My husband and I have planned a 2 week trip to Portugal in May 2013. We have 2 MLC-type bags, which we had planned to carry on our backs. I recently hurt my back and should it still be sensitive in May (hopefully not), I'd like to take an 18 inch or smaller wheelie. Can anyone recommend a small wheeled bag (perhaps, a wheeled tote) that can hold clothing for about 3 days? Would such a bag be likely to be gate checked?

Thank you.

For a hurt back, spinner wheels are the best as you can still walk relatively normally than if you were pulling a 2-wheeled trolley on one side, which would cause addition stress and twisting on your back. However, the best way might still be to carry a much smaller ergonomic backpack and transfer the heavier and bulkier items to your husband's pack.

The roads and sidewalks in Portugal aren't really the best and having wheels might cause more stress than carrying a bag, depending on your planned activities.

Eileen,

You might want to take a look at the IT-0-1 Second Generation 16" Carry On (which is actually 18" including wheels and handle).
http://www.ebags.com/product/international-traveller/it-0-1-second-generation-worlds-lightest-2-wheeled-16-carry-on/226624?productid=10167056

Due to a hip injury, I used it once this summer, with clothing for four days. It didn't get gate checked (although sometimes all wheeled bags do), and it fit easily under the seat.

However, tcl made a good point about spinner bags (four wheels) being easier on the back, and about Portugal not being so conducive to wheels. Just thought I'd let you know about this bag anyway.

Eileen,

Costco is selling a Briggs & Riley wheeled carry-on bag. It has the lifetime warranty. I don't know the weight specs. It is two wheeled. I'm not a fan of 4-wheel spinners, because they break way too easily, which is a definite drawback on ill maintained walkways.

This link is from Flyertalk, which talks about the B&R luggage
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products/1378062-briggs-riley-costco.html

This is the link for the review from the same site
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products/1054812-review-briggs-riley-baseline-20-exp-wide-body-smart-choice-light-travellers.html

But, with most wheeled luggage, the propensity to get checked will increase just because of the size. tcl's advice about transferring the load to your husband is good. When my wife's hip acts up, I play pack-mule. She warns me before we leave, so I will travel with a larger luggage to accommodate her.

Regarding the:

" IT-0-1 Second Generation 16" Carry On"

I can mention that I bought an earlier version of this bag in the 24-inch version for my wife. It packed very readily due to the collapsible handle poles stowing at the outside of the bottom of the bag, BUT, the handles does NOT lock into place, and it is too wide to allow one to fit a smaller bag that has a rear sleeve. Also keep in mind that this is a very lightly built bag which one would probably want to avoid ever checking. Anyway, I ended up buying my wife a different 24-inch case...which she sees as a long weekend case....rather than a two week trip bag!

The B&R at Costco is a wide; I have that older version as well as the new CX version. But I don't recommend a wide for international travel.
If you're only using this once or twice, I'd recommend an inexpensive one like the IT or several on ebags.
Personally I use this one: http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/productDetail.aspx?id=Rolling-Cabin-Bag_U116&col=baseline
but its not inexpensive. It fits the regional jets or under the seat on most domestic carriers. I use this one when I am traveling for a couple of days or 3 and need to carry a formal brief as well. these two small items will not usually have any problem with space either under the seat or above when boarding late.

Alan,

Re: IT-0-1 Second Generation 16" Carry On
The good news is that the telescoping handle (or whatever you call it) on this bag does lock. (Maybe because it's "second generation?") You're right about the handle being too wide to accommodate a bag with a rear sleeve. However this bag is sooo small that only a tiny bag could rest on top anyway.

I actually had to check the bag on the way home (due to such intense hip pain that day), and the bag survived fine. Your wife might actually really like this bag as an underseat bag--like a rolling tote but lighter weight. :-)