Help with New Luggage Please!
 

For those of you that are happy with your luggage or have recently shopped and found something wonderful, will you please share your findings with me?

My sweet husband has offered to "treat" me to a new carry on and also a extended trip size piece of luggage since mine gave out on my last trip ( just before the shutdown.) I want something relatively light and with wheels that will last! I remember seeing a thread on this years ago and will search for it but thought updated info would be good too!

TIA

I have several pieces of Travelpro and it's been great. The wheels roll very easily and you can also pull it like the two wheel versions which is nice in some situations. I have four different sizes.

I'm looking at their website right now! I pulled up the last thread I remembered from here that appeared in the search and it was from 2004, so I decided not to link it here but it did have several mentions of travel pro!

I have been seduced by the Tumi hard sided Latitude luggage and am having a hard time finding anything else that catches my eye! I obviously have too much time on my hands! https://www.tumi.com/p/short-trip-pa...ase-0287664NVY

lynni,

Take a look at Rimova luggage. www.rimova.com

I am all about light-weight... REALLY truly light weight. My go-to brand is "IT". They weigh (empty) about 1/2 what the others being suggested here so far do. I have found them at TJ Maxx (~$50).

I have several pieces of Rimowa and love it but it is expensive. My daughter recently bought a piece from Away and is very happy with it.

I just want to say I like your optimism!!!


ps Of all the luggage we’ve bought over the years, the Tumi always seems to hold up the best... do not recommend Hartmann - gave to our daughter and it lasted less than a year even though it was beautiful. Since it wasn’t “broken” - just very worn - they won’t replace.

A 21" that costs $1000+ and weighs 9.5 pounds -lol- I don't think so :-) (Rimowa)

I got a piece of IT at TJ Maxx and loved the weight but after about a year and a half of weekly us (combination of air/car travel) it is starting to show lots of signs of wear. However, for the price I paid, I cannot complain. It is light weight and has allowed me to pack way more than I needed to.

That is for the bullet-proof metal version. Their lighter model is under 5 pounds.

Gruezi: I have to travel at the end of the month , so I do need to purchase something soon! ( My son has been in a therapeutic boarding school in Mississippi for a year and we are traveling to pick him up! :) My husband travels a lot for work and swears by his Tumi! When we married a few years ago, I think he was a little embarassed at my rag tag luggage and I couldn't justify just tossing it for no reason. On my last trip, just before things shut down for Covid, I was using his Tumi but the handle broke on my lightweight Revo carry on that one of my other sons was using!

One thing to consider - do you like packing a clamshell style suitcase?

I've learned that I do not.

Totally personal preference, but something to consider before spending several hundred dollars for a piece of luggage.

In general, hard-sided is the way to go if weight is a concern and you want wheels. We’ve had good luck with both Rimowa and the higher-end Samsonites.

The suitcases I used the most (I have several) are the ones by Rick Steves.

If you are looking for the "personal bag" that you can take on board with you, I can vouch for Lo and Sons. I bought two of their pieces in December/January timeframe and have used one of them so far - it has a trolley sleeve which I won't do without, now, and it's very thoughtfully designed.

For me it's Tumi V-3 luggage (now called V-4). I've traveled annually with my Tumi V-3 on extended vacations since 2015 as that's when I switched over to it and that luggage has been dragged through the ringer, so to speak, as I usually do a trip to Europe, 6 weeks in S.E. Asia and other parts of Asia, 2-3 weeks in Japan and one domestic trip and many times in the same year. So, a lot of airports and a lot of the airlines banging around my luggage and a lot of taxi drivers tossing it into car trunks. But, the V-3 still looks great. Plus, I've received great customer service from Tumi over the years. I started buying their suitcases and other pieces back round the early 1990s, I think it was. Then, when it's time for me to move on to something new, I either sell or give the older Tumi suitcases and other pieces to friends and family.

I've been totally into luggage since elementary school and have owned a lot of brands of luggage. I should have gone into the luggage business. LOL! I've owned U.S. brands, European brands, and Asian brands and brands from other places and in various price ranges as in from my hard sided-LV suitcases, bought new in Europe in the 1980s and of which I still have , to Samsonite to Tumi and and about everything else. My preference is hard-sided luggage although I do have two, small soft-sided Tumi, carry-on suitcases along with my 2 hard-sided, Tumi carry-on suitcases, one in the international size and the other in the domestic size (a bit larger). Before I switched to Tumi V-3, it was my soft-sided Kipling suitcases/ carry-on for a good decade that I traveled around the world with and which held up really well on trips to West Africa. I finally passed the Kipling on to a friend who has been using it for nearly 5 years.

Happy Travels!

We're happy with the Travelpro carry-on we bought a couple of years ago. When we decide to fly again I'll probably buy another.

I like the looks of the premium luggage I see gleaming in the store windows, but there's no way I'm paying that kind of money for a suitcase. I bring a suitcase on the plane (or, more likely, answer the call to volunteer to gate check -- for free), then I unpack it in the hotel and hide it in a closet. So far my plain cloth luggage seems to hold up well. Perhaps if I traveled more often it might make sense to buy the bulletproof grade, but for the two or three trips a year I have no need for it.

This article may be interesting reading -
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-checked-luggage/
It's the NY Times Wirecutter recommendations
I found it via reviews for the luggage I bought for wedding gifts in 2018. One review referenced Wirecutter. Evidently the Delsey Paris was recommended that year. Both bride and groom have traveled internationally all of their lives and seem pleased with the luggage they selected for their registry.

There's an interesting section discussing soft vs hard. Also a photo of the well type packing that I prefer over clamshell.

But all of it is personal preference. Enjoy your shopping!

Oh suze.....here we go again. I also love the IT luggage. I haven't been able to find anything as light as their cases.

what is “well type” (I can’t find the picture you referred to)

This is my favorite bag: https://www.marmot.com/rolling-haule...-on-24270.html

We fly on small regional jets in and out of our airport, and this bag fits in the overhead bins on most of the small planes. It's durable, and I prefer the two roller blade like wheels to spinner wheels. I also like the zippered pocket at the top for holding liquids.

Nah. It is “only” $400 or so.

We use Eagle Creek for hold luggage, and I have a EC carry on, both are soft. The zip pull broke and EC replaced the whole zip. They stand by their guarantee. It's not the lightest or the cheapest, but we have had 1 suitcase for about 8-9 years and the other for about 5. The older suitcase has been on many flights, both domestic and international, and many road trips. It is getting a little scuffed now, but the handles and wheels are still going strong. We had to get an extra suitcase on our last trip, and it is an Olympia hard sided clam shell type. It's ok, as it hasn't been on enough trips to really evaluate it yet.

I love Lipault. Go to their USA site and check out the sale. I have an 18 and 20 inch but gave my husband the 20 inch so he will stop putting more into his backpack. I went back to a spinner and got the 20 inch ballet bag. I love all the compartments and it is light. I have a tote that matches it that looks like a purse. It fits my laptop, cords and meds just fine. My others are soft sided and went back to hard sided. I have had travel pro and IT bags but Lipault has been my favorite bag. This is a great sale btw.

Here ya go -
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1f938e8e08.png

I much prefer this to clamshell design.

I use regional too, quite often. I went to the website and they have a 15% off coupon... just in case anyone needs one!

It really depends on your needs. I used a Tumi for years -- they're incredibly durable and well-made. The problem is that they are heavy -- my Tumi carry-on weighs 5 or 6 pounds. I don't care about the lifting, but many airlines (especially in Europe) have strictly-enforced weight limits. If I weren't concerned with carry-on weight limitations, the Tumi would be my choice.

About 10 years ago I got the soft-sided Osprey high road from REI, and it is by far my favorite carry-on. It's light as a feather, holds more than my Tumi but is just as well-made. Really convenient access for laptops and the types of small items that you need to remove at airport security. I've made dozens of trips with just the Osprey and a small personal bag -- for me, it's the ideal carry-on.

https://www.lipault-usa.com/base-cat...hoCnYIQAvD_BwE
link for bag I just bought. Great sale and think the 20 inch is small for many but good for me as we always do laundry. I have two of the soft sided bags and they are great for squeezing stuff into the top and have a laptop compartment on outside. I just went back to a spinner for trains and planes. My other bags have two wheels. My tote fits perfect on top.

https://www.lipault-usa.com/luggage/....html#start=29 I have this and I love the side handle for train platforms.

We have had a few soft sided Travel pros that have held up well and are very reasonably priced in my opinion. They are also fairly lightweight and I can fit a lot in their 22 inch domestic.

I will only buy spinners. I like just walking with the suitcases gliding along next to me. I dread dragging them and refuse to buy a two wheeler.

Our kids bought us each an international sized carry on of Away luggage for christmas. I have yet to use it! I was saving it for our Israel trip but that may be on hold with the covid stuff. But they look really nice and are lightweight and hardshell. I was looking at them for a while but never pulled the trigger and so was thrilled when we received them! I probably would have gotten the larger carry on, but the smaller one is supposed to go on any airline as a carry on. they are not cheap. I believe they run about 250. for the smaller carry on.

I love Lipault too and have one of their 20". My only problem with it is it doesn't sit level when you go to unpack or pack it. It's deeper at one end than the other. Very odd, but I still love the suitcase for its flexibility and so far it's holding up well. I mostly use it as a carry-on but have checked it a few times. I got a very good deal on it in Paris on sale a few years ago. I have also had Rick Steves and his bags work really well too. Its been quite a few years since I bought a RS bag, but I loved the one I had for many years. It was a rolling 21" carry on. I still have it but prefer a spinner bag.
Sigh...its nice to think about traveling...

That's a steal of a deal...and I think there was a 15% off popup as I was exiting.

me too. I learned of these from suze, and love them. They are light, they are very reasonably priced, and they hold up well.

girlonthego, does your away bag have the phone charger? My niece got one for her birthday last year. Starrs, 15% off, wow. I love my laptop/tote bag from them. It is leather and has so many sections, it slips over the suitcase handles perfectly. It was better than my other one. I have their crossover bag which I pack and use after I get somewhere. yestravel, nice to know you have one. I went into the Paris store and really liked the bags. I have a big Longchamp which I never use unless it is a car trip. I love wheels.

Macross, yes it does have the removable charger!

macross when I see your name I think of Muckross which is the house we went to in Killarney ireland

I should have used that. I was researching on ancestry when I changed my fodors name. We have so many relatives that are Ross and from Scotland on my Dad's paternal side. The Irish is my Grandmother's side though the ones from Scotland went to Ireland. Muckross would have been better.

Just pointing out that the companies can and do use the same name across countries but supply different products.

5lbs is well over 2kg which around here is in the really heavy department. Light weight bags start at less than half that.

I also agree with owning Lipault as I also have their luggage pieces and they're excellent. I have and have owned so many different brands of luggage that I had forgotten about Lipault. Plus, they have really good sales as, over the years, I've bought it here in the U.S. and also at the Lipault boutique in Paris in south end of the 6th. A couple summers ago, I bought my two, little nieces matching sets of Lipault; suitcase and also carry-on bag.

Also, while it's on my mind, let me throw in Longchamp for the leather, Le Pliage-style carry-on bags which are ones that I also use a lot as they are work horses. What luggage I carry, depends on where I'm going, how long I'm staying, and what I need to pack. It's like with handbags in that I change them often depending on the situation or what I'm in the mood to carry.

Happy Travels!

So do I!

We had numerous bags over the years and used Travel Pro luggage (3 different sizes - 21", 25" & 29") for about 10 years and they served us well but 2 years ago we purchased a 2 sets of hard sided Tumi Luggage (again 3 different sizes plus a soft sided shoulder bag for each of us) and by far they are best luggage we've ever owned. They are lightweight, durable, easy rolling and have plenty of room for all our garments). They were very expensive but well worth the price. Can't see us ever using anything else.