topic Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please in Community Chat

Luggage Recommendations, Please

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:42:49 GMT

I'm in the market for new luggage. I think I want the hardside/polycarbonate with inline wheels, and I also want the TSA lock. I'm open to other suggestions, if hardside isn't the way to go. Even so, there are options at many price points. It's been years I've been on an extended trip where I need a big suitcase to pack for 10 days and have mutliple daily options, but there are limits with the airline I'm flying with. The largest case I need would be a 28". I'm open to a two or three piece set.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

SisterGoldenHair — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:51:14 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
I'm in the market for new luggage. I think I want the hardside/polycarbonate with inline wheels, and I also want the TSA lock. I'm open to other suggestions, if hardside isn't the way to go. Even so, there are options at many price points. It's been years I've been on an extended trip where I need a big suitcase to pack for 10 days and have mutliple daily options, but there are limits with the airline I'm flying with. The largest case I need would be a 28". I'm open to a two or three piece set.

@JeanLouiseFinchI would go with the hardside. We have family that travel overseas and the hardside is the way to go. I'm not sure of the brand, sorry.

I will suggest for you, we carry backpacks to take on the plane. Easy to carry and I have tried everything. Even with a rolling suitcase, it is a hassle to wheel it across an airport. We did that once and that was enough.

With a backpack, you have the outside pocket for your tickets. And large enough to , carry what you need. I always carry an extra set of clothes. I will find a picture of the one I like.

I put a crossbody handbag inside and use that like a wallet. I have tried the carrying a handbag and it was a pain.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

SisterGoldenHair — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:55:59 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinchIt is called the "Healthy Backbag. I have it in red and black for my husband.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

FrostyBabe1 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 22:05:57 GMT

How often are you going to use this luggage, and more importantly, how often is it going to get checked on an airplane? If it's something you want to keep and use for years, I would recommend you invest in really good bags. I am a recovering road warrior and Samsonite is the lowest quality I would consider.

Personally, I don't care for hardside bags. I also don't care for the spinner bags (4 wheels) as the majority of those wheels protude quite a ways out from the bottom of the bag and are very easy to snap off. I use CrewPro bags from TravelPro that have two, recessed wheels. Other brands that are good are Briggs & Riley, Atlantic (made by TravelPro) and Delsey. Hautelook has some Briggs & Riley, Delsey & Samsonite bags on sale right now. If you do purchase from TravelPro, make sure it's the CrewPro line. Some of their less expensive bags regularly turn up in discount stores and they're not going to last very long.

Although I always say that you don't buy luggage for it's looks, I'd highly recommend a color other than black. Nearly everyone has black bags, and they all look alike spinning around at luggage claim.

As for the TSA lock, you don't want it integrated into the bag. If it breaks, you're sunk. They're readily available for purchase seperately.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

Drythe — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 22:48:54 GMT

As a frequent flyer / long tripper, I highly recommend hard sided bags. I prefer the TSA lock integrated into the suitcase because I have had the others broken off too often.

Invaluable for me is a soft sided bag that has a pass through that slips over the handle pull of my carry on. I have one that holds my air pad, my kindle, phone, my medications, passport & rfid wallet, wipes, etc. Excellent because you only have one thing to pull around. Put the carry on in the rack and soft side under seat. I use this as my purse until I reach my destination.

In my checked bag I put a small cross body purse that will hold my phone, glasses and rfid wallet to carry as my purse when I reach my destination.

With regards to cost, my theory is enough so it holds up, but not so much that it will hurt when it gets banged up - 'cause IT WILL!

All my travel gear comes from ebags dot com.

Happy trails

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

stuyvesant — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:29:15 GMT

I like soft luggage because I stuff souvenirs in the luggage and my bag is always heavier coming back then leaving. But that's my preference - I've never used a hard case and I don't know anyone who does.

What is surprising is how much cheaper luggage is when you order online from a luggage site. Research what you want, and then check it on ebags or a similar site.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

Yahooey — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:29:50 GMT

I have a soft case with an expandable section. It had nice built in extras and the brand is Travelon.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:56:38 GMT

@FrostyBabe1 wrote:
How often are you going to use this luggage, and more importantly, how often is it going to get checked on an airplane? If it's something you want to keep and use for years, I would recommend you invest in really good bags. I am a recovering road warrior and Samsonite is the lowest quality I would consider.

Personally, I don't care for hardside bags. I also don't care for the spinner bags (4 wheels) as the majority of those wheels protude quite a ways out from the bottom of the bag and are very easy to snap off. I use CrewPro bags from TravelPro that have two, recessed wheels. Other brands that are good are Briggs & Riley, Atlantic (made by TravelPro) and Delsey. Hautelook has some Briggs & Riley, Delsey & Samsonite bags on sale right now. If you do purchase from TravelPro, make sure it's the CrewPro line. Some of their less expensive bags regularly turn up in discount stores and they're not going to last very long.

Although I always say that you don't buy luggage for it's looks, I'd highly recommend a color other than black. Nearly everyone has black bags, and they all look alike spinning around at luggage claim.

As for the TSA lock, you don't want it integrated into the bag. If it breaks, you're sunk. They're readily available for purchase seperately.

@FrostyBabe1 Thanks for your recommendations. Your impression of Samsonite is disappointing. It used to have such a good reputation once upon a time. It's hard to say how often I'd be using it or how often it would be checked baggage via an airline. DH and I travel, usually short trips, several times a year so we will have opportunities to use the luggage going forward. I'm not keen on an entire set of bags, but have purchased a good size Lug bag that I will use as my carry-on and for shorter trips. I agree with you on the whole wheel thing. Many of the suitcases I've seen have the spinner wheels and some look either too big or stick out too far and I see that as potential for getting broken off. I'd prefer the inline style, but if I can't get them, then I'd want the more compact/smaller spinner, if I have to. I also agree on getting a color, if I can. If I end up where black is the only option, I can get a colored strap to personalize it. I'll have to read up more on integrated vs. non-integrated TSA locks.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

henderson — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:59:08 GMT

I have Delsey hard luggage and Hey's polycarbonate. For a small carry-on I have Briggs & Riley (guaranteed completely for life).

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:03:11 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
As a frequent flyer / long tripper, I highly recommend hard sided bags. I prefer the TSA lock integrated into the suitcase because I have had the others broken off too often.

Invaluable for me is a soft sided bag that has a pass through that slips over the handle pull of my carry on. I have one that holds my air pad, my kindle, phone, my medications, passport & rfid wallet, wipes, etc. Excellent because you only have one thing to pull around. Put the carry on in the rack and soft side under seat. I use this as my purse until I reach my destination.

In my checked bag I put a small cross body purse that will hold my phone, glasses and rfid wallet to carry as my purse when I reach my destination.

With regards to cost, my theory is enough so it holds up, but not so much that it will hurt when it gets banged up - 'cause IT WILL!

All my travel gear comes from ebags dot com.

Happy trails

Thanks @Drythe. I've been poking around eBags a little, to see what's there. As mentioned above, I did purchase a Lug bag that I intend on using as my carry-on. It does have a slip through strap that will go over the handle pull on the bigger piece of luggage.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

Katcat1 — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:06:29 GMT

I am not savvy when it comes to luggage but it is important that it is lightweight and has wheels and a good long adjustable arm. Excellent locks.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:07:19 GMT

@stuyvesant wrote:
I like soft luggage because I stuff souvenirs in the luggage and my bag is always heavier coming back then leaving. But that's my preference - I've never used a hard case and I don't know anyone who does.

What is surprising is how much cheaper luggage is when you order online from a luggage site. Research what you want, and then check it on ebags or a similar site.

@stuyvesant I always used to prefer soft sided luggage as well, but now with the additional charges for exceeding the limit on checked baggage weight, I thought hardsided was actually lighter than some of the softsided out there. I also think the hardsided adds a little more protection to what's inside.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

SisterGoldenHair — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:18:23 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinchI have one of these and it is great to weigh your suitcases.

One reason as you mentioned, I like the hardside to protect the things inside.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

PinkLu — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:12:42 GMT

Tumi luggage. Voyager collection. It is light weight, durable and you can add
matching pieces to your collection.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:17:06 GMT

@SisterGoldenHair wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinchI have one of these and it is great to weigh your suitcases.

One reason as you mentioned, I like the hardside to protect the things inside.

@SisterGoldenHair OK, I need this! When we fly in February, we'll be in first class, which allows us increased weight limit on our checked bags, but that's not always going to be the case. I'm notorious for overpacking so this little scale will be a very handy thing for me to have.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

Drythe — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 03:18:39 GMT

@PinkLu wrote:
Tumi luggage. Voyager collection. It is light weight, durable and you can add
matching pieces to your collection.

Tumi is quality, and good looking, my DH & I both have Tumi "briefcases" we gifted each other. But I would never pay that price for luggage.

Once I was sitting in a window seat waiting for takeoff, when I saw two luggage vans racing up towards the hold. I saw a bag fall off the first van, and the second one ran right over it. It was mine. Yes the airline 'repaired ' it. They used stiff cardboard.

Ouch!

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

sunshine 919 — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 03:59:03 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
I am not savvy when it comes to luggage but it is important that it is lightweight and has wheels and a good long adjustable arm. Excellent locks.

You might want to check out Samantha Brown on HSN. I believe her luggage has good reviews. Plus she gives you tips on how to organize for travel.

Re: Luggage Recommendations, Please

sweetee2 — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 04:37:57 GMT

I just bought medium size Swiss Army was the brand. Love it! It has 3 pockets inside and expand 6 inches. I just took it to Europe for 17 days with my pillow inside. Still had plenty of room.