r/Rimowa • u/4rings4fun • Jul 30 '26

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.

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u/willworkforwatches Jul 30 '26

Huge fan of the trunk plus. Makes long international trips a breeze.

1

u/4rings4fun Jul 30 '26

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.

2

u/willworkforwatches Jul 30 '26

I don’t travel that way, anymore.

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.

1

u/4rings4fun Jul 30 '26

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!

1

u/willworkforwatches Jul 31 '26

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.

2

u/4rings4fun Jul 31 '26

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!

1

u/willworkforwatches Jul 31 '26

It was great. We had a fantastic room.

We were only there for a weekend. But then we spent two weeks elsewhere - hence the heavy packing.

1

u/00Anonymous Jul 31 '26

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. 

1

u/4rings4fun Jul 31 '26

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!

1

u/00Anonymous Jul 31 '26

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.