Tote bags: OG, Le Pliage, or other?

[Susie]

I'm looking for a new bag to use for single overnight or short weekend trips.  Most often they'll be business single-overnights, where a roller board bag is too much/unwarranted, and has to be gate checked on most planes flying from my home airport.  I'll be carrying it with my laptop bag, which is a Lo & Sons Brookline.  I'd also use it for weekend trips when I'm traveling relatively light - trips to my parents', trips to the city to see my friends, that sort of thing, and also as a carry on when I take longer trips by plane.  If I could find a bag that did all that, and could also carry files to and from the office too, that'd be the jackpot.

I used to be able to do all that with a big zip-top canvas boat & tote bag, but I finally gave it up this weekend.  I had used it since lugging books in law school, and it was old, stained, fraying, and fug.  I basically want a more chic version of that.

I'm looking at the Lo & Sons OG, and the Longchamp Le Pliage bags.  Any recommendations, either between those or for something else?

[mbcdefg]

I got a large black Nine West tote at TJ Maxx for about $40, because I go to a lot of trade shows. It's big enough to hold my (small) laptop, plus wallet and keys and such. I've used it as an airplane carryon and I've added a book, a drink/snack, and a light change of clothes like yoga pants and a t-shirt. It's a bigger version of this one: www.zappos.com/nine-west-9-on-the-go-medium-tote-black-black?zlfid=191&ref=pd_sims_p_ab_t_1

My coworker has a similar Anne Klein model that she bought for the same purposes as me. Also from Marshall's/TJ Maxx, she said. It might be this one: m.macys.com/shop/product/anne-klein-perfect-tote?ID=486584&CategoryID=54494&cookieCheck=true Can you just browse around one of those stores?

These might not be as chic as you are looking for, but I'm happy with my Nine West bag and it's held up well.

[biscoffcookies]

I have a large Le Pliage.  I use it as both my work bag and as a carryon, but it would not be big enough for me to use it as my actual overnight bag in which I packed clothes, even for one night.  I believe Longchamp makes larger bags that are more usable as luggage, but I don't think they sling over your shoulder. 

I don't own an OG/OMG, but I have seen a few.  They seem to have a bigger storage capacity than a Le Pliage, but I will defer to others who actually own one about their utility.  I will say that I was jonesing for one but after seeing a couple in real life I am no longer so enthusiastic.  The OMG I saw yesterday looked like it would be a great work/gym/carryon bag, but it wouldn't work for me as an overnight bag.  I also saw an OG, but even though that one was bigger I wasn't sure would be super great for business trips -- suits are bulky, and it seemed like they would be more inclined to get wrinkled since you'd have to fold it up to get it in the bag (versus right now with my small rollaboard, I can lay the suit out along the bottom, pack my other clothes on top, and fold the suit over those clothes, which results in very few if any wrinkles).

[Deleted]

I have both and like both for different reasons. The OG is great for the airport, since it has a ton of organizational features. I like the ale Pliage better forwent end trips where I'm packing clothes or car trips since it's less structured. I have the expandable one that I like a lot.

[cransplash]

I have the large Le Pliage and agree that it wouldn't be large enough for an overnight.

I do have the OMG, and while it would be tight, it definitely holds more than the Le Pliage and should be fine for an overnight

[Susie]

mbcdefg, I think I'm looking for something with a little more volume than those, and maybe better suited to things that aren't flat. The canvas tote that I am replacing had dimensions on the order of 17 x 19 x 10 - it was a freaking cavern. I don't need something quite that big, but I'd like something suited more to packing "stuff" (full changes of clothes, shoes, toiletries) than being a work bag. The Anne Klein bag is cute, but I think I'd be fighting with the width all the time.

[treedimensional]

I like the leather ones at Floto.com.

[Susie]

Nov 24, 2014 11:40:25 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

I have both and like both for different reasons. The OG is great for the airport, since it has a ton of organizational features. I like the ale Pliage better forwent end trips where I'm packing clothes or car trips since it's less structured. I have the expandable one that I like a lot.

This one?  

shop.nordstrom.com/s/longchamp-le-pliage-expandable-travel-bag/2980320

I was looking at that as an option too, in the event that none of the others were seeming big enough.  I was kind of hoping to avoid the duffle-style strap, but OTOH the expandability looks kind of awesome.

[v]

I have an OMG, not an OG, but I think that style of bag is better for when you need to organize things. Not for when you just need a cave to put things in. So if you want to go with a Lo & Sons, I'd look at the Catalina over the OG for these purposes?

I don't think a Le Pliage would be big enough.

This is my overnight bag, which I highly recommend: www.katespade.com/The-Custom-Weekender-Bag/4IRU0267-p,en_US,pd.html?cgid=kss-customize-weekender

THAT SAID, I always feel like a disorganized, bulky disaster when I'm carrying two large bags, so if you're also going to have your laptop bag with you I'd probably go with a really small rolly suitcase instead.

[Deleted]

I hate Vera Bradley, but I have this for similar purposes and it works very well. www.amazon.com/Vera-Bradley-Grand-Traveler-Black/dp/B00AFZAJ4C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416847970&sr=8-3&keywords=vera+bradley+grand+traveler

[Susie]

Nov 24, 2014 11:50:38 GMT -5 v said:

I have an OMG, not an OG, but I think that style of bag is better for when you need to organize things. Not for when you just need a cave to put things in. So if you want to go with a Lo & Sons, I'd look at the Catalina over the OG for these purposes?


THAT SAID, I always feel like a disorganized, bulky disaster when I'm carrying two large bags, so if you're also going to have your laptop bag with you I'd probably go with a really small rolly suitcase instead.

Me too.  I feel like I'm forever trying to find exactly the right size bag, that is big enough for everything I need, and small enough not to exacerbate this situation.  I've learned, though, that trying to go with too small a bag actually makes this worse because then I have crap falling out everywhere.

I was looking at the Catalina, but I was afraid it would look too casual to carry to a client's office (e.g., we usually check out of the hotel in the AM, meet all day, and leave straight for the airport after).  I haven't seen one IRL, any thoughts on that?

We just got rid of 4 or 5 different totes, backpacks, etc. this weekend on a closet clear-out mission.  I am desperately trying to find bags that multitask so we don't go right back to that scenario.  

[msmerymac]

I'm no help, because I have a regular over-the-shoulder Le pliage, which is great if you need to be able to fold up a light bag in your regular work bag. Like if you need to take files to the office and leave them there, the le pliage is awesome because it can fold up and get stuffed in your regular computer bag. I also use it when I travel and want to bring a really big purse/day bag with me, but I don't want to have to pack one of my larger purses. It's great for stashing my wallet, keys, sunglasses, kindle, a small makeup bag, a jacket and a bottle of water. But it's not structured, nor does it organize anything. And it's a big small for an overnight bag.

BUT for an overnight bag, I have this longchamp: us.longchamp.com/pliage/product/20945

The nice thing about this one is that, being unstructured, it's a great carry on bag because it can smush in the overhead or under the seat. The nylon is pretty durable. And like the others, I can fold it up and stash it in another piece of luggage, which is great for vacations where you think you might buy a lot of souvenirs and need an additional bag to bring things back! I've also used it for long weekends or other 3-4 night trips (I will be using it this weekend, actually) and it performs great as a medium all-around duffle bag. I think it's more versatile and fits more stuff than a roller suitcase, whose structure makes it not as roomy, IMO, if that makes sense.

*whispers* buy all the bags!

[v]

For the purposes of going to a client's office, I'd get a small suitcase. You'll look much more organized if you have a suitcase with a laptop bag piled on it than if you have two bags sitting next to each other on the floor, you know?

[msmerymac]

These are little more expensive, but might work:

www.tumi.com/na/p/mansion-carry-all-0481705D?subcat=true

www.tumi.com/na/p/dublin-weekender-0481720SAP?subcat=true

[Susie]

Nov 24, 2014 12:15:21 GMT -5 v said:

For the purposes of going to a client's office, I'd get a small suitcase. You'll look much more organized if you have a suitcase with a laptop bag piled on it than if you have two bags sitting next to each other on the floor, you know?

I do.  I just don't want to store my existing ~21" roller board, my big rolling luggage, yet another wee rolling bag, and extra totes, so I'm wishing there was a magical option that could do it all.  None of these pieces sees so much use that I'm wearing any of it out.

The root of this whole problem is that I'm trying to trim my belongings down so all my clothes and bags fit into my half of our closet + the closet in the office bedroom (i.e. stop spilling over into the guest bedroom closets).  I got rid of like 4 bags, and I'm trying, probably in vein, to replace with 1. 

The whole process feels more like trying to lose weight than any other analogy I can come up with.  

[L]

I use a small leather rolling briefcase as my overnight bag when I travel on small planes. It fits in the overhead bin in even the smallest airplanes and looks professional for when I have to take all my stuff into court with me after checking out of a hotel. Going through an airport with everything in a shoulder bag sucks.

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2014 11:48:45 GMT -5 Susie said:

Nov 24, 2014 11:40:25 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

I have both and like both for different reasons. The OG is great for the airport, since it has a ton of organizational features. I like the ale Pliage better forwent end trips where I'm packing clothes or car trips since it's less structured. I have the expandable one that I like a lot.

This one?  

shop.nordstrom.com/s/longchamp-le-pliage-expandable-travel-bag/2980320

I was looking at that as an option too, in the event that none of the others were seeming big enough.  I was kind of hoping to avoid the duffle-style strap, but OTOH the expandability looks kind of awesome.

Yes, that's the exact one I have. I love it.

[maddiepaddy]

I have the OMG and think that it would work, but might be awkward to carry that around in addition to the Brookline. What about one of those really small rolling bags, like about this size: www.ebags.com/product/ebags/kalya-rolling-tote/227653?productid=10248274 .

I know you want to have less stuff, but I really think you'll feel bogged down trying to navigate through airports with two fairly large shoulder bags.

[chickens987]

I love my Lesportsac Abbey

[pumpkin]

I have a couple Bric's bags I've been happy with. One is canvas and kind of similar to a le pliage, but bigger. I found that one at TJ Maxx.

[cheezer]

I have a small rolly suitcase that fits my laptop, has a pocket for files, and then a small other section for clothes. It fits in the overhead of regional aircraft as long as it isn't packed really full.

I like the lightweightness of the Le Pliage and it's definitely big enough for an overnight for me (although I'd worry about wrinkles for a suit or something). I have a knockoff that I've had for 10 years from the GAP which is a great size for an overnight or a beach bag.