Convertible Bags

Here’s a list of convertible bags, available in the USA, from lightest to heaviest and their dimensions. If I’ve left a bag out, especially if you live outside the USA and know of a bag available in your area of the world, let me know. Sorry, you’ll have to do your own metric conversion.

For our definition, a convertible bag is one with hideaway backpack straps and its size conforms to most airline carry-on limits.

Name of Bag                              Weight                   Dimensions (inches)

Campmor Essential Carry On   1lb 12 oz                 21 x 13 x 9

Golite Convertible                     2 lbs.                       21 x 14 x 7

Goodhope Conv.                       2 lbs.                       18 x 12 x 6.5

L.L. Bean Quickload                   2 lbs  2oz                21.75 x 14 x 9

REI Overnighter                         2 lbs  3oz               18 x 12.5 x 7

Osprey Porter 46                       2 lbs, 7 oz                22 x 14 x 9

Tom Bihn Western Flyer             2 lbs  8oz                18 x 12 x 7

Eagle Creek Adv. Weekender       2 lb  9 oz                  20 x 13 x 8

Caribee Sky Master                    2 lbs  10oz              21.25 x 13 x 7

Tom Bihn Aeronaut                     2 lbs  12oz              22 x 14 x 9

Patagonia MLC                           2 lbs   15oz             20.5 x 13.5 x 7

Rick Steves Convertible              3 lbs                        21 x 14 x 9

Timbuk 2 Wingman                      3 lbs  4oz               21.5 x 14.2 x 6.9

Tom Bihn Tri-Star                         3 lbs  7oz               19 x 13 x 8

MEI Voyageur                              3 lbs  8oz               22 x 14 x 9

Tough Traveler Tri-Zip                  3 lbs  8oz              20 x 13 x 9

Ebags Etech                                 3 lbs  10oz            22 x 14 x 9

Ebags Motherlode TLS                 3 lbs  11oz.           22 x 14 x 9

MEI Exec. Overnighter                  3 lbs  12oz.           22 x 14 x 9

Red Oxx Air Boss **                     3 lbs  14oz            21 x 13 x 8

Pacsafe Metrosafe 400                4 lbs                      18.5 x 12.6 x 6.7

Red Oxx Sky Train                         4 lbs                     20 x 13 x 9

Qwstion Weekender                    4 lbs 3oz               19.7 x 13 x 7.87

Eddie Bauer Travex                       ???????                21 x 12 x 9

**— The Red Oxx Air Boss does not have backpack straps but due to its popularity among one bag travelers I’m  including it in this list.

Non-USA Bags

Cabin Max                            1.2 KG          55 x 40 x 29 cm      (UK)

Black Wolf Skedaddle            1.34 kg          52 x 35 x 27 cm      (Aus./NZ only)

Tatonka Flightcase                1.65               55 x 32 x 20  ccm        (UK)

Kathmandu Axis Pack             700g                    25 L                 (Aus./NZ/UK only)

Lowe Alping TT Carry-On          ?                 55 x 35 x 20 cm          (UK)

Comments

[David Pitkin]

I just saw this convertible yesterday I think in the iPad app Nalden.

Qwestion Weekender
19 x 13 x 8 in
4.1 lb
http://www.qwstion.com/en/weekender-washed-leather-brown.html#

[Randal L. Schwartz]

Hmm. I tried googling for a bit, but I didn't see the definition. What's a "convertible bag"? I own the Aeronaut and the Checkpoint Flyer (not listed above), but what makes them "convertible", as opposed to some other bag that isn't "convertible"?

[Frank@OBOW]

Good question, I should have put the definition in the original post. In fact, I just did. But so you don't have to go back to check it, for our purposes, a convertible bag is one with hidden backpack straps.

[Frank T.]

Frank, thanks for the list. Very useful having both the weight and size listed.

[Liz]

I have, blush, more than one of these bags. And it sure is nice of you to put this all in one place. It took me forever to gather weight/size dimensions of some of these bags when I was considering them.

The Campmor 's dimensions are slightly more complicated than listed. The main body, expressed in inches, is 21x13x7, with another large pocket on the front of 15x9x2.

[Scott]

Um... unless they've changed it since I got mine 5-6 years ago, the Red Oxx Air Boss doesn't have backpack straps. :-)

[Frank@OBOW]

Scott, you're correct. It's just that the bag is so popular that I include it in the list. But I will add a note saying the bag is "sans backpack."

[Andy]

No mention of the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Duffel. I know they've changed it since, but the model I have has hideaway backstraps and at 14 oz it blows away the competition.

[Frank@OBOW]

Andy, the design has changed on the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Duffel as it no longer has hideaway backpack straps. I need to keep the list to only bags currently available for purchase. There are at least two other convertible bags that were taken off the market in the past few months that are not included because they are not readily available.

[Bob Adams]

Frank, good list, I have another entry, the Blackwolf Skedaddle pack. It is a pack very similar to the MLC. Its quoted dimensions are

20.5 X 13.8 X 9 ( although I think 7-8 inches would be correct!)
and 2.95 lbs

http://www.blackwolf.com.au/product-details.php?product_id=149&page=3&noItems=12&category_id=10

cheers
Bob

[Bob Adams]

And another one Frank, if you want a small bag around the size of the Western Flyer.

I don't have any dimensions except weight. and that is 1.5kg and the volume is 25 Litres.

But on inspection the linear dimensions are approx the size of the Flyer.

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/Packs_&_Luggage/Day_Packs/40415/Axis_Pack_v2.html#

[Frank@OBOW]

Thanks. I've added a separate list of bags not available in the US, their size, weight, and in what countries they are available.

[Midewest Gear Guy]

I just spoke to a second level CS guy at Campmor. He said the "OPEC" bag is out of production.
FWIW

[Frank@OBOW]

I spoke to Campmor a couple of weeks ago and they said they were waiting for a shipment.

I sent an email to the company today to get this clarified and I'll let you know what I find out.

I'd be surprised if they stopped production as this is a popular item.

BTW--the "OPEC" bag is technically out of production. The bag is now exclusive to Campmor and carries their name instead of "Outdoor Products" even though it's still made by them.

[Midwest Gear Guy]

Spoke with a second level CS guy today who told me the bag was out of production and not going to be restocked. I hope I was misinformed. I have a trip in a couple of weeks and really wanted to try the "OPEC" bag. I will just have to run with my EBags Motherloade for this 5 day trip.

[John Power]

Hi Frank
Very interesting subject Convertible luggage or Wearable luggage ‘’in Europe most Airlines insist that almost all carryon bags must be of a certain size I’ve seen people having to check there backpack in with a charge of up to € 45 at the moment there is only one carryon case/bag that can convert into a coat is now available in a dress form ‘’ really wearable luggage ‘’ thet is the jaktogo
Regards

[Randal L. Schwartz]

@John Power, Or any of the dozen coats from http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/subindex_jackets_vests.shtml - especially the very targeted "Carry On Coat".

[john power]

Thank you Randal ''But if it looks like a coat/jacket walks and talks like one It's a COAT/JACKET

NOTHING TO DO WITH CARRY ON LUGGAGE'' the subject is luggage''''

[Frank@OBOW]

First, a note to John Power. We do not allow manufacturers to promote their own product. You are the inventor of Jaktogo so therefore you are violating posting policy promoting your own product. .

Second, we did a review of Jaktogo last August.

[tfar]

TNF Overhaul 40. Straps tuck away and can be checked or has a slot for the handles of a wheeled bag. Is also expandable.

[Sui]

Has anyone here ever actually used the Tough Traveler Tri-Zip? I recall there being a review here something ago, I am wondering if there is any RECENT review of it?

[MrBoxbat]

MEI Voyageur Backpack

http://meipacks.com/Images/Packs/Voyageur05.JPG

http://meipacks.com/Images/Packs/Voyageur03.JPG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fgXIBf9o_lw

[MrBoxbat]

More MEI EO pictures:

https://plus.google.com/photos/114482901478242341175/albums/5535042350081735089?authkey=CIO327vhsKPiBQ&banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/114482901478242341175/albums/5535042350081735089

[Wendy]

When you get the chance you should add the Eagle Creek weekend adventurer with back pack straps to this list. I would be interested to know if anyone has it and how sturdy it seems to be.

[Frank@OBOW]

Done.

It's a fairly new bag and I'm waiting for some local stores to carry it so I can get my hands on one.

[Frank T.]

The bag looks interesting. Nice overall size at 13"x20"x8" and has some nice organizational features. Weight is 2 lb. 9 oz. Had it been available when I bought my Patagonia MLC I would have given it strong consideration as the size and weight are comparable.

The EC website (http://shop.eaglecreek.com/ec-adventure-weekender-bag/d/1200_c_111) has a video that shows off the bag pretty well. Another video is also on the zappos.com. http://www.zappos.com/eagle-creek-adventure-weekender-bag .

I would expect an Eagle Creek product to have decent fabric and zippers but would want to check in person before buying.

[The_Foot]

Here's the Eagle Creek Dane (like the old Global Commuter). For how easy it is to find for sale, there is very little written about this bag. It is more "briefcase" oriented, but is convertible, and also features a handle slip-pocket. Since I don't need much space for my office (laptop/phone/charger), the remainder of the interior is available for packing. This gives me a business setup that is truly one-bag. With an eBags medium cube for clothes and an Eagle Creek small Sac for toiletries, I've been using it for 3, 4, & 5 night business trips over the past few months.

The nicest part is the TSA-friendly laptop space. It's pretty sweet to simply unzip the back panel, walk through security, then zip it back up and go.

Eagle Creek Dane
17 x 12.5 x 6 2lbs 12oz
http://shop.eaglecreek.com/dane-brief/d/1157_c_415

[Tiago]

Hi! I live in Macau and it is very difficult do get a decent bag....like a ebags tls or so....most of them are avaiable for USA only and the shipping is VERY expensive....can anyone recomend a more global brand that sells worldwide?
Thanks

[Frank@OBOW]

Here is a list of convertible bags, their sizes and weights (sorry, not in metric.). You might want to check to see which ones are available in your area.

http://www.1bag1world.com/blog/2012/3/24/convertible-bags.html

Just do a Google search of the companies to find out. Let us know what you discover as I'm sure there are others in your area of the world who are in the same situation.

To get you started, I know Eagle Creek, Patagonia and Osprey are available in retail outlets in Hong Kong. (Patagonia even has their own stores.) There may be more.

[benp1]

Great list, nice to see options in one place

One bag not on your list is the Lowe Alpine TT Carry On 40, its a bag available in the UK and really fits the criteria well

Also, there is a Tatonka bag that works well, plus a Cabin Max one too

[Frank@OBOW]

Thanks. I added all three.

We had a guest review of the Lowe bag nearly three years ago:

http://onebagger.squarespace.com/blog/2010/3/23/review-lowe-alpine-tt-carry-on-40.html