If you’ve visited my site enough times over the years, you know I’m a tried and true carry-on only traveller.
So when I was planning on what to wear in Barcelona for a recent visit to the Iberostar Paseo de Gracia, I was primarily concerned with fitting everything I’d need for my seven days there plus the additional four I’d be doing in England afterwards.
But here was the tricky part: while my Canadian air carrier allowed a carry-on bag up to 21 inches tall, my European air carrier only permitted up to 20 inches. Plus the personal item size and weight on the Euro-leg was considerably smaller than what I’m used to.
I needed carry-on luggage that would work for both sets of flights, or I’d be forced to spend a whopping 50 Euros to check my bag going from Barcelona to London. Since my flight was only 45 Euros, there was no way I was going to let that happen.
LUG’s new Propeller Wheelie was the answer.
THE GOOD
The LUG Propeller Wheelie is a great size that meets the 20-inch height requirements I mentioned earlier. I was able to get it onto both North American and British airlines as carry-on.
How cute is this flamingo print? I’m obviously now obsessing over the matching Mini Puddle Jumper, Roundabout Wallet and Parasail toiletry bag. FLAMINGOS FOR DAYZZZZ!
Plenty of pockets, something that LUG always does well, means you get a spot for your smartphone conveniently in front, with two side pockets big enough for medium-sized water bottles. Two front zippered pockets have even more pockets and areas for organization inside of them, ideal for travel documents, a small toiletry pouch and so on.
Because the Propeller Wheelie is a soft-sided bag, you can expect it to give you extra room as it starts to fill up. It isn’t quite as finite as hard-sided luggage. So although my suitcase was pretty full heading to Barcelona (carrying 22 complete outfits and two pairs of shoes), I still managed to squeeze in another outfit I bought while I was away along with some small gifts for Big B and the kids.
Yes, 22 outfits. The LUG Propeller Wheelie fits a LOT of stuff, yet still fits into the overhead cabin, too. Don’t forget that part of this is strategic packing so use my how to pack light tips to make the most of the space that you’ll get.
I really like the handle LUG has added down near the front wheels, which makes it really easy to lift the bag upwards.
Like other LUG luggage, the handle is adjustable and when not in use can simply be stowed and zipped away as if it isn’t even there.
It has four wheels. I don’t need to tell you that four wheels are a must when it comes to luggage, right?
THE GAFFE
What I’m really (really) missing on the Propeller Wheelie that I have in my other LUG carry-on bag — featured in my packing video — are the elastic straps that push all of my belongings down and keep them stable. These straps help in a couple of important ways: (1) if you haven’t crammed your bag completely full, it helps prevent things from shifting around in transit, and (2) if you do typically try to fit more than anyone should in a single carry-on bag, the straps help you fit even more in by compressing what’s already packed. That can even have the bonus of creating additional pockets of space on the outer edges. This is a big miss for me.
Though I consider this carry-on and had great success with it— and it meets the published carry-on dimensions — if you don’t check in online ahead of time OR you simply find that you have no way to avoid your airline’s check-in counter and they make you try to fit the LUG Propeller Wheelie into one of those pre-fab baggage holders, it won’t fit. I know because I tried on the way home from Europe. They made me check it.
The Propeller Wheelie also doesn’t come with one of LUG’s little extras (like a clear pouch), which most of the stuff I have from them normally does. Not a big deal at all but I noticed.
THE GEARS
4/5
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