Luggage - Help!!

[csmommy]

Hard or soft?
Size(s)?
How many pieces per person should I own for me, DH, DS (20) & DD (16)?
We are not huge travelers, but fly to Disney every other year.
Best brands?
Where do you go to get a good deal?

Anything else I should be asking? Thanks!

 

[dashofsunshine]

I would buy the size that all of your stuff fits into. I think it just depends on how heavy or light each of you packs. I get my luggage from TJ Maxx - I think my current pieces are sampsonite.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I bought the Skyway Mirage on Amazon for $99 recently. It is lightweight--8 lbs for the 28". Some of our older bags weighed in at 14 lbs. empty. I did alot of research and read reviews and this was very favorable. There are some lighter bags, but they are not as sturdy as this one. It was the best I could find having low weight yet durable and sturdy. I went on a 3 week international trip with 9 flight segments and it held up very well.
Some of the segments charged about $1 per pound over 23 lbs (10 kilos), so weight mattered. I know we often go over 50 lbs domestic, so this helps alot.
There are a lot of sales on ebags this time of year, but they do not have the 28''. A smaller version is available at Kohls.
I think one per person is the maximum I would want. We stay DVC and do laundry so DH and I share the 28". We drive so also have smaller bags for misc. stuff.
I much prefer soft side over the old hard bags. They do seem to be making a comeback.
I found good deals at TJ Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory. I took one of those travel luggage scales and weighed the ones I was interested in.Many though had unfavorable reviews. I think Amazon and ebags have the best prices on better luggage.

 

[melmel]

Before you pick sizes check the requirements on a few airlines you like. I got a 3 piece set and the largest is 1 inch too big for both Southwest and Virgin. I could probably pass with it but who wants to be worried about overage fees at check in. As for brands I've always been loyal to Samsonite and American Tourister. I've never had any problems with either brand. I've gotten my last couple batches on Amazon. Another thing I highly recommend is getting the spinner wheels, they're usually slightly more expensive since they're the hot new thing but so worth it. Our last trip we had one with spinners and one without, the spinners were just so much easier rolling through the airport while chasing children.

 

[havaneselover]

I have bought some Delsey hardcase spinners from EBags recently and they're awesome. Before that I had wheeled duffles from Lands End. EBags is awesome and between coupons, ebates, Amex offers, and rewards I've gotten some great deals. I also love their packing cubes. I'm trying to get to the point where we can travel for a week with just 21" spinners (1 each).

 

[JessM]

I've bought all my luggage at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. I personally like samsonite or Delsey. For your kids I would definitely outfit them with carry on size roller bags (22in). If you have enough money to grab them the next size up (medium in most luggage sets, 24-26") I'd grab one of those as well. I find you can fill the medium size bags and be under 50lbs. The largest suitcases (28-30") become overweight if they get filled.

You may not travel much but I bet your kids will use their small cases more than you think for weekend trips with friends or longer trips that they don't want to pay bag fees for and just do carry on only.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We use Eddie Bauer rolling duffles. Anything goes wrong, they replace it for free.

 

[disneylove69]

Marshalls or TjMaxx for luggage. They offer the brand name for a lot less. I travel a lot and have had hard and soft. Don't bother with the cute decorated hard cases. One trip and they get all scratched. I can't remember the name off hand but TJ and Marshalls had a bag that was really light and came in several sizes. Only in black though. If you don't pack a lot and carryon roller is best.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I recently got a set of hard sided spinners. I like them...... But- in hotel rooms and cruise ships, it's a pain to deal with because you have to open both sides of the suitcase all the way. You can't just unzip the flap like on soft sided suitcases. Also, it can be bad to close the largest bag because (again) you have to fold both sides together when they are full (think of closing a book when it's open to the middle). I've gone back to my old soft sided bags when we go to Disney, it's just easier. I think they are American Tourister and I got them years ago at TJ Maxx.

 

[kristenrice]

I love eBags! They have a lifetime guarantee and some of the best customer service. We each have a TLS MotherLode Convertible Junior and it is the best bag I have ever used. It fits so much stuff into it that we don't even need a checked bag. On top of that, if it is not completely overstuffed, it fits under the seat in the aircraft (SWA is the only one we've flown). My DD9's backpack clip attachment broke after one use. The bag itself was still fully functional, but not as a backpack. I contacted eBags and they sent me a BRAND NEW BAG at no charge...and I did not need to return the broken one! They are a bit pricey, but if you wait for a sale and combine it with an online rebate site (like eBates), you can earn another 10-12% rebate.

We also use the Eddie Bauer rolling duffel and we've had to take advantage of their lifetime guarantee as well. DH and I had a rolling duffel that we used on our honeymoon in 2002 and then put it into the basement for storage. In 2008, when I took it out for our first family trip, I discovered that one of the wheels was missing. I brought it back to the store and they replaced it with the current model in the same size...a $200 bag...no questions asked.

Our family flies once a year, at most, and I am very happy with our eBags bags.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We bought a really nice 3 piece set of eBags of hard side, lightweight luggage last year for $199. I thought it was a really good deal and the luggage is really nice. I think it is IT brand.

 

[JenB1104]

Love ebags - free shipping and good deals.

 

[Meshell2002]

I like my biaggi 18 inch spinner for flying without having to check a bag. It's a soft sided case that is collapsible in the closet. I also have the matching medium spinner duffle but I don't check my baggage often, long trips w/ my young kids we drive to WDW, ect. I can't attest to the durability for airline handling in checked....but my 18 inch biaggi I found on clearance at my local dept store for $50. they are listed much higher online and on their website. I almost bought the ebags brand but then I found my current one I just went with it. Ebags has a good reputation for replacing items that have issues and with your young adults that will be needing their own luggage I would consider them....with airline checked bag fees I'd go for a carry on size (rolling or duffle) and a medium suitcase if I was buying a gift.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

If you go to ebates.com there is a 12% cash back for ebags. Today a lot of their luggage is 20% off. I read reviews and found a lightweight 28" for $72 then there will be $8 from ebates. Free shipping and no tax to most states. It is Atlantic ultra lite 2. We have an Atlantic softside that we have had over 10 years and use 4 or 5 times a year. Been tossed around on 20 cruises and countless flights. Still in pretty good shape but weighs about 14-15 lbs. It also comes in 25" for about $10 less.
Another one that looked good at 6 lbs. was the Traveler's Choice Ultra lightweight 27" for $64. Reviews said it fit what a typical 25" would hold though.

 

[ceecee]

We bought an American Tourister set at Target for $34 (75% off) we never used the carry on but have used the other 2 pieces for 15 years, the things won't die! I really want new luggage too. We travel 2-3 times a year and it has held up remarkably well. Kohls have a sale next week 30% off then a $50 rebate (for $200) and Kohl's cash, I'm thinking it's time for a new set! 2 days before we leave. I decorated our old black set with Mickeys years ago thinking it was the last time we'd use it. So we went to San Diego, San Francisco and NY with Mickey!!!

 

[Gigi22]

Whatever you do, whatever you buy, if you get new suitcases, get spinners! They are just wonderful! DH and I were able to manage getting our our own suitcases down a cobbled street in old Barcelona solely because we had spinners! Anything else, we would have had serious problems!

 

[csmommy]

Thanks everyone!

So what do you think of these at Kohls? They have 30% off & $50 off $200.

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1521098/leisure-getaway-3-pc-luggage-set.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-c125979/samsonite-luggage-aspire-gr8.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-14...24-in-expandable-hardside-spinner-upright.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/catalog/spinner-luggage-backpacks.jsp?CN=4294733359+4294719717&S=4

 

[Sadie22]

I bought individual pieces in the sizes I wanted. I tried every zipper and clasp on every piece. The suitcases being sold as sets tended to be cheaply made. What you might want depends on how and where you travel. We have large suitcases that we use rarely as well as smaller ones that we use often for short trips.

 

[writerchick]

We recently bought hard-sided Samsonite from Sam's club. It was a good price and we have an older one that's held up great through all sorts of trave.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Whatever you do, whatever you buy, if you get new suitcases, get spinners! They are just wonderful! DH and I were able to manage getting our our own suitcases down a cobbled street in old Barcelona solely because we had spinners! Anything else, we would have had serious problems!

I don't like spinners. Too easy for the wheels to break off and they can make a bag too long to fit in the overhead bins on planes.