Upcoming Trip to India - Bag Considerations

[davewg]

have a two week business trip to India coming up at the end of October.

I'm trying to decide if I can manage the trip with only one bag + minimal laptop/day bag. My potentials are the usual suspects around here (Air Boss, Aeronaut, Tri Star)

My trip will encompass flying to Delhi (non stop), but I will also be in Noida and Chennai. The end of the Chennai leg of the trip corresponds with the flight home.

While in Delhi/Noida we'll be at 3 hotels in the span of 10 days (due to availability). The latter two of these are for for 5 days each. Chennai will be for two days.

It looks like the 3rd hotel in the Delhi/Noida area will have laundry service, but I can always do some sink/shower laundry before/after that.

Dress for the work days will be business casual - khakis, polo shirts, etc. I plan to make do with one pair of shoes.

I'm still working on the packing list, but wanted to get some thoughts on feasibility.

TIA

[Shiva]

Hello there:
that is great. I am from Chennai....
it will still be quite warm there--so keep that in mind as you pack. I would recommend a pair of flip flops--you will need them inside the hotel etc.,
Laundry should be available in most places; and in any case, things dry super fast there.
Would recommend mosquito repellent etc., and a water purifier of some sort.
Clothes are the easy part: and you can always pick up really wonderful stuff back home---check out Dilhi Haat (a great place to shop at Delhi), and Fab India.

[RedBeard]

I think you can go anywhere in the world indefinitely with an Aeronaut and a Checkpoint Flyer. It isn't hard to pack 4 days of clothes (plus what you are wearing) with an extra pair of shoes and toiletries in the Aeronaut. The Checkpoint will handle everything else and fit under your seat when fully packed. Plus you can strap both bags on your body (the Checkpoint across your shoulders and the Aeronaut as a backpack) at the same time if you need to. It's such a great combination, I don't travel with anything else.

[Lani]

I'm trying to decide if I can manage the trip with only one bag + minimal laptop/day bag.

Woot!

OK before you even decide on a bag, here are some things to think about:

- Verify that the airlines you are flying with will allow you the "additional personal item" in addition to your carry-on. Some non-US airlines insist on the single carry-on, and will not let you take a separate anything; you will need to be able to carry your personal items in your carry-on.

In my opinion, whether this is your situation will actually affect what bag I'd recommend.

If you cannot take a separate bag, I'd suggest taking the Tri-Star, and sliding your laptop into the middle compartment. It's designed to hold your laptop and protect it from both sides.

If you can carry a separate personal item, what kind of laptop do you have? How big is it? Is it a full-sized monster Alienware 17" gaming laptop so you can do all your work and still play World of Warcraft in your hotel room? Is it a smaller laptop? Or better yet, can you make do with a netbook or an iPad? If you go with a netbook or tablet, you actually don't even need a laptop bag--it will REALLY free you up. In that case, you could either go with something like the Risretto, or just put your little netbook/tablet in a sleeve and put it in a Medium Cafe Bag. Some of the folks on the forums have also been able to put their netbooks/iPads/small laptops in their Co-Pilot bags.

If you can take that separate laptop bag/personal item, then you've got a little more options for your main carry-on. I'd still recommend a Tri-Star, but you might also consider its bigger cousin, the Aeronaut. If you want to go the other direction, the Western Flyer is a true minimalist packer's bag.

While in Delhi/Noida we'll be at 3 hotels in the span of 10 days (due to availability). The latter two of these are for for 5 days each. Chennai will be for two days.

My cubicle-mate is from India and she warns me that while October is a nice time to visit, Chennai is going to be very humid. She sternly warns against wearing Polo shirts because they're going to feel too hot and sticky. She suggests fabrics that breathe. Ex Officio makes some really awesome travel shirts that dry in a snap (and they have ones that are plaid and such, that don't scream HI-I'M-WEARING-TRAVEL-GEAR. Most of them are vented, and if you rinse them in a sink and hang them up to dry, they will be ready for the next day.

I'd listen to what Shiva said -- "it is quite warm" = hot and sweaty!! I'm putting in a second vote for a thin pair of rubber flip-flops so you're not in bare feet when you get out of your shoes.

Pack a minimal amount and then go and buy some great local clothes. Very inexpensive and they will make awesome souvenirs, too.

Also, Ex Officio sells the BEST travel underwear. They're amazing! They're also kind of expensive, but all you will need are two pairs (one to wear while the other one is drying). If you don't have time to hang dry them, wring them out in a towel and they will be good to go. You will save a ton of room this way.

PS: Here's some links so you can see what I'm referring to over at Ex Officio:

Ex Officio men's "Next to nothing" plaid shirt
Ex Officio men's travel underwear

[davewg]

- Verify that the airlines you are flying with will allow you the "additional personal item" in addition to your carry-on. Some non-US airlines insist on the single carry-on, and will not let you take a separate anything; you will need to be able to carry your personal items in your carry-on.

Flying round trip to India on Continental in business/first. I'm allowed the 45 linear inch/40 lb carry on + a personal item. No way I plan to carry a 40lb bag....

The flight in India (Jet Airways) the limit is 55 cm + 35 cm + 25 cm (L + W + H) or 115 linear CMs (approx 21.5 x 13.8 x 9.8) and max of 7kg (15.5 lbs). Looks like I can have a laptop in addition to that (though Jet Airways' site is vague on whether that's an additional bag too).

If you can carry a separate personal item, what kind of laptop do you have? How big is it?

Laptop is a Dell Lattitude E6400. Dimensions are 13.25 x 9.5 x ~1.25). I do plan to bring an iPad2 as well with all my reading material, etc on that. I've actually been looking for a small bag to accommodate both plus chargers, wireless mouse and a couple pens.

Thanks for the advice on weather and clothes. Any further thoughts on the bag? I've looked at both the Tri Star and the Aeronaut (in addition to the Air Boss). I like the idea that the laptop could go in the Air Boss or Tri Star and still be handily accessible. My one hang up with the Aeronaut is how to accomplish that.

[Shiva]

hi: jet airways will let two bags on--either aeronaut + checkpoint--that sort of combo!
have fun...and let us know how the trip went!

[Lani]

Flying round trip to India on Continental in business/first. I'm allowed the 45 linear inch/40 lb carry on + a personal item. No way I plan to carry a 40lb bag....

Wow, business and first. I'm so jealous!

Don't dismiss 40 pounds, by the way. I know YOU wouldn't ever pack that much, but here's some math: A maximum carryon-sized rolling upright can weigh upwards of 10 pounds (the popular eBags 21" Mother Lode rolling upright weighs just shy of 9 pounds empty). Say you put a laptop in it with all of its various accoutrements and call it an even 10 pounds. Add a spare pair of shoes, pack it tightly with a lot of clothes, and suddenly you're lugging around 40 pounds worth of junk.

Laptop is a Dell Lattitude E6400. Dimensions are 13.25 x 9.5 x ~1.25). I do plan to bring an iPad2 as well with all my reading material, etc on that. I've actually been looking for a small bag to accommodate both plus chargers, wireless mouse and a couple pens.

I think your laptop might be too big for a Co-Pilot. You might, however, consider a Dyneema nylon Synapse. That would be a really nice seatside bag. Unfortunately their steel Dyneema version is out of stock until late October. If you don't mind the red Iberian I think they have it in stock. Someone (maybe Katy or Darcy) might be able to tell you whether the weight difference is neglible between the Dyneema and regular Cordura versions of the Synapse. If it's not much, then go with their regular fabric versions.

Thanks for the advice on weather and clothes. Any further thoughts on the bag? I've looked at both the Tri Star and the Aeronaut (in addition to the Air Boss). I like the idea that the laptop could go in the Air Boss or Tri Star and still be handily accessible. My one hang up with the Aeronaut is how to accomplish that.

If you wind up with a separate personal bag for your laptop and iPad, that won't even be an issue if you get the Aeronaut. Just saying.