Adding wheels to a duffel bag...

At the risk of asking the stupidest question ever asked on MP, has anyone ever added wheels to a soft-sided bag?

More specifically I have a North Face bag that is great to pack all my crap in but an absolute bitch to lug around - any thoughts on making it more portable once it's loaded (wheels/rack with wheels, cheap porter).

Just like me, this is very heavy when loaded...

That's a great idea, IMO. Just think of all the fun wheels you could choose from. If I was planning to do something like that, I'd get the more bouncy rubber tires that would be a lot quiter than the standard plastic luggage wheels you hear ripping through the airports.

This company carries an awesome selection of wheels.

Just get the Thule Crossover Duffle or whatever it is. Wheels included.

My preference is for a duffel bag with detachable shoulder straps, so you can carry it like a back pack and stow the straps inside the bag just before you check it, like this: blackdiamondequipment.com/e….

Wheeled bags are a nuisance to drag around, especially soft and floppy wheeled bags. I can usually move faster if I pick the bag up and carry it, and the empty bag stows into a smaller package when it's empty. If you're pushing your weight limit on checked luggage, the wheels could be the difference between checking a bag for free and paying an overweight charge.

If you really want wheels, here's another wheeled bag to look at:
blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

hssc.com/product?number=S60…

I'd highly recommend something like the above. I've gone through too many bags to count over the years for climbing trips. I can't stand lugging around a normal duffel without wheels, but then a lot of wheeled duffels (like that BD one) are so big that you'll go over the weight limit in no time.

The High Sierra duffel bag I linked to has wheels, stow-able shoulder straps, can stand upright when being wheeled, and most importantly can be separated into two bags. It's big enough for all my gear and if it does go over the weight limit I just split it in half.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was just hoping there might have been a simple rack or strap-on wheel setup available. I would rather not drop another $300 on a bag if I don't have to.

These, however, would be awesome!

Relevent:

moviesoundclips.net/downloa…

big 26 inch bicycle wheels would look good...a soft ride for sure.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:big 26 inch bicycle wheels would look good...a soft ride for sure.

Mos def - but tough to get checked...

what about going to the hardware store, get 2 castor wheels.
you know the ones like on the bottom of a plant stand, or office
chair... then build a very small frame to put the wheels on.

i have not tried this but think about it. a simple 1x4 or smaller
section of wood that runs the length of the bag. then a shorter cross board that goes from side to side. so the frame looks like a cross shape. the the two boards have one bolt that attaches them. this way you can spin the cross parallel for storage in the bag. the short board has the castor wheels on it. maybe the long board has a small handle on the top.

maybe one more cross board if it seems to hard to control the bag from falling off the frame. so it could be an I frame.

this is just a basic idea that i have not tried, but seems like it could work. it would cost almost nothing to build, and if it didn't work... return the castor wheels to the hardware store. only investment is time, and a board or two.

it also seems like this contraption would be the same weight as all the plastic frame, and wheels, etc. that is built into the bags that have them. just store in bag for flight, and pull out for transport when needed.

now what would be really cool is if you found some spinner mag wheels!

the stupidest question ever on MP?! there is a lot of very stiff competition for that title and, sorry, but you aren't even in the running.

to answer your question, though, have you considered strapping it to a long skate board?

you can get long boards of varying lengths. so, you could probably find one that is just a bit shorter than the duffel and use a few pieces of webbing to strap it down and pull it.

leave room to throw the board into the duffel once you're at the ticket counter in the airport and you've got a board to cruise around on when checking out the local bars of your destination city.

Wheels on a bag need more of a rigd frame it you want it to last and to actually manuever..

However, there a couple of carts out there that fold flat when not in use and are fairly light weight. When I looked into this solution I remember Samsonite sold a cart that would have worked well.

Good luck

Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe a cart might be a cheap option to try if I can find something light.

Hey I have a suggestion.... Dont carry a triple rack everywhere you climb...then your travel bags wont be so heavy! =P

^^^ my smart-ass climbing partner...*

* it's only a double-of-everything rack