Originally Posted by
Senior Skipper
Is the 26" too big for the just the RJ overheads, or for larger planes as well? I wouldn't mind the extra 4", but it's not worth it if it'll be a hassle (giggity)

As you can see on this thread, there are 3 popular bags out there:
- Luggagework's 22" Stealth The Stealth has a metal frame (that's the big thing). It's tough, and designed for pilots. Lots of pilots have one. Customer service is great, they'll send you a replacement bag if yours needs fixing. The heft makes it roll nicely. Downsides: it's very HEAVY, and not very flexible - ie, hard to damage, but, should it get checked and a ramper closes the aircraft bin door on it, the bag will bend, never to unbend again - metal frame, love it, or hate it. The bag seems to need repairs every 2-3 years. It's VERY expensive. Best suggestions if you buy it - put tennis grip tape over the foam handle topper - the foam breaks down quickly. Put your name on it - there are LOTS of these bags in your future crewroom. Check for lose screws every once in a while.
- Kirkland Signiture Executive It's lightweight. It's cheap. If you need a new one, just return it to Costco (save your receipt), and they give you your $ back, no questions asked. The bag comes with a suit bag, hangers, 1 qt. toiletry bag, extra zipper pulls, a TSA approved lock, and various other goodies. Downsides: The wheel bearings that come on the bag are not great, so, after a year of hard use, you either need to replace the wheel bearings, or return the bag. The bag is a touch too big to fit in older overhead bins wheels first. The 'goodies' are going downhill in quality (8 years ago, you got metal hangers and zipper pulls. Now they're both plastic).
- Travelpro 22" It's lightweight. There's a million different versions of them, so one will have the pockets you want. It's the original roll-aboard, from which all other roll-aboards come from. Downsides: not made of metal. Lots of FA's have them (some pilots see their bag as a status symbol, and don't want a bag FA's use . . . yes, seriously, though nobody will admit it).
I'll add 2 more to the list to consider:
- Luggageworks Stealth NG 737 Slightly smaller than the 22" one, this one actually fits in CRJ overhead bins - don't put ANYTHING in the outside pockets, and put it in sideways. Like a glove! All the other upsides and downsides of the Stealth (see above).
- Strongbag Vortex. Has an aluminum frame, some say it is an improvement on the Luggageworks series b/c they built a bag that fixed all the major complaints of the LW's Stealth bags while keeping all the best parts (metal frame). Weighs less. Less expensive too. It's the A320 and the Luggageworks is the 737 - one's more advanced, lighter weight, the other one's heavier and perhaps tougher b/c of this. Which is better? Personal preference.
Here's an option for your laptop -
Strongbags Laptop sleeve. The key is to be quick through security. Anything that you can throw over your handle but doesn't swing all over the place when you walk is the idea. I have a hard shell for my laptop that stays on all the time, so its always protected. I just throw my laptop into the front pocket, pull it out to go through security, and then throw it back in. The laptop is always protected, whether in the bag, being handled by TSA (nowhere in the world has security had an issue with the shell) or being dropped by me (happens more often then I'll admit publicly!).
As an RJ pilot, you don't need a 26" bag - you're doing 2-4 day trips, maximum, you don't need that much space. The 26" is more for pilots that do 15-30 day trips. The extra weight and size is a pain, and not worth the trade-off for an RJ pilot.
Any bag you buy will fit in the ERJ - you have a HUGE closet just for 2 bags (yours and the CA's), arguably more room than any other passenger airliner out there.
Every pilot thinks their bag is the best one. I'm no exception. I roll Costco!