and less imposing, but still a problem on trains, especially. That's why I'm trying to pack in my 26" Salsa for my upcoming trip to Germany, since it involves a plane and a train. I'm on here looking at the packing threads in hopes that there is hope. I take PopTarts and library books, but am planning to reduce the number of clothing items drastically. Back to the packing threads!
I take PopTarts and library books, but am planning to reduce the number of clothing items drastically. Back to the packing threads!
Library books!?! Replace the books with an electronic reader and you can carry the whole library for just a few ounces of weight. Many of them will access the library directly and download the books on to the reader.
I also choose Rimowa, but I still bring a small book now and then. The last book I carried recently was the 2012 Zagat survey guide for California restaurants, which I bought on my previous trip there. I went out nightly to a number of restaurants some of which were very good. That one book was the motivator to get out and around and see things.
The electronic reader however is an excellent idea to save weight. One can also download and read books today using a tablet or laptop. However one has to ask the question: Are you going on a trip to read books, or hopefully see the sights and meet people ?
Guidebooks notwithstanding, how many books, films, music can you download and really expect to read, see, or listen to during your trip ? How are your language skills ? Do you also plan on rely on your smart phone to have the correct information to get around in town ?
A driver up in Germany just totalled a car listening to the car directional navigator. Or so he told the Polizei. You may be asking what exactly is my point ?
Cut weight on how many clothes you bring versus doing a little hygenic wash now and then. Silks and rayon help versus thick cotton T-shirts and Levi's in 30 C European summer humidity and heat. Ours over here are thin for that reason and can be guaranteed to shrink. Shorts are nowdays acceptable in many places, but the hot lime clothing, loose flowing shoelaces, and goofy backwards baseball hats never really caught on, alas.
However electronics generally can be expected to die mysteriously at all the wrong moments, so take a little book, map, or guide as a back-up. Better yet buy a few of the local guides or maps.
I find it refreshing to see that you are proud to state the country of your residence. Please feel free and confident to do so while in Europe within reason, and respect of others. The past trend of American pretending to be Canadians is unnecessary, shows a lack of character, and has gotten old. We can tell by your clothes, shoes and mannerisms anyway, just as you can spot most of us in your country. Be yourself and have good time here. Your wise choice of luggage will certainly be appreciated in DE.
