Luggage recommendations?

[Deb in IA]

I'm thinking of getting new luggage for DH for Christmas. I know, not very romantic, but when you've been married as long as we have, you go more for practical than romantic!

Anyway, I'm looking for sturdy, lightweight luggage recommendations.

Any suggestions??

 

[kirbydog48]

I'm thinking of getting new luggage for DH for Christmas. I know, not very romantic, but when you've been married as long as we have, you go more for practical than romantic!

Anyway, I'm looking for sturdy, lightweight luggage recommendations.

Any suggestions??

I recently purchased an Eagle Creek suitcase and I love it. I got the tarmac 25" version, but they also have smaller and larger. I got it online through Magellan's. They have decent sales now and then. They also have a whole packing -cube system which is awesome. You can fit a ton into the suitcase and nothing gets wrinkled.

 

[Pakey]

I have Tumi. I have owned tons of luggage and I'd never have anything but Tumi again. I have done 2 2-week international vacations this year with carry on only. The bag/frame/rolling mechanism is very light and can hold tons of clothing while still being light enough for me, as a out of shape woman, to heave it into the overhead bin.

It also cleans up very nicely.

I miss the spinning of my samsonite spinners (last luggage I had) but it was worth the sacrifice to get more space and lighter bags.

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks kirbydog and Pakey!

I've heard of the Eagle Creek line, and it is good to hear the positive experience you had.

I'll go check out the Tumi as well. I've not heard about them.

With the 50 pound weight restrictions these days, it is hard to get our old, HEAVY luggage under that weight.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It is pricey--but Rimowa is fantastic stuff. Very light and very durable. My husband travels 40 weeks a year--generally internationally and it is the only stuff we have found that holds up to his schedule.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I love good ol' Samsonite... but I also love my Travelpro bags!

 

[NewCrew42]

Samsonite and I can usually get a good price on it at TJ Maxx.

 

[asta]

It is not cheap but I love our Hartmann luggage. We have the tweed with belting leather and some of our pieces are over twenty years old but they have never looked dirty or worn. The leather looks better with age.

 

[tvguy]

We bought a set of Delsey hardsided luggage 28 years ago. Still going strong, and at this point I suspect I have many decades of use left in them.
They ARE slightly heavier than softsided, but I'm never going to see my dirty underwear come down the luggage carosuel by themselves like my friends with softsided luggage have.

 

[Deb in IA]

I'm never going to see my dirty underwear come down the luggage carosuel by themselves like my friends with softsided luggage have.

 

[akcire]

Briggs & Riley

My husband travels about 30 times a year on business, both domestic and international. We would never buy him any other brand. He has one bag that is easily 15 years old, and has added bags throughout the years. His "old" bags are still serviceable, but he buys a "new" model every few years to keep up with advancements (lighter, different sizes, more technology space, etc)

They have a life time guarantee, for any reason. They even fix airline damage for free. He has sent a couple in over the years, and they always come back perfect. One time they could not fix a bag, seriously I think the airline in China ran it over with a plane; but they instead offered him a new bag.

It is not cheap, but occasionally can be found at Marshalls/TJ Maxx. It is definitely worth the cost. Oh, and it also rolls really well and is sturdy enough to sit on at the gate.

 

[akcire]

We bought a set of Delsey hardsided luggage 28 years ago. Still going strong, and at this point I suspect I have many decades of use left in them.
They ARE slightly heavier than softsided, but I'm never going to see my dirty underwear come down the luggage carosuel by themselves like my friends with softsided luggage have.

Also in a pinch they can be used for snow sledding.

 

[quasar4legs]

My hubby travels for work and we have found samsonite to be very effective at surviving the rigours of air travel.
Samsonite have numerous ranges, including very light weight products.

 

[golfgal]

Get something other than black

Honestly, we got some cheep luggage almost 20 years ago from Shopko or Kmart or somewhere like that and it has held up better then our expensive stuff . DH used to travel a lot-3 weeks out of the month-for work and we have had no issues at all.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Get something other than black

Honestly, we got some cheep luggage almost 20 years ago from Shopko or Kmart or somewhere like that and it has held up better then our expensive stuff . DH used to travel a lot-3 weeks out of the month-for work and we have had no issues at all.

Actually, on several recent trips the ONLY black luggage without some scarf or ribbon tied to teh handle to come down the carousel was ours! I think everyone else has taken that advice

About Samsonite: I think it really depends on how long you want it to last and how much you put it through. I used to swear by it, and i still think it is very good for someone who flies once a month or so and wants something to last 5-10 years (possibly quite a bit more if you only do carry on). I don't think we have had a single piece of theirs last more than 6 years since we started travelling more than that. Even DD's rolling duffel split seems on our last flight and she flies with it about 6 times a year plus some train travel and summer camp--so not THAT heavy of use. For her age that is fine and we will consider replacing it with Samsonite (though more likely with LLBean as DS's bag bought from Bean at the same time is still going strong).
Something like Rimowa, or Briggs and Riley will last pretty much as long as you like the style no matter how often you travel. So you have to think about how much are you really going to put the bags through and how long do you really want them to last.

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks, everyone!

Some great ideas here.

Now, to go do some checking out and shopping!