nessudorma,

I thought EU weight restrictions were much less than 30 lbs -- like half that?

You're probably right. Post the last alleged terror plot, Virgin let me carry something around 15 pounds on board (transatlantic) so long as it was in a single piece of luggage. By quickly giving some stuff to my husband, I was able to get down to the weight, but at that point I decided to junk my wheelie for the next trip.

I would not be able to comfortably carry a 40 lb duffle bag. My wheeled 24" suitcase comes in around 27 lbs packed. That's my personal limit.

If I'm renting a car on the other end, I can put up with toting something fairly heavy through the airport twice. But since the carry on restrictions, I just don't pack very much. I'd rather dress in washable dark clothes for a few weeks than wait by that damn baggage carousel!

Ive recently purchased a Delsey to take on our 5 week trip to Europe this Christmas. A friend of mine, who had just returned from 7 weeks in Europe, used Delsey luggage and she said they were just fantastic, which is why I bought mine. I'm sure it will hold up fine, looks well made and wasn't cheap.

amanda,

Do you (and your friend) have the plastic shell delsey or is it a fabric exterior?

Just a warning.

I have used the "plastic shell" type of suitcases in the past. They do not appear to hold up well under airline conditons if you are checking (or are forced to check luggage)

My last one the DL agent in Nashville finally just paid for after sending it for repair three times.

Hi fishee
It's a fabric suitcase on wheels, with pull out handle, and is expandable to 10% I believe. I got it on sale. My friend, who had just returned from Europe, said they sold the same ones in Paris for double the price. Her and her hubby took one each with them for their travels and had no problems.

Just to close out the question of how much the Delsey 21" roll-aboard I was interested in weighed, I emailed them, as follows:

"Sirs:

I have searched your web site diligently to find the actual weight of your
luggage. I cannot find it; other than the unsupported and vague statement
that it "is up to 40% lighter". Specifically, I would like to know the
weight of your Model 21274, 21 inch rolling suitcase."

They responded:

"The weight is 15 pounds.

Sandy
Customer Service
Delsey Luggage, North America"

Now I see why they are so coy in their advertizing copy, their bag weighs more than the too heavy bag I now own. So far, the Rick Steves 21" seems to fit my needs best, at less than 7 pounds.

:-)

wow, that is heavy. I have a nice 25" bag I bought at Target a few years ago, and I haven't used it that much so it's still in good condition. However, the bag itself does really add on to the weight but I don't think even it is 15 pounds. I thought it was about 8 or 10 tops.

I bought my niece a 25" Delsey Helium for a present, and it was the bright blue fabric version. I thought it looked as sturdy as any of that style, and I really do think it was lighter weight than a typical bag of that size. I didn't weigh it but lifted it and checked it out in the store, and I thought it was pretty light weight. I would have guess that was def. less than 10 pounds weight, and it was the 25 inch one.

Here is one site that sells it that lists the weights, and says it is slightly under nine pounds

http://www.luggage.com/Delsey-21274XX-QW1008.html

If you go to amazon.com, they list the "shipping weight" as 11 pounds. Either of those two seems more realistic to me than 15 pounds. I saw that Delsey specs sheet and it is amazing they don't list the actual weight on that, since that's one of the prime features. I really suspect that customer service agent made a mistake and quoted the weight of a different model or something, though. on luggage.com, they say the 29" model is only 13.2 pounds. That is for the fabric luggage.

I just looked at the first Delsey website that I think lists European models. I don't see anything they are calling Helium model on there, but I guess then 55 cm model is the closest to the 21" size, and that page says it is 3.7 kg or 8.2 pounds. So I really think it must be between 8 and 9 pounds and that customer svc rep is wrong.

Christina,

Now that is a real puzzlement!

We are apparently talking about the same bag. The web site you referenced did indeed list the weight at just over 8.6 pounds. I don't know why the Delsey representative gave me the 15 pound weight. If the lesser weight is indeed the correct one, I'll go look at one in a local shop.

What bugged me about my current bag was that it weighed 12.5 pounds empty, and 23 fully loaded for a three week trip. The 10.5 pounds of my gear included a lot of reading and reference material, too.

I just hated the fact that my bag weighed more than the contents.

:-)

I really don't think it weights 15 pounds, as I felt the 25" one. I think it is worth going to look at, and take a scale with you, if you can.

You are probably right. I have written to Delsey again, saying I think their data is not correct. I'll let you know what their response.

:-)

I can't think of any hardshell luggage that is light enough to use as a carryon in Europe

Find yourself a rolling duffel bag made from something like Cordura

nessundorma, you can come with me. My DH and I (no longer in our 20s to say the least!) spent 3 weeks in Italy in October with two carry-on, frameless, very lightweight (but well-made) backpacks. Not luggage-size, just regular old school size backpacks with lots of pockets. We each carried our own pack, and we also had a lightweight "book bag" for our jackets, reading stuff, newspapers, etc.)

We were especially appreciative of our lack of encumbrance when we'd pass people schlepping those rolling behemoths along the cobbled streets, grunting & sighing. And yes, we are always clean & presentable every day -- in fact, more so than many other tourists we saw!

I have never, ever, in all my years of travelling, carried anything that had a hard shell (except when I go to NYC or Boston for 4 days, in which case I bring a s-load of stuff, for some stupid reason.) But no, we don't buy a lot of stuff to bring home.

&quot;<i>I can't think of any hardshell luggage that is light enough to use as a carryon in Europe </i>&quot;

That was true in days past - but there are new hard shell, high tech composite suitcases that are actually lighter than soft sided bags tof he same size. I have lots of luggage (mostly used for examples in my packing classes) but none of the light hard shell variety. I'm thinking of buying one just to see how they hold up.

So what is the lightest hardshell carryon &amp; how much does it weigh?

&quot;<i>So what is the lightest hardshell carryon &amp; how much does it weigh?</i>&quot;

One brand I've considered is International Traveler, but I'm looking for others. International Traveler's 18 in. rollaboard is about 5.5 lbs

Nukesafe, I'd no idea it was 12 lbs.! I must be in better shape than I thought I was! Janisj is correct, the 18&quot; rollaboard is a lightweight hard-side and does indeed fit nicely into the overhead compartment. I have the full set of 4 bags. I also have a hard-side 18&quot; bag purchased in Rome, manufactured by Benneton, and it functions nicely as a rollaboard also.

BC