Twelve or thirteen years ago we bought our first convetible bags frm Magellan's. There are your basic sink shape with inside ribbon ties, two outside envelope pockets, handles on side and top, shoulder strap, and the best backpacking strap attachment I've seen. They weigh about 2lbs, 7ozs.

Next were two of Victorinox's first wheelies, and we bought them after traipsing thrugh the long outside concourses at Salt Lake. They worked but were small and the entire bottom/back was a plasticmolding that supported the wheels and housed the extendable handle. They get very little use these days.

Then, we bought eWeekenders. A good bag, a little small, too much padding, a bit heavy, but we have used them for car trips.

All through this I have communicated with Magellan's regarding bringing back a true convertible because the original bag was only stocked for a very few years. Most of the time I got no answer or a "I don't know".

Now they have a true convertible again, the TravelLite Convertible Carry On. $125, black, green or red, 2lbs 1oz,. 20 1/2 x 13 x 9 (inches), handles at the top and side, shoulder strap, and backpack straps. Too bad there is only one photo. So here's the deal: one of you people who buys all the bags in the world should buy one of these and give the rest of us a good review. I would but I am still under a dark cloud for my last unreported handgun purchase and it may take a year to redeem myslef after that. I've helped the process along by encouraging my wife to buy an iPad for her birthday, which she has done.

I'm taking the time to say all this because I thinks its great that Magellan's has got this bag in their catalog along with very little us light weight travellers need.

Monte, nice rundown on your pack-evolution history, mine is very similiar. I would have liked to have seen one of those original Magellan's packs.

The Travelite convertible I am seeing on Magellan's is made by Golite, and there is more (but not a lot more) info on Golite.com. Golite is a quality backpacker/outdoor gear maker with a reputation for durability. They also make a lightweight rollaboard model. I don't own either and after handling both, decided not to buy.
FWIW, capacity for the Golite rollaboard is too small to be useful to me, and ditto the 2440 cu in on the Travelite convertible pack. For almost exactly the same weight, the LL Bean Quickload convertible pack carries 2900 cu in (+/-), has a more usable large single outer pocket vs. the Golite's bisected one, and has outside compression straps, which the Golite lacks, a major drawback in my mind. I'd enjoy reading a user review of the Golite, but for me the LLB Quickload is the better bag (with the new LLBean Explorer convertible pack, same weight and capacity as the Quickload but with more outdoorsy styling, another good choice).

Ebags has more info and photos:

http://www.ebags.com/product/golite/travelite-convertible-carry-on/146096?productid=10007622

Remember, just because Magellans sells it doesn't mean it's similar to their old Borneo Bag.

One thing to mention about the GoLite bag is that the zippers are not lockable nor can they be connected together. (I checked with the company.

I'll agree with Andrew, for less money, heavier material, and external straps, I'd choose the L.L. Bean Quickload over the Golite bag. And it only weighs one ounce more.

Okay, you guys, I Googled LL Bean Quickload and what I get is a glorified gym bag with no backpack straps. That's not going to work.

Our original Borneo Bags will probably last us as long as we can travel. Those were the ones I have encouraged Magellan's to replicate. My last email to them, with promised 24 hour reply, wasn't anwered with more than a "we got your message".A Borneo Bag with better internal tie downs(I've modified ours) and external cinch straps would be the idal convertible, as far as I am concerned.

The Patagonia bag on the eBags GoLite page looks like it might be a good alternative. Thanks for the info. Any idea who made the original Borneo Bags? Magellan's won't say.

Monte, here's the L.L. Bean we were talking about. I own one and can tell you it has comfortable backpack straps that hide-away.


They are out of stock until the first of the year.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/51615?feat=sr&freeText=Quickload%20Travel%20Pack

I've ordered one. Last year I used my Ebags motherload and it was a little heavy. The OPEC my wife used is light enough but it doesn't have compression straps over the zipper. The Quickload should be somewhat between the two, just slightly heavier than the OPEC but with compression straps. Thanks to Frank II for the recommendation.

Frank, Two, Now that's a different kettle of fish. It looks prety good. I am, however, still under the aforementioned dark cloud. Thanks.

TravelLite Convertible Carry On?

That bag is going to be as unstructured as an Outdoor Products Essential Carry on

You might as well be carrying a soft stuff sack

Lets just go retro:

http://www.amazon.com/Ensign-Peak-Everyday-Duffel-Bag/dp/B001SEZBTC/ref=pd_sbs_a_12

How about old fashion duffel bags?

Amazon has tons of these thing?

Curly, Yes, our bags are unstructured and we like them that way. We have rarely had to carry them more than a mile at a time and they weigh about 22lbs max. Being unstructured allows them to be stuffed in the overheads, something we have never had a problem with. We don't use stiffeners, cubes, or any of that stuff. The contents sometimes move around, but that's no problem for us. It allows for more creative packing in the corners of the bag.