Cabin luggage recommendations?

wyx087

wyx087

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Are there any cabin hand luggage you would recommend?

I don’t plan on taking a LOT of the gears, but they won’t comfortably go into my every-day Hadley bag, so I have to either put some of them into hold luggage or buy a good cabin luggage. I am choosing the latter because I don’t want my lenses shattered.

Not really looking for a photography luggage such as the “Glass taxi”. Just looking for a reliable normal person’s cabin luggage.
Has to have pockets outside (so no shell cases) allowing for easy reach to get stuff like magazines and iPad during the initial seating scramble.
Also has to be budget airline compatible, I always had to pay extra for the luggage, would be nice to buy a small one when going on half week holidays. Don't mind it going to the hold for free when busy.
Prefer to have wheels though, I’ve got a backpack I could use, but a luggage on wheels is much easier at airports/train stations.

Plan is to load it up half full (or half empty), then put the messenger bag into it to get pass the requirement that only 1 cabin bag. The messenger bag holds passport and documents, to be around my shoulders most of the time. This is how my fiancée travels, and I thought it’s a really neat way to keep documents close and still able to comfortably travel.
 
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Find out the exact dimensions allowable to see what'll fit! Personally, I never put my kit in the hold - it's always hand baggage but if I take a tripod, that does go in the big bag in the hold since they have been disallowed as hand baggage due to the possibility of them being used as weapons.

I use a LowePro MiniTrekker backpack type bag which falls within the requirements of the airlines we travel with. For longer holidays, I take a separate hold bag with clothes, tripod etc inside but for weekends, I leave a lens or 2 behind (or in pockets of a fleece I always take) and stuff spare undies and T-shirts in the gaps. If necessary, I'll buy what I need at destination.
 
Good point, ok, tripod doesn't have to fit inside, first post modified.

The MiniTrekker backpack is really a camera bag. I've learnt my listen, will not be taking as much gear to holidays anymore. Might even just take x100 for shorter holidays. The luggage is 100% not for photography
 
Nod said:
that does go in the big bag in the hold since they have been disallowed as hand baggage due to the possibility of them being used as weapons.
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Never had this problem ever in the numerous flights I have taken over the last few years. Even Ryanair aren't fussed as long as it is inside your bag.

OP, if you want a universal dimension look at the easyjet guaranteed size and the ryanair sizes, they are as small as I know. Weight wise you are looking at 7kg as standard, not many go below 7kg but quite a few go above. :thumbs:
 
That's your experience. It's also your tripod IF the security people decide they don't want you taking it as cabin baggage!

Cabin weight allowance is down to 5kg on some airlines - fortunately they didn't weigh mine in September. When they have done so and I've been overweight, they've let me load lenses into pockets until I'm below the limit and I then reload the bag when I'm round the corner.
 
I do want an universal luggage, and I'll probably go for such. Easyjet guaranteed size is 50 x 40 x 20cm

I guess main thing I'm looking for in this thread is brand recommendations. A specific one is even better, but looks like everyone has their preferences.
 
Nod said:
That's your experience. It's also your tripod IF the security people decide they don't want you taking it as cabin baggage!

Cabin weight allowance is down to 5kg on some airlines - fortunately they didn't weigh mine in September. When they have done so and I've been overweight, they've let me load lenses into pockets until I'm below the limit and I then reload the bag when I'm round the corner.
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It's easier just to ring the airline up if you are unsure before flying. As I have said never had a problem flying with my Gitzo and that is using European, Middle Eastern, Indian, South East Asian and US airlines. Anyway that is not the question the OP asked so we can leave it there :)

With regards to flights with 5kg hand luggage as far as I am aware it's just First Choice, Thomson and Monarch but I may be wrong...
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OP have you tried looking in places like TK Maxx? They often have decent luggage bags for fairly low prices. As with most things it's all a case of budget, cabin luggage bags range from £20-£2000+. Do you have a budget in mind? Are you looking at 2 wheels or 4? Built in locks or separate?
 
Also remember that each airline have their different allowed size for hand luggage. My friend got caught out trying to take a bag on to Ryan Air and had to pay a massive surcharge. She'd previously used the same bag on another airline.
 
jacob12_1993 said:
OP have you tried looking in places like TK Maxx? They often have decent luggage bags for fairly low prices. As with most things it's all a case of budget, cabin luggage bags range from £20-£2000+. Do you have a budget in mind? Are you looking at 2 wheels or 4? Built in locks or separate?
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I've not looked anywhere retail yet.

Budget is around £100, don't mind 2 or 4 wheels, I'd thought 2 wheels are more sturdy?

Don't mind where is the lock, I don't really use locks anyway. Besides, the valuables such as iPad are stored on the outside pocket anyway, don't really see point of main compartment lock.

jacob12_1993 said:
As for recommendations, I would suggest one of these:

http://www.samsonite.co.uk/x-blade-2-0-upright-50cm-18inch-black/product-en.htm?or=3735781090

Another brand to look at are Eagle Creek if you want something a bit more 'adventurous' but I think they are a little too big for the very smallest airlines
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Thanks, the one linked looks good. Nice and simple. How sturdy is it?


The reason to ask for recommendations is that it is ultimately just a container, they are all the same in looks. Main differences is like whether it'd survive a fall down the stairs, whether the handles will break off after a few uses, whether the wheels can take some punishment.
 
wuyanxu said:
Thanks, the one linked looks good. Nice and simple. How sturdy is it?


The reason to ask for recommendations is that it is ultimately just a container, they are all the same in looks. Main differences is like whether it'd survive a fall down the stairs, whether the handles will break off after a few uses, whether the wheels can take some punishment.
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Never had a problem with Samsonite stuff in the past, they have a good reputation for a reason. Haven't tried this specific bag but I would imagine it would be as good as the bigger ones I have used. They do also have 5 years warranty if anything goes wrong
 
I have just got one of these. I normally have a hardshell samsonite as it is lockable. But when we went to Cuba this summer T.Cook weighed it and I was over. However, I took camera out put it round my neck and it was ok (put it back in bag round the corner).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130983751215

But, got these for just in case, will test them next week.
 
I was a bit worried about the weight thing but have to say Virgin Atlantic and US Airways are pretty good. Although there is a weight restriction on carry on lugguage, if it is camera kit its excluded but you have to take responsibility for it (as in can't ask anyone to lift it into the overhead lockers)

Last time we flew Virgin we were upstairs with the smaller lockers, and one of the cabin crew kindly let us use one of the wardrobes usually for wedding dresses and stuff.

My other half now has one of these which we've modified to take a body, 3 lenses and a flash plus going away stuff and its Ryanair/Easyjet friendly!

http://store.dunlopsport.com/dunlop-suitcase-16-inch-709900
 
jacob12_1993 said:
I've seen these a few times in airports, the problem is that the extra small is still too big for RyanAir etc :thumbsdown:
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We took three of these on Ryanair flights as hand luggage in the summer. A few others on the flight had the same bags as well. :thumbs:

Guess it just depends on who you get at the gate :suspect:
 
Leslie said:
We took three of these on Ryanair flights as hand luggage in the summer. A few others on the flight had the same bags as well. :thumbs: Guess it just depends on who you get at the gate :suspect:
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Yeah, I've luckily only ever had my hand baggage checked for size once but it's sods law the one time you slip up they are going to be all over you like a rash
 
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