My DH stole (borrowed) my suitcase, Victorinox....it was red and cool looking and now I am searching to come up with something smart but lightweight since all the restrictions with the weight. What do you carry that looks good (I know some don't think that is important) manuevers well, and is lightweight so that by the time you pack you are still going to make it through without selling your first born?

I go for something that seems to be fairly sturdy, yet light weight. The zippers are the big test for me... I'll stand in the store and run them back and forth and yank on them quite a bit before I'll even consider a bag. I also flatly refuse to buy a black suitcase... red, bright green, bright blue, etc is much more fun and easier to spot.

Look for something that has convenient pockets if that helps you pack. Mine has a small pocket and a large pocket on the top side that is really helpful to pack booklets and small things I need easy access too. My suitcase is just a normal looking 24" roller in bright red, I think it looks fine and is as lightweight as you'll find in a lower price range. I got it on an extreme sale at Younkers or JCPenney a few years ago. I think it's Swiss Army.

Here's a website with "What to look for" and reviews of luggage by type (see box in lower right corner). FWIW, my husband and I both have Briggs & Riley (#1 on this website) for its quality, light weight and life-time warranty. Unlike Iowa_Redhead, I prefer a 22" "box on wheels" with as few pockets/compartments as possible.

http://www.consumersearch.com/luggag...rtant-features

I've had a 22" Travelpro rollaboard for 10 years and nothing nothing nothing ever broke on it ... but it was getting heavy, and airlines are cutting down their limit -- they want carry-ons that will fit in the overhead straight in, not sideways.

After looking loooking looking for a 20", I went back to Travel Pro for their 20" rollaboard -- quality counts. During sales it's $200 instead of $400 but I got the tan version on the Internet for $169 free shipping no sales tax. unlike earlier versions it's one open compartment, holds as much as my 22" did (good outside pockets too). AND -- after you succeed in doing carry-on o'seas, there's a 2nd zip that makes it 3" deeper. I did FOUR WEEKS in Greece with this and a hefty "personal" shoulder bag (which held my day-bag and lots of extras). Light, manueverable, tough. I expect to use this for 10 years.

The tan ("chestnut") Travelpro looked great, but I decided to return it because it's weighed over 9 pounds. If you can wait until your next trip, go to Printemps or Rayon d'Or and look at the Lipaults which weigh around 5 pounds.

http://lipault.com/product-8-19-12.html

http://www.rayondor-bagages.fr/LIPAU...0%20VINYL.html

I am a luggage collector. For my roll-aboard, I use the Samsonite x'Lite. Expensive, but gorgeous and extremely lightweight. For a checked bag, I use the Samsonite Pro-DLX 25" spinner. Fully loaded, it tends to come in just at the 20kg weight limit, is easy to maneuver and has a very nice interior design. I have a handful of other bags too, including an over-the-shoulder duffel, that I use depending upon the situation, but these are the two bags I use the most.

I second the suggestion to wait until you're in Paris. La Maroquinerie at 30 rue Tronchet (near les Grands Boulevards) has good handbags and luggage, including gorgeous Longchamp nylon holdalls, all at much reduced prices.