RPSinha

Traveller <[email protected]> wrote:

    : Check out the latest and greatest Eagle Creek travel bag the - Explorer
    : Trek LT. It's only 40Liters, about the same size as the Red Oxx Air
    : Boss and is a travel backpack. Eagle
    : Creek makes travel backpacks that are phenomenal. Tough nylon, heavy
    : duty zippers and excellent design. I've travelled all over the world
    : with mine and it has held up great. It has travelled on the top of
    : buses, cargo hold of ships, on my back, strapped to a mules back etc
    : etc.

Is it just a back pack or can ou hide that feature and use it as
shoulder bag too? Also, approx cost if you know it? Thanks.

    : As for colors, I like a dark green.
    : Paul

Bob Fusillo

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > RPSinha wrote:
    >> [Reposted with enlarged group list. Please leave rec.travel.air intact,
    >> I can only access replies there.]
    >> I am going to experiment with doing away with checked luggage and try
    >> traveling with just one carry-on. This will be for a few weeks, a few
    >> countries, everything from planes and trains to back country buses.
    >> So this bag needs to be pretty versatile: strong, light, easy to
    >> organize etc, and resistant to dust and water. I found two intriguing
    >> suggestions in http://www.onebag.com/bags.html : the Red Oxx Air Boss
    >> and Tough traveler Tri-Zip. Both are about $225.
    >>>> Om Kenn Rosenkranz (foertidspensionist)

After fifty five years of shuttling the Atlantic over 70 tmes, and general
hassling about the continent, I would not want any bag that is not strong
and comfortable enough to sit on during lulls, delays, and queues.
The argument about wheels or not is strange. I have a wheeled bag that I
can pick up by its handle when I need to. Kids, tho, seem to embarrassed by
anything other than the socially de riguer backpack.
rjf

B Vaughan

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:30:36 GMT, RPSinha <[email protected]> wrote:

    >B Vaughan <[email protected]> wrote:
    >: ...
    >I don't like backpacks for the reasons you mention, but I also don't
    >like wheels for the reasons others mentioned. :) What will work for me
    >most is a shoulder bag, with a small daypack that I can carry around
    >within a city.
    >I am open to the idea of my shoulder bag having extra straps so it
    >could function as a backpack when that would be convenient. However, I
    >have never had such a bag and do wonder if this will limit my choices
    >to models that might not be very good in either role, as a shoulder
    >bag or backpack.

I had a medium-sized backpack (actually called a travel pack) whose
backpack straps could be tucked away behind a zippered panel. Then it
could be carried like a suitcase, or by attaching a shoulder strap.

This pack didn't have any frame, neither internal nor external, but
being smallish, it didn't really need any. It was light and
comfortable.

I don't think they make it any more. I got it from campmor, which has
good inexpensive hiking and camping gear. (www.campmor.com). They only
ship within the US though.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

[email protected]

Dan Stephenson wrote:
    > I've found that if you pack light you can make do with a daypack.

I could probably "make do" with nothing. I took survival
training and actually had to do that for a weekend. Well,
I got to carry a knife and a compass. Not exactly my idea
of a vacation though. Besides, they wouldn't let me take
the knife on a plane these days.

    > I bought a big Gallileo backpack some years back, and now only use the
    > daypack that came with it. Note that this isn't a booksack like kids
    > use at school. Overall if possible I recommend visiting a store,
    > preferrably with about the amount of stuff you're going to bring with
    > you. Note that packing light might mean two changes of clothes, one to
    > wear, one to be drying out.

Exactly. I guess I'm just one that doesn't look upon my vacations
as an opportunity to practice minimalism. Even on business travel
I've learned over the years to pack a creature comfort or two. Doing
laundry DEFINITELY isn't something I look forward to doing on vacation.
To some extent, it's one of the things I look forward to getting away
from.

Jfmezei

"[email protected]" wrote:
    > as an opportunity to practice minimalism. Even on business travel
    > I've learned over the years to pack a creature comfort or two. Doing
    > laundry DEFINITELY isn't something I look forward to doing on vacation.


Let me get this straight, you pack your wife in the suitcase so she can
do your laundry (and other things) wherever you are ?

    :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

[email protected]

jfmezei wrote:
    > "[email protected]" wrote:
    > > as an opportunity to practice minimalism. Even on business travel
    > > I've learned over the years to pack a creature comfort or two. Doing
    > > laundry DEFINITELY isn't something I look forward to doing on vacation.
    > Let me get this straight, you pack your wife in the suitcase so she can
    > do your laundry (and other things) wherever you are ?
    > :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)


Ah, heck no. That'd be cruel. I let her carry the bags.

Erilar

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] wrote:

    > Following up to Larry in Berkeley
    >
    > >Many airlines are now enforcing the old rule that a carryon may not
    > >weigh more than seven kilos.
    >
    > (UK) New Department for Transport guidelines on cabin baggage
    > come into effect this month. Passengers are now only allowed to
    > take hand baggage on board that is a maximum length of 56cm
    > (22in), width of 45cm (18in) and depth of 25cm (10in).
    > We recommend that you check your baggage dimensions before
    > starting your journey to save delays.

I just went over and measured my Eagle Creek bag. It fits, as long as I
don't pack it fuller than I can strap down to 10. I weigh it to make
sure I don't have too much in it to begin with, and some stuff gets
discarded.

--
Mary Loomer Oliver (aka Erilar),
philologist, biblioholic medievalist

http://www.airstreamcomm.net/~erilarlo

Donald Newcomb

"RPSinha" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:030820060955513592%[email protected]...
    > Another suggestion was Rick Steves Convertable carry-on bag; $99.
    > <http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/ca...ction=product&
    > theParentId=8&id=139>
    > Do you have any expereince with these? Or, do you have another
    > recommendation?

I recently purchased the Rick Steves Convertible Carryon bag as a lower cost
alternative to some of the other maximum carryon bags (e.g. Red Oxx, Tough
Traveler, Patagonia). I have not yet traveled any great distance with it,
only a one-week road trip. Here are some random observations:
Pluses:

1.. Converts to backpack. Has a hip belt, which the current Patagonia MLC
lacks.
2.. Fairly light weight.
3.. Small laundry bag was included.

Minuses:
1.. Does not come with shoulder strap. Must purchase separately.
2.. Lacks any support to hold a rectangular shape. Even using packing
cubes it becomes a fairly shapeless blob. I'm looking for some sort of
light-weight stiffeners to add to the load.
3.. I dislike the "portrait" format and would prefer the bag open in the
"landscape" mode.
4.. I would like more internal organization. The Tough Traveler Tri-Zip
looks better organized to me.
5.. The compression strap ends dangle free with no place to be tucked
away.

    > Finally, do you find any particular *colors* either very good or not so
    > good for rugged travel?

Some shade of brown? Almost all my luggage is black. The only advantage of
black is that you can match luggage from different manufacturers without any
problem. With other colors it would be impossible to get a match. I'd
imagine that any light color would be not so good since it would show dirt
and wear.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Miguel Cruz

"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
    > I could probably "make do" with nothing. I took survival
    > training and actually had to do that for a weekend. Well,
    > I got to carry a knife and a compass. Not exactly my idea
    > of a vacation though. Besides, they wouldn't let me take
    > the knife on a plane these days.

I once met a Japanese guy walking across the border from Nepal to India
who was traveling with a toothbrush in a plastic bag. That was all his
luggage.

miguel
--
Photos from 40 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Malaysia; Thailand; Singapore; Spain; Morocco
Airports of the world: http://airport.u.nu

B Vaughan

On Fri, 4 Aug 2006 20:23:26 -0500, "Donald Newcomb"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Some shade of brown? Almost all my luggage is black. The only advantage of
    >black is that you can match luggage from different manufacturers without any
    >problem. With other colors it would be impossible to get a match. I'd
    >imagine that any light color would be not so good since it would show dirt
    >and wear.

Whether my luggage matches is not very high on my list of priorities.
--
Barbara Vaughan

My email address is my first initial followed by my last name at libero dot it.

Chris Blunt

On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:14:09 GMT, "Alohacyberian"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >"Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected] ups.com...
    >> Dave Frightens Me wrote:
    >>> >I sometimes have to carry my luggage fairly long distances. For example,
    >>> >last year I had to carry two bags (one large checked backpack, worn in
    >>> >the back, one small carry-on backpack, worn in the front) from Istanbul
    >>> >airport to the center of town because my ATM card had expired just
    >>> >before the flight (who ever checks the expiration date on their ATM
    >>> >card?), I didn't have any other form of money on me, and the only bank
    >>> >that was prepared to sort me out was in the middle of town. Leaving
    >>> >aside the stupidity of the situation I'd gotten myself into, it was
    >>> >really no problem to do this - I just found some high ground, located
    >>> >the coastline, followed it, and a few hours later I was in Sultanahmet.
    >>> Oh shit, that's a long way!
    >>> Are you seriously telling us you only had one card? I have 3, plus a
    >>> bit of cash at any time.
    >> ?????
    >> What bank is issuing ATM cards that expire? My ATM never does. And no
    >> need to carry more than one. I also carry a few Credit Cards that you
    >> can always use to withdraw cash.
    >Some banks now put expiration dates on their ATM cards because they get too
    >battered up over time. And it's best to use an ATM card instead of a credit
    >card to get cash (unless of course you can't use the ATM) because credit
    >cards charge a fee for cash and nowadays some of them charge interest from
    >the day you get the cash instead of giving you a grace period. KM

My credit card also has my bank account details encoded into the
magnetic stripe. That means I just need to carry one card, and can use
it either as a credit card or to withdraw cash from my bank account at
ATM machines.

Chris

TOliver

"Donald Newcomb" <[email protected]> wrote ...
    > Some shade of brown? Almost all my luggage is black. The only advantage of
    > black is that you can match luggage from different manufacturers without
    > any
    > problem. With other colors it would be impossible to get a match. I'd
    > imagine that any light color would be not so good since it would show dirt
    > and wear.

Black is the color of my true love's heart....

For years I had a roll of "Day-Glow" orange duct tape which yielded small
pieces for each side of a series of family travel bag(s) for a couple of
decades. Finally, the roll ran out, but I adjourned to a nearby auto supply
store for a package with 4 small narrow rolls of brightly colored plastic
"electrician's" tape. Pick a color combo and apply a few pieces in visible
locations (especially around the "pull-out" handle of a wheeled bag). A
black bag will literally jump off the carrousel into your hands (and the
visible ID may cause a purloin artiste to stay his hand, not knowing whether
I'm looking on, ready to impale him on my swordless cane.

I'll echo the comment on Travel Pro wheels. I carry a shoulder strap rigged
for mine, the "sling swivels" firmly sewed by a cobbler to the bag's long
upper edge, but recollect only a couple of occasions, one in tiny Cittadella
d'Agliano, where the cobbles defeated the wheels.

At some conference I attended, the "giveaway" party favor was a black nylon
soft sided briefcase, the sort of which convention goers receive a steady
flow. This one was different and came with a compartment on the flat side
with semi-padded back straps, actually positioned to provide comfort with
modest weight loading. Even unloaded and stuffed in a front compartment of
one of my two sizes of Travel Pros (gifts of my road warrior daughter), it
goes most everywhere with me, makes a serviceable day pack or shoulder bag
or informal brief case as circumstances require. A big flap with two
audible-click buckles provides at least an inference of security, but
obviously no "back pack" is safe on the bus in Marseilles, etc..

Knock on wood and bless the fickle finger of Fate, but in a half century of
"traveling" since I left high school, I don't recall ever having been
pick-pocketed, to have lost "stuff" from a hotel room, or to have been the
victim of theft, from baggage or otherwise, a better record than experienced
at the hand of local burglars, car & residential. On one occasion, Denver
by Braniff's second incarnation, a checked bag was delayed for two days (but
I don't count late bags returning home from a trip, just as long as they
arrive before the dirty clothes in them become too strong). Some folks are
simply "Marks", giving off a pheromone which attracts scavengers and snake
oil salesmen.

TMO

Sarah Banick

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
    > Dan Stephenson wrote:
    >> I've found that if you pack light you can make do with a daypack.
    > I could probably "make do" with nothing. I took survival
    > training and actually had to do that for a weekend. Well,
    > I got to carry a knife and a compass. Not exactly my idea
    > of a vacation though. Besides, they wouldn't let me take
    > the knife on a plane these days.


A knife and a compass? Jeez, just give me a credit card and I don't need
anything else....

Donald Newcomb

"TOliver" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > A
    > black bag will literally jump off the carrousel into your hands (and the
    > visible ID may cause a purloin artiste to stay his hand, not knowing
whether
    > I'm looking on, ready to impale him on my swordless cane.

That's an interesting thought. I've never had any trouble picking out my
particular black back on the carrousel. I've never even seen another of the
same model TravelPro bag on the carrousel. But how could one accuse a thief
who "accidentally" picks up your black bag from among the hundreds going
'round and 'round. After all, they all look the same, right?

    > Knock on wood and bless the fickle finger of Fate, but in a half century
of
    > "traveling" since I left high school, I don't recall ever having been
    > pick-pocketed, to have lost "stuff" from a hotel room, or to have been the
    > victim of theft, from baggage or otherwise, a better record than
experienced
    > at the hand of local burglars, car & residential.

My problem is forgetting and misplacing stuff. If you call me "absent
minded" I must own to it. This is why I generally travel with exactly the
same set of stuff or one of a couple of variations. With a strict routine I
tend to have a feeling for when something is missing, even when I've been 24
hours without much sleep. One time I spent about 5 minutes at the check-in
counter furiously looking for my lost tickets, only to eventually find them
in the spot I had looked at least twice before. They were in my black
leather ticket organizer in the black pocket of my black computer case.
Since then I found and purchased a shocking day-glow orange ticket organizer
which always goes in the same pocket of the same boarding bag. My luggage
not only has to carry my stuff to the other end of the trip; it also has to
help me actually get to the other end.

--
Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

Carole Allen

On 3 Aug 2006 22:25:26 -0700, "Tchiowa" <[email protected]> wrote:
What bank is issuing ATM cards that expire? My ATM never does. And no
    >need to carry more than one. I also carry a few Credit Cards that you
    >can always use to withdraw cash.

King County Credit Union (Seattle area) - mine expires 7/08.