It’s that time again: time for a trip to France!
And that means time for a post or two about clothes, luggage, accessories and other travel updates. This week I want to explore the issue of a travel bag: not the carry-on suitcase variety, but the hand carried under-the-seat tote.
There is, at the heart of all this, the debate about checking vs. carry-on. I have ALWAYS been one to check a bag…not a huge bag, but a 28″ that was large enough to a) allow me some choice in outfits while travelling and b) allow me to buy over there and pack it all.
And let’s not even get into the debate of hard cover vs. soft! I’ve tried both.
This year I decided to DO the carry-on!
Now, I have a question to ask all of you who do carry-on: can you actually lift that @45 lb. suitcase up top??? Yes? Really? I admire you. Or, is your husband/friend/stranger always available?
I DO have my husband available and he is most definitely of the carry-on side, so is delighted that I am trying this. We shall see!
Moving right along…with the carry on concept comes the necessity of a good sized tote to go under the seat in front of me. This is where it got interesting.
I wrote about my previous choice in these bags HERE . But this year I decided to go more mainstream and invest in a “real” bag. And, more important than anything (or so I thought) was a bag that had a strap to slide over a suitcase handle thus creating a sort of one unit roll along.
My first, and most highly recommended, brands were:

This is the O.G. bag. It’s the smaller of the two versions and comes in seven color combinations.
This brand really caught my eye. Very stylish and contemporary with many great styles to choose from. I ordered the O.G. in Army green.
Well, it DID fit nicely over the suitcase handle. No problem.
I wanted to like it! I really wanted to like it. Despite the price (very high) it seemed to have everything I wanted and needed. But, guess what? In the end it just was not right. It was bulky, at least for my size and height. The main zipper didn’t open very wide which I found quite difficult. And it really didn’t hold all that much.
2. Next up was the Lipault Original Weekend Bag.

This is the Plume 19″ Weekend Bag, in Chocolate.
This came highly recommended by Susan at UneFemme whose judgement I totally trust.. It’s big. Too big for me. Yes, it’s roomy and yes, the zipper opens fully and yes, there are numerous pockets both inside and out. Handles are comfortable.It fits nicely over the suitcase handle. But it felt awkward and just enormous. If it were not resting on the suitcase I doubt I could carry it comfortably.

Here it is, over my suitcase at home. Sorry about the blur! But it looks enormous,no?
What’s a girl to do?
I am thinking of a backpack! Yes, me, the original NOT-A-BACKBACK-KIND OF GIRL is now rethinking this issue. I will keep you posted. I’m just beginning my search: don’t want anything too big, too bulky, too masculine. But then again, this is what it (or any bag) has to hold:

What do we have here? Upper left, clockwise: Some makeup, neck pad, Bose ear phones, laptop, tech/cords,books,toothbrush,meds,slippers & socks,sweater,pashmina, and flats.
And, of course, on the way home there will be some purchases I am sure.
Here is an article published recently in the NYTimes,
“How To Pack a Carry-On Bag to Avoid Checking a Bag,”
with ideas on what you might need and how to pack your carry-on bag.
And this recent article from Washingtonian Magazine, “15 Stylish Gym Bags,” has some new ideas.
I’ll leave it there for today. I’m busy: going shopping on line looking for a backpack. If you have any ideas, I would appreciate them! And do let us know what you carry.
What a great post. We are away for 10 days and I have a broken ankle so my husband insisted that I pack in one big bag with him…not ideal. But just until I can walk. I do think a back pack makes a lot of sense!
Oh yes, we tried packing in one (huge) bag on a trip to Italy. BIG mistake!!!! No, I like my own “space.” Backpacks are just not me…but I tried walking around the house with one of my husband’s, he has many…, and well, it does make sense when walking airport and train stations. Not for everyday use! Stay tuned and we will see! And good luck with your ankle healing very fast!
Libby Wilkie recently posted…TRAVEL: LET’S TALK TRAVEL TOTES
I have never used a backpack so will look forward to your review. I love these practical product review posts, Libby!
Oh, thank you Cindy! I have more coming. I did try a small backpack in Barcelona, but nothing is accessible. Drove me nuts. But I think for real travel, climbing stairs (of course they don’t know about escalators in France!) walking train stations etc, it makes sense. Looks totally dorky (imho!) but it works!!!
Libby Wilkie recently posted…TRAVEL: LET’S TALK TRAVEL TOTES
Always use backpacks, also in handbags style. Nothing else makes sense anymore!
When do you leave, for how long will you go, where wil you stay??
Libby, I hope you find just what you want. One thought about backpacks, though. I wish people would take them off and carry them when boarding the plane. I’m frequently hit in the head by those who can’t seem to remember they have a rock-hard appendage on their backs as they twist to lift a bag overhead or climb into a nearby seat. Bon voyage! I’m headed to France on Wednesday!
Marian St.Clair recently posted…Equal Means Equal
Yes, I’ve been thinking of you and the upcoming trip! Can’t wait to see and hear all about it. have a wonderful time Marian!
Libby Wilkie recently posted…TRAVEL: LET’S TALK TRAVEL TOTES
Wow Libby, great minds – I just ordered a tote online and should be here today, we’ll see. I’ve always used satchels but I’m tired of the weight hanging on my shoulder, so the tote I ordered has a handle & wheels. My husband always takes his backpack for a carry-on and since he doesn’t seem to have as much as I do – I talk him into carrying my DSLR camera.
The couple we often travel with have rolling backpacks that double as carryons & they love them – that’s all they used when we went to Italy & Australia with them.
Bon Voyage!
Cyndi recently posted…Vintage Patterns
Oh Cyndi: well, I should have included my past tote/satchels! I did use a rolling back pack kind of thing two years ago to England. I loved it for my two overnights out of London. BUT the problem is that you then have TWO rolling bags to navigate around the airport etc. Forget the DSLR…I don’t even attempt that anymore. Just my iPhone. Husband is a photographer, so his entire backpack is spoken for with equipment!! To be continued!
I’m hoping this one can be popped on top of my carry-on when I need to, or carried either by the handles or rolled. We’ll see. I’m planning to check a bag, my husband calls it “the mini monster’ – its really not, just a size up from a carry on. Always an adventure, right?
Cyndi recently posted…Vintage Patterns
Hi Libby – my daughter has just back packed around Thailand & bought a perfect sized back pack from Osprey – it was the Farpoint 40 or 45 litre. She liked it because it was easy to carry but opened up like a suitcase. When are you in France? Julie xx
Your findings on travel tote bags is a great help. I’m always trying to refine my travel luggage. For totes, Baggallini has a nice selection–but then, I’m kind of a Baggallini collector. I have one that easily converts from shoulder bag (so you can access your stuff) to back pack (for the more serious travel moments when you need your hands free so you can run).
p.s. I carry a bungee cord to wrap around the luggage handle and fasten on my tote, easy!
Jen O recently posted…Judy’s Shops: L.A. Fashion Innovator Marcia Israel-Curley, a Book Review