How are the suitcases with four wheels, referred to as spinners? Those four wheels sticking out so far seem very susceptible to damage.
Do the spinners hold up?

I've never tried 4-wheeled Spinners, but I've used various Tumi's with 2 wheels for about ten years and cannot say enough good things.

They're a bit pricier, but so so worth it. Try to buy at an outlet mall or I've heard you can get amazing deals on them at TJ Maxx

I bought a spinner because it felt so smooth on the floor at the store. I used it for a week in Europe on planes trains and automobiles.
I didn't really use the spinner feature much at all. It seemed to handle like a normal wheeled suitcase. It did make a lousy footstool waiting for the train. It kept sliding away from me.

Anyone else?

I've travelled pretty extensively for the past 7 months with my 4 wheel spinner and I love it. (If it doesn't feel effortless to roll it beside you, you're not using it properly.) I've had airlines people and porters comment that they thought it was great. It's also easy to roll and guide it *in front* of me as I board and deplane -- my older roller was always bumping into people and the seats as I tried to roll it behind me.

I do agree the 4 wheels look fragile and I've only checked the bag twice (forcibly) since I'm a carry-on person. If you check, I agree you might run into some problems. If you carry-on, I love this friggin piece of luggage. I feel less strain in my arms and shoulders since hauling a regular 22" roller can get tiresome across huge airports and through public transportation.

I checked it through from Prague to Paris (IIRC) and also from Paris to Chicago. I was holding my breath but the wheels were fine.

I would take my chances with a spinner for a carry-on. However, I was wondering if it is safe for a 26" case where it would be handled by airline and bus (guided tours) and hotel staff.

Where is a good place to find reviews of luggage?

I bought two Ricardo spinner wheeled suitcases for a price of $285.00 for both. This was with 60% off I might add. So you'd think that with a cost of $570.00 for two suitcases, they should last more then one vacation. Not soo.. worst mistake I ever made. First trip to my destination, two wheels broke off by the time I arrived on one of the suitcases. On the return trip another wheel broke off the other suitcase. The Hudson's Bay Company does not stand behind their products they carry. I was told by them it was every day wear and tear. ON ONE VACATION??? I called A repair place to see what it would cost to fix these two bags and I was quoted $38 a wheel with no guarantee that it would not happen again. I was told he gets lots of spinner luggage in for repair. So.. for a mear $114 I could get get my bags fixed with no guarantee that the next time I used them, this would not happen again. I'll stick to my old two wheeled luggage that I've had for seven years. It may not look that good anymore, but have you ever tried to drag a suitcase around that had wheels broken off diagnally from each other?? I'm very disappointed in both the retailer and the luggage.

a great place for luggage reviews is ebags.com

a great place for luggage reviews is ebags.com

I think spinners are great for carry ons, but not for checked luggage.

I bought Heys and Longchamp spinner hard-side luggage and am very happy with them. They are very easy to handle and I've had no problems with the 4 wheels - checking or carrying it on. I won't go back to the two-wheeled version again.

I assume all bags will last about 5 trips. Most of my trips involve at least 4 flights, and I check in most of the time, so I get mine at Ross. Much less painful to throw them out when they get ripped or broken!

$39 bought me a nice Samsonite spinner and $49 got my DH a Ralph lauren spinner last spring. The Samsonite has gone on a Hawaii - Turkey trip where it was check in on 8 flights, from I checked it from Hawaii to Boston and back over Christmas.

The real test was from Hawaii to Boston then to Bangkok, Cambodia, Singapore, Bangkok, Guam, and Hawaii. That trip was a month long and involved it being checked in on 11 flights. Wheels are still spinning just fine!

I would never go back to two wheel bags again.

I've only tried them out in stores so far. I was pleasantly surprised how easily they moved around. I'd definitely be willing to try one. But I'd never use a 26" suitcase (too big!)