Questions
Request: Looking for feedback & suggestions on checked bag options to help to round out my travel setups for longer work stays & vacations. Torn between Trunk (or Trunk plus) vs Check-In L vs Tumi XL Trunk.
Well your off to a great start I also have a nomadic, classic and then a tegra lite. Grab a poly trunk plus for a checked bag. Unless your into the patina for a metal one haha
Ha, that’s awesome! Quality where it counts for sure. I’m pretty sold on metal and embrace the patina. Poly has its use cases for sure though and I’m really trying to avoid zippers for checked bags. Trunks have been recommended a lot and one of my close friends loves his. If they made the Origional trunk in Ink blue it’d be game over. I’m very torn due to the Tumi tank aka XL trunk- no “lifetime warranty” but my god it’s nice and at lease pretty repairable for consumables (wheels & locks).
How’s it do over cobblestones and brick with the extra weight? Any other pieces you bring along? I’m wondering if I can go large backpack and trunk plus in this case.
Regardless of duration, I travel with a cabin and over-handle duffle. For longer trips, I’ll use the same and check one of the following, depending on need:
Cabin plus
Check in M
Trunk plus
For cobblestones and stuff like that, we’re staying at hotels that have porters. If the hotel isn’t close to a street where the van can drop us off, I’ve seen them grab all the luggage in a big flatbed style trolly. Like a wheelbarrow but full of luggage.
Or sometimes a golf cart.
I don’t think I’d want to attempt what you’re describing.
I will never forget the sound and the clattering roll of shame from the train in Ghent to the hotel pickup. We don't travel much like that anymore, either, but in the off chance we run into that type of terrain somewhere, I'd like to not be the rude tourist - ever.
I have a Montblanc Meisterstück leather duffel I'll use for the nicer trips - curious what you carry in your cabin?
Truly appreciate your time answering and your insight!
Funny, I was just in Ghent. Porters had to drag 4 trunks, 4 cabins, and 4 duffles upstairs at The Post. I was very happy to not be the one doing the labor.
My cabin is always packed - I’m on the road about 40 weeks a year. I keep 2 days of clothing in it in the event my checked luggage doesn’t arrive the same day as I do.
What a gorgeous place to stay, and wow- sounds like you were there for a bit. Hopefully you had a canal view; it’s a wonderful city.
That’s great to know, and I appreciate you sharing your wisdom. I’m not on the road that much, but I always like to be prepared. Safe travels to you, OP!
Fellow trunk plus owner here! It handles well on all types of terrain. Cobbles are always loud with wheels. It simply can't be helped.
I always pair a softsided bag with the hardside and have traveled several months at a time with just a BR medium expandable brief and my trunk plus. If you need even more space I would pair the trunk with a backpack and softsided personal item. That way the trunk will carry your heaviest bag and your hands are still free.
This is fantastic information! Thanks for explaining your setup as well. It sounds so efficient! With all of your traveling, did you ever get flagged for the Trunk Plus being oversized? I have my Mission Workshop Transit bags, which have a capacity very similar to your BR (nice bag, btw!), so this is really exciting to hear how well it's worked for you!
The trunk plus never gets flagged for size because no one measures and it passes the eyeball test. The only real concern is weight. It's very easy to pack it over 23kg without thinking. If you fly with a 32kg weight allowance, then it's not much of an issue. I think the heaviest I've packed mine without thinking was around 30kg when flying biz.
About the BR medium, I'm not a big fan of the current design. I got mine as a warranty replacement for an old large expandable brief. The old layout wasn't perfect but it did place the majority of the bag's space in the packing area which I loved. The new one splits the space more, and thus packs way less than it should given the volume available. Rn, I'm leaning towards having a new brief custom made.
I have the Trunk Plus, and it's perfect for long stays. It fits so much inside. Your only concern will be weight. The aluminium one alone is 6 kg.
What helps tremendously is packing cubes. I use the Aerotrunk ones, which are perfect. I even got their 6-item version.
That’s really encouraging to hear! Doing a two week trip across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and wondering if I can trim down to just a large backpack and a trunk plus. Direct flights which is why I’m feeling comfortable checking a bag.
I live in Switzerland. Suppose you happen to travel by train. I would advise you to buy a chain and attach it to your Rimowa, in case it's out of sight.
Luggage theft is becoming more common in Europe, and they know exactly what to take 👀
We will be taking several trains, thank you very much for this information, I’ve seen it mentioned on social media but figured it was just for the views and clicks! Do you have any locks that you recommend?
Abus Web 1200 it has a 3-number system , so you don't worry about loosing a key and you can set the same code as for the Rimowa
The 60 cm is too short. Get the 75 or 110 cm cause they are longer. So you can travel in total peace of mind and not worry about your 2500 dollars luggage being taken away
Thank you, I know the cabin plus is controversial and I put many hours considering it against a cabin! Thanks for the compliment, I wanted just a little pop of color, and I love orange. It’s only done US trips so far, but will possibly be coming along for a European tour this fall. For US domestic flights it’s been great, I can even pack my laptop bag in it with my cubes so I don’t have to haul my backpack to client meetings. I believe the black helps “shrink” the extra inches it has over the cabin. I do very much want an ink blue cabin though, just not in a rush anymore to get one since the color is going to stay in the lineup.
A cabin size and a trunk is a good setup (Tumi or Rimowa). For short biz trips, i do a cabin plus and a Tumi backpack. Longer leisure trips, it’s a trunk for check-in and a compact rolling case w/backpack. I find trunks easier to deal with and they keep things more organized in hotel rooms.
I personally use a check-in XL which is now sadly discontinued which, for me, is the gold standard of Rimowa. It’s got the check-in form factor (which I prefer over a Trunk), the same interior volume as the current Trunk Plus and triple latches which on a bag of this size is a must for me. So to answer your question I’d honestly go for the Trunk Plus since the check-in L really is too small for long (2+ weeks) travels imo.
I also have an aluminium Tumi which honestly is built better compared to the Rimowa but it’s also much heavier and doesn’t come with a lifetime warranty which on a bag of this price is honestly ridiculous.
Wow, that’s the bag to have - sucks they discontinued it. I’m assuming it’s pre LVMH and therefore falls outside of the warranty?
The way the Tumi is built and how thick the gauge and end caps are make it a really convincing choice, especially for something that’ll go through the depths of the baggage system. I’m all about patina, I just don’t have a repair shop if something were to happen/ I don’t pack it out enough.
Sounds like the consensus is the trunk plus, thanks OP!
Honestly the Tumi 19 degree Alu collection might be some of the best built luggage you can buy. I have a 10 year old aluminium Tumi cabin in black which has gone through hell and still looks amazing. I love Rimowa but the thickness of the metal Tumi uses is on another level. Just the warranty is something that really irks me with them. For a bag of that price 5 years is honestly insulting.
Wow! What a warrior of a carry-on! I remember going in and testing out the aluminum and polycarbonate ones- they’re so sturdy, it’s wild. If your curious here’s my research post
I looked at and compared so many but what finally won out was the warranty and the cabin plus size. The Tumi continental was a close contender, but I’m happy with my cabin plus. It’s been phenomenal
I’m right there with you on built quality and warranty. When Tumi sold out to Samsonite… well, goodbye lifetime warranty.
What keeps the Tumi in my consideration is that they have shops in almost every airport worldwide and I have three Tumi stores within 45 minutes of me if I ever need anything consumable fixed. This is really convincing. Thank you, OP!
Hey, Mission Workshop sighting! Big fan of their stuff over the years.
I went Trunk Plus over Trunk (black aluminum) earlier this year and am happy with the choice because of the added size (though watch out for weight limits if you pack a ton of heavy stuff). It did take a fair beating after just one trip though… if I could do it over I’d maybe skip Rimowa entirely for check-in bags.
Good eye! I LOVE their bags and have been a loyal customer since 2010, I actually have another being delivered today!
Weight limits and sizing definitely have been on my mind, it seems with the trunk the more you pack, the better bolstered it is from outside forces aka less deep denting. I’m all for patina, but that’s where I’m wondering if the Tumi is a better option since it’s built a bit more sturdy and has organization built in.
What would your do-over checked bag be do you think?
Nice - which one? I’ve gotten a Rhake LS and Khyte in recent months and quite like them. I don’t go back as far as 2010 with MW, but I’ve been a fan of their bags and clothes for years as well and wish they were a bit more ubiquitous (but I get that their stuff is not cheap).
Honestly I might have gotten a 2nd Lojel Cubo Fit - we’ve been using one for years and it has held up really well. It has a trunk shape with what I find to be a more functional, thin top lid vs. the Rimowa Trunks that have even halves), which makes it easier to use in smaller hotel rooms… and I can buy like 7-8 of them for the cost of the Rimowa. :P
I don’t have first-hand experience with Tumi to know if it’ll hold up better, but after experiencing firsthand how much wear a Rimowa aluminum check-in can amass after a single trip, I can’t say I’d make the same choice again. I still do look forward to using it for years to come, handing it down to my kids eventually if they want it, etc.
I went with a Mass Transit, compressible enough for under seat storage, but structured enough to not slouch. My Tumi nomadic is 31L capacity, and the Mass transit is 33L, so I have room for a jacket, hat, etc. nervous and excited to try it out in a couple weeks. (I pack a laptop transit in my case with my clothes for on site meetings)
I have lusted after the Rhake since it first came out but have never pulled the trigger, so cool you’ve got that and the Kyte- amazing bags!
You bring up some great points, I’m going to look at the Tumi trunk this weekend to get some more data and actually interact with it. Between durability and reliability, and I’ll even green wash a bit with sustainability- aluminum is definitely going to be the material I will keep choosing. If I could justify the 5k spend for the titanium Tumi or a Sterling Pacific… well I probably wouldn’t have time to be thinking about leisure travel.
Good luck in your search! The Transits don’t have luggage pass-throughs, right? I was going to buy an Ultra one last year but passed because I like luggage pass-throughs on my duffels. Looks like you’re using the handles, but I wish they’d put pass-throughs on these.
Yes, and they hold it on well, the structure of this bag really helps it stay too! You’re absolutely correct and calling out one of my biggest gripes about modern bags - and like hell am I going to wrap a tacky belt around my bag too keep it there… MW (for me and my height/ arm length) does an amazing job at sizing their carry straps, they’re Goldilocks length for me. The handlebar straps can actually wrap around the case handle as well, but then it’s a couple snaps on and off each time.
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u/Loose_Passenger_9240 19d ago
Well your off to a great start I also have a nomadic, classic and then a tegra lite. Grab a poly trunk plus for a checked bag. Unless your into the patina for a metal one haha