Welcome to the forums! Sounds like a great adventure. For any luggage, I like to shop in person. So you can roll it around, zip and unzip, see how it's put together. Some people like lots of built-in compartments, some prefer just one large space to pack. Often rolling dufflebags had a lower zippered separate space, meant for shoes, etc. There's really no right answer imo. You just need to go shopping and see what looks good to you.

I've had excellent luck at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Macy's on sale.

You also might want to check a local thrift store. I found a great rolling duffel with backpack straps (which I don't use) for about $20. And I've also found rugged rolling duffels at Target.

You can try Briggs & Riley luggage. I have been using their products for the longest time and I have never faced any problems with them. Besides, they offer the best warranty in the industry. They have a nice collection of wheeled duffles (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/group.aspx?cat=activity-and-duffles ). Why don’t you explore the collection and see if any of the duffles fit your requirements.

thank you! i will try the stores you mentioned. that is a great idea to look at the thrift store, i hadn't considered that.

@gabrielle the briggs-riley cases are really nice, unfortunately a bit out of my price range atm. im probably shooting for the 100 dollar range which i admit does limit my options a bit. the cases i really leaning towards, the north face longhaul and eagle creek hovercraft are both unfortunately up there in price as well. but if i can find a high quality equivalent for cheap thats what ill go with.

thanks all for the help, any other suggestions are welcome!

Actually my current favorite is a 24" rolling duffle. Unfortunately not all that sturdy, but I got it as a freebie at work from Office Depot.

If you have a Marshalls or TJ Maxx or similar, check there. They get in name brands of luggage at significant discount.

Eagle Creek or North Face are both good, if it's going to be a bag you use over and over again to make it worth the price.

Personally I've never given more than $50 for a new piece of luggage. And mine work just fine!

thanks suze, thats the kind of stuff i was looking to find out. when i went to europe in '08 i have a large duffel bag which was cheap and kind of flimsy, and it didn't have an extendable handle so it was killing my back toting it around. definitely wont make that mistake again. just need to find something affordable that has all my desireables. i was told for this trip i probably need a 28 - 26 inch bag.

i do have a marshalls, tj maxx, target etc all that right where i live, planning on swinging by today.

28 - 36" rather

Ooooh, that's pretty darn big! Mine is only 24".

36" is HUGE!!!!!!and packed full will weight a ton (well not actually a ton -haha).

Definitely go shopping in person. And don't be shy about wheeling it around the store & yanking the handle up & down (I'm only 5'3" tall and some of the handles are too short for me!)

28 inch rolling duffle - $49.99 Had it for years......and love it! Got it at Ross!

I travel w/ it half full, way under 50 lbs, but I love all the shuffle room I have on those in and out one nite hotel stays.

and the winner is . . . . tj maxx! they had one of the bags i actually saw online but just trying it out sold me. has everything i want except for backpack straps, but i dont really need right?

http://www.ebags.com/product/international-traveller/split-case-rolling-nylon-duffle/144366

good work! it looks great!! Thanks for letting us know the results. Online shopping is OK for some things, but I really liked to see luggage in person/hands on. No I don't think you needed backpack straps (lol)!

hehe thanks! its nice to find a forum online with kind and helpful people. ill be sticking around for sure, maybe post how my trip goes! tchau

If I did as much traveling as I'd like, then investing in Briggs and Riley would be worthwhile. The best shopping experience I've had was one in a luggage store when I asked the sales woman why anyone would pay that much money for B&R?
She showed me and it gave me new insight in what to look for when shopping for my next piece.

See for me I care most about *weight*. IF someone could make a weightless suitcase, THEN I'd pay big bucks!! Often when I've looked at the high-end brands, they are extremely HEAVY. I realize that makes them more durable. But I'd rather have as light-weight (when empty) as possible, and replace more often.

duffles seem to weigh less than the rolling rectangles....over all ...I think.

We've used LL Bean rolling duffels for many years. They are inexpensive, long lasting and can be monogrammed with your name for easy spotting.