Need a bag recommendation
 

Hi,

I'm looking for a bag recommendation (the "personal item" that I can carry on). It has to be somewhat stylish (i.e. black), can be used as weekend bag, and can hold an IBM Thinkpad laptop, Ipod, bottled water, wallet, magazine/book and personal toiletries. I'd prefer to not have a backpack but sort of a tote bag.

I had purchased this bag: http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/Product...29|28730|30082

based on style, but I think I need to be smart and return it and get something more functional. I appreciate any suggestions! :)

I, and many others here, are big fans of Briggs and Riley products. Very high quality, very functional. Best guarantee in the field, unconditional lifetime, even covering damage. One that might fit your needs is this expandable business case. I have this one and it is great. It has a zippered expansion that will let you change the size to carry more stuff. Fits under most seats in the unexpanded mode and in the overheads of a lot, but not all regional jets when not expanded. I got one of these this summer and it has been great.

Thanks. Does it have a shoulder strap?

Yes, it is detachable. With a nice padded/elastic shoulder rest. It also has a back flap with a zipper that can be opened and slid over the handle on a rolling bag.

I am lukewarm to B&R. Mine broke on its second trip. 5 repair stations in PA! Great! Oh, wait, they are all in PIT. Yay.

And very durable as well. ^

I have about 8 pieces. I typically travel with 2 of them. About 200,000 miles a year for 5 years plus and I have only had one problem. That was when the TSA decided to cut the zipper pulls off one of them because they somehow decided they were locks. :( Not B&Rs fault.

i had a samsonite spinner loose a wheel and have a pocket torn (due to airline mishandling) on its first trip.

after that, im never buying anything other than B&R, because theyre the only ones to offer an actual warranty.

My Samsonite only lasted two flights! :td:

I like my new eBags branded roller bag... Pilot Plus model. Not a very fancy nameplate, but tough nonetheless. This, after over 600,000 miles on my old Travelpro 21" bag.

Look at www.ebags.com under 'Frequent Flyer' items. Not as expensive as a B&R bag, but almost as good a value. The aircrews seem to like them.

After 5 years my samsonite is hand luggage trolley is damaged. Every year an airline have to paid for the damage over the whole year, but now I think, I need a new one. I wasn't disappointed having a Samsonite.

I've had bad experiences with bags with 4 wheels that "stick out". Samsonsite and Antler. They are so vulnerable... Never again. Would rather have an unknown brand with 2 than a big name with 4. (Retractable wheels would be great).

Levenger has some slightly smaller bags that still seem large enough for the items you mentioned, in its Pisa line. Some are on sale. www.levenger.com.