Walmart (or other) Bags?

[Ron G.]

Well, I had a rolling duffle bag, but decided that its' 12# weight was taking up too much of my total allowed weight.

I'm real tempted to replace it with a lighter rolling duffle from Walmart. I've read favorable posts here about them, but I don't think they carry the specific styles that folks have recommended. The two I see are:

Walmart.com : Travel Concepts Sidney Rolling Duffel Bag, 36" Black : Luggage

and:

Walmart.com : Protege 30" 2-Section Large Rolling Duffel- Charcoal Black & Grey : Luggage

The $30 price certainly seems right and they appear to both at, or just below, the 62" max. dimension allowed by the airlines.

Anyone have experience with either of these bags...or something similar?

I don't mind spending more, but I think one of the things you buy with better (i.e., more expensive bags) is more weight. Also, if a $30 bag will do, that works for me.

Also, what about a large-ish carry-on. I'm thinking a backpack style, but something relatively big to hold my reg, mask, computer....plus stuff I can't fit in my rolling duffle.

Thanks in advance.

Ron

[oddbod]

Originally Posted by Ron G.

Well, I had a rolling duffle bag, but decided that its' 12# weight was taking up too much of my total allowed weight.

I'm real tempted to replace it with a lighter rolling duffle from Walmart. I've read favorable posts here about them, but I don't think they carry the specific styles that folks have recommended. The two I see are:

Walmart.com : Travel Concepts Sidney Rolling Duffel Bag, 36" Black : Luggage

and:

Walmart.com : Protege 30" 2-Section Large Rolling Duffel- Charcoal Black & Grey : Luggage

The $30 price certainly seems right and they appear to both at, or just below, the 62" max. dimension allowed by the airlines.

Anyone have experience with either of these bags...or something similar?

I don't mind spending more, but I think one of the things you buy with better (i.e., more expensive bags) is more weight. Also, if a $30 bag will do, that works for me.

Also, what about a large-ish carry-on. I'm thinking a backpack style, but something relatively big to hold my reg, mask, computer....plus stuff I can't fit in my rolling duffle.

Thanks in advance.

Ron

The 2-section one looks just like a US Divers I've had for years, works great as you can separate clothes and gear, just remember most are made of fairly waterproof material so if you put wet stuff in you will need drain holes and salt water will rust out cheap components, rivets, axles etc. faster.

[mike_s]

I started out with a "Walmart Bag". Think I paid $38 bucks for a roller duffle. it was bascially one big canvas blend with one big zipper.

it worked good for a couple years....

but taking it on the dive boat and getting it soaked with salt water from being under the seat and having wet dive gear in it quickly took it's toll....

It ripped apart on the baggage caurosel at Atlanta International a few years ago.... scattered my dive gear everywhere....

The stitching in the bag just couldn't handle the extra weight of the dive gear, the soaking, etc... the zipper wasn't heavy duty enough for dive gear either.


I've found that buying a bag that is built heavy duty is worth it now and risking losing your dive gear to baggage handlers is also not worth skimping on cheap dive bags either....


Do you really think any bag for sale at Wally-world for $30 bucks is stitched heavey-duty or have a heavy-duty zipper in it?

[chace_nicole]

If you have a Big Lots up there, it might be worth checking out. Last week I picked up one that looked like the bag in your pic. Rolling duffel w/compartment on the bottom for fins...$20. I don't expect it to last forever, but it will do. Its a Champion brand, blue & black.

[tc_rain]

I have the exact walmart bag you have linked and it works pretty good. Everything gets thrown together in the large compartment except the fins and boots which are put in the bottom compartment. I have used it on two trips so far without any problems.

[DallasMarineBio]

when traveling I use a neoprene/codura rolling suitcase I got from Academy for about 30 bucks, inside is either an 8 dollar el-cheapo duffel that I can easily replace when it tears or a mesh bag, travel in the suitcase, go to the boat in the mesh/duffel bag.

When not flying, however I opt for these as my gear bags:

http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid...=HPProd2939118

I think the 30 buck walmart bag will work just fine, and if you only get a couple years worth out of it, no big deal it was only 30 bucks!

[character157]

This is the bag I am looking at...not too much cash and a decent amount of space.

Tusa RD2 Rolling Dufflel Bag, Dive Bags, Tusa, Tusa RD2 Rolling Dufflel Bag

Not to mention it does not have a dive flag all over it to give away the contents.

[Empacher]

I've found that cheap bags fail at the most inconvenient times. I guess its ok if it rips right in front of you and you can claim all of your gear...Different story if it fails on the conveyor getting sorted in the back. Your stuff is everywhere and some teenaged baggage handler is left with the responsibility of gathering your stuff....
I try to buy the strongest, best bags that I can afford

[Martin2]

Agreed. If you go with a cheaper bag, be sure to keep a good eye on it. I think the biggest issue is more weight that it should probably handle and the gear being wet (if you'll put it in wet which most of us will). We travel with a middle of the road bag and do just fine, but we never take it to the boat and try to put everything in wither dry or mostly so. So far it has been ok. But I don't think I'll cout on it for too much longer.

[68raggtop]

I have this bag
REI Wheelybag Rolling Duffel from REI.com
It has held up well so far. We had it for the last airline trip, it looked better than the rest of our checked bags by the time we got home. I have been using it an all my local trips as well and it has given me no concerns about it's durability yet. That said, I doubt I would expect it to last more than a couple of seasons for that price.
Almost forgot, it weighs just under 9 lbs. That was one of the factors that helped me decide to try it.