Travel hacks and advice

[plugboots]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/bes...s&gad_source=1

[Meadow Skipper]

Rollers with tuck-away or zip-away pack straps!
They are clutch for places (like Europe) where the wheels only get you part of the way!
Why are these so hard to find these days?

The High Sierras I have are both needing replacement.
Carryon roller: 22" expandable split roller bag with a hard bottom that fits in the overhead bins but can expand a good chunk for checked use. Bent the telescoping handle so it only comes out halfway.
Big roller: 35" 110L drop bottom duffel roller with 34" of internal length, pretty sleek at 14"x14" which keeps it balanced and the drop bottom is hard sided. It sits happily upright on the wheel end. The zippers are going making it sketchy to travel with.

They both have rigid base and back, the rest is padded or soft. I hate rollers with a soft back as they sag putting the weight on your arm instead of the weels. The zipaway pack straps on the hard-side gives you a frame and carries nicely when your room is down the snow covered alley and up 5 flights!

I absolutely cannot find a 30+" 110-130L roller duffel with one hard side and pack straps on the hard side. High Sierra doesn't do backpack straps anymore. The closest thing I've found is the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT series. Straps are on the soft side of the bag, which I can tolerate, but the largest size is only 32" which makes it fatter (bukly/tippy)... guess that is OK since ate least it claims 120L as long as there is at least 29"n of internal length.

What else is out there?

I looked at Osprey’s stuff but didn’t see a roller bag with a harness that was 100l or more. 80-90 liters seemed to be the biggest with a harness. I like my Osprey luggage a lot. Pack lighter?
https://www.osprey.com/travel/luggage/wheeled-luggage

[summit]

https://www.travelandleisure.com/bes...s&gad_source=1

None of those fit the bill of pack straps and at least one hard side (and thus a telescoping handle). (I had come across that page).

As far as packing lighter, its nice to have one of these duffels because you can compress down when it is partially full, but expand it when you, say, buy a buncha wine or liqour in Europe. And having a long bag, at least 28" of internal, means my BD treking poles fit inside lengthwise rather than diagonal, along with various other long things.

I wish the Osprey Sojourn 100L had backpack straps. They literally have a backpanel zip compartment where the straps could live and attach, just like my High Sierras, but Osprey just uses it for an ID pocket and "extra storage." Maybe I could add them...


Although that looks uncomfortable as it would be the hadle tubes rather than a plastic sheet like the High Sierras.

[Meadow Skipper]

I wish the Osprey Sojourn 100L or 130L had backpack straps. They literally have a backpanel zip compartment where the straps could live and attach, just like my High Sierras, but Osprey just uses it for an ID pocket and "extra storage." Maybe I could add them...

Back when Osprey was located in Cortez and they made the packs there you might have been able to get them to custom add a harness, but these days…

/uselessnostalgia
/theworldisgoingtohell

[singlesline]

I think you're right that they are hard to find now...but IMHO it is because they don't really work that well for most people.

Eagle Creek does have a 110 and 130L version of the cargo hauler, but you get a webbing handle rather than an extendable handle and you give up rigidity....so you'd better actually be filling the thing or it will be a floppy mess.

When they get that big, the weight becomes pretty unwieldy fast, so people are happy to drop the extra weight associated with frame/handle/wheels...or they are unhappy to carry it on their back so the straps never get used. A loaded 130L pack with basic straps (rather than a real frame and load-carrying hip strap) is no fun to carry long distances. Pretty narrow subset of people who want all in one at that size.

FWIW, when I was in Europe last fall, I brought a convertible option...and I didn't end up using it in backpack mode a single time. Nice big wheels plus a decently sized/stable handle setup is perfectly manageable around Europe even with cobble streets and questionable footpaths. I ditched it when I got home and replaced it with a REI Big Haul rolling duffel without backpack straps.

[summit]

I used the heck out of my packstraps on the High Sierra 110L just lately in Scotland... even in the city when going up two flights of stairs and through literally 11 doors to get to a room.

This Eagle Creek XT is probably the call. 32" 110L. Same weight (4kg) and size as the Osprey 100, thouhg it won't roll as well as an Osprey. It won't pack carry as well as the High Sierra but I need to not worry about impending zipper failure.
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/revie...t-wheeled-120l

[singlesline]

From the linked review:

Although the backpack straps are a clever idea, we found them to be less than practical for anything longer than a quick trip upstairs, etc. The straps and their connection points to the bag are flimsy and there's insufficient padding or structure to ease the pressure of all that weight on back and shoulders.

That's why they barely exist anymore. I'm with you that it is a nice to have feature in those instances where it works...but I can usually manage to just carry it by hand for a few flights of stairs or whatever.

Maybe I should pick one up for when I need to travel with bulky but not super heavy things that won't put me over the limit. Going on first big trip (Maui) with a baby in November and might be stretching what I can do with my 30" REI Big Haul roller--the eagle creek weighs less and has more capacity.

[singlesline]

I have one of these ridiculous bright orange discontinued Arc'teryx Carrier 100L duffels that I picked up for cheap on Sierra Trading Post years ago:
https://www.campsaver.com/arc-teryx-...fel-100-l.html

Absolutely zero structure or features/pockets. Just a big zip-up container with handles on 4 sides and 2 straps that can be used as backpack, shoulder, or as compression straps to take up excess volume.

Makes it very light, and the fabric is burly and holds up to being checked...but not great for carrying long distances (better pack it so nothing pointy is near your back!)

Looks like they've released a new version with better straps, more structure, and easier access...but the nice thing about this is how small you can pack it up for how cavernous it is. Good for if you need to go somewhere and return with a lot of stuff (or if you are never more than 100' from the car)

[toast2266]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? Is making them run around the airport before boarding and then dosing them with melatonin gonna work?

[jm2e]

Grandparents?


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[Buzzworthy]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? I

Edibles

[skaredshtles]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? Is making them run around the airport before boarding and then dosing them with melatonin gonna work?

Prayers are your only hope.

[nickwm21]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? Is making them run around the airport before boarding and then dosing them with melatonin gonna work?

Yes.

Have one parent board early with all the luggage.
2nd parent explore the terminal with the kiddos - board dead last.

Have plan B, C, & D… new toys, new books, and the kryptonite (Frozen 1 and 2).

Most of all - don’t stress too much. It will not go perfectly… on most flights there’s a crying kid and no one really cares…


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[MontuckyFried]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? Is making them run around the airport before boarding and then dosing them with melatonin gonna work?

What are their ages?

[MarcusBrody]

Speaking of travel "hacks", this is what is being shown to me as "Popular This Week on TGR". I haven't really been in the market lately, so I don't think it's my cookies, though I have an ad blocker running, so maybe that is making things weird?

[MarcusBrody]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? Is making them run around the airport before boarding and then dosing them with melatonin gonna work?

I've done this a bunch as one set of grandparents (and at one point some of my wife's work projects) are in India and last year we went to Aus/NZ. How old are the kids? We try to get him to run around before, try to schedule flights that have natural bed times, then give him a bit of melatonin to help him sleep somewhat normally. Honestly, it's pretty easy these days with our son as if we're flying that long, the plane likely has a screen. My son doesn't get unlimited screen time any other time, so he will just happily watch things for an extended period. When it's a reasonable bed time, give him a melatonin with 20 minutes or so left in a movie, then make him sleep after before he can watch anything else. If it was only 10 hours total and during the day, I wouldn't necessarily make him sleep.

We also have a Nintendo Switch which we often bring. A new game before the trip will also hold attention. Before our Aus/NZ trip I bought the new Zelda for myself and my son was also fascinated.

Also, my son is obsessed with airliners. So that helps.

[Danno]

Ok, what do the TGR travel gurus have for making long (~10 hour) flights survivable with children? Is making them run around the airport before boarding and then dosing them with melatonin gonna work?

as asked already, the ages is a crucial missing piece of data. also, how familiar are they with plane travel in general? and what are they like on those trips?

[toast2266]

What are their ages?

They'll be about 5 (twin boys). On shorter flights (< 5 hrs) we've done, they've waffled between being totally fine and thrashing uncontrollably (which resulted in one of them kicking the stewardess).

Getting them to sleep I think is going to be the real trick. We're going from a small airport (Kalispell) to a small-ish airport (Geneva), so unfortunately that makes timing the flights around logical bedtimes essentially impossible. At some point, either on the outgoing or return flight, pretty much all available itineraries have some level of suck.

[MarcusBrody]

They'll be about 5 (twin boys). On shorter flights (< 5 hrs) we've done, they've waffled between being totally fine and thrashing uncontrollably (which resulted in one of them kicking the stewardess).

Getting them to sleep I think is going to be the real trick. We're going from a small airport (Kalispell) to a small-ish airport (Geneva), so unfortunately that makes timing the flights around logical bedtimes essentially impossible. At some point, either on the outgoing or return flight, pretty much all available itineraries have some level of suck.

Do they play video games? My son was 6 when we got the Switch, specifically for an India trip. It became a life saver when we all got Covid during the journey and ended up stuck in a bedroom for a week. I understand if you don't want to embrace that, but I suspect the novelty and a headphone splitter with a game like Mario Cart might go a long way to entertaining them.

[Buzzworthy]

Getting them to sleep I think is going to be the real trick.

Still sticking with my original answer

[Danno]

Yeah, use any and every screen to keep them occupied.

[dcpnz]

This Eagle Creek XT is probably the call. 32" 110L. Same weight (4kg) and size as the Osprey 100, thouhg it won't roll as well as an Osprey. It won't pack carry as well as the High Sierra

I think you're right that they are hard to find now...but IMHO it is because they don't really work that well for most people.

Eagle Creek does have a 110 and 130L version of the cargo hauler, but you get a webbing handle rather than an extendable handle and you give up rigidity....so you'd better actually be filling the thing or it will be a floppy mess.

That Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT looks like a pretty good option for your requirements.

I recently purchased and traveled with a couple of Eagle creek migrate 130l wheeled duffels which I think is the one singlesline is referring to. Bit lighter, bit bigger and much less expensive than the cargo hauler xt but does not meet your requirement of a rigid bottom.

Everything is a tradeoff - for us the 4lb lighter bag meant not exceeding airline limits and when fairly full the fabric handle was perfectly fine.

FWIW - airline did a real number on one of them and it got abrasion holes in the bottom (1680d ballistic poly). Eagle creek stepped up and warrantied it without question.

We also travelled with some regular duffels (Gregory Alpaca, now discontinued ) that I like quite alot for their burly simplicity, pack straps and tie downs but no wheels,

Bags are like skis - need to have a good quiver!!

[singlesline]

I used the heck out of my packstraps on the High Sierra 110L just lately in Scotland... even in the city when going up two flights of stairs and through literally 11 doors to get to a room.

This Eagle Creek XT is probably the call. 32" 110L. Same weight (4kg) and size as the Osprey 100, thouhg it won't roll as well as an Osprey. It won't pack carry as well as the High Sierra but I need to not worry about impending zipper failure.
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/revie...t-wheeled-120l

Looks like Amazon has a couple of colors at a pretty big discount too: https://www.amazon.com/eagle-creek-T...221e06445&th=1

Campsaver has other colors for $265 with code AUTUMN:
https://www.campsaver.com/eagle-cree...l-120l-32.html

[spanky]

Edibles

For the parents and cough syrup for the kids.

[toast2266]

Do they play video games? My son was 6 when we got the Switch, specifically for an India trip. It became a life saver when we all got Covid during the journey and ended up stuck in a bedroom for a week. I understand if you don't want to embrace that, but I suspect the novelty and a headphone splitter with a game like Mario Cart might go a long way to entertaining them.

No video games currently, but I'll certainly crack that egg open for this trip. Normally our kids don't get a ton of screen time, but that policy is on hold for airplanes. In the past, it hasn't been quite as helpful as I'd hoped though. They've always gotten restless ~45 minutes into any given movie (including ones they'll happily sit through at home).

But yeah, definitely planning on bringing every feasible form of entertainment. Books, games, movies, hookers & blow, etc. Might also bring some extra NRS straps for securing them in the overhead bins.

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