What is "good" luggage?

[DocRafiki]

OK I know there's good luggage and crappy luggage. What exactly makes "good" luggage? I am completely out of the loop. I bought some luggage pretty cheap (I think) from Ross the other day. I don't know the original price. They seem nice to me, but they ARE made of canvas. Is canvas luggage considered cheap? (In other words, am I going to look like the novice traveler that I am?) It seemed sturdy, had nice wheels, internal handle thingy, lots of pockets, and a water bottle holder (that sold me). So that's what I was looking for, but I guess I don't really know what "sturdy" is. Oh, and what's a standard size suitcase for a 2-wk trip? I have two small pieces; one is supposed to be acceptable for a carry-on. I'm thinking about buying a larger piece, but I don't want to go overboard.

Oh, and what's with the "expandable" feature with the zipper that just loosens it up? It seems a little silly to me. If you want a bigger bag, just buy a bigger bag. But, mine has that anyway. Maybe I will keep it zipped when I pack so I will have room to unzip it on the return trip and bring home some souvenirs.

 

[Michelle]

Go to www.ebags.com .

LOTS of GOOD luggage there, and ratings, and explanations...and really great pricing and deals.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I agree with the ebags recommendation, great site, very satisfied.

 

[JustHolly]

We love our LLBean luggage. It is canvas-like (nylon) but it certainly isn't cheap. At $299 for a suitcase, I consider it "good" luggage I just don't know if anyone else thinks so...

That said, I really don't care what people think of my luggage, I just need something reliable and that looks nice enough to me.

Holly

 

[faith]

If you fly alot I don't know if I'd spend much on luggage. You need something sturdy with a good zipper though. The airlines beat the stuff up something awful.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

As long as you like the luggage, keep it. You should see some of the awful luggage coming off the conveyor belt at the airlines.
One thing I have learned is stay away from dark green. I bought a new set of luggage last year and could not identify it from all the other ones on the airline. (That is, until I added a big red Mickey luggage tag!)

 

[dianeschlicht]

Expensive does not necessarily mean good. A couple years ago I found a nice zipper wheeled bag with hidden handle etc. at Kohls. It was less than $50 and came in bright colors. It had lots of great pockets inside and out. I bought one and used it going to WDW. I like it so much, I came home and purchased 2 more in different colors. Now when we travel, I can get everything in these smaller bags and they are easy to manuver. Each person has their own, and it works great. As long as we don't over pack them we can use them as a carry on too.

 

[RoutemanDan]

Samsonite

 

[Buckalew]

I don't have a clue about luggage.
I just wanted to say "hi" & it is nice to see you!

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by DocRafiki

Good luggage is luggage that arrives in the same destination as it's owners - preferably on the same flight

 

[RUDisney]

Goofyish is right.

Our best bag is a duffle with wheels. The wheels are large for easy dragging and its made of a durable canvas. It was FREE. My DH won it at a golf tournament a few years ago. It has been all over the world with us and although the airlines have beaten it up a bit, it is still in good enough shape for traveling.

As for a carryon, it has to be on wheels, or it doesn't go with us.

Make sure that you tie some brightly colored ribbon or something on your bag if you're flying so you can identify it from all the others. A friend of mine lost her luggage when we went to London because she didn't tie a ribbon on it like I told her she should. Someone else who had the same bag picked it up and when the airline discovered where it was, they lost it a second time trying to get it to her. Luckily, she was a size smaller than me so we had to share my clothes.

So where are you going?

 

[DocRafiki]

Thanks for the links; I will look there.

Goofyish, good answer. What a nightmare to lose your luggage (don't know firsthand).

Buckalew-- HI!

Holly-- $300 seems a lot for something that is reliable and looks nice!! How big of a bag is that? I got my smaller bags for $30 and $40. I would think that would be "cheap" luggage if that were the original price, but I think I got a pretty good bargain here.

RU-- I'm trying to go to Paris in 3 months, but I sure am dragging my feet with the planning. I'm going to a conference in Denver next month, too. I haven't flown in over 5 years; I don't even remember what I used last time, since I've never owned real luggage.

 

[DocRafiki]

Wow, RMD, that DOES look nice. Didn't know you could get wheels with shock absorbers. But let's see for that much money I could stay one night at the Disneyland hotel overlooking the park... hmmm... tough decision (NOT).

 

[JustHolly]

The LLbean luggage is very expensive. Luckily, we bought ours at a clearance sale and took someone else's initials off. We didn't pay the $299, but it was still very expensive. We have the extra large($299) and the carry-on (199). We LOVE our luggage!

It is sturdy, rolls well, and has been through A LOT and still looks like new.

I don't think ours is any better than some of the $50 ones though... we have a cheaper one we use sometimes, too and it has held up just as well, but more difficult to spot coming off the luggage conveyor belt.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...op_method=pp&feat=ln&sc1=&sc2=&sc3=&sc4=&sc5=

Holly

 

[DonnaS]

I have a couple of bags that are expandable. Both qualify easily as carryons when not expanded, but then allow me to stuff them with souvenirs and check them on the flight home.

One is actually a back pack for back packing through Europe and the expandable feature has worked well with being able to stuff my coat in when I don't need to wear it, but when I do need to wear it, I can use the pack as a carry-on (and wear the coat).

The other one is one of the popular small carryon on wheels. When we go on our cruise we'll use it expanded, but if DH goes on an overnight trip for business, he can use it as carryon unexpanded.

 

[Poohbear123]

Paris! WOW! That sounds nice, must be making the BIG bucks as a Vet now, huh? Just kidding, have a great trip, and I LOVE E Bags too, they are the best!

 

[Fire14]

I have samonite set which was given to me by my parents as graduation gift. I also have had to replace a piece due to it being borrowed and not returned. I bought mine at Samonite/amertoutister outlet store and have not had any problems with it. It has flown many times.

 

[RoutemanDan]

hey Doc,check this out,http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=31899148
You can get some great deals there and it is totally reliable because you are dealing direct with the company.

 

[RUDisney]

I haven't been to Paris, yet, but Denver is beautiful. I am amazed that people get anything done by the Rockies. They are so beautiful that I'd just want to sit and watch them all the time.

I'll be living vicariously through you, if you don't mind.

DH is in the same golf tournament today that he won the luggage a few years ago. I told him to try to win some more.

The kids will wait up for him because the tournament is sponsored by an advertising goodie place and he'll come home with gobs of goodies for all of us.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I love Lucas luggage. Bought it over 15 years ago and still have a the pieces. It has expandable capability, and is made of hard canvas. The nice thing is that it is black w/ bright yellow trim, so you always can tell your luggage from the others.