Sunday
Nov132011
November 13, 2011 New Carry-On Convertible Bag
I came across a new bag last week that looks interesting. It’s the
Dimensions: 21.25” x 13 x 7…..weighs 3 lbs……made of polyester. I sent a note to the company to see if we can get one for review. No word yet.
But the best part is that this bag is from an Australian company and I know there are many OBOW readers from Down Under who are looking for a bag like this that fits Aussie carry-on rules. Here’s a link to their Australian site:
Reader Comments (10)
http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/gear_hauling/porter_46?tab=specifications
or especially the bag that it most closely resembles, the $159 2 lb. 15 oz,Patagonia MLC, like the Caribee 40 supplied with both backpacking and a separate shoulder strap:
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mlc-bag-maximum-legal-carry-on-bag?p=48107-0-155
including on fine details including size and strength of ZIPPERS, whether they are weather-flapped, construction quality, etc. As Frank by now knows all of the above choices, his comparison and comments should be of interest. Regardless it's nice to see design activity in this sector.
1) Choosing a bag is very personal. When you take everything into account--features, design, price, looks--one person's best bag is another''s worst.
2) This is most important...most of the bags discussed here are readily available in the USA. However, we have quite a few readers from Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia where many of the bags we discuss are not readily available. The Caribee is made by an Australian company to fit the strict Australian airline restrictions and is easily available in those areas.
I own lots of carry-on bags..) I have them lined up on a shelf in the back of my closet (it's a huge walk in) and thought about each bag sitting there. Much of what they offer they have in common, but each one has some things that are different. And its those differences that make each bag unique. It doesn't mean one is better than the other in terms of features because we each have a personal preference as to what's important to us.
I'll give you an example. I don't own the Osprey Porter 46. It's an excellent bag, but it just doesn't appeal to me. That's completely subjective on my part. Om the other hand, I may use a bag that would cause many here to scratch their heads and ask why. We can compare bags as to the quality of materials and workmanship, but we can't really compare features. One person's requirement is another person's waste. (Although we have had readers try to insist that their choice of bag is best because it had the features they liked and that is what everyone should like. Not so..)
Since I don't have the Caribee bag, nor does it look like I'll be getting one, I can't really compare much outside of the specs given. Having another bag does give people more choices and the more choices we have, the more luck we might have in finding the bag that fits each of our needs and wants.
BTW, there is one thing I'm noticing: more and more bags in the low to middle price range are being made in polyester instead of the old standard nylon. I'm guessing this is to save money. The includes not only the newer introduced models, but many of the older favorites: Rick Steves Convertible, Patagonia MLC, etc.
As suspected and as important a factor as any to being a successful moderator for this at times curious forum, and providing guidance to the rest of us, who'd like to keep our own repertoire of such bags down to three or so! "Carry-on" means different parameters in various countries, also from airline to airline. Clearly it's best to understand them prior to traveling, along with one's own physical issues and preferences.
In case anyone is intereste, I'm down to six non-wheeled bag, the largest being 22 x 14 x 9, and two wheeled bags. One of the wheeled bags is the Flylite Medium Foldaway Wheeled Cabin Holdall that I reviewed last May and an Ebags Weekender Wheelie which is a wheeled carry-on size bag that converts to a backpack. It was discontinued a few years ago. I also have the original Rick Steves Convertible bag from about 1992 and one of the first Travelpro wheeled carry-ons. Those last two are in storage and were not included in the above count.
My inactive collection similarly contains a 2002 vintage wheeled Travelpro 22-inch weighing 140% more than the five pound Antler wheeled bag I now use, and the ORIGINAL ballistic nylon Patagonia MLC, from circa 1989 which alas, has deteriorating waterproof coating that feels tacky and exudes an off odor,,,save for that, it's still an outstanding wheel-less design. The current MLC and that Caribee 40 are subtly smaller, relevant for Antipodean travel I gather.