Curios as to how well these sub 3.5lb bags hold up to abuse. I expect my bags to get wet, get literally thrown 50 feet by baggage handlers, get stepped on, get dragged and still look good for traveling up to 30 to 50 trips a year for up to a decade or more. (Well over 500 trips in some instances). My Tumi has done it, I expect my travel pro platinum to do it, my nomatic is doing it currently and I expect my Tortuga to do it and am told the Peak, Aer and Tom Bihns can do it. I suspect since pac safe is slash proof it can do it. I know there are many others I’ve not mentioned.

My Samsonites get destroyed after a couple years.

Exactly zero of of those bags are under 4lbs.

Does anyone have the lighter weight bags that can do it or is this mostly a discussion for people who travel less than a dozen trips a year and can get away w it?

I pretty much only buy ballistic nylon, Canvas/waxed canvas; Ripstop sail cloth, tarpaulin fabric or something like 900D polyester with a heavy DWR coating at the lightest.

Convince me these lighter weight options are as durable.

For reference, many pilots still have to carry luggage works stealth bags just to avoid having to constantly repair or replace their bags.....and that’s considering that they rarely let baggage handlers touch them..

That bag used by pilots.....weighs over 14lbs or 6350gms

When was the last time you saw a pilot be asked to check a bag? I’ve never thought that the idea that flight crews use a bag had much usefulness for the rest of us. I think most, if not all, people looking for very light bags aren’t planning to check them. I have experience with B&R, Red Oxx, Tom Bihn and Sfbags (Waterfield Designs). All seem bulletproof. The B&R Baseline rollers are the heaviest. I’ve been using a couple of them since the 90s and flying about a quarter million miles a year for much of that.

Yep. Exactly.

I am going to have to eventually give Red Oxx a try.

FWIW pilots do have to check bags some times when space runs low or if they are just getting from A to B as passengers etc. Yes i have seen, it, yes pilots talk about it, yes they usually try to avoid it but yest it still happens. Anyway, I think the topic went to an area of focus that wasn't really my issue. I was saying "look, these people baby their bags and they still use heavier bags because travel is so destructive on bags" and everyone went "but they don't check their bags".... (yea that is kinda my point...they don't check them usually and they still use heavy bags because travel is hard on bags...)

Kinda proving my point for me. If a pilot needs a luggage works to keep it in one piece and it never leaves their hands....then imagine what we in all reality need in terms of bag construction when we DO check our luggage? I usually don't have my carry on actually weighed (actually it has never happened to me) so absolute weight is less of a concern when you mostly check in valet/plane side for the smaller commuter flights. The biggest issue is picking it up into the over head bin after you make your connection to that larger plane and carry it on, but i have don't yet have a struggle with lifting my bags into the bin as i usually pack fairly light in terms of what goes IN the bag anyway.

All you need for any trip, 3 weeks or 3 months is 3 merino wool t shirts and about the same number of merino wool socks and under ware. The rest is all just extras. Id use that space for very light weight rain proof gear (some cold weather items like a beanie, scarf or neck gaiter, coat and gloves if it's cold) and a few tech items and or one or two dress up items such as button down shirt or polo. Rick Steves has it right you know. Honestly weight (for me at least) is much less a concern than having a durable bag and understanding how to pack it (and that most people don't need most of the stuff they travel with). Unfotunately for me...i have to throw a suit on top and some extra button down shirts...

You know what? I talked myself into it. I think I am going to order a Stealthworks 22 with suiter just to have one in my stable. LOL.....