Luggage opinions

[can'tgetenufofwdw]

I currently have the medium and large rolling duffle from LL Bean. It's probably been dragged around 30 plus times in the last 10 years and has held up really well. No tears or rips. I am considering getting a piece of hardside spinner luggage. Any opinions out there? Should I just keep what I have or do you think I will like the hardside luggage? I'm thinking that a piece of spinner luggage will be a bit easier to maneuver than dragging the big wheeled duffle behind me. Please tell me what you have any why you do or don't like it.

 

[abdmom]

I really prefer the duffle bags, unless the hardside is a carryon. I find the duffles easier to lift than the hardsides. I'm short, so the hardside spinners aren't as ergonomic as dragging the duffle. Plus, there's the ability to collapse the duffle so that it slides under the bed. You can't do that with hardsides.

 

[fly girl]

People love the spinner luggage. However, I am not a fan. First, if you ever check luggage that is hard on the spinners -- many broken wheels. Second, and not so significant in the last few years, but if you are on an older aircraft the wheels can prohibit a fit in the overhead bin space. Like I said, not so much now that most mainline carriers have reconfigured the overheads to accommodate more luggage, but occasionally it won't fit ... and now you're checking the bag.

FWIW, look at airline crew bags. Vast majority don't have the spinners because they are more prone to problems. Granted, if you aren't a frequent traveler then the spinners are a handy way to go, but just know the life of the bag because of the wheels will likely not be as long as old school 2 wheels.

I like hardside luggage, especially for the cleaning factor, but I'm still in the 2 wheel camp if you check your bag.

 

[tvguy]

We bought Delsey hardsided luggage about 35 years ago. Still going strong. We have used duffles, usually to hold car seats when were were flying with our kids when they were young. But they did wear out.

 

[AgentMama]

I'm a frequent traveler and only use spinner bags. I don't love hardsided (we have them) because they open in the middle and its not a comfortable way for me to pack. We have the LL Bean duffle bags and rarely use them anymore. I like that the spinners are easy to navigate through the airport while multi-tasking. We haven't had issues with overhead space or broken wheels.

 

[fla4fun]

I am another one that prefers a two wheel bag to a spinner bag. I like being able to stack a softside bag on top of the wheeled bag so I don’t have to carry it, but I also like that the two wheel bag will stay put, where the spinners can drift if you aren’t paying attention. I have three different carry on size two wheel bags, one hardside and two cloth with reinforced frames, and two soft side duffel type bags without wheels. I also have a large checked size two wheel bag that doesn’t get used too often with its own matching softside wheeled duffel (in bright pink). I would use those on a long road trip.

I like having luggage choices. One softside and one wheeled bag are international carry on size, and the other two wheeled bags are domestic carry on size. I can tell you that it is easier wheeling my carry on wheeled bags than it is the wheeled duffel, but the duffel can fit in a crowded overhead better than the hardside due to the fact that it has some give to it. Oh, and I also have a wheeled and padded backpack that I use for electronics (camera, lenses, cables, batteries, laptop, iPad, etc.). Yea, you may not want to see my car when I head out for a road trip .

I would think about how you travel and how you pack. That will give you an idea of the configuration you will prefer. My hardside bag opens into two equal halves, with each side having a zippered “lid” and I primarily use it for small things like toiletries and meds. The other wheeled bags are one big compartment with a zippered “lid” as the front, and work better for clothes. Duffel bags are by the very definition one big open space, again, good for clothes. I personally, with the exception of my backpack, don’t like bags with lots of little pockets, but that is a personal preference. You will know best what meets your needs.

One thing to keep in mind, you get the quality you pay for. I tend to go with mid to slightly higher priced bags and they have held up well. If you go too cheap, you are more likely to have issues with wheels, zippers, or handles. I usually wait for a good sale, but I understand there are some luggage shortages right now, so there may not be much in the way of sales. I hope you find a new bag you love!

 

[NYCgrrl]

I’ve a Tumi non spinner 4 wheeled soft side bag that’s about 25” in height. Perfect size for carryon per most airlines‘ specs. High denier fabric with double headed YKK zippers. Zipped outside pockets and a side handle for easy overhead lifting and holding a newspaper or umbrella.
Owned it for almost 30 years and unless I decide to get a spinner with similar features or it dies (unlikely) this is it. Also have a Tumi garment bag that hangs from the wheeled luggage. I like that soft siders allow a bit of stuffing room as opposed to hard sided luggage.

I'd hold onto your current luggage until it dies or you pass it on to youngsters and then buy a well made soft sided spinner.

 

[_19disnA]

I prefer the soft sided luggage since it seems more resilient to the typical impacts they get being handled or sliding on the airport luggage carousels. Hard sided luggage is more easily damaged while the soft sided luggage has more 'give' and isn't permanently damaged. Some type of wheels are great for walking through airports or to your destination. Mine has 2 wheels and I think with wheels what is most important is they are well made and good quality. I don't try to take my luggage on the aircraft, but have it handled as checked baggage. Unless you always fly on the same type of aircraft, you really just never know what size luggage you will be able to carry onto the aircraft. It seems a lot of people try to avoid paying for checked baggage by dragging it onto the aircraft.

 

[LovesTimone]

I love my hard side luggage... I did not think that I would, I really love them... I have checked and carry on size's... DH's luggage needs to be replaced before we get on a plane with it.. So we are looking at 2 more piece's of Hard sided luggage to add to our travel gear.

Make sure the wheels are protected sorta.. and that the handle is sturdy...

Another thing I like is that I can roll it down the aisle on the plane, without bumping into the seats on either side, and it holds it shape, so when someone is trying to cram there oversized bag in the over head, my bag won't give in, and the contents don't get smush.

DH has a travel backpack, with padded interior for electronics, and has locking zippers, plus RFID... that he carry's as his personal item, and I have a back pack a smaller version of his or a cross body handbag that I use as my personal item..

 

[HeatherC]

I prefer soft sided spinner. To me it is the easiest for me to maneuver. We have both kinds, and when we travel my two daughters prefer and use the hard sided. DH and my son prefers their wheeled duffels.

 

[Alicefan]

When my bestie and I went to Paris, I had a spinner and she had a 2 wheeler and as soon as she got home she threw it out and ordered a whole set of spinners because dragging that thing through the airport and the streets of Paris was a BEAST! There I was, gliding my luggage along beside me and there she was, constantly stopping to switch hands because it was killing her! I always used 2 wheeled before that trip and never knew what I was missing. I'll never go back.

 

[crazylady]

If your happy with what you have I wouldn't buy anything new.

I like a soft sided spinner. I find it easier to maneuver especially when I'm juggling 17 other people/things. I also like that I can push them around without feeling like I'm going to trip someone. I don't spend a lot of money on luggage so if it breaks, no big deal. I really like to buy luggage at Marshalls for a good selection at a reasonable price.

 

[Carol_]

I’ve been using my LLBean backpack since forever. It’s been around the world and back again a few times. Still in good shape. Nothing else compares.

 

[longboard55]

Make sure your luggage is super light and fits in the airline specs for a carry on

 

[can'tgetenufofwdw]

Thank you for all of your opinions. I have some things to consider and think about before I run out an buy new luggage.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

If your happy with what you have I wouldn't buy anything new.

I like a soft sided spinner. I find it easier to maneuver especially when I'm juggling 17 other people/things. I also like that I can push them around without feeling like I'm going to trip someone. I don't spend a lot of money on luggage so if it breaks, no big deal. I really like to buy luggage at Marshalls for a good selection at a reasonable price.

I also use Marshalls/ Ross and other close out stores.
If you are buying a checked bag suitcase pick something that stands out... I can always find Mickey bag its bright white. ( everyone has black and grey)

 

[KristaZ]

I use a soft-sided spinners from Travelpro - I believe mine are the Maxlite series. I absolutely love them. They're light-weight and easy to maneuver - I've never had an issue fitting them in any overhead bin either domestic or international. They also have a great warranty program if anything does go wrong.

 

[DisneyOma]

For carry on I use a bag that is squishable - it's an LL Bean canvas bag with a zippered top. If it's my only bag, it's full and gets put in the overhead bin, and the flight attendants love it because it fits in spots hard-sided bags don't. If it's my personal item, it can easily fit under the seat in front of me. For checked baggage we have an old set of 3 fit-inside-each-other 2-wheeled bags from Sam's Club. They are soft-sided, and since they only get pulled into the airport and checked, and have the long handle to stack the carry-on on top, it's super easy.

 

[DisneyHardin]

The rolling luggage now is so light. I have a large LL Bean Rolling Duffle too and although I can pack enough for a month in that bag, even when it's empty it's heavy, so I find that I don't really use it anymore. We bought some super light hard side spinner suitcases from TJ Maxx and they are awesome for flying.

 

[MillauFr]

I just went to Costco and bought the spinners they had on sale. Always satisfied with what they sell there. They weed out the lousy products so I don't have to.