Suitcase poll

[hamster]

Somebody had to do this!

I cant edit the poll, so add if you have enough for the whole family in the comments. 

[Velar Fricative]

We have both full-size and carry-ons.

ETA: I see that now this was spurred by...something. Guess I’ll go read that thread.

[countthestars]

I chose both "Carry on only" and "Full size" because we have both sizes. We actually have probably too many pieces of luggage in general: 1 extra large, 2 large, 1 medium, 2 carry on - all rolling suitcases. When we travel with the kids we try to make our money work best for us (as few pieces of luggage as possible when flying with anyone other than Southwest, keeping all bags right under 50lb).

ETA: so sometimes that's 2 large, sometimes 1 XL, 1 med, 1 carry on, etc. When H and I travel just the two of us, we bring the 2 carry ons if we can fit everything.

[pandorica]

Full size and carry on. We use both (plus duffels/back packs).

We bought a new full size one for our last trip, but now I'm wondering after that thread if we should have borrowed from my parents! I'm sure we'll get lots of use out of it though.

[redheadk]

We each have a carry-on. We share 1 medium and 1 large amongst our household. The large is very rarely used and would be more suited to a multi-week business trip since it’s basically impossible to pack it without going over 50 pounds.

[clseale]

We each have a full size. We each have a carry-on. We each have a backpack. (Like carry-on back pack size. We’ve used them for shorter, Europe trips.)

[Patsy Baloney]

We have 1 full-size and 1 carry-on. I often borrow carry-ons and full-size. It's MADNESS *cackle*

[steamboat185]

We have both now, but only had carryon and duffel bags until last year. With most of the car rentals we’ve had (especially overseas) full size suitcases barely fit in the trunk.

[icedcoffee]

H and I each have a carry on. Only I have a full size. Kids have NOTHING!

[Mrs.flang]

We have too many IMO! I think we have 2 large ones, 1 or 2 medium sized ones, and I think only one carry on. Neither of us travel for work anymore so the carry-on is pretty useless now. And we've only traveled by plane on 2 tips since having kids and so we fit almost all of our stuff into 1 large one on those trips.

[ohgillian]

We have 3 carry-ons for 4 people. We need a fourth, but we get by with duffles/etc. My fave carryon is a 17" spinner; the others are larger carry-ons.  

We got rid of our full-size one a decade ago. There was literally no trip we would have ever used it for. After I went on a 2 week trip in the carry-on, I got rid of the full size.

[mrsGreeko]

We have 5 people. We have one really big suitcase that is usually too big to actually bring, 1 medium sized suitcase, 2 or 3 (can’t remember) carry on sized rolling suitcases, a large rolling duffle that DH uses, plus an assortment of other bags (garmet bag type suitcase, rolling laptop case that holds multiple laptops) and hiking backpacks (used to backpack around the UK a few years ago and might get some use this summer for Japan) that we can use depending on the trip. And then each family member has a travel specific backpack carry on also.

Travel is highly important to me so I’ve acquired the necessary things to make it easy and comfortable for us. Part of that is luggage. But, it still sits unused in my closet for most of the year. DH travels quite a bit for work so his stuff gets a lot more use.

ETA: we almost never bring 5 suitcases. I’m a pretty efficient packer so for a really long time we got away with two medium suitcases. When we did the UK a few years ago we did it with just 2 hiking backpacks (plus every person’s travel specific carry on backpack). Now we bring 3, maybe 4 suitcases depending on what we are doing and whether we are bringing things like life vests and snorkel gear.

[sillygoosegirl]

When it comes to flying, we normally use backpacks only (and normally carry them on), but we do also own a large roller bag and at least one carry-on sized roller bag. The suitcases pretty much only get used it we are going on a trip where we need a lot of sporting equipment, and will rent a car to haul it around. Normally we are more of the "6 weeks in Europe with 2 pairs of underpants" kind of travelers.

Although we are trying hard not to fly anymore when we can avoid it (#flightfree2020), and so lately our normal is actually more like 4 bike panniers and a daypack...

[joy]

My husband and I each have a rolly bag that is suitable carry-on size. My daughter has a large duffel.

I hate big suitcases, but if I needed one for some reason, I’ll be borrowing one.

[aspentosh]

We have a bunch. A four piece set we bought many years ago, two hard sided carryon rollers (hand-me-downs from my sister but they are REALLY good quality), and then two FUL soft sided duffels (also hand-me-downs from my sister). So we have a lot.

We are thinking of getting rid of the four piece set but there is one size in between carryon and the duffels that we use a lot, so not sure.

When we did Ireland for two weeks last year we brought the soft sided duffel and one hard sided carryon. 

ETA: And we have still borrowed from family if we don't have the right size/style.

[pooh8402]

We have 3 sizes in a set. 1 large, 1 medium, 1 carry on. All hard sided. We got rid of our soft sided ones last year. We use different ones for different trips depending on our needs. We also have weekender type bags and E1 has this cute little ride-on suitcase with a strap for an adult to pull. It was AWESOME when we were going through the airports on our trip to California this past summer. That trip, DH and I packed our clothes into the large (it was like 49.5 pounds, lol), and the kids shared the medium. Our backpacks and diaper bag were our carry ons.

[nicolewi]

Obviously, I have big suitcases. Also carry-on. Also kid-size. Apparently I am in the minority for finding them extremely handy.

[kdubs923]

DH and I each have a large. They've been used... maybe twice in the 8 years we've been married.

We also each have a rolling carry on & backpacks.

Kids have the kid sized rolling suitcases.

We use the carry ons and/or weekender sized bags when we go away.

[madringal]

A nice, matching set of two full size and one carry one. Someone gifted us a full set of luggage as a wedding gift so we have always had some. We replaced that set about 2 years ago.

ETA: Neither one of us travels for work and we use ours all the time.  Like, we don't even put one of the large ones away. It's always just in the corner of our bedroom because as soon as we put it away we need it again.  As a family of 5 if we are going out of town for the weekend, we pack everything in one large suitcase. I hate everyone having their own, and then having to help the kids navigate theirs, packing them all separately, etc.  And it takes up so much room at a hotel or a family members house when each person has a small suitcase/backpack/duffel.  We show up with one large suitcase. That's it!

[lemoncupcake]

For our entire family of 4 we own a large suitcase, a carry on suitcase and several duffle type bags. We usually all pack together but if we were doing an extended trip we would probably need more.

[hamster]

To answer my own poll, we have one carry on suitcase.

We use duffel bags - we have 6 between the four of us. One small, four medium, and one large.

I HATE sharing a bag with H. He has no packing organization so he just digs through the bag and scatters items everywhere.

[yellow23]

We have two large, two medium, and two carry-on suitcases. Each of our 3 kids also has their own kid-sized suitcase.

When flying or taking the train we always use at least one large suitcase because it’s easier to navigate airports/train stations/walks to hotels with the least number of bags possible. We need to be holding hands with at least two kids or pushing a stroller so we can’t manage a lot of smaller bags. Our oldest managed to help walk a suitcase to the subway in New York this year, but still can’t carry it down the stairs. Hopefully it won’t be long before he can help more with bags.

When we travel by car it depends on where we are going and how much we are taking. If there is a lot of beach or camping supplies, a large suitcase works better because it takes up less space in the car. When we do quick weekend trips, which is about once a month, we let each kid take their own suitcase and my husband and I will share a medium or each take a carry on. I prefer each having our own small suitcase because it’s easier to stay organized, but it’s not always practical.

We each take a backpack for books, small toys, etc. no matter where we go.

ETA: One of our large and medium are older with only two wheels so we don’t typically fly or take a train with them. We mostly use them for beach/camping trips because they always end up full of sand/dirt and I prefer to keep the newer suitcases clean.

[melsbels]

Four people. One large hard sided suitcase and two small duffel bags for weekend trips. That’s it. I only ever take a purse as a carry on if we fly.

When we travel with the kids this summer, my H and I will share our existing suitcase, and borrow another one for the twins (gasp!). I’m planning on buying them backpacks for their bday a few months prior so they can carry their own stuff on the plane. Lol

[beerlover]

We have one carry-on, one medium and one large - a set that we got when we got married 10 years ago. We could definitely use another carry-on sized one for short trips. Any recs? Not looking to spend a lot.

[minniemouse]

h and I have 3 each- carryon, medium and large. They came in sets. The kids have carryon size suitcase with their names embroidered on them.
We use them at least 2-3x a year.

[redheadbaker]

We have two large suitcases, one medium, and countless carry-ons and duffel bags. Plus DS has a kids suitcase from Skip Hop. It's too small to use for long vacations, but perfect for sleepovers at my parents'.

[mrsGreeko]

Jan 9, 2020 15:42:33 GMT -5 beerlover said:

We have one carry-on, one medium and one large - a set that we got when we got married 10 years ago. We could definitely use another carry-on sized one for short trips. Any recs? Not looking to spend a lot.

Amazon basics are good and not too pricey.

[farmvillelover]

Carryons for all 4 of us. Travelpro spinners. Hate our Aways (each of us have carryon and bigger carryon I’m Away).

[InBetweenDays]

We have one full size suitcase that hasn't been pulled out of storage in probably 6 years. Then we have 4 carry on size and many duffel bags. We always use carry on size for plane travel (we each get our own bag) and/or duffel bags for cabin/ski/camping trips. And we travel regularly (I think we went on 8 trips by plane this year and 3 of them were for 8-10 days). I obviously do not see a large suitcase as being a requirement for frequent travel.

[dragon's breath]

I have a lot...

Full set for each my son and I (so, family). Sets were from Costco and has a carry on, small, large, and really large.

Two Rick Steves carry on bags (different styles, one with rollers, one without). Took these on the five week Europe trip that we did carry on only (with one personal item each-- a purse for me, and a laptop bag for my son). Found out on that trip that I really like to travel light.

A few travel backpacks.

A couple duffle type bags.

A "packs super small" bag that I can fold up and bring in my carry on, then use as a checked bag on the way home if I buy too many souvenirs (then I pack my clothes in the checked bag).

A couple hard sided bags-- one was bought on our first big vacation because a cheaper piece of luggage was damaged (rolling duffel bag, before we had the full set luggage, or any other luggage). One was bought last year in Sweden (from a second hand store, equivalent of $10), because I bought one souvenir that could not go in my lightweight back pack carry on (a tube of salmiac ice cream topping, over 3.5 oz). So, I bought ~50 pounds of souvenirs to load up my backpack and now-in-possession checked luggage (mostly food).

We mostly use my Rick Steve's carry on bags if we are not driving.

We'll use the large suitcase if we are doing something like camping in a yurt (bring your own bedding) to make fewer trips back and forth to the car.

I recently discovered that my biggest suitcase, from the soft-sided Costco set, is great for hauling a queen+ size hand-quilting project around. It fits my quilt, my lap-quilt frame (which is kind of a double-decker), and all the other tools I need (thread, markers, needles, etc).

ETA: for the trip last year, solo 9 days in Sweden and Finland, I used a super light weight bag, and was limited to one carry on under 17.5 lbs (could have a personal item, but the total weight had to be under 17.5 lbs).  When I left the house, I had room for 4 lbs of souvenirs (I'd be tossing a very old pair of shoes before coming home).  The liquid restrictions is what killed my plans, but it was worth it to bring a ton of food home so my son could try different things.