largest capacity carry-on?
 

Hi all,

I have a 2.5 week trip coming up with a lot of short connections and varying wardrobe needs between two weddings, a business presentation and multiple climates.

So for a number of reasons I think I'm going to try for a carry-on. But I need to carry a ton with me. And my Delsey is far worse for wear after a decade. Any suggestions for the largest capacity one on the market?

The alternative would be to stick with my Delsey, and upgrade my laptop bag to a backpack that can carry a lot more gear. The Osprey at REI looks interesting if I could pair it with a rollerboard, maybe even my existing one. If you'd like to tell me to take that direction, I'm all ears, too.

What I think I need to cram in:

• Suit
• 3 dress shirts - long sleeve
• tie
• 3 polo shirts - short sleeve
• 3-4 t-shirts
• underwear and socks
• 1 pair casual pants / jeans
• 2 pair shorts
• 1 pair swim trunks
• 1 pair dress shoes
• 1 pair casual shoes
• Sunglasses and hat

And in my other carry-on I'm going to have:

• Two laptops
• Two power cords
• E-reader
• Big/bulky headphones
• Extra chargers for stuff
• Toiletries

I don't know pricing well, but I'd like to stay under/near $100 for any piece of luggage. I don't need business looks - REI & eBags bright canvas works fine for me.

A backpack isn't a bad idea, but you should be aware that some of the larger bags, like the Osprey or the eBags Motherlode, are too large to count as a personal bag. GAs and FAs seem content to let bakpacks on, even when they are really large, but you can't count on that. Having said that, you get a lot more volume without the wheels. Have you thought about getting something like the Osprey or eBags and pairing it with a rolling computer case? That gives you a wheeled base for the soft bag and puts the laptops closer to the ground in the wheeled case.

I'd also recommend that you look at the sticky at the top of this forum, that offers detailed instructions for how to bundle pack. Personally, I'd wear the casual shoes and just pack the dress shoes. I'd also think really hard about whether I needed two computers for this trip or if one might be left behind.

Depending on your status, airlines & airports transiting and equipment (a/c) used for your booking, you need to figure out their rules on carryon - US carriers are flying smaller/regional jets on even medium to longer transcon. routes and enforcing the 1 carryon rules - typically on sizes and not (yet) on weights. MLC will be gate-checked as they won't fit in overhead bins on those CRJ's - underseat space is tight for larger "backpacks" ... We adapt and use different carry-on combo's to fit our itineraries - my backpack collection: STM for netbook/ipad, Eddie Bauer for notebook ... all the way up to eBags TLS Weekender Convertible that once tipped the airline counter's scale at 44.5 lbs loaded with gears (yup :eek: )

Can you travel with 1 laptop plus a tablet/e-reader plus in-ears NR headphone? Perhaps a multi-pocket travel vests to re-distribute & carry some of the gadgets, that "should" not be counted as you are wearing it to board ...

Too often, we've all seen folks stopped by GA and FA at the boarding ramp to be prompted to gate-check their "excess" bag, especially on a full/over-booked flight.

?

While it is always preferable not to check, the early part of your post makes me question what is going on here. A "2.5 week trip coming up with a lot of short connections and varying wardrobe needs between two weddings, a business presentation and multiple climates" might justify (if one ever needs to justify) checking a bag.

What are the "number of reasons" beyond the usual (don't want to wait for bags, don't want to lose bags, don't want to pay a bag fee) that you feel make checking a bag inappropriate here?

Thanks for all the tips!

Rolling computer bag plus duffel might be the best combo. Will read through the stickies and see what pops up. That also might be the cheapest combo, too. I like that :)

I'll check out the eBags TLS. I have the newer Mother Lode 24/25" rolling duffel and love it - can pack a ton into it, although shoes still trip me up. It looks really beat up after two trips to Asia, but still works fine. I also use Osprey packs for backpacking so love those, too.

Two laptops is an unfortunate must. I'm trying to get away from three. For work I need two machines to do my product demo, and we usually take a third as a backup device.

Unfortunately the reason I think I have to go without checking a bag is a connection of just over one hour in Panama City going each way between business and wedding. I need the suit with me for the wedding. On the return if I miss the connection due to bag issues I miss my meeting and I can't have that happen. I'm trying to find flight combinations that work to allow for reasonable success in checking a bag, but not sure that will happen. Otherwise I agree 110% - this is the absolute reason to check a bag: long trip, lots of various stuff, etc. I don't even need the bag for business, I can carry enough things on to survive just with my computers and a change of clothes (or buy at the destination). If I can get connections that work with at least a day or two in between to allow a missed bag to show up (or replacements to be bought) then I'll be checking my way around.

For personal item, check the Red Oxx Extra Small Aviator Bag. What you can pack into that bag boggles the mind. It is personal item sized, same as many pet carriers and fits under the seat. I can pack my 14" laptop (in a sleeve), a pair of shoes, a change of clothes and still can squeeze in my Bose QC15. For travel clothing check the Scottevest clothing, I have cargo pants and a jacket, the ereader, misc chargers and cables just disappear in them.

I bought the extra small avaitor bag and i can fit a bunch of stuff in that bag. I have ditched my laptop breifcase for this bag which I tether to my Hartmann PC4 international spinner with a bag bungee. This is a great set up and I highly recommend it.

Most of your items will take far less space if you pack them into squeezable vacuum bags and they then may have a better chance fitting into a carry on. Oddly for reasons that defeat me items packed this way seem to crease less.

Check out the Red Oxx Beano Duffel line...the PR5 is marketed as the largest bag airlines allow.

I have one and can attest to its tremendous capacity and versatility.

A non-wheeled backpack or similar bag will give the greatest interior volume within a given exterior size limit.

If you seriously can't afford to miss this connection then I would reconsider this routing altogether. If there isn't another flight from Panama City where you're going then any delay will mean missing the meeting.

I don't mind tight connections but when it matters I try to ensure there's another flight I can make if I miss my connection.

That said, why would bag issues make you miss your flight? At worst you'll arrive but your bag won't. You'll presumably still be carrying the computers so the worst case is you show up for your demo in casual clothes or newly purchased business clothes from a local store.

To resurrect an old thread: http://www.magma-bags.com/produkte/r...kpack-2-e.php3 this is the absolute largest capacity carry on.