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Post by peakbagger on Jan 28, 2017 20:13:30 GMT -8
Hello,
I am lucky enough to get to travel with some frequency for work and personal trips. Whenever I travel I almost always find myself running out of space to pack all of my gear (especially if I'm trying to not check a bag in effort to save money) for work, running clothes, and hiking gear (no matter where I go I try to fit in a hike). I would appreciate suggestions in
Primarily:
Carry-On (Or maybe a Carry-On/Check Combo) that will allow me to maximize space (currently I have a roller bag where the rollers and supports, which consume quite a bit of room).
; and secondarily:
Suggestions for gear brands/types/links that can more easily be packed (i.e. I realized on my last trip that my trekking poles could not fit in my carry-on; My snow shoes can fit in my checked bag, but is difficult to pack and consumes a great amount of space)
Appreciate any help,
Brad (PeakBagger)
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Post by motorcyclist on Jan 28, 2017 20:49:57 GMT -8
I recently purchased a Tortuga backpack and started using it when flying. It's now the only thing I take. Just used it on a week long trip to Ireland and it worked great. Also nice having a comfy backpack with a hip belt if I have to make my way quickly through an airport.
I do use some packing cubes to help organize within the pack.
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texasbb
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Posts: 1,223 
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Post by texasbb on Jan 28, 2017 21:12:29 GMT -8
If you're trying to maximize carry-on capacity, ditch the rollers in favor of a duffel bag. You avoid the loss of volume to roller, board, and handle; and you get soft sides that cram more easily.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jan 29, 2017 5:21:31 GMT -8
Snow shoes are bulky. Scout ahead of time and you may find local places that will rent you a pair for about the same price as a checked bag. Trekking poles can also be rented cheaply. I'm assuming you already stuff socks and underwear inside your shoes. I 2nd the diea of using a duffel instead of a roller bag. You can also cram a slightly larger duffel into one of those size boxes at the gate You can't do that with a hard roller bag.
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jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,060 
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 29, 2017 8:35:42 GMT -8
I fly about 6-8 times a year, combination work and personal, typically loyal to Delta airlines. I have their credit card (American Express) that gives me free checked luggage. (I also get a free companion ticket every year but that just pays for the card's hefty annual fee.) For me, it's really worth making air travel easy and comfortable, and I like not having to think about the cost of checking a bag every trip.
I don't try to maximize my carry-on; no interest in fighting the pressure to gate check a borderline too-big bag, or being limited on the return if I decide to do some shopping. Absolutely no interest in lugging a duffel through the airport without wheels to save a few inches. I also don't risk getting some gear items through security in a carry-on. I've had the experience of carrying on fishing gear one way but not being able to get it past security on the return at the destination airport. If I'm taking gear, I check a bag. I'm going to have things like a knife, needle stakes, hiking poles, which are all potentially problematic at security check-points.
I have a big wheeled duffel when flying with gear, just a big single compartment, durable material. It's long enough to comfortably fit collapsed hiking poles and I know it's going to weigh about 35-40 pounds when packet full, which is just right for checked luggage weight limits. I personally think shipping stuff is a pain -- you have to pack and send things way in advance and then pick it up at the other end, possibly with limited hours, and then have to pack it all up for the return. All without saving money over checking a bag. Unrealistic to do on international trips in any case.
The caveat, of course, is that I almost always rent a car and/or have a hotel base where I can leave luggage. In the rare case when I don't, I have a lightweight duffel that fits my packed backback just for the plane ride. I carry my backpack and just slip it into the duffel when checking it, just to project the backpack from the conveyor belts in the airport. I'll take a small daypack as a carry-on.
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Post by peakbagger on Jan 29, 2017 17:35:08 GMT -8
Jazzmom,
I like the idea of getting a credit card that allows for free checked bags, as most of my flights are with American (I don't usually get to choose who I fly with for work, but American is most common out of my base airport, Charlotte, anyway). I'll research to see if American has such an option. I agree with you that shipping doesn't seem to be a cost/time effective option.
Lamebeaver,
Scouting ahead of time is something I've done in the past, but is an extra step I'd prefer to dodge. However, it seems that it may be the only good alternative in the rare cases I need snow shoes (I've packed them twice and ended up not needing them both times).
All,
I like the idea of a carry-on duffle, and was leaning in this direction already. Is there a particular brand/style you'd suggest? A friend of mine, whom I need to follow-up with, said he purchased a check/carry combo that he can easily connect to carry as one unit after getting off the plane. Any slick options like this you've seen/used?
Thanks again.
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Post by atvtuner on Jan 29, 2017 20:04:02 GMT -8
Duffles. Check and carryon.
Baggage doods and stewies wish everyone used them and treat the bags right.
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Post by dayhiker on Jan 29, 2017 21:37:09 GMT -8
For non backpacking trips I use a soft carry on, and a daypack which I can slide under the seat. The daypack has electronics , the carryon clothes + maybe shoes or sandals. Without the shoes or sandals it is ultra lite. So it is very easy to take places sometimes wheels don't work on some surfaces etc. It has a shoulder strap and two handles and out side pockets which I can put things like liquids for inspection etc. It also has backpack straps, but since I usually have a daypack I don't use them.
I made the mistake of checking this, it was ok, it got some scuff marks but I would never do this again. I usually sit in the back so I don't have to worry about finding overhead space. Alaska allows bigger carry-ons. IT isnt made anymore but you should be able to find something like it. (also since it is soft it can easily be stuffed beyond the carry on limit, but one can also wear ones coat and carry reading material reducing the bulk so it isnt over stuffed, I never had a problem with it, though on a return from Europe they did not like my daypack, but let it slide).
For backpacking I check stuff in a duffel. It would be too hard but not impossible to do that with a carry on like a golite carry on, though I am not sure I could fit clothes for the airplane etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 4:20:34 GMT -8
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Post by leadbelly on Feb 2, 2017 11:22:21 GMT -8
I travel frequently too and occasionally find time to stay longer & do some real hiking. the length of my trips and the kind of hiking I want to do virtually eliminates bringing everything as a carry-on, though. a few observations:
smaller duffels will fit in the overhead. larger ones are a requirement, for me, because they protect the larger backpacks, avoid the hardware getting snagged/torn off. i like duffels that have shoulder straps, makes them much easier to carry. i also like duffels that have a D shaped zipper opening, as opposed to one zipper down the middle, because it's easier to put a large backpack in and easier to access gear. the north face base camp duffels and eddie bauer maximus duffels have good, usable shoulder straps. the smallest size north face duffel is a great small bag that fits in overheads.
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Post by peakbagger on Feb 2, 2017 17:25:50 GMT -8
I have a large north face as a check bag, used for trips primarily for mountaineering or hiking. Guess the small would be a good option for a carry on.
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