Need a large, capable roller. Suggestions?
 

Hey everyone,

I'm a graduate student traveling abroad for approximately one year to do some foreign language study. I currently own an Air Boss and some backpacks and messenger bags, but nothing that could really haul the amount of clothes and materials I need to bring with me. In particular, I need to pack for winter and summer in Tokyo, as well as at least one suit. This also means a pair of casual shoes, a pair of formal shoes to go with the suit, and likely a pair of jogging shoes (since purchasing these items in my size in Japan is nearly impossible.)

To that end I need something large and hefty, but also a manageable size. Essentially, some rolling luggage to complement the Air Boss.

I know eBags is running a pretty good promotion right now (thanks to the View from the Wing blog) and I've had a chance to see the 25" Motherlode duffel up close. I was impressed.

Something else to consider - I'm still a graduate student, not a well compensated business person, so I likely can't afford Tumi or B&R, even if I recognize their quality. So I'm looking for a capable, mid-level duffel. Or maybe I'm looking for the up-right, rectangular rolling luggage to accomodate the suits? Also, the sizes for luggage in this size bracket break down into 25" and 30", usually. Is 30" completely unwieldy? Can I fit what I need in a 25" duffel?

Any advice is, as always, very welcome.

Analyze this. You only need to haul stuff from A to B and back ONCE, right? Anything will do. Go to the next TJMaxx or Dillard's or Ross and buy whatever suits your fancy. Make sure it's light! You want to max out the weight restriction. With normal clothing the optimum weight/volume ratio is normally attained with a 25" suitcase. That means normally bulky clothing and gear will fill a 25" suitcase and the entire thing should weight around 50lbs. If you get a bigger suitcase and fill it up you will be OVER those 50lbs.

Duffel bags usually weigh less for the same volume. Compare figures on the net.

Read the packing sticky! Especially you should read the posts on different luggage types and how to pack them. Most particularly you should learn how to pack a suit (in the sticky). It takes ten minutes and after that you will be part of that elite group of people who can pack a suit without wrinkles in almost any bag.

Besides that, you won't have to wear the suit immediately. Will you? So it doesn't matter if it gets wrinkled on the way over. Just steam it and it will be good to go. You'll have to freshly iron the shirt anyway to go with the suit. Might as well direct a little steam towards the suit which you put on a hanger on a door. You'll be amazed how the wrinkles come out with just steam, no touching.

So bulky and dispensable items go in the big suitcase and get checked (this includes your shoes). You can always have shoes sent from home if ever they do lose your big bag. Fragile, heavy and indispensable items go in your Airboss and in the personal item. This includes possibly the suit, the laptop, your documents and whatever keepsakes you have.

Till

As usual, can't add much to Till's advice. Just check out sierratradingpost.com if you're on a budget. Coming from Rio last November, i saw a lot of brightly patterned largel squarish lightweight plasticl looking bags. Had to be cheap, and were cavernous.