Please develop a rolling bag

[MtnMan]

If anyone is interested, B.A.D. (Best American Duffel) already makes a variety of duffel-based luggage, including rollaboard-style rolling duffels. All are made in USA.

In order for Tom Bihn to compete in this market segment, I would expect that theoretical Bihn rollaboards would have to offer something in terms of design to make them different from whatever else is already on the market.

[pretzelb]

I think I bought a real check folding cart from Staples a long time ago. It works well enough but I rarely use it. If you put a TB bag on that it should be easy to cart around.

[bnett]

And I could not quite locate the travel lite cart at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Travelite-Travel-Folding-Luggage-Cart/dp/B000EMBOZY

I have this cart. It works great, is very light, and folds quite small.

[Frank II]

Most U.S. airlines, and some foreign, allow for a carry-on bag and a personal item. If you take a cart that' doesn't fit inside the carry-on, it may count as your second personal item. (It's technically not part of your carry-on bag.) It's up to the gate agent.

[BPritchard]

Until Tom comes up with something, another option would be a rolling backpack. Many are carry-on compliant with three "soft" sides and one sturdier side for the wheels and handle. These bags would give you the option of rolling or carrying. The weight is an issue as you're looking at a 7-9 lb empty bag. With three "softer sides", you might have an easier time getting them in the overhead. A soft sided bag with one hard side containing the wheels and a handle are known as hybrid bags. They weigh somewhere between a soft sided bag and a hard sided bag. Not all hybrid bags have backpack straps.

If you get a rolling cart, and can't fit it into the Aeronaut, remember that it will count towards your carry-on allowance.

?? Points well taken, but I don't understand "count towards your carry-on allowance".

[Frank II]

Until Tom comes up with something, another option would be a rolling backpack. Many are carry-on compliant with three "soft" sides and one sturdier side for the wheels and handle. These bags would give you the option of rolling or carrying. The weight is an issue as you're looking at a 7-9 lb empty bag. With three "softer sides", you might have an easier time getting them in the overhead. A soft sided bag with one hard side containing the wheels and a handle are known as hybrid bags. They weigh somewhere between a soft sided bag and a hard sided bag. Not all hybrid bags have backpack straps.

If you get a rolling cart, and can't fit it into the Aeronaut, remember that it will count towards your carry-on allowance.

[BPritchard]

HI folks:
I have been looking for a good luggage cart. Pritchard: the one in Magellan's is no longer available. And I could not quite locate the travel lite cart at Amazon.
The samsonite micro mover is hard to use---takes too much time to set up and fold down.
yup: would not mind a luggage cart as my back grows older. please note: it just be my back; not me!

This one may suit your purposes.

These are fine for TB bags and others the same size. I wouldn't trust it for a large suitcase.

The Magellan cart has rubber 3" wheels which helps in navigation.

[Shiva]

HI folks:
I have been looking for a good luggage cart. Pritchard: the one in Magellan's is no longer available. And I could not quite locate the travel lite cart at Amazon.
The samsonite micro mover is hard to use---takes too much time to set up and fold down.
yup: would not mind a luggage cart as my back grows older. please note: it just be my back; not me!

[Jenne]

Interesting-- last time I flew with someone carrying a wheeled cart, the flight attendant made her put it under the seat!

I had a cart for about 19 years and NEVER used it. My plan of attack is to get my luggage lighter and lighter as I get older! I have been in too many places where a wheeled bag is just not usable.

[flitcraft]

Another vote for shipping papers and books. You can ship them book rate for very little money, and your back and shoulders will thank you. Ironically, yesterday I finally got a package I'd shipped from England (slow boat rate) of four pounds worth of papers and books from a conference.

Portable luggage carts haven't worked that well for me. I own two of them and they hardly ever leave home, as it turns out. They are heavy, take up too much room if stored in my Tom Bihn bags, and are tippier than a wheeled bag. Forget it on cobblestones or uneven pavement--they really work best in airports for navigating the miles of corridors! One thing to keep in mind is that they aren't supposed to be stashed under the seats on planes. In the days in which they were common (before everybody had wheeled bags), flight attendants would remind passengers as a routine matter. Now, you might or might not be told off, but they really are supposed to go in the overhead only.

[BPritchard]

Get a cart

I had the same problem with my Aeronaut on our Seattle trip. Too heavy, even using backpack straps.

For my next trip next month, I got a luggage cart from Magellan's.

It will fit in the Aeronaut if not stuffed too full, or in the backpack strap area, or it will fit under the seat. The wheels stick out if using the backpack strap area and may hinder putting in the overhead. Or it could be put in the overhead while attached to the bag if there is enough room.

[bbcamp]

Addendum

I somehow only managed to post half of what i wanted to say in my last post to this thread, so I'll add to it here.

On a recent business trip I breezed on and off the plane with my aeronaut to get out to the West Coast, but came back with an additional 20 pounds of paper that I really wish I could have rolled. I think my arms are an inch longer after carrying all the extra weight.

The problem with most rolling carry-on luggage is that it is hard to squeeze into the overhead bins (or under the seat if one boards late....) and heavy. I have seen people literally pounding on their bags to try to get them to fit, particularly on commuter planes.

But I remain convinced that Tom can square this circle if anyone can--and with elegance.

Until then, I may have to start shipping all those books instead of carrying them.
bb

[Nana8]

heh - i remember having some hard shell suitcases when we were kids. they were made by samonsite, and they had these two latches that were really hard to close (note: that was likely because we probably overstuffed the suitcases!). i remember having to press down or sit on them to get them to close. and they would sometimes come around on the luggage carousel with one (thankfully not both!) of the latches open. i think they had a stick like pull handle that would come out at one end so you could pull them.

hehe! i hated those!! let me assure you, the handles on those suites were not filled with poron foam!

Too funny! We have two of these in our garage gathering a bunch of dust. I have had them since 1974 or 1975 I think.

[backpack]

heh - i remember having some hard shell suitcases when we were kids. they were made by samonsite, and they had these two latches that were really hard to close (note: that was likely because we probably overstuffed the suitcases!). i remember having to press down or sit on them to get them to close. and they would sometimes come around on the luggage carousel with one (thankfully not both!) of the latches open. i think they had a stick like pull handle that would come out at one end so you could pull them.

hehe! i hated those!! let me assure you, the handles on those suites were not filled with poron foam!

Those were the ones, I had 3, I used them going back and forth from college to home every 30 or 60 days hence the need for a cart.

Mine had no wheels, I tried on one with wheels at the store and it flipped on its side after a few minutes, the rolling handle was too short and uncomfortable.

The carrying handles, made of hard plastic were no more comfortable, the locks a bother to deal with.

And... talk about expensive!
I was happy to "lose" them during one of my moves.


I vote for a Tom Bihn designed luggage cart.

[bbcamp]

If anybody could design a good but light and compact roller, I think Tom can (Tom, know any aerospace engineers in Seattle?)
I just traveled to the West coast for work. I brought my Aeronaut, and just breezed on and off the plane. It fit beautifully in the overhead compartment, even in the small commuter plane. Most of those with rolling luggage either had to check their bags at the door, or fought to get them in the overhead compartment.