New Luggage

[Instrument 41]

I'm having to get new luggage. Does anyone have hard case luggage? Is there an advantage? Any recommendations? Definitely liking the 4 wheeled luggage, but I have never had more than 2 wheels. Any downside to that option?

[motion]

Hard sided is nice because they won't rip and won't get soaking wet. I LOVE the cheap stuff at Costco. I've tried everything, including pricey Tumi stuff, and keep going back to the Costco hard rollers. You can get a large/small 2 pack for like $120.

[Scott Douglas]

My daughter and her husband bought new luggage just before moving to Japan a couple months ago. They got Samsonite soft sided in two sizes, large and then the next size smaller that would fit inside the large for storage. Amazing what they have as options now in a suitcase. They got theirs on sale at Macy's 40% off sale or something like that. While shopping they stopped at the Samsonite factory store too. They couldn't come close to the Macy's sale price.
With four wheels you can push more than one bag at a time.
Hope you have a healthy budget for this as they were not cheap, but, you get what you pay for and if you do a lot of traveling I guess it pays to pay the price. At least that's what they told me.

[wildthing]

I got luggage at Costco. 1 large, 1 small for carry on. Not hard shell. Seems to have survived at least 3 international flights and 3 domestic.

Agree with previous post: get 4-wheel swivel.

[tcar]

Behind the times:

There is now motorized luggage that you can actually ride.

http://modobag.com/

Do it!

[rattlsnak]

Luggage Works brand is what the pros use followed by Travel Pro and for the love of god, please don't get the 4 wheeled variety..

[Hugh R]

I have Samsonite soft side with four wheels, I'm very happy with it, its all carry on size. Been about 500K miles with it. No issues, lifetime guarantee. Get a color other than black you're less likely to have someone mistake your bag for theirs if you have to check it. Tie a colored ribbon on the handle to flag it as yours.

[vash]

I still like the backpack travel duffel bags. Strap it on and haul ass.

[JavaBrewer]

Airlines are getting stricter about bag size. Get something smaller to make sure you don't check your bag. Checking your bag sucks.

[jyl]

I travel with a carry on bag, no wheels, shoulder strap, and I carry it, because carrying things is good exercise. If I can't carry 30 lb for a few blocks, then I need to carry more stuff.

[Nickshu]

Had Samsonite 4 wheel flexible hardside set of 4 going on 5 years now and it has held up very well. Finally broke one wheel last month, but after 5 years I'm not to disappointed.

[Willem Fick]

Four wheeler (spinner) for sure, clamshell with no zippers, and multiple (TSA) locks. I also always try to get cases that are as light as possible, and the maximum size permissible by airlines. Would love to drop money on a set of Samsonites, but given how badly airlines treat your luggage I just can't get it over my heart to spend that sort of money on something that will be all scuffed up and damaged in no time.

[herr_oberst]

I bought the Osprey Porter (46) for my most recent trip. Compartmentalized like a wheelie, but with shoulder straps like a backpack. This thing is great. Super comfy, easy access to your most used stuff, fits in the overhead bin, compression straps and panels keep it very tidy and snug. An extremely well designed and built piece of luggage.

I'm tall, and the handles on wheelies don't accommodate my height, ergo, the wheelie bangs up against my heels as I walk, plus I just hate walking around town with a wheeled suitcase, as often happens when traveling to new places.

Sure, I have to carry it. Fortunately, I'm still plenty strong enough to carry a backpack through an airport or a hotel, and it is so much more practical and comfortable than a wheelie in an urban environment.

[id10t]

The Luggage.

[scottmandue]

I'll be the dissenter and say I HATE four wheelers, particularly because if you don't keep a hand on them constantly they will roll away from you on any incline (which I am on a lot when standing in line at an airport) and often bang into your fellow travelers which isn't very nice.

[nzporsche944s2]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Had Samsonite 4 wheel flexible hardside set of 4 going on 5 years now and it has held up very well. Finally broke one wheel last month, but after 5 years I'm not to disappointed.

I swear by Samsonite hard shells but ONLY with clips not zips. I take around 10 flights a month for work and have a range of sizes depending on the duration of the trip.

I wore three old Samsonite "Oyster" cases out and then moved to the four wheeler options. I've had a couple of instances where the luggage has come out on the carousel covered in food juices from someone elses leaking boxes (usually on Pacific Island flights where people bring fish back for relatives in NZ) - as soon as I get home I just hose it off before I even open it. The rubber seal ensures it is water tight. You can't do that with a soft side or a zip closure. I also used them as temporary seating at airports - they are strong as hell.

Never, ever pay retail for luggage - 40-50% discount is relatively common on Samsonite if you time it right.

[masraum]

I've used hard shell and soft luggage over the years. I've actually had better luck with the soft luggage (but I haven't really had bad luck with hard). I've never had soft luggage tear that I can remember, but I've had or seen hard luggage crack and/or deform. These days I look for quality construction in the zippers and a sturdy feeling material. I feel for what seems like a decent frame to help the luggage hold it's shape (for soft side), and most importantly, very sturdy wheels. If I end up packing heavy and going up and down curbs and escalators and bumps, I don't want the wheels to break or fall off.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Instrument 41

I'm having to get new luggage. Does anyone have hard case luggage? Is there an advantage? Any recommendations? Definitely liking the 4 wheeled luggage, but I have never had more than 2 wheels. Any downside to that option?

My wife. Has the four wheeled kind. I hate it. It doesn't follow well if you try to drag it on two wheels and it doesn't move fast on 4 wheels. If you are on an inclined surface you need to be careful or it will roll away from you if you let go.

[kanadary]

Got a set of delsey helium for my daughters summer art school trip to Italy. Hardshell, expandable and the access isn't in the middle but on one side so you can lean the side against the wall and not have to open it up like a clam

[David]

We upgraded to some Briggs and Riley suitcases this year. I gave my fiance her's for Christmas last year and she looked at me like I'd given her a lump of coal. Fast forward to our vacation in Italy this year and she thanked me profusely. Dragging a suitcase around Europe, you really appreciate something that rolls well over cobbles and curbs.