Carry-On or Checked Baggage?

Backpacks, Trolleys, Bags and Suitcases. Let’s discuss pros, cons and useful tips

Planning a trip often means having to answer the big question: is it better to go light with a carry-on or carry everything in the hold? The choice is never trivial and depends on how long the trip will last, the destination and, let’s face it, our preferences as travelers.

Hand Luggage: convenience and freedom

Carry-on luggage is the ideal companion for those who like to move without stress; in fact, many seasoned travelers have learned to travel with carry-on luggage only, avoiding when possible checking suitcases in the hold even for trips of three weeks or more. No lines at the check-in counter, no waiting for baggage claim, and zero risk of losing your belongings. Perfect for the weekend or a short trip, a compact backpack works great between cities and low-cost flights, as does a small, rigid trolley if you’re carrying fragile items. And if you don’t want more than one piece of luggage in tow even on longer trips, there are excellent backpacks and duffel bags with sizes to fit in the cabin but still very roomy.

And don’t forget the laptop bags: lightweight, practical, and often equipped with smart compartments, they are perfect for having computers and electronic devices or small essentials on hand at all times(and you are usually allowed to carry one in addition to your carry-on).

There are limits, however: in Economy class the space in the overhead compartments is small and airlines impose precise dimensions and weight, generally a baggage with dimensions up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 8 – 10 kg is allowed (actually the weight is little considered, but many airlines are quite strict as far as dimensions are concerned). Usually a smaller “personal item” such as a shoulder strap or laptop bag is also allowed, as long as the dimensions do not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm.– In Business Class and First Class the dimensions remain the same but there is more flexibility, and generally at least 2 carry-on bags + 1 personal item are provided.

Hold Baggage: space and convenience

If your vacation is very long or the destination’s climate is variable and prone to cold, a generously sized checked luggage becomes essential. It allows you to carry more clothes, shoes, accessories without limit, and if you want, there is room for some extra souvenirs on your return.

Of these, the most popular and widely used is the classic Trolley, the travel suitcase with wheels. Rigid trolleys, for example Samsonite’s Flux model , are perfect as checked luggage, because being crushproof they better protect fragile and delicate items, but if you only plan to fill it with clothes you can opt for a soft trolley like the Tranverz L from Eastpak, which is less protective but lighter and therefore has greater capacity, especially in terms of weight.

The size allowed for a checked baggage is variable depending on the airline in question, but the most common rule for Economy Class is that the sum of height + length + depth must not exceed 158 cm, and a maximum weight of 23 kg.– In Business and First Class usually the dimensions are the same but two checked bags are included and the weight increases to 32 kg for each.

The main advantage of this choice is obviously the fact that you can have a lot more stuff with you even on vacation, but there are others: with most of your stuff checked in, your carry-on luggage will be much lighter, and if your flight has one or more layovers you won’t have to carry around a heavy burden all the time. Of course, there’s the advantage of not having to leave your belongings at home In addition to this, if you shop on vacation you won’t have the need to buy an extra suitcase on the spot and then board them anyway, which is almost inevitable by leaving with only your carry-on luggage at the limit of its capacity.

On the other hand, checked baggage has several downsides: if you travel in Economy it almost always has an additional cost over the base fare, when you arrive at your destination you have to wait to retrieve it at the conveyor belt, there is the possibility that it will be lost forever or arrive at your destination a few days late, and it is inconvenient to carry around along with your carry-on luggage during transfers if you are moving from one location to another and therefore impractical for itinerant travel.

Choose between backpack, trolley, and travel bag

Hard Trolley: ideal for protecting fragile items and maintaining order, large ones are the ultimate checked luggage.
Soft trolley: lighter alternative to rigid trolley, less used as checked luggage but in the right size can be a good carry-on. Interesting and versatile is the Manhattan Hybrid 44L by Cabin Max, which as the name implies is hybrid i.e., it is a trolley with a handle and retractable wheels and has shoulder straps like a backpack.
Travel bag or duffel bag: the right compromise, light and versatile as a handbag, practical to carry and very roomy. There are many versions for every need, and some, such as the Base Camp Duffel by TheNorthFace with handles and shoulder straps, can be used as carry-on luggage even if the maximum size is a few inches larger than usually accepted. A little trick: soft bags, even if slightly oversized, don’t create problems in the overhead compartments or in case of boarding controls, just remember not to overfill them and they will fit perfectly (but don’t tell people, it’s a secret^^).
Backpack: whether small or large, its virtue is that it is lightweight and flexible, perfect for those who like freedom of movement. There are a myriad of travel backpacks, similar to small suitcases such as the small but roomy VANKEV, great carry-on luggage for low-cost airlines, or with classic backpack-like appearance such as the Rucksack Buzz from Puma. The models Metz o Manhattan from Cabin Max, are available in various sizes and in the 55 x 40 x 20 cm version are perfect as a single piece of luggage to take with you in the cabin.

Practical Tips for Travelers

Clothes: Roll clothes to save space and reduce wrinkles, or alternatively arrange clothing and other items evenly instead of throwing them haphazardly into suitcases. Choose undemanding garments that can be easily matched and that are appropriate for the climate of the final destination, possibly avoiding those that are too bulky.

Shoes: They often take up more space in the suitcase than we think. Choose those best suited to the type of trip and climate: two pairs of shoes in addition to those worn for the trip are more than enough. Avoid boots and booties unless strictly necessary.

Organization: Use organizers, vacuum bags, shoe bags and pouches to keep items in order and make the best use of space.

Essential items: Put documents, chargers, power bank, earbuds and other useful items in an easily accessible carry-on bag pocket , or alternatively in the laptop bag along with all electronic items(great strategy to simplify airport screening and have everything on hand).

Liquids: If possible, it is best to avoid carrying liquids in carry-on baggage, but if essential, they should be placed in containers of up to 100ml, which in turn are placed in a sealable transparent bag of maximum capacity one liter. Quantities greater than 100ml per container may be carried in checked baggage as long as they are securely packed to prevent leakage.

Choosing the right suitcase: Always opt for a suitcase that is lightweight when empty to maximize the payload. A rigid trolley suitcase, such as the expandable model from LEVEL8, can protect items better but on the other hand is bulkier and cannot be carried on the shoulder even if it is small(and roads are often not conducive to wheeling it around), but larger ones are great as checked luggage. On the other hand, backpacks and duffel bags, which have a soft structure and are equipped with shoulder straps or shoulder strap, are more versatile and flexible in both shape and actual use, so they are ideal for those traveling with carry-on luggage only.

Always check the rules: Before departing, it is essential to check your airline’s website for specific rules on carry-on baggage weight and size, as they can change depending on the type of ticket and class of travel.

In essence: what is the right choice?

The decision between carry-on and checked baggage depends on your specific needs. If you are traveling for only a few days and want maximum freedom, carry-on luggage is the ideal choice. If, on the other hand, you are leaving for a longer trip or need more space, adding checked luggage may be the best option.

In addition to this there are other factors to consider: for example, if you are flying Business Class you may have the option of taking two carry-on bags with you in the cabin instead of one, thus saving the time you would lose in checking in/picking up the additional suitcase. The climate of your final destination also greatly influences your choice of luggage, because if you are taking a 20-day vacation in a cold place it is virtually impossible to fit everything you need into a carry-on regardless of its actual capacity, whereas if you are going somewhere warm it is relatively easy to fit everything into a soft backpack.

Then it is obvious that everyone has their own preferences and needs dictated also by the type of situation and accommodation where we are going to stay. Personally, I prefer not to weigh myself down too much and have traveled several times even to Thailand for two or three weeks with only carry-on luggage, i.e., my trusty backpack from the Cabin Max, light and generously sized(as well as quite sturdy, considering that after years of use to the limit it still looks like new), or as on the last occasion when, flying business class with the option of two pieces of luggage in the cabin, I brought an extra backpack to be comfortable for a month(also because I was not in a hotel but had an apartment and a washing machine at my disposal). However, if you go two weeks to Russia or Japan in the winter, it is virtually impossible to cram everything into a backpack to carry in the cabin.

Whatever you choose always remember to read the specific policies of the airline you are flying with well, as the size, amount and weight of luggage allowed may vary.

The golden rule is, as always, common sense: leave that extra pair of shoes at home that you never wear, don’t stuff ten sweatshirts in your suitcase if where you’re going the minimum at night is 26 degrees, and maybe avoid leaving in a heavy down jacket even if it’s snowing where you’re going, it’s always the same temperature at the airport and on the plane, dress in layers if it’s cold at departure, or tie a sweatshirt around your waist for the flight if it’s warm when you leave.

Bring only what you really need, not the things you might need in case of an alien invasion^^.