Carry on Bag - make/model recommendations?

I have a series of trips coming up in North America, and want to try and get by with a large carry-on bag. I have to fly VAA to the US, then around the US - usually a week per trip - on the various internal carriers (and this could literally be in ANY region of the mainland US except Alaska and Hawaii).

Can anyone recommend a good carry bag on that takes as much as possible in the way of clothing/shoes/sponge bag etc that I can take on as many regional/domestic carriers whilst minimising the chances of needing to check it each time [8D]?

Thanks.

Make sure it fits the size requirements, I got caught on Thursday on United with a slightly oversized carryon. They had not spotted it at all last year (and 10 trips)

Fortunately they found room for it in the First Class wardrobe.

[preiffer]

I have one of these: http://www.delsey.com/pages/produits-de ... %200375720 and also the 65cm one.

Both have been fine to take onboard for years, the 55 may be a LITTLE Small to take a meaningful amount with you though.

[RichardMannion]

You're looking for a Chantelle? A 'Carry On Bag'.

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
You're looking for a Chantelle? A 'Carry On Bag'.

Ohh, Matron!!!

Originally posted by preiffer
I have one of these: http://www.delsey.com/pages/produits-de ... %200375720 and also the 65cm one.

Both have been fine to take onboard for years, the 55 may be a LITTLE Small to take a meaningful amount with you though.

Crikey, Delsey? Next think you'll be telling me those designer undies you wear in the shoots for your picture stories in Jackie were rented.[B)]

Seriously, and back on topic, what is the OP's budget? I couldn't get your link to work, but 65cm is pushing it rather a lot for carry on IMHO. BAA (bless 'em) specify 56 x 45 x 25cm. And the yellow shirted goons do impose it if you're even slightly unlucky.

I have made the mistake on investing in cheap luggage on occasion in the past only to regret it very soon afterwards, for all sorts of reasons, including both quality and that all important designer cred.

I have a personal penchant for Tumi but that habit can be butt clenchingly shocking in the wallet department especially the leather stuff. My personal favourite right now is this garment bag. The leather version is exquisite but at over a grand, if I ever did have to check it I'd be concerned that I'd never see it again.

Tumi's almost half the price in the US by the way. The problem is that once you start, you might feel the need to make a matching collection [:#]

H

[preiffer]

Yeah, I agree Howard, but I have around 3 or 4 of those 55cm cases - I kind of use them as disposables after a few trips, and they protect my parachute rig well [;)]


OMG. Your post has just brought back the hideous memory of the PIRATE in KL.... [:w]

Originally posted by Howard Long


Tumi's almost half the price in the US by the way. The problem is that once you start, you might feel the need to make a matching collection [:#]

H

Very true, you'll get a price break over here, substantial. But, you will on the Delsey stuff too of course. Pile enough coupons and that kind of BS, and you can get a newish model for between 60 and 100 bucks. They will start to fall apart in small ways very quickly if you do a lot of traveling and check the bag. And even as carry-on, they will wear. But you're likely looking at a 5 for the price of 1.

Consumer Reports did one of their kick-it-about studies recently which concluded that quality-wise, the likes of Tumi and Victorinox are streets ahead of stuff like Delsey - which is nice to know given the price you are going to pay. Delsey was their pick for cheap models. So the expert testers definitely validate the current suggestions.