As most of you know the mantra of all 12-step programs is to admit you have a problem in order to stop the addicted behaviour. My addiction is luggage. There I said it but I suspect it won’t be going away any time soon, no matter how many times I confess. I love shopping, buying, researching – luggage! Don’t judge.
See, during every trip I figure out the flaws in my “system” and before the trip is even over my brows furrow in concentration and I stare at the offending bag(s) until I come up with a solution. Then I spend the between trip time hunting down just the right bag that will make my new system complete.
One thing that became obvious very early on is that I loath anything heavy on my back and shoulders. I would like to publicly pledge my undying gratitude to Mr. Bernard Sadow, who, in 1972 invented wheeled luggage. Without his genius I would have had to foster a strapping young man to shlep my shit all over the world. kidding.
This past trip to Costa Rica, my first solo trip, shone a glaring light on a serious flaw in my luggage choices. When travelling alone volume matters way more than when you have a partner – if all your luggage doesn’t fit in a typical bathroom stall/long drop then you’ve got yourself a major problem. Lets face it if bags can “disappear” when standing next to them, just imagine how fast they would go if you’re not!
The trip to Costa Rica involved so much luggage that taking a local bus was a nightmare so I was restricted to Turismo Autobus, which, while pretty nice, was way more expensive. Also, if you remember, the airline forgot my bags on the tarmac in Denver. So this time I am committed to 1 roller and 1 medium backpack, and I am going to have no checked luggage. Really. I can do this. Every one pray for me. :}
So here are the pieces I own:
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- Kerry guarding our mountain of luggage at the Arequipa train station in Peru.
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- This is the oldest piece I have, vintage you might say. Haven’t used it for decades because of my backpack-lite image. LOL
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- Business class – not!… got this before the industry started putting wheels on carry-ons and this was the only thing I could find. Not optimum.
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- Got this in Mexico years ago before I committed to avoiding dead animals whenever possible. Never used it cause it is as heavy as a cow.
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- Duffle – love the look and size of this one but no wheels. I even found instructions on line to attach wheels but have thus far lacked the ambition to make it happen.
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- Got caught up in the Olympic fever – Yah Canada. I love the look of the messenger style but hate how it feels. This hasn’t stopped me from buying them, only using them.
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- Oh look – a “what was I thinking” bag. Never used it, it is light canvas and it just doesn’t work well.
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- Costa Rica Desperado – when my messenger bag (from the $ store, what was I thinking?) fell apart this is the best I could find in San Jose. Too big and it is light canvas.
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- Medium Duffle – no wheels, not a contender. I think I picked it up on a trip when my regular bags spilt over.
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- I am sooo not going to bother with dealing with carry-on this trip.
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- Mighty Mouse!
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- Large Back Pack – this is well used but better as a weekender with a car… no wheels.
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- Expensive Impulse – not enough pockets and it could easily get lost… it is cammo after all.
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- Newest member, will likely be my “purse”, not going to lose this sucker!
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- Large Wheeled Back Pack – this will likely be my carry-on and main bag. It’s been a real soldier, tough as nails.
So do you have a luggage system/problem? I’d love to hear about them, write me.
Travelling Crone 
Love this Donnae–you are so imaginative! Enjoyable piece –lightened my “hate the world ” mood–can’t sleep–went to bed at 12 hoping to get up and make the gym at nine–of course can sleep any other time! I want one of those back packs on wheels–my Mom has one and they just look so handy! Thanks for the laugh.
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Thanks Dana, I love to put a smile on people’s faces. I know the world can be a such a heavy place for a gentle spirit to be in.
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I really thought i was the only person to obsess and spend hoursliterally hours thinking up the “perfect” bag . Feel so much better now, thanks. BY the way my best tip if buying wheeled luggage is to make sure it has 4 wheels, it just trundles along beside you and you dont get sore arms from pulling it along behind you, especially hate the 2 wheeled ones that twist uncontrollably on bumps. Wwarning about backpacks, if they are two wide you’ll be knocking peope out every time you turn around on public transport . Bon voyage(s)
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haha, no Oz girl you are NOT alone… 1 week in and I am trying to figure out why my damn bag is so freaking heavy! Sure glad those zippers are the gonzo ones, I can not get one more pair of gitch in there. Thanks for dropping by. :}
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