Which is the best suitcase/luggage?

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks simongr - I must have been thinking of Tumi.

 

[maninblack]

Thanks simongr - I must have been thinking of Tumi.

That being said, I bought my first Tumi suitcase from a luggage shop in Santa Fe NM in 1994. It was the first ballistic nylon case I ever owned and I used it for countless trips and it is still alive and well today, if a touch beaten up looking. In those days Tumi was Made in USA and carried a lifetime warranty. Now 5yrs and made in China and they have many ranges, but the FXT Ballistic is still a top product and I bought the big FXT wheeled duffel a few yrs back (made in China). The price if bought in Australia is about double what you pay in the USA from the better discounted luggage outlets. I still think that you are unlikely to go wrong with this brand.

 

[NM]

I thought B&R stopped offering their lifetime warranty a year or so ago, or am I thinking of Tumi??

You are thinking of Tumi. Now down to 5 year warranty and I think back to only for faulty materials or workmanship. Pretty major change for them since it was their warranty that justified the cost for many people.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You are thinking of Tumi. Now down to 5 year warranty and I think back to only for faulty materials or workmanship. Pretty major change for them since it was their warranty that justified the cost for many people.

Yup. That changed meant I selected another brand for my last purchase. Couldn't justify the high price without the lifetime warranty.

 

[alect]

According to this link they still seem to be offering the lifetime guarantee.

Shame the luggage is so bland and uninteresting - maybe I shouldnt be so focussed on aesthetics....

Actually the reserved aesthetic of the cases is one of their attractive features to some - ie the "flasher" bags look more inviting to those thinking of helping themselves (either to the contents or the case or both).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Actually the reserved aesthetic of the cases is one of their attractive features to some - ie the "flasher" bags look more inviting to those thinking of helping themselves (either to the contents or the case or both).

One reason why I often have laptop in a bag that does not look like a laptop bag.

 

[maninblack]

One reason why I often have laptop in a bag that does not look like a laptop bag.

Absolutely. I have never used a laptop bag. As most of my travel is either leisure or a mixture of Business/leisure I generally use a backpack (with my laptop in a sleeve inside) which is also useful as a daypack at my destination. Cabin wheel ons etc can become a useless burden once you get to your destination if you also have checked luggage.

 

[Febs]

In relation to using using the carryon for a few days clothes - how are you managing with toiletries? Do you decant everything into appropriately sized bottles?

That's what I do - or use free samples I've picked up over time.
Lynx and Rexona sell their body wash/deoderant in small ~50ml containers now (about $3-4ea at petrol stations), which I've found are perfect. Small toothpaste, small body wash, some shaving gel decantered into a small bottle, and use the hotel's shampoo...too easy.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Shano]

Small toothpaste, small body wash, some shaving gel decantered into a small bottle, and use the hotel's shampoo...too easy.

Apart from children's tubes, I have not been able to find toothpaste in 100g or smaller tubes. Any suggestions where to buy smaller tubes other than general supermarkets?

 

[serfty]

Apart from children's tubes, I have not been able to find toothpaste in 100g or smaller tubes. Any suggestions where to buy smaller tubes other than general supermarkets?

Mine are sourced from a combination of J in-flight amenity kits such as CX, BA and (old) QF (where the tubes are the 50ml variety) and promotional sample hand-out that occasionally happen for commuters at busy CBD railway stations/transport nexus'.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

some hotels also supply it

 

[jasonja3]

Any suggestions where to buy smaller tubes other than general supermarkets?

The shops at SYD airport have all the appropriate sized ammenities, you just pay that bit more.

 

[Shano]

Thanks to all for suggestions. Might need to actually walk around the airport this Sunday rather than just head straight for the lounge.....

 

[SeaWolf]

Ask your dentist next time you're having a check up. The toothpaste companies often supply them with the small sampler tubes (25ml or so), so they sometimes have a large stash of these somewhere.

 

[Febs]

Apart from children's tubes, I have not been able to find toothpaste in 100g or smaller tubes. Any suggestions where to buy smaller tubes other than general supermarkets?

What Serfty said.

I've also seen small Colgate containers (not so much tubes, more like a very small shampoo bottle) with green/blue gel toothpaste. I'm not 100% sure, but I think these are 75 or 100mL. Woolies have them.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

Any suggestion on where's the best place to purchase one of those Antler suitcases? Am going with Antler because it seems to be the popular choice here, helps that their bags look sexy too.

Just realised I need a new suitcase as a visual assessment of my current suitcase has revealed that it would not last another trip.

I know that it might be cheaper to buy online but I would prefer to buy it in a store so that I can actually ask questions and see the different products for myself. DJs? Myers? Or would one of those specialist baggage store in town (like the one on the corner of bourke and swanston streets) be better?

Cheers.

 

[straitman]

I know that it might be cheaper to buy online but I would prefer to buy it in a store so that I can actually ask questions and see the different products for myself. DJs? Myers? Or would one of those specialist baggage store in town (like the one on the corner of bourke and swanston streets) be better?

Cheers.

Remember you could always research in the shops, make a decision, then buy online :!:

 

[NM]

And look around for who has it on sale. There is normally someone offering the major brands on sale. I bought my Samsonite suitcase at Myer for 30% off. Unfortunately when I went to buy my roll-aboard bag I was in a hurry and could not wait until someone had a sale, so I paid full price :shock: .

 

[Keith009]

I've only got about 2 and a half weeks before flying off - how long do deliveries from online stores take?

 

[Febs]

Any suggestion on where's the best place to purchase one of those Antler suitcases?

As NM said - if you can, wait until Myer/DJ's have an Antler sale. They seem to always have either Samsonite, Paklite, Jag or Antler on sale, usually 30-35% off. Between Myer and DJ's, you usually don't have to wait too long.

Or there's Buy Luggage Online - Buy Luggage, Suitcases and Backpacks at Luggage Direct (Australia) who have pretty good prices and ship very quickly. Just don't spend ages with a staff member at Myer/DJ's/Bag shop, then go and buy online for less. That's low, IMO (by all means check the bag out yourself at one of those shops though).

Cheers,
- Febs.

PS: Good choice with the Antler. I have two Samsonites and one Antler, and have been a lot more impressed with the Antler's ruggedness. Plus it looks pretty stylish too - mainly black (which is what I like), but with the odd touch of lime-green. Not over-the-top, but it makes it pretty distinguishable. Got a "cool bag" comment from a colleague once too.