A trip with few connections and a walk through an old town full of stairs call for different luggage, even for the same two nights away. It is lovely when the bag you like in a photo also suits the route you will take.
Before choosing a Boston bag or a wheeled suitcase, picture the journey from your front door to your room at the inn. You will carry your luggage both before and after reaching your destination.
Station stairs, connections, a slope on the way to the inn: use its access information to identify the sections you will walk with luggage. If the lift is far away, that distance is part of the journey too. Whether you can leave your bags after arriving also changes the effort of exploring town.
On long stretches of flat paving, a rolling suitcase can feel easier. Steps and cobblestones, however, may mean lifting it more often. A Boston bag is easy to switch between carrying positions, but your body supports its weight throughout, so consider walking distance and packed weight together.
A bag feels different empty from when it holds clothes and shoes. If you can try a candidate, test hand and shoulder carrying with a weight close to your travel load. Even estimating the amount using a bag at home can reveal what is heavier than expected.
To reduce weight, first reconsider spare items you might use. Check what the inn provides, everyday supplies you can buy locally and clothes with more than one use. But there is no need to remove essentials just to make luggage smaller. A format you can carry comfortably will make the trip more enjoyable.
If you already have a Boston bag that holds an overnight load and the walk to the inn is short, using it without buying another is a good option. If you carry many heavy items over long paved routes, a suitcase may suit you better. Avoid adding discomfort just for appearance.
Whichever you choose, think separately about extra luggage on the way home. A larger bag is not always the solution: additions also mean more weight on stairs. Leave room for other ways of transporting things, such as checking whether souvenirs can be shipped.
COWMONO bags and accessories
If considering a hand-carried Boston bag
Listed dimensions: 53×23×30cm, approximately 1.1kg. A travel bag made with canvas and cowhide. Besides capacity, check whether you can keep supporting its total weight throughout the journey.
View colours, sizes and specifications →
For a journey enjoying the presence of cowhide
55×27×23cm, approximately 2.2kg. You can enjoy the character of leather, but the bag has weight before packing. Consider it under conditions that suit your route, such as a trip with short walking sections.
View colours, sizes and specifications →No one travel bag is always the right answer. First decide what lets you walk this route comfortably, then choose the shape you like.
Author: Yama (Cowmono Owner)
About: Experienced in sales and marketing at apparel companies in Japan and overseas, with a deep interest in fashion, sports, the outdoors and subcultures.
