Originally Posted by
IsleOfMan
I've seen the same thing with my Crew 9 20", but not to the degree you describe... if I'm packed extremely full the handle will hang at the low position and require some extra force to fully extend, but won't jam completely. I haven't yet had to remove the contents or re-arrange to get it to extend.
My bigger complaint with my Crew 9 20" is how prone it is to tipping forward unless you are VERY careful to purposefully pack heavy items at the bottom/rear and don't use the front laptop compartment (a feature I sought out specifically but, in the end, don't use as much as I thought I would). I'm contemplating trying to install slightly smaller skate wheels to put it a bit more in stable equilibrium, but haven't done so yet.
That's funny - I also originally thought I'd be using the front laptop compartment and then eliminating a lot of weight in my carry-on briefcase; but I almost never use it, unless its for a magazine or socks or something. If you look at the old Crew5, that thing was at about a 75 degree angle at rest. It doesn't look like it'd ever pitch forward. The slightest breeze will knock a Crew 9 onto its face.
As much as I love the bag, I must admit, I've been on the lookout for something that won't fall forward so easily. But it's still the best bag I've ever used. So I've stuck with it thus far. I started this thread almost 2 years ago and the bag still looks and feels brand new. That's gotta count for something.