Over the years I have acquired a number of bags, my favorite being the ebags weekender. In an attempt to simplify my life I am going to one bag and only one. I wanted the opinion of people who understand the concept of one bag travel on the following question: If you could have only one piece of luggage what would you have? The only exclusion is no wheels and the only caveat is business travel and the need for such clothes is not relevant.

Thanks

I'm a big fan of the T.B. Aeronaut. I did a lot of research before finally committing to one, and I'm glad I chose the Aeronaut. I'm guessing there's no "one" right bag, but this one certainly meets all my practical needs. The stylish look is kind of gravy.

Hey James, maybe you could consider A.SAKS On The Go 21 inch Expandable Carry-On, its not an Air Boss...but you could still take a look

A.SAKS On The Go 21 inch Expandable Carry-On

Dimensions
14" x 21" x 9" (44 linear inches)
14" x 21" x 13" expanded (48 linear inches)

Capacity
2514 cubic inches
3631 cubic inches expanded

Weight
1.2 lbs

Features
Lightweight, yet durable 4.0 Denier Nylon
Two carry handles w/velcro to connect to each other to convert into a should strap
Front zippered pocket and open back pocket to get to things quickly
Roomy main compartment
Adjustable tie down straps on one side of bag
Zips all the way down both sides for wide opening,

Being a bit of a gear nut, with a particular penchant for bags, this would be a difficult thing for me to do. So I'll start with how I like to travel.

-Fly somewhere with the idea of going in a direction, usually that means following the coastline and sometimes we actually plan to see specific things.

-through experience I have found that the best way to pack is though you are traveling on foot for the entire trip. lighter is better, almost always. Not taking it with you is lighter than the lightest version of a thing you can take.

-i like to travel/live in warm places so a bag that can hold my snowmobile suit isn't necessary

-when traveling I REALLY try to not look like a tourist, too many hassles, my American cut jeans are always a dead giveaway in Europe, but oh well. So I tend to use bags that do not look like suitcase, or even half suitcases.

The bag I use the most is an all black Lowe Alpine Contour runner (25L, 1500 in3) backpack I bought ten years ago in Chamonix because I needed a bag and I didn't know I was going to be going hiking.

If I was in the market for a bag I probably wouldn't even have considered it because it is pretty heavy, maybe close to two pounds, but it is nicely over built.

speaking of over built I used to work for a company that would repair outdoor gear, replacing zippers etc. EVERYTHING made by Mountainsmith is ridiculously over built. Taking a zipper out takes three times as long on their packs.

If this bag were a bit bigger (small is good it keeps you from taking too much)
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/organic-hemp-peasant-sack-p-1190.html
It would be pretty close to ideal.
small and incognito, you could line it with garbage bags if you're worried about rain. two straps might be better

The best bag is the one you have, save your money buying a new bag, and buy a plane ticket.

Second vote for the Tom Bihn Aeronaut. However, I'd seriously consider allowing yourself a second, smaller bag for hikes around town or when you're in meetings (you did mention business) and hauling a carry-on type bag just doesn't work. For this, I either bring my Tom Bihn ID bag (heavier business use), Tom Bihn Large Cafe Bag (much more versatile than you'd think), or if I'm going to do some semi-serious photography, a Crumpler SoupnSalad bag. I have a lot of bags, much to the consternation of my wife... :-)

p.s. The large TB Cafe Bag is both thin enough to pack in the Aeronaut, and you can even use it as a packing organizer, and once you're at your destination, presto! - a great walk around shoulder bag.

As far as a smaller daypack, I just did a week at Disney carrying around a Wanderlite daypack 9-12 hours a day, filled with jackets, water, souvenirs, etc; and it worked out great. And it packs up smaller than a can of soda!

http://www.packbarefoot.com/_mgxroot/page_10770.html