Hi - I've been considering moving from the roller bag carryon (I've been using a victorinox nxt) to the one-bag, likely an MEI Executive Overnighter. However, my lingering question is - what do you do with the bag in the airport bathroom? I like the roller bags because I know the rubber feet/wheels won't absorb anything. But if I'm carrying a shoulder bag, and have to put it on the floor, I won't be so inclined to pick it up again. What do you all do about this conundrum? For reference, I'm a guy, and men's bathrooms tend to not be too pretty...

Thanks!
Dave

That's why the hook on the back of the door or the shelf above the toiletpaper roll is essential!

I'm a guy who's also disgusted by bathrooms. I always carry a carabiner in my bag and pull it out to hook it on the hangers that are usually in the stalls. So I'll put the handle through the carabiner and the other end of the carabiner hooks on the door.

I'm a female and I can tell you it's not all butterflies and daises in our toilets either. I use the hook on the back of the door, and rest my handbag on that. I have also asked fellow female travellers to keep an eye on it; this is only in the lounge waiting to board and those waiting for the same flight. I've been asked to do the same.

Good ideas, thanks!

I repurposed a hangar from an old, large zippered jewelry roll (or one can be cut out from a toiletry bag) just for this recurring dilemma. Many times restroom stalls lack coat hooks. The toiletry/jewelry bag hangars generally don't have any "shoulders" attached to them, or the bar part of these hangars can be seperated from the hook. These hooks usually swivel, are pretty strong, and can be attached to travel bags with a carabiner.

That's yet another reason why I use backpacks (either my Goruck GR1 or my Tom Bihn Brain)---I keep the bag on my back. And for more serious bathroom operations, I, too, just hang the bag on the stall hook.

Thinking about it again you might not need a carabiner, though it's much easier with one. Assuming there isn't a hook in the stall and your bag has back straps or a shoulder strap, simply hang one of the straps on the top corner of the stall door before closing. When you close it the bag should stay in place. I can see this working in US bathroom stalls which always seem to have a space between the door and the frame.

Or carry some disinfecting wipes (you are carrying them, right!?) and wipe the counter of the toilet to rest the bag on it. Again, making another assumption: that the toilet isn't a fancy high-tech and space saving one.

Even though it's not directly related, I thought I might share the latest MeiPacks pics:


Mei Packs's Gallery Albums
https://picasaweb.google.com/109106051598743691776

Like Danny suggested, I've tucked the shoulder strap between the door and frame. That seems to work pretty well. I never thought about a carabiner but I will now.

Along the same lines, I've always wondered about sliding my bag under the seat in front of me on the plane. That just can't be good. There is quite the thread on this topic on the TB forum too. I mention it because I remember it being amusing.
Moose

I generally either keep the bag on my back (I'm a guy, I have that luxury for 95% of bathroom visits. :) ) Or, I hook the bag to the coat hook on the door.

I usually bring a S-hook or 2 when i travel and use the larger one as an over the door hook because a lot of the bathroom door hooks aer only meant to hold a small amount of weight from a lightweight jacket or a medium purse but most likely not that of a 20-lb+ bag. The physics of the direction of pull/leverage also come into play, and I find that I am more comfortable with the S-hook on the door.

This of course is only safe where there aren't any over-the-bathroom-door thefts.

I always take a couple of carabiners with me on trips, they usually come in handy.
I once had to balance my carry-on on my feet while in a cubicle. The door lacked a hook and the floor was the only other choice to place my bag. At least it didn't touch the floor but it was quite the balancing act on my part!

Ah! I read clear to the bottom of this topic and found that Frank mentioned seat covers on the floor, which is my choice for missing stall hooks or un-hang-able items.

If there aren't seat covers, and you can manage it without losing a place in line, you can grab a length of paper towel to put on the floor under your stuff. Downside of the paper towels: they aren't flush-able like the seat covers. So they need to be picked up and discarded properly. I use the seat cover/papertowel method often, especially when I'm working a convention and carrying a folder, book, or other item that I can't hang from the hook in the stall. (TMI, maybe. Sorry.)

Great ideas, and an entertaining TMI thread. I like the S-hook idea. I have now used the MEI EO on 3-4 trips (a bag I quite like thus far) and generally have been placing the shoulder strap over the door though in some cases the door gap is too great. The S-hook would address the issue and I have a few extras from other bags.