eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Carry-On
$78.99
$109.99
28% off
Reference Price
Color: Black
Size: 19" Laptop
Top positive review
23 people found this helpful
Inside the front part you can hold a good amount of things from business cars to any travel ...
By Jeff Rhodes on Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018
I have about 3 years on this bag with some heavy travel and thought it deserved a review. My Background: My travel is two different types. At least two overnight trips a month by car and a 5-day trip every other month. Sprinkle in longer Friday morning-Sunday trips here and there. The last two are flight travel. With a little shopping around, I have outfitted this bag with everything you could need. Inside the front part you can hold a good amount of things from business cars to any travel sized thing you can think of. As a person who likes to be prepared, this gives you the option to be that way. On the top you get a compartment that is great for a travel umbrella and for the “pencil holder” included in the bag. I have used the zip out drink holder several times. Not the best part of their design, but it is helpful in a pinch. Inside you get the standard carry on size space. I do use their packing cubes, which are as equally amazing. I generally use three packing cubes and the toiletry bag linked below. The toiletry bag take us roughly the same height of a packing cube. I use the electronics holder linked below, which fits vertical in the packing next to the toiletry bag. There is an expansion zipper which will give you an extra couple of inches to pack. I am always fearful of not being allowed as a carry on that I have never used it, there is plenty of space without it. As a note, it always gets through security as a carry on, BUT the small regional jets usually make you check it, unless there is no one on the flight. Still better then checking, but it has taken a beating. I think it has held up pretty considering how many snowy nights I have seen it tossed back on to the passenger bridge. The computer compartment has access on top and is easy to use even with the bag packed full. The fact I can get to it without messing with any clothes is a huge bonus over a lot of bags. The main reason I like this bag is the straps. I never understood why people do the rollies. Airports are crazy enough without lugging something behind you. They are equally as annoying when using in the real world. Wheels + city streets never mix. This bag looks pretty non-descript and better than the college looking backpack. My only complaint is I wish there was a zipper to close the convertible zipper compartment for the straps or at least make the material inside that part a black color instead of orange, see pics below. Other than that, the design is great and efficient. I have used it in strap mode, but only a couple of times. Having the option is nice, but I have used it far less that I expected. Overall This bag is great for two-plus days out. It is a tad large for an over-night and definitive sticks out if you are trying to do double duty as a day bag while out of town. Though the trade-off is I can pack anything as a carry on (minus suits) for a week trip no problem. This includes a wide set of toiletries, computer, a bunch of charging stuff. I often find myself carrying my laptop and taking my electronics bag when out of town. Definitely have recommended this bag to more than one person! Toiletry: Toiletries Bathroom Travel Bag Organizer for Women Makeup or Men Shaving Kit with Hanging Grey Electronic: imoli Universal Travel Case for Electronics and Accessories, Carrying Bag for Chargers, Adapters, Power Cord, Power Bank and more (Black)
Top critical review
10 people found this helpful
Bad customer service experience
By Steve A on Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2014
When I first received the bag I really liked it a lot. It is very well designed and thought out, with all the compartments and different way of carrying the bag. Unfortunately, I never got to actually use it. I received a defective unit, one of the zippers was missing from the laptop compartment so it couldn't be locked as designed. Ebags' database was somehow missing all of my order information and I wasted over 4 hours of time over 3 days jumping thru all of eBags' hoops trying to get it replaced before my vacation. It seems the "defective new bag replacement" department isn't open on weekends, even though the "warranty replacement on used bags" department is open on weekends. When I finally got someone empowered to help me 2 days later, they weren't willing to send me out a replacement in time for my vacation due to the expense of 2 day shipping ( which would not have been the case if they were open on weekends), even though I had 2 day shipping on the original order from Amazon. In the end I had to return it to Amazon and go buy luggage from a department store for the trip. I gave this 3 stars for the terrible customer service I received from the "new defective item department" and the poor database system that couldn't find my order for hours. I actually got great service from the weekend "used defective item" rep, but she wasn't empowered to send out a new one in my case since the defective one wasn't actually used yet - go figure - what an absurd warranty replacement scheme that is.
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Inside the front part you can hold a good amount of things from business cars to any travel ...
By Jeff Rhodes - Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018
Verified Amazon Purchase
I have about 3 years on this bag with some heavy travel and thought it deserved a review. My Background: My travel is two different types. At least two overnight trips a month by car and a 5-day trip every other month. Sprinkle in longer Friday morning-Sunday trips here and there. The last two are flight travel. With a little shopping around, I have outfitted this bag with everything you could need. Inside the front part you can hold a good amount of things from business cars to any travel sized thing you can think of. As a person who likes to be prepared, this gives you the option to be that way. On the top you get a compartment that is great for a travel umbrella and for the “pencil holder” included in the bag. I have used the zip out drink holder several times. Not the best part of their design, but it is helpful in a pinch. Inside you get the standard carry on size space. I do use their packing cubes, which are as equally amazing. I generally use three packing cubes and the toiletry bag linked below. The toiletry bag take us roughly the same height of a packing cube. I use the electronics holder linked below, which fits vertical in the packing next to the toiletry bag. There is an expansion zipper which will give you an extra couple of inches to pack. I am always fearful of not being allowed as a carry on that I have never used it, there is plenty of space without it. As a note, it always gets through security as a carry on, BUT the small regional jets usually make you check it, unless there is no one on the flight. Still better then checking, but it has taken a beating. I think it has held up pretty considering how many snowy nights I have seen it tossed back on to the passenger bridge. The computer compartment has access on top and is easy to use even with the bag packed full. The fact I can get to it without messing with any clothes is a huge bonus over a lot of bags. The main reason I like this bag is the straps. I never understood why people do the rollies. Airports are crazy enough without lugging something behind you. They are equally as annoying when using in the real world. Wheels + city streets never mix. This bag looks pretty non-descript and better than the college looking backpack. My only complaint is I wish there was a zipper to close the convertible zipper compartment for the straps or at least make the material inside that part a black color instead of orange, see pics below. Other than that, the design is great and efficient. I have used it in strap mode, but only a couple of times. Having the option is nice, but I have used it far less that I expected. Overall This bag is great for two-plus days out. It is a tad large for an over-night and definitive sticks out if you are trying to do double duty as a day bag while out of town. Though the trade-off is I can pack anything as a carry on (minus suits) for a week trip no problem. This includes a wide set of toiletries, computer, a bunch of charging stuff. I often find myself carrying my laptop and taking my electronics bag when out of town. Definitely have recommended this bag to more than one person! Toiletry: Toiletries Bathroom Travel Bag Organizer for Women Makeup or Men Shaving Kit with Hanging Grey Electronic: imoli Universal Travel Case for Electronics and Accessories, Carrying Bag for Chargers, Adapters, Power Cord, Power Bank and more (Black)
As near prfect as you get!
By G. J. Howes - Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2014
Verified Amazon Purchase
This is the second of these exact same bags that I am purchasing, so that alone should tell you I love it! There are many alternative bags in this class and not one suits me as well. I have read many of the other reviews and I won't repeat all the good things they say, except to say they are all true! So ironically, in this 5 star review, I will talk about the things I don't like, and yes, there are a few. Note though that despite these things, I still think it is the best bag going FOR ITS PURPOSE and that is why I am getting another one. So here goes: 1) The bottom plastic clips where the shoulder straps clip onto the bag are too flimsy for the weight this bag can carry, and broke early in the life of the bag. Cheap to replace, but should have been heavier gauge to start with. 2) The carry handle of the bag started to tear out from carrying. Again, too light weight for a fully laden bag. Sorted it out before it went to far by having it stitched, but I should not have to do that. I see another reviewer had this problem too. 3) One of the tie down straps inside the main compartment pulled out, so now I cannot tie down half the load. Annoying but not critical. 4) The bag is soft (i.e. not rigid). That is one of the things I like about it as it fits in well in all shapes and sizes of airline lockers and can compress and expand as the need arises and the contents change. HOWEVER, there is NO protection for your laptop, and you could easily bend and damage your laptop if the bag is packed in tight with other bags. However the flexibility benefit I have named is worth it for me, so I solved the problem by using the Case Logic QNS-113 13.3-Inch EVA Molded Laptop case that I slip into the Mother Lode. Perfect! I mentioned above about 'FOR ITS PURPOSE'. I want to say some more about that because some if the reviews indicate to me that some people have bought this bag for what I think is the wrong purpose. 1) People complain that the waist strap is inadequate. Well, it is! As I see it this is a bag for airline travelers, not serious hikers. There are many better bags if hiking is to be its main purpose. It works for me, flying on business, as I can keep ALL my office paraphernalia together AND have a spare set of clothes in case my checked bag goes missing (as though it ever would !). On days off / weekends during my trips, though, it doubles as a day pack on excursions. But it is NOT a full time hiking bag in my view. 2) I see some people say it should have wheels. First off E-Bags do have the same thing with wheels if you want. I choose not to have wheels. My reasons are: a) I sometimes travel on small planes with severe weight restrictions (25 lbs including carry on!) so I don't want to waste an ounce on wheels. b) Wheels and the collapsible handle actually waste a lot of space in a bag. c) In many places I go the terrain is too rough for pulling a case on wheels - I need to hump it on my back. d) Wheels and handle mean a more rigid bag and therefore a loss of the flexibility that I need / want for fitting into those awkward places. So, if you want wheels, get the other E-Bags Mother Lode, and if you share my needs, get this one. In summary, an EXCELLENT bag. I just wish E-Bags would look at those quality/strength issues.
Awesome
By A. Macdonald - Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
I love this bag. The photos show what I was able to pack for a short trip. Let me say that there was plenty of more space available in the bag as it was not packed full. There are plenty of exterior pockets if you want to to pack items that may be needed on the plane, i.e. books, headphones, an iPad, etc. When the expansion zipper is closed it will fit under your seat and with it expanded it will easily fit in the overhead bin. If you don’t want the shoulder straps to get caught on things when it is being stored, they easily stow under a separate flap. When being used as a backpack, there is a chest arm trap to keep your back in place. When I purchased this bag I was looking for the perfect weekend/carry-on bag and I think I found it.
Been meaning to replace it for a few years now
By Amazon Customer - Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
Bought it 7 years ago for an overseas trip and paid more than I wanted to. It's a little too big, and yet I still overpack it while never using the expansion zipper. It's sturdy and holds up well. I want to buy something that doubles as a daily laptop bag and overnight bag, but so far I haven't found anything near the price that works better. I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of it.
Experienced Europe/Asia Backpacker Approved!
By Ari87 - Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2015
Verified Amazon Purchase
Case study: Before the beginning of our first 3-week trip, my two friends and I each bought different, brand new travel backpacks. 3 may not be a creditable sample size, however, my Mother Lode bag was the clear winner. One friend had the Rick Steves model and the other an Osprey. At the end of the trip, the Rick Steves bags was coming apart slightly at the seams in two different places. Although the Osprey held up okay, it was a lot smaller than both the Rick Steves and Mother Lode and was also much more expensive. After the end of our fast paced trek across Scandinavia, the Alps, and the Mediterranean, my bag still looked brand spanking new, unlike the other two!! Since then, I have taken 17 flights (RyanAir, Norwegian, SAS, Virgin, United, Wizz Air and KLM), 60+ train rides, 100+ bus journeys, and countless times shoving my bag into cubbies and ports in hostels and lockers. I have traveled in all sorts of weather, snow storms in Norway, sweltering heat in Croatia, downpour of rain in the UK. Two years later my bag is still in fantastic shape. It takes a magnifying glass to find any minuscule sign of wear and tear, even having checked it into luggage and being tossed around on 4 occasions. On the specs of the bag, it says it is expandable by 10% but it honestly seems like MUCH more than that. The tightening straps really help to keep it looking slim and compact and I have not had any problems carrying it on board as a carry on with budget airlines (Ryanair and the like). One time when I used the expansion option and really filled my bag to 110%, I got a bit of a stern warning from the flight attendant about the size of it, but I knew I was really pushing it there! ;) Tip: As long as you keep it on your back as a backpack when checking in and boarding, no one says anything to you at the gate. It really just looks that slim and is really deceiving in how much you can actually stuff in there! As you can obviously tell, I am a huge fan of this bag and I have many more travels planned for it. If you do your research on packing and make sure to properly organize your belongings in terms of density and center of gravity, as well as properly adjust the straps, then this bag will be a dream. There are plenty of useful compartments. Some I use, some are unnecessary for me but they don't bother me either. The only cons are aspects of backpacking that are impossible to avoid-- sweaty back and back pain after long periods of carrying it. That is part of the struggle and fun of backpacking, really, and this bag is really as good as it gets.
Best in class
By WanderLust - Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
Verified Amazon Purchase
My goal was to find a robust carry-on that was easy to carry, maneuver through an airport or on a plane and was true to size. Looking at a lot of wheeled carry-ons, including the one I’ve used for a number of trips, even though the dimensions met the maximum allowed carry-on size, space was lost due to the framework of the wheels and handle. Additionally, since I also usually have a checked bag, I have to deal with two rolling bags, or have my carry-on slung over my shoulder and try to balance that and deal with my suitcase. I reviewed a lot of bags and was leaning towards some of the more expensive ones thinking that the material and design were better, but fortunately, the eBags TLS weekender kept popping up. It looked good, but from the pictures I kept seeing, the material looked thin and not very durable and that prevented me from giving it serious consideration. My search finally came down to the TLS weekender and another bag at twice the price and I finally found two pieces of information that helped me make my decision. I found a few user reviews saying how durable the bag was, how rough it was treated, how many flights and trips it was on and still held up well. That was good news. Secondly, I had read about backpack style carry-ons and that when using it as a backpack, the contents tend to sink to the bottom and get crushed and messed up. This particular version of the TLS weekender has a snap in shelf that helps support the contents when used as a backpack. Good enough for me, I ordered it. Once I got it, I was impressed by the quality of the material, it looked and felt durable, much better than the online pictures implied. I did a test pack of what I usually put in my wheeled carry-on and had a lot of room to spare. Very impressed. The bag is very well designed with all its pockets within pockets so everything is organized, compartmentalized and easy to access. The inside lining is bright so its easy to find all the things you’ve packed inside (I’ve spent time feeling through my other bag trying to find a wayward sock or other item). Nice use of compression straps and the carrying handles make it easy to carry in one hand, load into or out of a high overhead bin or car trunk. As for the backpack straps, generously padded and comfortable, leaving both hands free to maneuver my rolling suitcase, handle paperwork or whatever. Very well designed, very impressed overall. Very happy with my purchase.
The only Travel Bag you're going To Need.
By Dave A. Rivera - Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2016
Verified Amazon Purchase
I've never purchased a backpack on Amazon before. This is a first time. I actually looked up a lot of backpacks for traveling and all of the reviews led me to this bag. Why this bag? This bag has everything you need in a backpack and a suitcase. This bag has an accordion style packing system that allows you to pack enough stuff in it and still look like you have very little in the bag. Looks: This looks like your regular every day style backpack but, its a bit bigger than it. This bag is perfect for the weekend trip or if you're traveling to another continent. Size: This bag is perfect for people that don't want to check a bag at the airport. It does have the ability to fit in the overhead compartment for both domestic and international flights. This is great for people that are looking to save money on baggage fees(I am one of them). This bag does accommodate enough room to use packing cubes(I highly recommend using those as well!!!!). You still have enough room to pack a bit more with the packing cubes in place. Overall: I don't know what I would do without this bag. I use to use a large roller suitcase now, I let my girlfriend use that and I use this and I couldn't be any more satisfied or happy. Seriously this is the perfect bag/backpack for the traveler, especially the traveler going to Europe trying to save a dime. If this review was helpful to you, please click on the YES button. This will make it easier for others to find the review so that they may be helped as well.
I love it but be aware of the disadvantages!
By P. - Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2012
Verified Amazon Purchase
I like this backpack/suitcase crossover. It is super spacious, very decent quality, lots of pockets. For the hectic TSA-check, the quart-size liquids zip bag fits perfectly in the top compartment no matter how full the bag is. Same for the laptop, easy access from the top. And the backpack is super lightweight and expandable - the perfect travel solution for me. However, you maybe shouldn't buy this without acknowledging the following major drawbacks: 1. It gets super heavy due to its volume capacity. If you are not very strong (and tall) you will suffer on your travels because unlike a rolling suitcase there is no relief for your shoulders. Waiting in a line, walking down endless terminals... you need to carry that weight all the time or pick it up from the floor over and over again. 2. It is not stiff. Unlike a hard suitcase it will not protect your clothing. That perfectly ironed button-down shirt, the tux for the weekend wedding? Forget it, no wrinkle-protection with this one. 3. It doesn't have a frame. The third disadvantage to a regular suitcase is, that it won't stay in shape if not filled with stuff. It just doesn't feel like you're filling your stuff into something, but more like you're putting your stuff on the floor and then stretching the wobbly backpack around it. 4. There are better backpacks out there. Basically you are buying a very large backpack with the advantage of a large zipper opening the whole thing up like a clam shell. But besides that, if you're in need of a backpack solution I think there are better backpack traveler options out there. As I said, I like it because I have my hands free for helping my wife with our baby/infant when traveling. And for me the weight doesn't matter since I am 6'7". But overall this luggage concept is questionable for many travelers. UPDATE 2017: Having traveled often with this bag in the last 6 (!) years I'm surprised how well it is made. It looks like new, no tears, no wear or tear. Impressive! Still my favorite bag. One advantage (over a normal trolley) I have discovered is, that often when the airline attendant at the gate asks passengers to check in their on-board suitcases, I get away with this backpack (not being asked to check it in) because it looks like a backpack despite having the size of a suitcase.
4 out of 5: Mostly very nice, BUT...
By Aelfwin - Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2013
Verified Amazon Purchase
FOR THE MONEY, I don't think you can get a better bag. It's very sturdy, and you can cram an incredible amount of stuff into it (far more than the mere 'weekend' for which it is allegedly designed), you can carry it three different ways (as a backpack, or with either of two different handles, one on the end and one on the side), and yet it still passes for Carry-On. However, I do have two minor complaints... #1: You see the shoulder straps in the picture, yes? Well, there is a two-piece chest strap (not shown in the picture) which connects to the shoulder straps, and buckles in the center of your chest -- but the *way* it connects is that a small plastic piece (which looks sort of like a tiny funnel, with a slit down one side) slides over the bulged seams at the edges of the shoulder straps. Presumably, they did this so that the chest strap could be adjusted up or down, as needed. However, on the bag I got, the slit down the side of one of those little 'funnel' pieces is too wide (or the bulged seam on the shoulder strap isn't wide enough, whichever), and the thing simply refuses to stay connected. It just keeps popping loose, no matter what I do. So while lugging this thing on my back through several airports in succession, I had to stop and reattach that one end of the chest strap about a dozen times in one day -- so many times, in fact, that I finally got angry and just took the whole stupid chest strap off. #2: I'm also not very fond of the waist strap (which you can't see in the picture above), which is just a strip of unpadded nylon. If you tighten it enough to actually make a difference in how you're carrying the load, then it gouges into your waist and feels very uncomfortable. A little bit of padding would have made that waist strap much more tolerable. Conclusion: I have no other complaints about the bag, but those two flaws (especially the infernal chest strap) are enough to subtract a star. Overall I would still recommend the bag though, because aside from those two minor flaws, it's really a good bag -- especially considering the price.
Great alternative to roller bags for the frequent traveller.
By tnum5 - Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2017
Verified Amazon Purchase
I had heretofore always used rolling bags for overnight or short term stays, and when my last one bit the dust I started looking for another. However I had always noticed that backpacks are much better for mobility, particularly when in a rush walking in a crowded city or cities where the pavement is not the best. And given that I am used to backpacks for communing and hiking, I thought I would gamble and try one of these. It worked out wonderfully. Weekend trips to various European cities have been a joy, because the Weekender is big enough to fit an extra pair of shoes along with everything else. I have used it for stays as long as 4 night. It has more compartments than I have figured out how to use, and there are small touches that show that the designers were thinking about the traveler when designing this unit (such as the compartment separators). (checkout the online video from eBags, in the description). The shoulder and waist straps are well designed for a heavy load for a medium distance of carrying. 4 nights worth of stuff was plenty heavy, and I was glad to have the waist belt to distribute the load. It also comes with a cross strap, but I cannot see a use case for it. Generally I use it for business trips, 1 or 2 nights, and for that I close the expansion zipper to it's minimum height and cinch it down. It is pretty compact. It generally fits all European overhead bins (even Ryan Air, when not expanded), although technically it is 1/2 centimeter longer than it should. But, being that it is soft luggage you can usually get the bin door closed and the flight attendant at bay. Generally I love it, but in hindsight I should have considered the Junior version instead of the full version I took. The Junior one would not have worked for the 4 night stay, but I do a lot less of those that the overnight or two day variety. Then there would be not doubt about size in the overhead bin, and of course it would be lighter.
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