Traveling international, airlines clip you for anything over certain weights and, if you are like me and love to bring home goodies, why pay for bag weight?  Most of the rollies I looked at were 10 to 12lbs EMPTY.  This bag is all of about 3lbs and very well made all around.  The ONLY downside is that, with the lack of the heavy frame, it will 'twist' when fully loaded but I figured it was worth the extra caution since I only really had to manage it to the baggage check-in and then from the arrival carrousel onto the cart.  Not an inexpensive bag but well worth it. Check out lightweight nylon 'packing cubes' by eBags for organizing your stuff in the duffel...another great product.  Happy Trails!!