Rick Steves Convertible Carry On

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Category: Apparel
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Apparel Details

Brand: Rick Steves
Model: RSK-43
Product features:

Made of 900d polyester
Measures 21" x 14" x 9"
Expandable
Fits within airlines carry-on guidelines
Converts from a smart-looking suitcase to a handy backpack

Apparel reviews of Rick Steves Convertible Carry On

Customer Review: THE bag to get for air travel
Rating: 5 Stars

I just took this on a week-long trip to Chicago and I couldn't have been more pleased with this bag.

I was able to fit into it 6 days worth of clothes:
- A daily fresh set (plus spare): undershirt, socks, underwear
- 2 sets of Under Armour cold-weather tops and bottoms
- 2 pairs of jeans
- slacks
- 3 dress shirts
- 2 light sweaters
- hat
- gloves
- scarf
- flip flops
- toiletries
and STILL have a lot of room to spare without expanding it. (Heh, all the winter gear and it turned out to be quite mild, getting into the upper 50s and 60s most days)

Getting it all in:
I would highly recommend the packing cubes for use with this bag (more on that in its own review). I was able to fit almost all of my clothes into them. They can then be stacked (situated as a backpack, the two smaller ones in front of the larger one) into the bottom of the main compartment, leaving the top for other items.

There are 3 outer compartments. I didn't use the large outer compartment. However, the small upper compartment is perfect for your quart-sized ziplok bag of liquids that you'll have to take out to get through security and the lower medium compartment is good for items like ties, scarves, luggage strap, etc.

There's also a large inside pocket and the usual internal suitcase straps to keep your clothes in place. And then you have external straps to compress the bag even more. I tried these out before we left and they all seem durable, but ultimately didn't need to use them for the trip.

The internal detachable security pouch is good for emergency cash/cards/IDs if you'll be carrying it around to several destinations. It's also compatible with several other Rick Steves bags.

The included mesh bags were handy for organizing a mix of laundry for the trip home.

Fitting them on the plane:
We took Boeing 717s and 727s to and from and had no problems getting them into the overhead bins. If you have a spacious flight, you can easily get the bag in sideways. One of our flights was incredibly crammed, but we were still able to fit them into the overheads by sliding them in backwards (with the bottom of the bag towards the aisle, allowing the top of the bag to fit the curvature of the plane. There might be issues on smaller planes (no model numbers come to mind). Commuter jets with a 1-2 seat configuration might not allow bags this size. At the very least, you should be able to gate-check it and hopefully your airline won't charge you for it :/

Some potential cons:
- I think this bag is ideal for most urban travel but it might have some setbacks. If you plan to do extensive walking with a bag this size, it can definitely weight you down. A rolling bag might be more suitable if you think it might be a problem.
- I read the description of this bag on the Rick Steves site [not linked because the descriptions are on their online store] and it shows the shoulder strap as an optional accessory. The bags we ordered came with it, so I don't know if we happened to get an older set or what. I will say, although it's quite comfortable to carry as a backpack, I don't see it practical carrying with a shoulder strap. This means that if you have a second bag, it should be something other than a backpack.
- This bag is more than likely larger than any other backpack you have ever used. Be careful when you have this thing on your back. You can knock people or objects over when turning around.

I've got 2 other reviews to go along with this--the Rick Steves Travel Gear Packing Cube Set and the Rick Steves Veloce Travel Pack.

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Description of Rick Steves Convertible Carry On

Convertible carry on bag with three outside pockets, perfect for often-used items and one large side pocket for your jacket, umbrellas or even a laptop. Internal and external compression straps help to stabilize your load and the included mesh organizer bags add even more packing options. Zip expansion panel increases capacity to 3000 cubic inches. Convert from a smart-looking suitcase to a handy backpack. Comfortably-curved , padded shoulder straps and a padded wais tbelt. Straps and waist belt tuck away in the back panel so you can check. Comes with a lifetime warranty. Measurements are 21 x 14 x 9 inches, weighs 3.0 pounds and has a capacity of 2646 cubic inches.