Which is the best suitcase/luggage?

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PLANT

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Jan 23, 2005
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Hi there,

Need new luggage. One suit case style bag with wheels.

Best brand and function for bag?

Trip 3 weeks in America(Holiday) and constant back and forward QLD to Vic(work)

I immediately thought of Samsonite, but have been told after sales repair is poor!

Are Antler any good?

I use a strap to define bag.

Price is not an issue as tax deduction!

Need brand name/model/price/store from please.


Rgds
 
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I recently purchased a Samsonite roller suit case and a Samsonite roller carry-on bag. I thought these were the best options for my needs at the time.

Note that with luggage there are lots of things to consider. Note that the warranty offered by the manufacturer is only for faulty materials or workmanship, and does not cover damage caused by use. This is where the risk comes in.

The only cases that can survive long-term abuse by airline baggage handlers are things like Pelican Cases, but they are not overly practical for most people's needs for leisure and business travel. So be aware that any case you buy now may be damaged in its first use and not covered by the manufacturer's waranty. It then becomes a matter of much much you are willing to risk in he investment.

Generally I have found that you get what you pay for. Cheap bags are less likely to survive very long in the hands of the airline's baggage handlers. But as I noted previously, even a $500 case can be damaged on the next trip.

one of the reasons I bought the Samsonite roller carry-on bag was that it is designed to attach to the extended handle of the Samsonite suit case, making for easy carriage of the two items together. It also meets the QF domestic carry-on size limits 105cm total linear dimensions.
 
I tend to also look for something a bit distinctive, so that it'll stand out on the baggage carousel and I'll avoid grabbing someone else's luggage or having mine grabbed by someone who mistakes it for theirs.
 
Don't forget the weight of the (unfilled) bag is important, as airlines seem to be continuously reducing the amount of "free" checked baggage allowed.
 
Depends on what you want. Those carrying on likely need lighterweight case than those checking in, due to most airlines having considerably lower weight limits for carry ons.
Some prefer hard sided cases for greater security. I don't because of the weight.
If you want distinctive, then avoid black.
No matter how good your case, if you travel a lot eventually it will wear out. My wheely suitcase has still in reasonable condition after about 200 flights, but I very rarely use it as I try to manage on carry on only these days. My rollaboard is fine but wheels are just starting to go. It has about 500 flights on it so far. The previous one was cheaper and only lasted 100.
 
Kiwi Flyer said:
If you want distinctive, then avoid black.

It's a while before I need to replace mine,but the one thing I have decided is my next luggage won't be black.
 
I have this medium-sized Antler roller for domestic trips (a week or longer), and a large Samsonite roller for international trips.

While the Samsonite has done more travelling, even after its first trip it looked shabby, old, and came back with broken zipper tabs. Subsequent trips have made it look even shabbier, and have broken what little remained of the zipper pull-tabs.

The Antler on the other hand, looks absolutely brand-new. It's a different material, and seems to be much more rugged...but you could swear it's never been used. It's also quite distinctive too - black, but with hints of lime green which really stand out. The zippers are of much better quality than the Samsonite. I even got comments from mates the first time I used it - "hey mate, I like your suitcase!" etc... :D

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Antler. A Samsonite though - well....that's another matter.

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
oz_mark said:
It's a while before I need to replace mine,but the one thing I have decided is my next luggage won't be black.
I don't know why but I like black suitcases. It's not a fetish is it? :oops:
 
On the topic of luggage, has anyone bought a laptop backpack recently.

I am considering getting one so that I don't have to take the Samsonite roll-a-long briefase with me everywhere.

Any recommendations.
 
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Shano said:
On the topic of luggage, has anyone bought a laptop backpack recently.

I am considering getting one so that I don't have to take the Samsonite roll-a-long briefase with me everywhere.

Any recommendations.

I have a Burghaus laptop backpack and find it very good, been using it a couple of year, but not a common brand, less expensive than northface !

E
 
Well being a bit of a luggage nut, I have a new recommendation.

Have a look at some of the newer brands such as High Sierra and this very good shop, http://rushfaster.com.au/listingbrand.php?pBrand=HIGHSIERRA

Their LEVEL range is made from 1680 Denier ballistic nylon, racket coil zippers etc. just like TUMI at one third of the price. Bought two not long ago and whilst they have only done a few trips, the quality seems excellent.

Certainly better than anything from Antler or Samsonite other than Pro-DLX. Also good looking contemporary design and clever features. Mrs maninblack liked the orange though I still went for the black. (you know, "goes with anything")
 
I have had a bit of a luggage year - trying to get the right luggage. We had a LARGE triplite wheeler case and a small (might be just bigger than regulation) rollaboard. My suit bag was looking a little worse for wear so I bought a new one - nice and slim - before my first trip last year - Airport brand :oops:. The upshot was a a main bag that was too heavy when full and a suit bag that was too small.

Just before my big rip last october I bought a new spinner case - A$110. As I landed into JFK the corner round one of the wheels got cracked and basically the bag became useless.

I now have a nice sized samsonite (black) spinner that I am very happy with. Just the right size and can hold a decent 30kgs (where appropriate). Although its black it is shiny enough that I can easily recognise it. It is a bit scratched but I am working on the principle that the average person flies say twice a year and their bags should last them 10 years - so 20 flights. On my last trip the bag went through 18 flights alone so if I can get say 50 flights a year out of it for two years I think that is enough.

I am now trying to sort hand luggage. On my short trips (single flights or multiple short flights of less than 4 hours thus not wanting to shower) I am taking my over-the-shoulder laptop bag by HIDESIGN - it forces me to travel light and fits neatly my laptop, power, comics, notebooks (work and trip reporting) and a couple of other things. For my DONE4s (or anything with multiple flights over 4 hours) I will take my rollaboard - but I am now scouting for a new one. It has to be regulation but now hold normal gear plus changes of underwear and shirts - a new quest for me (and yet more explaining at home ;))
 
I tend to use Buy Luggage Online - Buy Luggage, Suitcases and Backpacks at Luggage Direct (Australia) to look for suitcases. I'm yet to buy from them (and definately have no interest or other kickbacks from them), but find their range, descriptions and website quite good. I will end up buying something from them soon methinks.

I have found Samsonite luggage to be good and tough wearing (except when AA decided to trash my bag recently!). The downside to Samsonite is that it tends to be heavy before even putting in your stuff and as Febs indicated, the zipper pull was one of the things that went when AA decided to trash my bag!

Recently, I've been going down the Antler line. I have a carry-on from them that is one of the lightest in the market, but is still pretty good.and feels tough enough to handle most onboard harassment. Yet to buy a proper suitcase from them, but keeping them in mind when I need to replace my samsonites.

Some not-so-well known brands have lifetime (or a few years) warranty that covers *any* damage. That could be an option if you can find someone with that type of warranty.
 
Mal said:

My girlfriend bought my Antler bag from them and they were great. It arrived in about 2 days without any fuss. I've also found their prices to generally be the cheapest around (on par with the regular 35% off sales at DJs etc, if not a bit cheaper).

I'm still not sure what to do with International carry-on...at the moment I carry a large but strong duffle bag, which (just) fits the regulations. I like to travel with at least a few clothes in my bag, in case my luggage goes missing (again), and after you add that, my laptop/charger, iPod/spare phone, documents, magazines etc... it gets extremely heavy. Lugging it all around DFW a few weeks ago was not fun.

It does make a great weekend carry-on for side-trips though (such as a recent 24hr holiday in Mexico City - no time to wait for baggage!)

Still not sure if I should buy an international roller. All the ones I've seen which fit with the 115cm restrictions carry far less than my duffle bag...and accessing the laptop would be a pain. Hmmm..

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
Due to the nature of the gear I mostly travel with the hard shell Samsonite is far and away the best choice for me...

Relatively light when empty, tough.... and I bought the BLUE one for carousel visibility....

That works pretty well.. but I should have bought the YELLOW one!! :D
 
d15.in.oz said:
Being in Australia, may I suggest conforming to Qantas’ maximum domestic baggage sizing – 105 carry-on & 140 checked (total cms linear measurements).
Keep in mind you can also take a 115cm carry-on on QF domestic (non-Dash 8), but you can't take anything else.

For 3-4 day trips I usually take a 105cm carry-on and my laptop backpack..but for longer trips I take a larger, checked suitcase. Bloody gym shoes take up more than their fair share of space, even when you stuff them with other items. :)

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
Febs said:
Keep in mind you can also take a 115cm carry-on on QF domestic (non-Dash 8)...
I should really have called it the minimum maximums, :D if that makes sense.


(I don't think many 115cm carry-ons can go into the overhead lockers wheel first though, not that that's an issue with too many airlines at the moment.)
 
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Febs said:
Keep in mind you can also take a 115cm carry-on on QF domestic (non-Dash 8), but you can't take anything else. ...
This has actually changed sometime recently. Before then on non Dash8 QF domestic flights you could take 2 x 115cm carry-ons- now it's only 2 x 105cm. Each should still weigh no more than 7Kg. Not really sure why the change.

More here: Flying with Us - Before You Travel - Baggage - Carry on - General
 
d15.in.oz said:
Being in Australia, may I suggest conforming to Qantas’ maximum domestic baggage sizing – 105 carry-on & 140 checked (total cms linear measurements).

I have always used carry-ons that comply, but the limits for checked baggage...well lets say most decent size luggage does not comply with the size regulation and i have never been pulled up on it, nor has anyone else I know. Here are some popular models, none of them comply, but I dont think the airlines care, its really weight that they worry about.

http://www.luggagedirect.com.au/cat...id=53&osCsid=558af5199853be8c14c73b71109030fe
http://www.luggagedirect.com.au/cat...d=100&osCsid=558af5199853be8c14c73b71109030fe
http://www.luggagedirect.com.au/cat...d=294&osCsid=558af5199853be8c14c73b71109030fe
http://www.luggagedirect.com.au/cat...d=119&osCsid=558af5199853be8c14c73b71109030fe
http://www.luggagedirect.com.au/cat...d=339&osCsid=558af5199853be8c14c73b71109030fe

Even this classic.

http://www.tumi.com/travel_luggage/...e_trip/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=65463
 
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