(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best luggage

I carry a pretty large bag as well. I carry at least two bottles of water in my purse when I go away from home at all times and I carry a cloth insulated cooler w/2 of the blue freezer frozen cubes and 4 or 5 bottle waters and snacks w/me at all times as well (cumbersome *sigh*).

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I've even considered using one of the "purse on wheels" something like this maybe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEWTW06/ref=twister_B073K42ZJ1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 from Amazon but don't know if I'm ready to take that step and haven't thoroughly thought it through as to where it would actually prove a better situation or not (all things considered) but w/ the purse I carry being so heavy w/all the load of water it wears on my shoulder so that I don't need to add anymore bulk to it b/c I need the room for the water.

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It would be nice though if I could figure a way to be able to carry the instant ice packs for when I'm away from home and get in a pickle and have to find somewhere to lay down b/c can't make it to the vehicle in time (has happened a couple of times when away from home).

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I carry a small cloth w/me to wet down and use so it's not like I feel that I HAVE TO have the instant ice pack but at same time I wouldn't be spilling water on floor w/the instant ice pack and the instant ice pack would be cooler..... I noticed where the instant ice packs state to cover it w/a cloth instead of putting it on skin directly.....

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Having some type of SMALL hard plastic cover may be doable tho. I couldn't figure any other way(s) of having it on my person. I suppose I will have to order 1 or 2 and just try it out.....see if I can maybe find something new or to repurpose that's the exact size and shape as the instant ice pack.

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EDITED: to add: something like this maybe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEWTW06/ref=twister_B073K42ZJ1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 from

I own this Osprey Ozone Convertible.

It's rolling luggage with a detachable daypack and the main bag can convert into a backpack. Ask me anything.

Pros:

• The wheels are great. I doubt you'll ever need it in backpack mode because you can take these giant high ground clearance wheels on dirt roads, cobblestone, almost anything.
  
• It's lighter than you'd think.
  
• Organization is great, the laptop sleeve is ideal, and the lining is a friendly bright green on mine. It's easy to organize and see what's in the bag.
  
• The top zipper compartment on the main bag is great for a 3-1-1 bag; easily accessible.
  
• The harness on the main bag and shoulder straps on the daybag are both great, but that's what we expect from Osprey.
  
  Cons:
  
  
• There are two ways to attach the daybag and they're both subpar.
  
  • You can zip it onto the back of the main bag, which is probably what you want in backpack mode (when you carry them both as one backpack). However, in this mode, when you set the bag down, it might fall over from the uneven weight. The day bag zipped to the back of the main bag is even more weird weight-wise if you have a heavier laptop.
    
  • You can also slide the daybag over the telescoping handle, which works better for wheeled mode. But it still slides around more than you'd want and becomes hard to manage.
    
• It's not water resistant.
  
• The backpack harness plus the wheels plus the telescoping handle eat up a lot of space. The main bag is supposed to be 45L, but I find it packs about as much as my 30L Tom Bihn duffel.

UPDATE! I ended up ordering this bag and have been using it for a week.. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01NBAQ0X2/ref=twister_B00P289UIS?_encoding=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

It is awesome. It is definitely BIG but I'd rather have too much space than not enough. It also fits my planner, my tablet and my wallet which eliminates my need to carry a purse day-to-day. It's only been a week but for the price I think this bag is fantastic. Thank you for all of your help and advice! It was a lot of the Amazon/Adidas bag recommendations that led me to this one since it was similar but bigger!

I’m pretty sure all airlines let you have a bag that’s 9x14x22. Standard overhead bin size. Just look on Amazon for any bag that says “designed to fit in most overhead bins.” The exception to that “most” is your smaller regional jet overhead bins. Your American Eagles, your Delta connections, etc, where they’ll gate check your bag anyway and give it back to you on the jetway after your flight.

I have an older model of this bag and I love it. I fly maybe once every month or two.
Samsonite Silhouette Xv Softside Spinner 21, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQG7G0J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_970QAb7JD4PFM

However if you do not see yourself flying a lot in the future, don’t break the bank. Hope this helps!

What do you do for a last-minute, good present for a friend?

I had an Amazon gift card, so I looked up some cute notebooks and cards, socks and two, tote, umbrella and two, books, and board games. I went with the notebook and cards, for her, but it might be fun to brainstorm good possibilities. Summer is the season of birthdays around here.

Contact the airlines.

Some airlines actually have a closet in first class that they will use to store your dress while you're traveling. You don't have to be in first class to use the closet (y'know, getting married tends to make people be nicer to you than they might normally be) but not all airlines offer this service so it would be best to call around and find out what airlines will offer this and book with them if at all possible.

If you have already booked, call your airlines and ask if they have this.

Keep in mind that if you bring the dress into the cabin it will count as a carry-on, though. With most airlines (the non-budget ones) you get one carry-on and one "personal item." Assuming that you and your fiancé are traveling together, that means you'll only get one actual carry-on if the other one is your dress.

I would travel with it in a garment bag to protect it. Maybe something like this since it has room for a full skirt.

If you don't have access to a closet, you'll just have to treat it like a regular carry-on item... that is, putting it in the storage above the seat or under your seat. You MAY get some sort of exception for putting it in your lap because it's technically an item of clothing, but probably not if there's a chance that it would impede exit during an emergency (and if it's a giant dress it probably would).

It's over $15, but I certainly wouldn't mind a gift card :) LOOKATIT. IT'S A CHICKEN BAG.

pretty California & thank you for the contest! :D

I fly a good amount for work, and combined with 'fun' travel, that ends up being 1-2x a month.

I almost never check a bag, unless I'm staying somewhere for more than 2 weeks or schlepping stuff for another purpose (i.e. visiting my mom who can't get 2937403 things she wants where she lives).

My personal item: Marc Jacobs backpack
Not the most glamorous, but I'm weak and I feel my laptop is hard on my shoulder with a tote style bag, so backpack it is. I appreciate that this has 2 exterior pockets, one being large enough for my passport case, boarding passes, etc that I want easy access to. The nylon material wipes clean and isn't showing any wear after ~20 trips and being used a couple times a week to bring my laptop/lunch to and from work.

My carry-on suitcase: Bric's Bellagio
If I had purchased this for $550, I would be mad, but I got it at an outlet and it was around $200 which lessens the sting a little bit. I will admit, my vanity got to me here and I bought it mostly because I love the retro-ish look. It's a perfectly decent suitcase for the casual traveler (3-5x a year), fits international overhead compartments, and has handy dividers inside, but I've beaten this thing to shit. I drag it over a lot of uneven pavement in questionable weather, throw it around a lot, and it's just looking a bit sad and worn.

My check-in suitecase: Muji 62L Suitcase
Love this clean-lined and light suitcase. I have zero muscles, so not having an extra heavy suitcase plus all the shit I'm hauling is important to me. I don't check in bags often, and this has gotten way less use than my Bric's but it's holding up nicely so far. And at this price point, I don't feel too precious about it being banged about in transit.

Other misc stuff:

• Laundry mesh bags (I think I have these, but really any will do)
  I do not use travel cubes because I don't feel that they are flexible enough in terms of size, they take up more space when not in use,and I also don't like accumulating more 'stuff' that is single purpose. The best part about laundry mesh bags is that I have less sorting to do after my trip and the delicate stuff can go right into the washer.
  
• Muji travel containers
  I die for these. I used to be so cheap and store all my face stuff in contact lens cases or repurposed empty sample containers and then have to open everything to find something if I forgot what held what. These have changed my travel life, and it makes me so happy to have neatly organized products that all 'go' together and are reliably water tight.
  
• Toiletry bag/Liquids bag
  Still super cheap here, I use ziplock baggies. Some European airports I go through force you to take your liquids out of your kit and put them in a ziplock they give you anyway, and I'd rather not deal with that. I keep thinking that in order to be a serious, adult, 'business' traveler I should have a real dopp kit/toiletry bag but......here I am.
  
• Sheet masks
  I keep 1-2 always in my suitcase, just so I know I have a pick me up if I need one. I don't always use them, and my current ones have been in there for maybe 4 months but it's nice to know they're there if I'm having a particularly bad or just dehydrated day.
  
• Also, I always pack a few plastic bags for whatever. Maybe I want to compartmentalize further, or I have extra dirty or wet clothes/shoes, or I buy something liquid in a dubious container, these can be life savers.

Random Wishes: Whole Foods gift card because I need food.

$15 and under: Macro Lens because I like to take nail/makeup pictures and this is really easy.

Getting Healthy: Shoes because my current sneakers are horrible to walk in.

Accessory/Scarves: Purse because mine is falling apart and my other one broke about a month ago.

Books: Dirty Russian so I can tell people to Fuck off when I study abroad!

Clothes/Shoes: Flip flops because I have none currently and it's almosr summer.

Crafty Hijinks: Colored Pencils because my sil stole all of mine when she moved out.

Debauchery: Love is Art kit because what goes better together than sex and painting?

For the new addition: Newborn photography book so I can take pictures of my nephew!

House/Kitchen: Dehydrator because I love to makeup homemade beef jerky.

Makeup: Betty-Lou Manizer because I want to give one to my momma. Her mom's name was Betty Lou. It's actually the anniversary of her passing tomorrow.

Needed items: Another whole foods gift card. Same reason.

Study Abroad: Suitcase set because my current one is teeny and I'll be gone for 7 months!

Someone mentioned loving the Baggu duck bag in a thread last week or so, and I just got mine from amazon yesterday. It's super simple, but it's basically Mary Poppins' purse. I can fit everything in it and it's super comfy to carry.

As a side note: I'd also say that maintenance is important:

• Take your suits off AND HANG THEM at the end of the day.
  
  
• Invest is a [clothes brush] (http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Clothes-Brush/F113,default,pd.html) and learn [how to use it] (http://www.thebutlerscloset.com/how-use-clothes-brush) -- it will extend the life of your suits.
  
  
• Invest in a [clothes steamer] (http://www.uline.com/BL_514/Jiffy-Garment-Steamers?pricode=WY977&gclid=CKecovrIl70CFaVxOgodzioAAA&gclsrc=aw.ds) -- it will save on dry-cleaning bills and give your suits a fresh start after wearing a couple of time.
  
  
• Buy [wooden suit hangers] (http://www.hayneedle.com/product/darkwalnuteurosuithangerswithtrouserclampsetof6.cfm) to keep the shape of your suits in the closet. I prefer the ones that allow you to hang your pants by the cuffs so that wrinkles hang-out in the closet.
  
  
• If you are to become a road-warrior, invest in a great [suit bag] (http://www.amazon.com/WallyBags-Extra-Capacity-Garment-Pockets/dp/B001HTQCAA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1394990817&sr=8-13&keywords=suit+bag+for+travel) so your suits and stuff survive the trip with minimal wrinkles.

Oooh I love it! I studied abroad last year and traveled a lot while I was there, so I was able to get a system down.

Most of my baggage is the Victorinox Avolve 2.0 set, which one hardside carry on that will fit international flight standards (also by Victorinox

I also swear by packing cubes, specifically the Eagle Creek Pack It Spectre system

Finally, for carry on and overnight bags, I use Longchamp. I think it's a classy brand whose bags hold up really really well over travel. I have the Longchamp Le Pliage backpack , the Le Pliage Neo tote, and for a weekender I have the Boxford weekender.

I would do one of those semi rigid cloth covered suitcase sets... let's see if I can find one on Amazon. They have enough give to not be a pain and enough toughness to protect what's inside.

EDIT- something like this would be great because it's light but fits a lot of stuff, and also the color is cute and easy to spot.

My sister gave me gift one year in this Breakfast At Tiffany's Bag and its just a cheap small shopping toter but its a perfect size for my lunch and I feel really cute and fancy with it.

OP here! This ONE looks pretty sweet.

Can someone please double check to make sure the dimensions are okay (16 x 14 x12)?

I used to carry this around in college. I'm not sure if it's this exact one, but it was this brand and a very similar size/design.

For reference, I carried a 4-5lb laptop + charger, 2-3 notebooks, 2-3 novels/books, a number of pens, plus a thermos/water bottle on any given day. It wasn't comfortable for my shoulder while I walked around campus, but it fit everything with room to spare and the bag itself is really light. On days I didn't bring my laptop with me, it was very comfortable.

If kipling isn't your style, then I would look for "nylon messenger bags". I liked kipling because it's lightweight and machine washable, but now that I'm working, I prefer leather bags that look more polished.

If I recall correctly, that eagle creek one has it’s No Matter What warranty, which is truly great (I’ve used it in a different Eagle Creek bag. I sent it in on a Tuesday and I had it back all fixed up by Friday). It is also on sale at Sierra Trading Post often.

Two additional suggestions:

• Check Amazon warehouse deals for Eagle Creek and Briggs and Riley. I found the Eagle Creek one cheaper through the warehouse deals (https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Creek-Expanse-Inch-Luggage/dp/B06XH3MKS1/ref=sr_1_18?keywords=eagle+creek&m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&qid=1563394076&s=warehouse-deals&sr=8-18)
  
• Check Goodwill. I got two B&R in great shape for under $20.

This is what I have, the Bosca Excursion bag, nabbed it on a flash sale on Gilt.

Only seem to find it on Amazon now, but I love it. I am able to keep some sneakers, gym clothes in it. Plus with the 2 flaps in the front which tuck in and have magnets I can keep my phone and wallet. The bigger zipper I keep a tablet.

An in on the smaller pockets on the outside which also stay closed with magnets I keep my gym lock.

I commute by train, so handy to carry all this, plus I keep some snacks in there for the day, like pre-workout drink, and my post workout powder.

Biz-casual for me usually, but have carried when wearing suit.

https://www.amazon.com/Bosca-Unisex-Excursion-Chestnut-Duffel/dp/B00AEVTAN8

My main wishlist is Mrskimchi, in which all of these items can be found!

1. Did somebody say posh? I'll get round to it right after I take the dogs out on a hunt in my dashing riding boots on my chestnut filly...
   
   
2. Although the color is quite becoming, I'd be rather embarrassed to wear this outside the home
   
   
3. I'm certain a teenager somewhere has shoved this lil cylinder up their bum...
   
   
4. I'm 30 and I love anime, so what!!! My inner geek has been crying out for this for quite some time...
   
   
5. I've been saving for ages to be able to start my dream of traveling, which has been a goal for a long time. All I need now are a set of suitcases and some comfy shoes!
   
   
6. With a 1 month battery life this little doodad will keep me entertained if I ration my reading out....hopefully I'd be rescued in a timely fashion!

Good idea to invest in a suitcase such as (Samsonite Aspire Xlite Wheeled Garment Bag, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D3QNMWU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kIIhAbXVCGM9Y)

Made specifically for traveling with suits. This plus a hand steamer such as (PurSteam Fabric Steamer, Fast-Heat Aluminum Heating Element With Travel Pouch, 180ml Capacity Perfect for Home and Travel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MG2OOHK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BKIhAb35ZT7XY). You won’t regret it. Trust me

http://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Chicken-Handbag-Pocketbook-Henbag/dp/B009KSSSNE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377749971&sr=8-2&keywords=Chicken+purse

I mean personally I think it's glam

I was going to say the suitcase, but I'm leaving on the 19th, and I don't think it would get here in time