Luggage Experiences?

[MWC]

We're looking at some new rolling carryons.

Recommendations/pans for
TravelPro Hydrogen line
TravelPro WalkAbout Lite line
American Tourister Tribute III line
?

Or any other brands you like/hate

We're looking at 21"/22" size.
Do people find that a "suiter" is necessary?

Do those space bags really work?
Do they work without a vaccum cleaner handy?

Thanks!

[TAPPY]

Ok - I searched and I found this thread.

2 of our supersized roll ons bit the dust on this last trip. Yes they were cheapy Walmart type no name brands. Hubby has used them quite a bit as he travels all over the world, so I guess we got our moneys worth out of them.

We are looking to upgrade and buy a really good set of luggage.
Any recommendations ??? Of do we just go buy another good ole boy set from Walmart or Target ? Is $$$$$/brand name really better ???

[TeeZet]

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Ok - I searched and I found this thread.

2 of our supersized roll ons bit the dust on this last trip. Yes they were cheapy Walmart type no name brands. Hubby has used them quite a bit as he travels all over the world, so I guess we got our moneys worth out of them.

We are looking to upgrade and buy a really good set of luggage.
Any recommendations ??? Of do we just go buy another good ole boy set from Walmart or Target ? Is $$$$$/brand name really better ???

I don't know if it's really better value for money, but Samsonite never failed me yet... Hafta admit I got mine as a birthday present. They are pricey...

[cyndyj1]

I had ancient luggage that I inherited from my mom, good stuff, but made before the wheel technology was very advanced.

Before this last trip in May, I bought an American Tourister rolling hardside, and LOVE IT. Easy to pack, easy to unpack, easy to roll around. I try to travel pretty light, so I just had that (I think it's 22" or 24", can't remember), and a rolling backpack. The two were perfect for 2 weeks of travel, with enough room to stuff in a hammock, a few bottles of tequila, and the other things I bought in Playa.

You can find really good deals online. Big discounts, free shipping. Happy shopping!

[roni]

We have an American Tourister softside and a little green fat roller of Kathy's than has expando-matic sides. Cannot be fully explanded if a carry-on.

I grew up traveling internationally with American Tourister hard-sided luggage. I loved it, but Kathy makes fun of it. She likes to over-stuff soft-sided luggage. I think that may be a character flaw

[FrankRN]

We own four Travel Pro Platinum 5 Series bags. We have the 30 inch, a 26 inch and two 22 inch. They have been severly abused and still look great. They are very sturdy and have lots of great features.

We got ours on eBay for about 40% less than the cheapest price I could find anywhere else. It was a great deal.

.

[Doggiemom]

I have used a Travelpro for the last 10+ years, I believe it's the 21" rollerboard. I finally decided to get a new bag....an American Tourister for $40 on clearance at Wal-mart! I can't believe how much good bags are these days!

[JoanieBlon]

Mike and I each have the Samsonite Silhouette SpaceMaster Carry-On Spinner and the Samsonite Silhouette Spinner 24in. Expandable Upright. We WERE tempted to buy larger versions for our long trips and cruises, but we were glad that we didn't! The 24" bags are so roomy that you can EASILY go over the 50 pound per bag weight limit and then end up paying BIG $$$$ to the airlines for overage charges. I cannot IMAGINE how heavy a fully packed 26" or 28" bag would be.

We have been very satified with these bags. Their rollers allow them to be wheeled in ANY direction ~ a REALLY GREAT FEATURE ~ and the telescoping handles can be set at various heights ~ a GOOD thing. Mike is a foot taller than I am and we both feel comfortable rolling these bags. On our last trip, the luggage handlers managed to knock off one of the zipper heads on one of the front compartments. It was replaced free of charge by our local luggage repair shop. These bags carry a 10 year warranty.

For discount prices on these bags, check this place out. The prices quoted INCLUDE shipping!

The first bag in the photos is the carry-on; the second is the 24" bag.

SAMSONITE SPINNER LUGGAGE

[JimmyMN]

Would like to see a trend towards larger, more silent wheels incorporated into luggage. Otherwise, the improvements in durable yet good looking exterior materials, have solidly replaced the fashionable junk of the past. Nothing worse than expensive luggage that looks like crap after being kissed by the airport conveyor system a few times.

Jimmy

[JoanieBlon]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Would like to see a trend towards larger, more silent wheels incorporated into luggage. Otherwise, the improvements in durable yet good looking exterior materials, have solidly replaced the fashionable junk of the past. Nothing worse than expensive luggage that looks like crap after being kissed by the airport conveyor system a few times. Jimmy

Amen. Ours manage to get dirty from the filthy conveyor belts. At the advice of the luggage repair place, we use Simple Green to wash off the dirt. Works pretty well.

[MaripositaII]

Samsonite lover here. Ours look like the pics above.

[MWC]

We did end up buying TravelPro WalkAbout Lite roll-ons for our trip to Paris, and they were great! My husband already had a roll-on Tumi, but when we did a head-to-head comparison of features and packing convenience, our TravelPros beat Tumi by a mile.
Also, I got the TravelPros for about $90 on clearance from Irv's.

I shopped between ebags and irvs and luggage online; yet I got the best price when I used "froogle", which directed me back to Irv's! (Go figure)
Ebags has the best site for browsing features/price, etc.

[Manitou]

Originally Posted by MWC

We're looking at some new rolling carryons.

Doesn't roll, but not rolling makes me think about how much I try to cram in it since I have to carry it around. I don't need much when I go to Playa.




Red Oxx

[MWC]

Originally Posted by Manitou

Doesn't roll, but not rolling makes me think about how much I try to cram in it since I have to carry it around. I don't need much when I go to Playa.




Red Oxx

Oxx makes great bags; I have one for all my gym stuff.

[Manitou]

Originally Posted by MWC

Oxx makes great bags; I have one for all my gym stuff.

And, they are quite proud of them! I'll lose it before I could possibly wear it out. I don't ever check luggage so this bag works perfectly for me.