What bag do you check?

If you know in advance that your travel needs require you to check luggage for some reason, what kind of bag do you use to check in? I've been thinking about this lately and if I'm taking something like the Aeronaut on my back, I keep thinking my check in bag needs to be hard plastic and on wheels. At first I was thinking of a nice strong duffle type bag but that could be heavy and I would think it could get jammed on the belts. With a hard plastic bag I have a chance to semi fragile items home if I wrap with clothes. With wheels I don't have to worry about sweating my way through the airport. I suppose I could check an Aeronaut but I'd hate to subjec that to all the dirt and debris of the luggage track.

Just curious what others do when they know they will have to check bags.

Hi prtzelb,

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Originally Posted by pretzelb

If you know in advance that your travel needs require you to check luggage for some reason, what kind of bag do you use to check in? I've been thinking about this lately and if I'm taking something like the Aeronaut on my back, I keep thinking my check in bag needs to be hard plastic and on wheels. At first I was thinking of a nice strong duffle type bag but that could be heavy and I would think it could get jammed on the belts. With a hard plastic bag I have a chance to semi fragile items home if I wrap with clothes. With wheels I don't have to worry about sweating my way through the airport. I suppose I could check an Aeronaut but I'd hate to subjec that to all the dirt and debris of the luggage track.

Just curious what others do when they know they will have to check bags.

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I still usually take an Aeronaut, even on the occasions when I think I'll check a bag. The reason is that even when I'm not carrying this luggage around in airports (during stopovers) and on planes, I'm still going to be carrying it around the rest of the time, and it's just easier to manage. I've checked the Aeronaut when I've traveled with family members (who are checking bags), when heightened security made it seem preferable to reduce the screening time for everyone going through airports (just after the Heath Row incident, for example), and when I've had really long layovers where I didn't feel like toting bags all that time.

The Aeronaut checked has done surprisingly well with "fragile" items -- in the first month of use I found out that the snap design allowed me to expand the central compartment to include books, a small tea set, and a piece of glass artwork that were acquired/given by relatives along with the clothes I had originally packed for the outbound trip. Just my experience. YMMV. Of course, if you're coming back with even more stuff, you might need a larger bag.

I have checked the Aeronaut a bunch of times, and have also checked my Brain Bag at times! Both bags continue to look like-new perfect. Tom Bihn bags are indestructible... :)

I suppose I could check the Aeronaut but if I knew I was going to do that, I would take something else. For me, the main purpose of the Aeronaut is to carry the bag on. It's nice to know it holds up well to the abuse of the conveyor belts in case I have to check it someday, but to me it wouldn't make sense to check a bag that is made (or purchased) to be carried on. It would be like buying a wheeled bag only to carry it off the ground.

I was more thinking about a situation where I knew I was going to check a bag and carry on a bag (like the Aeronaut or a wheeled carry on). I used to think it was a good idea to go with a hard shell bag to help protect the contents, but that would pretty much mean wheels and weight. But if you go with something light like a duffle, you don't get wheels and I would think it could jam in the conveyor belts, plus if you already have a bag on your back how are you going to carry the duffle.

Perhaps my scenario should be the two bag trip (not counting personal item) where you are forced to check at least one bag.

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Originally Posted by moriond

The Aeronaut checked has done surprisingly well with "fragile" items -- in the first month of use I found out that the snap design allowed me to expand the central compartment to include books, a small tea set, and a piece of glass artwork that were acquired/given by relatives along with the clothes I had originally packed for the outbound trip.

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That's amazing! I haven't needed to check luggage since I've been using the Aeronaut, but now I definitely won't think twice about doing so.