<p>I second Lands' End. Son has the large duffle on wheels. He put tons of music and heavy stuff in the bottom and loaded the top w/clothes. Wheels helped on flat surfaces but he is a strong yg man and had no problem taking it up the stairs. We live about an hr away from campus so no airport weight to worry about. We did take it CA to MA this summer-shoes in bottom, clothes in top. Used it as the dirty clothes bag for the return-was way within weight both trips. I have been using Yellow ribbon yarns for years-it helps me keep track of the bag going round & round while I try to swim through the crowd to retrive my bags.</p>
<p>DS went to NC last summer for five weeks with everything he needed in one HUGE wheeled pullman (sorry don't know the brand name). We did have to pay $25 extra for the added weight but it was worth it. The suitcase held everything he needed including linens (blankets, and towels too). His carry on baggage was his trumpet case, and a backpack that held all of his toiletries. DD is planning on going to college far away. I think we would send her with the same arrangement and the ship the rest once she arrives. At least then she would have what she needed for the immediate arrival time.</p>
<p>What is the least expensive way to ship if your S/D is going overseas? Like ship a big trunk, for instance. Can you get it on a cargo ship and send a few weeks ahead, or does it have to be by air?</p>
<p>When I took D to Grinnell, we were reluctant to assume we could buy what she'd need in the way of comforters, etc. at the Walmart, which was the only store within many miles of the campus. So I called the airline, determined the largest box they would accept and got two at a nearby moving company. We packed the cartons with bulky but light stuff like winter jackets, pillows, blankets, etc. Used two great rolling soft suitcases from REI as the other two pieces we could ship through as 2 passengers. Also UPS shipped some cartons as well. As I recall, the boxes we got were "dishpacks" - what are typically used to pack dishes. So they were very thick and strong and of pretty good size. We did make a Walmart run for a few things and found it pretty picked over, so we were glad we didn't plan on getting everything there.</p>
<p>A funny aside - D lived on a coed hall. I passed by a room of two guys, saw one mom inside, and struck up a conversation. I said something like "I guess your S's roommate hasn't arrived" because there was so much less stuff than what my D had brought. "Oh, no," she said, "this is stuff for the two boys." So my D had more stuff than both boys combined! Indeed, she took way too much of everything, and as the years went by, she jettisoned stuff right and left. She now travels much lighter :) !</p>
<p>Here's a question out of left field:
To those of you show have L.L. Bean wheeled duffles: Does the "medium" one (that's the smallest one they carry) work as a carry-on? We are planning to go to Europe this summer and I am a maniac about packing light. Hoping to buy the kids those duffles and having them easily haul them around and carry on even on short in-Europe flights. Thanks.</p>
<p>yulsie,
Most of the international carriers have "cargo" planes, that might work well for a trunk-But I would find out how the cost of "unaccompanied" luggage (which is what I think this is called) would be compared with just paying overweight on the flight. Also, when you fly internationally on most US carriers you get to bring 130 pounds of stuff for free!! To my way of thinking, that should be plenty for a kid going off to school. Mind you, when you come back from Europe, or wherever, the baggage allowances are not the same (( insane, no?))... Keep in mind duty and customs issues/costs when you figure this whole thing out...</p>
<p>Don't know the answer about the LLBean medium one, but in the catalog, if it meets the carryon dimensions, it usually has an airplane symbol on it to show that it is okay for carryon. I think international carryon dimensions are somewhat smaller than national? We have the large LLBean wheeled duffle and hardly ever use it. I have a smaller Eddie Bauer wheeled duffel that is carryon size and is great, though.</p>