Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with suitcase

Something to get off my chest

Sully — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:07:23 -0800

If I strap a suitcase to my chest so that it's open, almost like one of those trays that an old-style 'cigarette girl' has, and walk on the street downtown, selling little odds and ends, is it legal? I wouldn't be selling cigarettes, maybe little handmade zines, candy, quirky items that you might find on Etsy. I ask this because in my head, this is kind of a grey area, legally.

I have googled garage sales, and in some places they want you to tell the city that you're going to have one, but in other places they don't care, or the law goes unenforced. But then the other day I passed these tables on the sidewalk downtown and the people there were looking for donations and signatures to shut down puppy mills and cruelty to animals. I asked them how it was they were just on the street outside this major dept. store and they told me that they had to apply to the city for a permit. Which leads me to think that I would need a vendor's permit too.

But then I think about the people who sell stuff on Craigslist, then meet in some parking lot to do the trade. Technically they are selling something too.

I guess what I am asking is, is it okay to sell stuff off your chest on the sidewalk if you are just walking along with the wares displayed on your chest-tray? Has anyone heard of such a thing before?

Avoiding the the airport XXX-ray so I can fly solo.

Eleutherios — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:53:32 -0800

I'm going out of town soon. I will be packing some naughty items, that I would be embarrased if they show up on a baggage X-ray. How do I gain access to a lead apron? I will be staying with relatives for about two weeks, in northern Nevada. It had just occured to me that that will be two weeks without pleasure! I thought about just buying new sexually explicit media and tools, but I won't have transportation to get to such places that sell them. Well, I will have my relatives to transport me, but that is not something I want to buy when they are around.

Whenever you send your luggage through that X-ray machine, everything inside shows up, right? I do not want my personal products showing up on the scan, so I came up with the idea of wrapping the products in a lead apron. You know, that heavy mat dentists throw over your torso whenever you get mouth X-rays?

The issue is...I have no idea how to gain access of one of these things. It's not something I can just buy at Target. So, is there some sort of special store I can pick one of these up? Can I stop buy a dentist office and rent one? If the latter is possible, what excuse should I give them so I can rent an apron?

I don't want to be the stinking traveling girl.

KateHasQuestions — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:14:29 -0800

What is that horrible suitcase smell and how can I prevent it? Recently I've come across 2 sets of second hand luggage, and a laptop bag that's a couple of years old. Both sets of luggage and the bag had this HORRIBLE smell coming from the inside, the same smell even though all three things came from different people, and seemed to be different brands. I don't even know what to compare it to, something rotting + burning rubber perhaps? No, that's not it. But it's bad - I think if anyone has smelled it they'll recognize what I'm talking about. The smell is absolutely disgusting and strong, I remember I smelled it from the other room when I had this luggage.

None of the bags/suitcases I mention had a materials tag on it, but the material on everything looks similar - plasticky on the inside, and that 'bookbag' material on the outside. The laptop bag is made by HP, I don't know who made the luggage - I threw both sets out after using them once, ugh. The smell doesn't go away after airing them out, or spraying with febreeze or lysol or anything.

My questions: What causes the smell? Does all suitcases become like this? If yes, after how many years? If no, how do I make sure that when I finally buy my own luggage instead of getting my friends' used luggage that the smell won't appear? Is it a special material I should look for? A way to clean it?

Thanks!

May my luggage never grow musty or worn...

GleepGlop — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:47:05 -0800

Is there any hard-shell luggage that will last me forever? You know like those big ones that you always see on the conveyor belt at the airport and they have wheels... My soft-shell luggage of 5 years and maybe 6 international trips tops smells incredibly musty and I can't get the smell out of the fabric, and the handle is slowly tearing off.
I was looking at 'hard-shell' luggage today and it was all this malleable plastic that looks like the same plastic that is on the interior of my current luggage which is all cracked to pieces. Isn't there any luggage in the same form-factor that could survive falling off the back of a truck? I don't mind if it is a little heavier.

Suitcase when closed -- Tabletop technology demo when open

Overzealous — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:25:41 -0800

Where to order/buy/commission a cool "suitcase" that houses a full demo with a touchscreen and speakers? Suitcase when closed -- Tabletop technology demo when open. I'm looking for a company that builds custom electronics into a hardshell case.

We provide the reference platform, screen, speakers, database and CD-Rom drive, they put it all into a neato suitcase that can plug in and give a demo to wowed potential customers. You often see these at automotive telematics conferences.

Something that looks like this:

Anybody know what they are called? What Would You Google?

What to pack for one year?

Flying Squirrel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:16:50 -0800

How to pack for one year? I am very ignorant of the logistics for what I'll need, despite having read onebag.com and other travel resources. I'd love to hear advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation!

My question is -- what type of luggage, and how much should I bring for one year?

I'm traveling to New Zealand in a couple days with my boyfriend. We're from Canada. We both have one year working holiday visas, no jobs yet. We're stopping in Fiji for 5 days on the way over, then flying to Auckland, where we have a hostel booked for 2 days. After exploring Auckland, we're going to travel around the north island for a little bit, and make our way to Wellington and decide which city we want to settle in. Since we will be in one place for an extended period of time, I'm not sure what type of luggage to use and how much to bring.

I was originally planning on bringing a suitcase on wheels, but got horrified reactions from everyone who has actually done this type of travel. (I have never traveled for more than 2 weeks). So I got a good, large, backpack, and despite my cringing at the thought of looking like a pretentious would-be mountaineer, I'm willing to do whatever is the most practical.

Do I try to fit everything into my 60L backpack? I'll also have a small carryon daypack as well. Is it a ridiculous idea to also bring a small suitcase for additional items to store somewhere until we get a permanent place?

Here's what I'm thinking about right now:
- I know I can buy everything I need. But New Zealand is more expensive than Canada for many things, and I don't know if I want to replace a lot of shoes, clothes, etc.
- I'm not concerned about the extra baggage charges (if any) for taking an extra suitcase. We're allowed two pieces of 20kg luggage before extra charges.
- how many pairs of pants, shirts, shoes, socks, underwear, etc. is right?

I'm sorry this question isn't more articulate -- I'm getting a bit frazzled in these last few days. I'd love to hear from anyone who has packed for a year -- what is the most feasible?'

Is a backpack really the way to go? This is the model I just got, although I may take it back if a suitcase is more reasonable.

This is the first trip of this kind I have ever been on, so please excuse my ignorance and I appreciate all your help!

Don't piss just because you're pissed off.

greta simone — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:24:33 -0800

How does one salvage a suitcase from cat piss? My cat pissed in my suitcase (this is the second one she has fucked up). The first time, it was a light colored suitcase, so it stained the outer fabric and I had to toss it. My present suitcase is black, so I'm wondering if there is any special way to clean it and de-stink it so that I don't have to purchase yet another one.
Specs: It has a thin nylon inner lining and a normal what-ever-it-is textured exterior. It's of a really cheap quality, considering I got it for free from my grocery store during some VIC card deal.
It's nasty, and she likes doing this to me when she knows I'm leaving town. So any suggestions are welcome.

Shipping home my luggage from Nepal.

Hollow — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:59:29 -0800

I'm in Kathmandu, Nepal for the week, and I have a big, very heavy suitcase that I really don't want to drag around on the rest of my trip. Any advice on shipping it home to the USA?

Free valve replacement with every inspection

SemiSophos — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:21:47 -0800

What is this tiny valve, and what was it doing in my suitcase? Relevant information:
I just flew from MSP to ATL, and I found this in my checked luggage, which the TSA had opened.

I'm a scuba diver, but don't readily recognize this from anything of mine. Furthermore, I don't recall transporting gear in this bag.

So, what's this guy from, and how'd he hitch a ride in my bag?

Should I use a suitcase or backpack?

qslack — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:16:42 -0800

I'm leaving in a week for a 6-week trip through China. Should I bring a suitcase (with wheels or no?) or a backpack? I'll be traveling (mainly by train, but also some airplane) around for the entire time and won't stay in one place longer than a week. Most of the time I'll be in cities staying in hostels or hotels. I'll be bringing ~4 days' worth of clothing (4 shirts, 1 shorts), a digital SLR, and a 15" MacBook Pro. This trip is essentially tourism. I won't ever need to dress up, and I don't care about bringing nice clothes or avoiding wrinkles in my shirts.

There are three ways, as I see it, that I can do this. 1) Wheeled suitcase for clothes and small daypack for laptop+camera+day stuff; 2) Non-wheeled suitcase for clothes (which would fit more than a wheeled) and the same daypack; or 3) Big backback for everything, no daypack. I'm physically capable of carrying any of these; I'm just wondering which is the best. I am leaning toward #1.

The main advantage of having a backpack, as I have been told, is that you can carry all your stuff and have your hands free. But I'll almost always go straight to my ho(s)tel when I arrive in a city, so that doesn't seem to apply to me. The disadvantages of having just one big backpack are 1) I can't carry a daypack for outings; 2) it's harder to fit into small spaces since it is one big bag; 3) if it's stolen, everything's over; 4) it makes me look like a tourist; and 5) it's more difficult to pack and unpack from; and 6) it's annoying to carry everywhere when I could just wheel something around, since usually I'll be on hard surfaces.

When I've asked people who have backpacked on similar kinds of trips (city-to-city, not wilderness), they think it's crazy I'd think of bringing a suitcase. Even when I tell them why I think a backpack would be a bad choice, they kind of shrug and say, "Well, I kind of still think you should just have a backpack. A suitcase just doesn't feel right." I feel like there is something I am missing.

Please help me decide whether to bring a suitcase or a backpack. When you are traveling with a big backpack, what bag do you take with you on day outings? Do big backpacks even fit in airplane or train carryon compartments? Have you ever traveled with a suitcase and wished you had a backpack, or vice-versa?

RyanAir is attempting to nickle-and-dime me to death.

plaidrabbit — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:52:24 -0800

How do you, the reader, go about weighing a suitcase before a long trip? As my departure date grows nigh, I'm about to start packing my new suitcase for my month-long stay in Ireland. Normally, I wouldn't really be concerned about weight, as the 50 lb limit imposed by most airlines is well away from what my clothing and supplies would reach - I usually try and pack lighter than most people, and I've actually been complemented by Customs agents for my packing skillz.

Anyway, the problem here is that RyanAir only allows your checked baggage to weigh 15 kg (approx. 33 lbs). While I know what the suitcase is supposed to weigh, I've got my doubts. Furthermore, the penalties for going over this limit are very harsh - £5/€8 extra per kilo(!), which is not a budget surprise I want to have when I get to the airport on Saturday.

So, I'm wondering, how do you weigh your suitcase? I was going to use a regular bathroom scale, but I'm worried that it will be too inaccurate, as the suitcase has parts on the bottom that will cause increased localized pressure on the actual weighing surface, which leads me to believe that this phenomenon will cause the scale to read artificially high.

What are your suggestions for me? The bag happens to be a very large wheeled duffel bag. Thanks!

Help me find drawer slides to convert a suitcase into an portable shelving unit.

chundo — Fri, 11 May 2007 09:10:05 -0800

Help me find drawer slides to convert a suitcase into an portable shelving unit. I recently purchased an aluminum carrying case and a stack of small trays designed to fit in it for transporting jewelry. When it arrived, I found that the case doesn't have any slides in it - the trays just stack on top of each other, which makes it really awkward to get at things on the bottom when it's full of heavy items.

I'd like to install some tray sliders in the side walls of the suitcase, something like the yellow highlighted piece in this mockup.There's not much free space on the sides of the trays, so I was hoping to find or make a plastic sheet with grooves about every inch and a half that I can glue to the walls. How can I easily make something like this, or is there an existing part out there that I can use?

This Baggage is Literal

Smarson — Thu, 18 May 2006 08:57:30 -0800

TravelFilter: Got Luggage? I've come to that point in life that when one must take the bold step of buying their first real set of luggage. The shady mom and dad suit cases I had been using since college got consumed in the fire that led to the insurance check which is now funding this adventure in luggage land.

The Details:
*I'm looking to spend no more than $700.
*I travel (the kind which requires multiple pieces of luggage) maybe 4 to 8 times a year (holidays and vacations), so their is no issue of needing bags to be ported around on a weekly basis.
*I want this purchase to last at least 5 yrs., hopefully longer.
*Definitely looking for at least a 3 piece set where each piece side fits inside the other making storage simple.

The Questions:
-What are your personal luggage experiences?
-What brands should I be looking at?
-Does anyone have experience in buying quality used luggage (craigslist is failing me)?

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Storing a sport jacket

beammeup4 — Mon, 01 May 2006 20:32:10 -0800

How do you properly fold a sport jacket to store in a suitcase for 3 months? So I'm leaving my first year of college on Wednesday and are starting to pack up all the junk I've accumulated over the year.

I have a sport jacket hanging in my closet right now that may not make it back home, therefore it will be placed with a lot of my other belongings in storage.

How do I properly fold and store a sport jacket in a suitcase so that it doesn't wrinkle and looks nice and neat when I pull it out of my suitcase if I need to present myself in front of an employer or high-status PhD in August?

Gill Sans + XPress = Crazy Printing

Wild_Eep — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 09:55:25 -0800

Quark/Font filter: Using Gill Sans in an existing XPress layout. •, ', ™, and - fail to print. Rather, they are replaced with yen, nothing, opening double curly quote, and en dash, respectively. G4, OS X 10.3.9, Quark 6.1, Suitcase, printing to Xerox Docucolor 12 via a Splash G640 RIP.

Our successful workaround at this time is the following:

Add a new textbox to each page in the layout, type the •, ', ™, and - into it, and then set the text color to white.

Position the textbox in an unpopulated area of the layout.

Print out the document one page at a time. That is, for a 6 page layout, print job 1 is page 1 only, print job 2 is page 2 only, etc.

So far, we've tried:

Scanning Gill Sans (the offending font) with Font Doctor from the Suitcase CD.

Replacing the printer driver with a freshly downloaded driver from Xerox.com

Deleting and re-adding the printer in Printer Setup Utility.

Copying and pasting the offending textboxes to a new, blank layout. (characters still fail to print properly)

Creating a fresh layout, with one textbox, typing in the offending characters. (Prints successfully)

----

Is there something obvious about this I have overlooked?

How do I get Extensis Suitcase X1 to auto-activate fonts in Photoshop CS?

paulrockNJ — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 20:33:02 -0800

How do I get Extensis Suitcase X1 to auto-activate fonts in Photoshop CS? The Extensis knowledgebase says:

Unfortunately no, Suitcase X1 does not auto-activate fonts for Adobe Photoshop. Alternatively, you can activate the fonts manually from Suitcase or create an application set.

That being said, does anyone know of a hack or plugin or magic potion that will get the 2 of them to work together? It's driving me batty.

Where to Store a Suitcase in NYC?

4easypayments — Sun, 31 Oct 2004 15:31:42 -0800

Checking a suitcase in New York City: is it possible? I'd like to leave my suitcase somewhere for the day. Many moons ago, I checked my bag at Grand Central Terminal, but I've heard that the luggage room was discontinued after 9/11. Does anyone know if it's back (or have other suggestions)?