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Western Flyer and Aeronaute strong enought for checked luggage on plane and Amtrack?

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    #1

    Western Flyer and Aeronaute strong enought for checked luggage on plane and Amtrack?

    I will be taking my Brain Bag and either my Large Cafe Bag or a Swift as personal item.

    I need a lot more than those two so I was thinking of checking an Aeronaute and a Western flyer.

    Are they going to withstand Amtrak handling?
    Tags: absolute, absolute shoulder strap, aeronaut, bag, baggage, brain bag, cafe bag, camera, contents, fabric, large cafe bag, packing cubes, pocket, short, shoulder strap, strap, swift, tom, western flyer
    #2
    I don't think the construction of either the Aeronaut or the Western Flyer is going to be a problem on Amtrak - they're built like tanks. What I'd be more concerned with are the contents of both bags. If you're not packing clothes and shoes, I'd consider this:

    Amtrak tosses bags into bins much like the airlines. Mostly, the lighter/smaller bags end up at the top of the pile, but sometimes not - if you pack anything breakable, kiss it goodbye. It's not like it's only a short trip (I'm assuming you're taking one of the longer trips if you're taking that much baggage), where it only has to be jostled for a few hours. It could be days in the baggage car with someone's old heavy Pullman slapping against it top/sides/bottom.

    So, I wouldn't worry about the bags - they'd survive a trip to the Moon - but really think about your packing plan. Put non-breakables in them if you check them - and put your clothes inside in plastic bags! I speak from experience - On an Amtrak to Detroit, someone's bag in the baggage car had perfume in it, it broke, and voila! I still have a canvas-fabric military duffle which reeks of some expensive French stuff I detest 30 years later... (my dad's duffle or I wouldn't have kept it).

    FYI: Packing cubes for both bags are wonderful. Get them and you'll never regret it! The Convertible cube (fits in the end pocket of the Aeronaut) makes a nice daybag if you don't haul a lot. It also fits in the Swift and makes a camera near invisible unless you have it out. You can even attach it to the Swift's rings with a short or long lanyard. Get the Absolute Shoulder Strap, too - it's the best strap there is.

    So buy your bags and forget about wearing them out - they might outlive you!
    Indigo Co-Pilot w' Cache, Sapphire/Olive Medium Cafe bag, Sapphire/Black and Indigo Ballistic Swifts, 50+ assorted Stuff Sacks/Pouches/Key Straps, 4 Shop Bags. 2 Absolutes, 2 Strap Wraps, a #5 Brain Cell, 3 Clear Quarter Packing Cubes , 3 Aeronaut cubes, a 3D, a Kit, a Convertible Shoulder Bag and Convertible Backpack for my Indigo/Solar Aeronaut. Last, 3 Lifefactory Bottles and my Plum Field Journal! Plus a blue (natch) FOT. All bags decked out with Tom Bihn luggage tags .

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