Carry On Bags

[Shorttime]

Those of you who travel, first of all, I respect you because crowds, keeping schedules, and allowing other people to be in control when I'm that far above the ground are not my idea of "relaxing"!

Second, I'd like to see your carry-on bags. How do you organize what keeps you occupied on the flight?

 

[SwiftDream]

I traveled extensively by private plane during my mapping career and it is very easy for me to relax in that environment. Of course I could take anything I wanted, guns, knives, anything. Commercial air travel is something I’ve never found pleasant, crowds, endless showing of documents, unforeseen last minute cancelations. I feel like I’m on a cattle car with an endless parade of authoritarians. I had to do that often crossing the continent for my wife’s family gigs. We try to avoid it now.


For commercial air travel I always take my Osprey Talon 33 packed with water , travel foods, clothes that work for outdoors activities, lightweight rain jacket, toothbrush, etc. I purchase an inexpensive SAK on the order end and stash it somewhere when I leave, a place I can retrieve it at a future date if I return. In the good old days one could take a non locking SAK but those days are gone now. I stash my bag in the overhead or under the seat, don’t like to check any extra bags. The Talon carries well and is perfect for exploring the hinterlands when packed with a few extra supplies that are easily found at most destinations.


As far as entertainment, my phone contains about 130 downloaded ebooks which Alexa can read to me. Some are reference books. I like to keep several audiobooks downloaded and maybe a podcast series or two. There are a couple note apps I use frequently, seven music apps and a video app. I use AirPods. The high quality camera systems are frequently used. Of course there are several communication apps available as well. There is an app for navigation with dozens of maps downloaded and the ability to acquire additional maps on the fly as needed. Or I can just meditate.

 

[kreole]

What all are you bringing? I go in 13-16 hour trips a couple times a year. I have a simple 20l backpack with a main pouch and two smaller internal pockets, and that provides convenient access for everything I want plus a few things from my wife. It might be a matter of simplifying what you are carrying(?)

 

[Horsewright]

We do that. Simple, rugged and designed to fit in an overhead, our duffel bag is completely handmade from leather. Our daughter recently flew to ND to visit a friend for a week.

We also make a Travel Bag (shaving kit, dopp bag), that helps with organizing smaller items and fits inside the duffel. They are often ordered as a set.

Also they can be personalized with initials or a brand:

Heck, I got the original prototype:

 

[The Zieg]

We do that. Simple, rugged and designed to fit in an overhead, our duffel bag is completely handmade from leather. Our daughter recently flew to ND to visit a friend for a week.

We also make a Travel Bag (shaving kit, dopp bag), that helps with organizing smaller items and fits inside the duffel. They are often ordered as a set.

Also they can be personalized with initials or a brand:

Heck, I got the original prototype:

Looks like an order I'm a hafta make!

 

[Horsewright]

Looks like an order I'm a hafta make!

Know a guy! Well actually my wife makes these.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Cotopaxi makes some good travel bags, I like that they are common enough to not stand out, but distinct enough that you can find yours, they also try to be as ethical as they can, and build pretty bomber bags. They also have a line made of scraps, so if you are a goofball like me, they work really well. I've also got some Tom Bihn stuff, but it's an investment. So I've gone with smaller sub-bags from them.
My Allpa 35 will fit most overhead bins, but also I can run it for 3-4 days easily if I need to on it's own. But I'm also a backpack guy, so I tend to travel heavy with what I want at the other end as well, remove my IFAK, snack kit, battery packs and tools, and I could live out of the Allpa for a week easy. But since I still need a checked bag for my EDC....

 

[Shappy]

We do that. Simple, rugged and designed to fit in an overhead, our duffel bag is completely handmade from leather. Our daughter recently flew to ND to visit a friend for a week.

We also make a Travel Bag (shaving kit, dopp bag), that helps with organizing smaller items and fits inside the duffel. They are often ordered as a set.

Also they can be personalized with initials or a brand:

Heck, I got the original prototype:

Beautiful bags!

 

[Horsewright]

Beautiful bags!

Thanks!