Just noticed this thread, should've posted my response from my other thread here
The sales folks also brought out a Victorinox architect 2.0 parliament rolling bag. It was real nice as well, very similar to B&R but they have pockets on the outside next to the handle where B&R just has air as bagobsessive mentions. It also had a softer bag bottom (the BR was very firm), and that was nice because it has some "give" for the times you might need to squish it a bit to fit under a tight seat. The external pockets next to the handle are great for stowing things like cables and chargers, and is a big advantage to engineers such as me who might need to bring a lot of cables with them when they fly. The only downside to that bag was it was ~$480, so for the price (about 50% less), I still like the BR212. If the price differential were <$75, I'd get the Victorinox. Again, it may not fit under an airline seat though, it was wide (though with the soft bottom, it will squish a bit).
Good observations. The Vict Trevi 2.0 also allows you ready access to the space between the handles and I have a long thin 'packing cube' type bag which I use to put cables, chargers etc, in so that I don't have to put them in individually and so they can be pulled out all together. I usually keep that bag plus the contents of the two side bags just for travel so I am not pulling stuff in and out all the time.
Sounds like the $480 price is for the Rolling Parliament (Edit - Oh, I see now you said that - sorry) rather than Rolling Trevi which is about $100 less - around $350. I considered the Parliament but apart from the extra $100 which is basically for a separate computer insert which I would not use since I have a very thin one I like much better than any 'sleeves' or similar I have seen anyway - so it did not have anything I wanted and is heavier than the Trevi. The Parliament did have something I did NOT want however: while the web-based specifications do not make it exactly clear, checking revealed that the feature they advertise for the Parliament about the "Retrax Handle" means that not only do the wheels retract when you push the handle in, it also means that the wheels HAVE to be in when the handle is in - you can't have the handle in and the wheels out. I don't know about anyone else, but there are plenty of situations where I want the handle in and the wheels out - such as sliding/rolling the bag into the overhead bins: if you can 'roll' the bag on its wheels back/down some of those deep overheads it is much easier than pushing - and scratches your bag less.
I also agree with you about the 'squashability'/compressibilty of the Victorinox compared with the more rigid frame of the B&R. This also makes for easier/more comfortable shoulder carrying in those rare cases I need to use the shoulder strap.
Last edited by bagobsessive; Sep 8, 09 at 7:23 pm.
Reason: typo, review
Very keen observation on those wheels. Boy, $450 is a lot of dough for such a bag. I think the McKlein bags are worth looking at. I also think that the Mvision I saw at Brookstone was really, really nice. I mostly think I should stop buying luggage.
Very keen observation on those wheels. Boy, $450 is a lot of dough for such a bag. I think the McKlein bags are worth looking at. I also think that the Mvision I saw at Brookstone was really, really nice. I mostly think I should stop buying luggage.
Till
So you would agree with me Till, that the ability to have the handle in and wheels out would be a combination that is at least sometimes desireable in a bag?
I agree with you about buying luggage - I have something of a flashlight fetish too but at least they don't take up much space!
Last edited by bagobsessive; Sep 8, 09 at 10:10 pm.
Reason: clarify sense
So you would agree with me Till, that the ability to have the handle in and wheels out would be a combination that is at least sometimes desireable in a bag?
I agree with you about buying luggage - I have something of a flashlight fetish too but at least they don't take up much space!
Yes, definitely agree, although scratching the bag wouldn't be much of an issue I think. It's ballistic nylon not high gloss alu like a Halliburton Zero or Titanium luggage (brand not material).
Flashlights, he? Very bad fetish. I've looked into that. Like flashlights, too. What do you think about the Fenix LD20 or 50 that Dyment recommends. That stuff sure can get expensive. I always make fun of women and how they are being ripped off for shoes and bags. But we men certainly have our own addictions where we are made to spend a ton of money on stuff we don't really need.
Programs: AA PLT, F9 Summit, Avis First, Marriot PLT
Posts: 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by bagobsessive
Sounds like the $480 price is for the Rolling Parliament (Edit - Oh, I see now you said that - sorry) rather than Rolling Trevi which is about $100 less - around $350. I considered the Parliament but apart from the extra $100 which is basically for a separate computer insert which I would not use since I have a very thin one I like much better than any 'sleeves' or similar I have seen anyway - so it did not have anything I wanted and is heavier than the Trevi. The Parliament did have something I did NOT want however: while the web-based specifications do not make it exactly clear, checking revealed that the feature they advertise for the Parliament about the "Retrax Handle" means that not only do the wheels retract when you push the handle in, it also means that the wheels HAVE to be in when the handle is in - you can't have the handle in and the wheels out. I don't know about anyone else, but there are plenty of situations where I want the handle in and the wheels out - such as sliding/rolling the bag into the overhead bins: if you can 'roll' the bag on its wheels back/down some of those deep overheads it is much easier than pushing - and scratches your bag less.
I looked at the Trevi briefly, but it was actually thicker than the Parliament, so I passed it over. As for overheads: the wheels wouldn't help folks that put their bags up there length-wise or upright. That's what I will probably do to save space up there, so that wouldn't matter to me. One thing that may help with the retractable wheels is in the thickness: the wheels don't extend out the rear of the bag so laying it down, it's a tad lower which may help with fitting under a seat. I didn't really pay all that much attention to that aspect when I was at the store. Honestly, to me, the wheel retraction thing is more of a "huh, didn't know that was there" kind of feature: you could take it or leave it and it wouldn't matter to me. I just noticed that the trevi was thicker (by probably an inch or so) and passed it over. Of course, if you will always put the bag in the overhead, then all of this is irrelevant. But for me, I wanted to be able to put my luggage under the seat. As I said, both of them (the trevi and the parliament as well as the BR 212) looked like they may be too thick, but the Parliament was thinner of the 3. Who knows, they all may be able to fit, but looking at them in store had me worried, and they all violated the 36" (linear) personal-item rule of the airlines I fly
One other aspect of the BR: they have this "clamping" system that clamps on to the luggage handle (when stacking bags) where the Vict. has a sleeve that slips over the handle. That sleeve was tight on the piece I was looking at, it was a bit of work getting the bag stacked and unstacked from the luggage. Not terrible, but it was a little extra effort more than my current laptop case takes. Could be an issue if you wait until you get to the end of the jetway to unstack everything and are in a hurry. That may be a turn-off for some, though I imagine the cloth will probably stretch a bit. The BR was definitely faster to stack. On the flip-side, the BR clamp may not work on all luggage either, for example, if the handle frame was very wide, so folks should check that as well before buying (either bag). I bought a BR 22" baseline carry-on at the same time and was using that for the testing of the stacking functionality. The vict. might slide over other luggage handles faster/easier. I probably way over-analyzed these bags though. It was funny, the sales lady guessed I was an engineer about half-way through the session when I had all the pieces lined up side-by-side with the tape measure
They were all nice bags though, that's for sure. Wish I had the cash to buy 'em all and try 'em out.
Yes, definitely agree, although scratching the bag wouldn't be much of an issue I think. It's ballistic nylon not high gloss alu like a Halliburton Zero or Titanium luggage (brand not material).
Flashlights, he? Very bad fetish. I've looked into that. Like flashlights, too. What do you think about the Fenix LD20 or 50 that Dyment recommends. That stuff sure can get expensive. I always make fun of women and how they are being ripped off for shoes and bags. But we men certainly have our own addictions where we are made to spend a ton of money on stuff we don't really need.
Till
I was thinking of scratching the plastic/whatever housing that covers the (retracted) wheels as you push the bag back, not so much the ballistic nylon but I agree that scratching is secondary to HAVING to push at all, rather than roll. And there are situations where I would want handle in (or partly in) and wheels out other than for placing in (deep) overhead bins although that is likely to be among the most ergonomically challenging.
On Fenix, mostly all nice lights and the LD20 is great from the looks. I don't have one of them but I do have several other Fenix's. For travelling at least, I prefer single AA lights and my current favourite (as well as my EDC) is the Nitecore Defender Infinity. With the right light you can get plenty bright on a single AA. Similarly, the latest and greatest AAA light the Liteflux LF2XT is VERY bright on a single AAA and I used that just 'in cabin' last time (last week) I did a long trip.
Last edited by bagobsessive; Sep 8, 09 at 10:35 pm.
Reason: clarity
One other aspect of the BR: they have this "clamping" system that clamps on to the luggage handle (when stacking bags) where the Vict. has a sleeve that slips over the handle. That sleeve was tight on the piece I was looking at, it was a bit of work getting the bag stacked and unstacked from the luggage. Not terrible, but it was a little extra effort more than my current laptop case takes. Could be an issue if you wait until you get to the end of the jetway to unstack everything and are in a hurry. That may be a turn-off for some, though I imagine the cloth will probably stretch a bit. The BR was definitely faster to stack. On the flip-side, the BR clamp may not work on all luggage either, for example, if the handle frame was very wide, so folks should check that as well before buying (either bag). I bought a BR 22" baseline carry-on at the same time and was using that for the testing of the stacking functionality. The vict. might slide over other luggage handles faster/easier. I probably way over-analyzed these bags though. It was funny, the sales lady guessed I was an engineer about half-way through the session when I had all the pieces lined up side-by-side with the tape measure
They were all nice bags though, that's for sure. Wish I had the cash to buy 'em all and try 'em out.
I know what you mean about that back flap (pocket) and was going to mention its usefulness.
I never stack my bags so the fact that the Vict has that back pocket AND that it has a bottom zipper (to undo if you do want to stack), means that you have another outside pocket in which to slip things - such as newspapers. The B&R clamping system on the other hand is simply useless clutter if not actually being used for clamping.
Last edited by bagobsessive; Sep 9, 09 at 1:31 am.
Reason: clarity
