Rate me your suitcase!!

[BlondeViki]

I've never travelled abroad for more than 1 week, so I don't actually own a large suitcase that would be suitable for the hold of a plane. Don't own a large enough suitcase for a 2 week holiday at all!

I'm lucky that my mum and dad live near Cheshire Oaks where there's a Samsonite outlet, so I've been looking at some of them and quite liked the Aeris (linky) but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a suitcase that's big, lightweight and not going to get ruined in the hold of a plane?

Not fussed about it being stylish - I'm a practical girl at heart!!

 

[NikkiMouse]

Our suitcases are cheapies from when woolworths went bust so I am no expert.

Just wanted to let you know of an experience I did have with very expensive hard shell cases. We packed all our stuff for a week at DLRP into two cases. They weren't bulging but they were full. Well when we were packing to return home the lock on one of them wouldn't close. We had to have it wrapped in clear plastic at the airport. I had visions of my dirty washing strewn all over the baggage claim!

These were not cheap cases, can't remember the name on them, we bought them from amazon and we got a full refund when we returned them. I will never trust those hard shell cases unless they have zip closures.

You should be alright with samsonite, just look at the closures carefully before buying!

Happy shopping

 

[ford family]

We've always been happy with the Revelation range of hard shell cases from Antler. They are a lot cheaper than Samsonite, about £60 from Argos for example. They don't have closures, just a zip all the way round that you could lock with a TSA padlock if you wanted to although we don't bother.
As a family we have been using them for about seven years without incident.

ford family

 

[dixonsontour]

We use samsonite hardshell cases.

They hold up well - have been on several trips and the contents isn't crushed. disadvantage is they are heavy.

We actually have 2 lime green ones we bought cheaply at an outlet in Florida - can spot them a mile off on the carousel.

 

[orangetiggs]

We use Tripp hard shell cases and are very pleased with them

They are always on some sort of sale in debenhams and use quidco and get cash back too

 

[BlondeViki]

We actually have 2 lime green ones we bought cheaply at an outlet in Florida - can spot them a mile off on the carousel.

I saw a lime green samsonite case that I I didn't even think of that reasoning, so I'm going to remember that when OH says I can't have it!!

Thanks for the help! I would like hard ones but have noticed they can be quite heavy - 5kg is a lot for just the suitcase when you're only allowed 20kg! Will have to consider whether it's worth upgrading my baggage allowance, not so much for the way there, but I know I'll shop shop shop whilst I'm there!

Thanks for the tip about the hard-shell closures NikkiMouse - I've seen a few hard shells but with zips so I'll check them out next time I'm at the shops.

There's an Antler and a Tripp at the same place as the Samsonite Outlet, so I think next time I go, I'll have to do a good comparison on weight and value for money. OH thinks I'm crazy looking at luggage, as he doesn't know we're going anywhere and using the 'oh everyone needs good luggage' line make him think I've gone a bit nuts

 

[VailaTigger]

I have two Samsonite hard shell cases (with clip fastenings, not a zip) and I'm DELIGHTED with them. I've had them for years, and they've been to Florida at least once (probably twice) and spent a month going to Australia and around there with me (9 flights in 4 weeks, two of them very long haul...)

One big suitcase for the hold, and one which is 'carry on' sized (for the bigger planes anyway), both trolley cases with push-in handles. Great for towing around the airport rather than carrying them.

I guess they are heavier than my DF's Antler ones, but shorts, t-shirts, and swim cossy don't weigh much

 

[london75]

I've never travelled abroad for more than 1 week, so I don't actually own a large suitcase that would be suitable for the hold of a plane. Don't own a large enough suitcase for a 2 week holiday at all!

I'm lucky that my mum and dad live near Cheshire Oaks where there's a Samsonite outlet, so I've been looking at some of them and quite liked the Aeris (linky) but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a suitcase that's big, lightweight and not going to get ruined in the hold of a plane?

Not fussed about it being stylish - I'm a practical girl at heart!!

We bought Samsonite soft shell suitcases from that very Cheshire Oaks outlet. The thing I like about them is they are very colourful so easy to spot on the carousel, really tough so done numerous trips with no damage and they have the expansion zipper so can bring home more than you went out with lol

The medium size fits perfectly inside the large as well so we take three suitcases on the way out, 2 large with 1 medium inside and come home with 3 all with zippers expanded!

We've got Samsonite hard shells from years ago too but much prefer the soft now.

 

[BlondeViki]

Oooh it's good to have feedback on the soft and hard shell cases - thanks VailaTigger and London75

I do like the colours as well though I'm laughing at myself for never having thought of the advantages this gives re: spotting them on the carousel!

OH likes the black/silver cases, where as I've got my eye on a lime green one, so we can have a competition when we get there about who finds it easiest to retrieve theirs

 

[london75]

The coloured cases do of course look grubbier sooner, that's the only drawback. Our bright orange ones are pretty mucky now. Wonder if they can be cleaner.

 

[penlanspice]

We're going to get 2 new cases for our next trip, we have always bought really cheap cases for about £20 each and they usually last us about 3 trips (about a year for us), so thought we might spend a bit of cash and hopefully they will last longer.

I don't want to get a hard shell case as the weight is a factor plus I don't rate them much (I had one for our wedding trip for my dress and disney must have dropped something on top of it when we switched resorts cause it was ruined).

Any one know of a good case with the 4 wheels and just glides along but not a hard shell?

 

[orangetiggs]

Tripp do one at debenhams, we are looking at it, it's soft and has four wheels

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs...dcrumb=Home~Sale~Home+&+furniture~Luggage

 

[penlanspice]

Tripp do one at debenhams, we are looking at it, it's soft and has four wheels

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs...dcrumb=Home~Sale~Home+&+furniture~Luggage

Thanks i'll check it out

 

[starrysky]

I just bought a set of the light weight heys luggage, hard cases with a zip clousre, they are the same style as these http://www.heysusa.com/britto-collection-by-heys-britto-palm-30-spinner/437616/931429

But they have butterflies on them. If you have a TK Maxx store near you I got my whole set with the little beauty case for half the price they would normally be, Plus they have 4 wheels on all the cases.

Not used them yet but they get good reviews.

 

[BlondeViki]

I'll be checking out all the links you've posted too - thanks guys!