Luggage - recommendations

[bumpy737]

I know google is full of this but I would more welcome your opinion guys. What luggage brand would you recommend for a guy moving from regional flying to long haul with longer stays sometimes? And your opinion on some good pilot trolley would be also great. Thanks ;)

[Impress to inflate]

I do 6 flights as a Pax every 2 weeks so I went out and bought a big Rimowa suitcase and love it. I work 2 weeks on/2 weeks off and fly to the worksite so I needed a good bag. I used to have to buy a new case every 18 months or so and was sick of buy new cases for them to fall apart. The Rimowa comes with a 5 year warranty. Love the case, easy to move around and so far, all good.

[B2N2]

Jack Wolfskin roll-aboard available in 40-60-90 ltr

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/355x355/image_255237f21eba7ad7fd91658423670b28c9dd2b47.jpeg

[DooblerChina]

Tried them all, finally paid a bit more and got Samsonite hard case mid size for the hold. The best case I’ve ever had. They are available at outlet shops for reasonable price.

I use the same brand for my wheely bag. Very happy with it.

[fast cruiser]

TUMI... last years

[Intruder]

Briggs & Riley. Their Lifetime Guarantee is for real, and includes ALL damage - even that caused by airlines.

Find a closeout sale of last year's models and save a bunch.

[mustafagander]

During my long haul career for the last 10-15 years I used a large rolling duffel bag. It's a High Sierra 60cm tall double deck bag. The advantages are many, including the ability to tighten up the straps when I was doing a shorter trip and didn't need so much room. Being soft the baggage handlers never broke it either. Yes, I know, the bad guys can cut it open or bust the zippers but who packs real valuables in a hold bag anyway - no one with any brains. Some are very heavy when empty so check it out. I still use it when I go away on holidays.

[redsnail]

If someone else is doing the loading, I would strongly consider a hard shell. Reasonably water resistant and definitely baggage handler resistant. I use a Samsonite and it's pretty tough. Every so often I have to replace the wheels but it's about 5 years old and has lasted a lot longer than any Travelpro I have owned.
I do tours of 6 days and that often means airlining. For piece of mind I secure it with a pacsafe strap and that also helps with the identification on the carousel. :)
Many colleagues use Samsonite and the more flush ones use a Rimowa. There's the alu ones and the plastic. The alu looks flash but the dents remain.

[parabellum]

Another vote for Samsonite. Have a large hard case one that only weighs 3kgs. empty. Built in handle, fairly strong wheels, so far.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Samsonite+suitcases&oq=Samsonite+suitcases&aqs=chrome..69i57.8002j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 (https://www.google.com/search?q=Samsonite+suitcases&oq=Samsonite+suitcases&aqs=chrome..69i57.8002j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)

[Nightstop]

Definitely go for Samsonite. They sent me a free set of replacement wheels to fit DIY after I complained that my out of warranty trolley wheels had disintegrated (due wheeling to/from the loose gravel surfaced Crew Carpark at a large SE UK Airport).

[bumpy737]

Thanks guys, I liked some pieces from Samsonite :) What about pilot trolleys? I was looking for one with a opening on the top, but most of them are these leather style heavy ones.

[redsnail]

I use a Samsonite backpack (sadly no longer available). I fish out what I need and stash the bag elsewhere. Other crew use wheeled bags, others use different backpacks. Very few crew at work use what we'd call "pilot cases or doctor cases".

[BDAttitude]

... especially if your wherabouts might lead you to hisoric old towns or places with a fair amount of snow:
https://www.ortlieb.com/duffle-rg
​​​​​​ (https://www.ortlieb.com/de/duffle-rg)
Proper wheels and a stable axle. Not these toy thingies even Rimowa uses these days.

[Sand Man]

Time to upgrade my old bags, any recommendations as to what works these days?

[iggy]

Funny that from the FOs I fly with, those with the lowest experience own the most expensive Tumi gear.

It must come as a bundle with the TR :p

[SMT Member]

Rimowa if you can spare the cash, Samsonite if you can't.

[Brian Pern]

Samsonite, hands down. If any part breaks, they will try to replace it free of charge. I've had to replace wheels on one of my big cases several times, despite offering to pay, Samsonite have sent them for free. Now that's customer service

[Less Hair]

Rimowa has no more two wheelers. Try Thule instead. And luggage works with metal frame if you need some tank.

[cjhants]

My Antler carry on still looks good as new after 18 years, and the Antler large case still in one piece and presentable after many hundreds of times in hold and carousels.

[Gove N.T.]

My experience indicates that the cheap ones are best. Its easier for the airline to replace damaged cheap cases with their cheap case from their stock for major or even minor damage.

[ATC Watcher]

Definitively soft bags . Tatonka for instance has very good ones with wheels and 100% waterproof ( a must if you travel in the tropics) . not cheap though.
Soft bags always fit in taxi trunks too , Last : Remowa. looks very nice but not anymore after 50 flights ( my wife had one )

[ExDubai]

Luggage works definitely something to consider

[krismiler]

Samsonite, Delsey or Antler. Spares such as wheels and handles are available at any repair shop in the world when needed down route. They are strong and durable, won’t embarrass you when checking into a good hotel yet aren’t so flash they attract thieves like the Tumi aluminium ones. They’re the Toyota’s of the luggage world.

PacSafe make some good soft kit with anti theft features but aren’t designed to be repaired. I had to take mine into a repair shop to change the wheels which had to be drilled out. I could easily do wheels on a old Delsey myself with just a screwdriver.

[Sobelena]

It amazes me that posters still can't grasp what forums to post in. What in the heck is this doing in Rumours and News for goodness sake?

[Bull at a Gate]

Mrs Bull and I are travelling in Africa with very low luggage allowances. This has forced us to consider carefully what we should pack. As a result we have rediscovered the joys of packing light and not taking anything we will not need. So many times in the past we have packed something we “might just” need simply because we had not used up our luggage allowances. Our bags for this trip weigh in total around 20kg which includes quite a few kg of camera equipment. So my advice - buy a small (say 60 litre) soft sided bag without wheels and enjoy the freedom of being able to easily carry your own bag.

[AmarokGTI]

Funny that from the FOs I fly with, those with the lowest experience own the most expensive Tumi gear.

It must come as a bundle with the TR :p

I got myself a Tumi bag as an upgrade gift to self, mainly because I couldn’t afford it as an FO!!!

Jokes aside tho - it’s expensive but good gear, and according to the five thousand emails they have sent me this week there might be a sale on or something.

[beamender99]

Samsonite, Delsey or Antler. I could easily do wheels on a old Delsey myself

Do not forget to paint the hubs a bright colour. That makes them easier to describe when the case gets lost plus avoids confusion with crew ownership - as has happened to me.

[iggy]

Do not forget to paint the hubs a bright colour. That makes them easier to describe when the case gets lost plus avoids confusion with crew ownership - as has happened to me.

A luggage tag with the shape of a marihuana leaf that says "Captain" is more than enough. No need no flashy colors to attract attention.

[Two's in]

My experience indicates that the cheap ones are best. Its easier for the airline to replace damaged cheap cases with their cheap case from their stock for major or even minor damage.

Exactly. You can spend 500 currency units on an expensive one every 5 years, or 100 currency units on a cheap one every year from TK Maxx. Cost of ownership is the same but you get to upgrade more often.

[Ancient Mariner]

Samsonite, mine is 30 years old, been around the world more times than I care to remember, record check in weight was 56 kg (brochures and documents). Handle broke once, replaced under warranty. The thing is bulletproof and by now easily recognisable, even though the colour is, or was charcoal. A companion for life.
Per

[Helol]

oh, I thought this was Rumours and News...?

[733driver]

Exactly. You can spend 500 currency units on an expensive one every 5 years, or 100 currency units on a cheap one every year from TK Maxx. Cost of ownership is the same but you get to upgrade more often.

Not sure if you are being serious but I hate that attitude. It's not sustainable in terms of the environment to just by cheap crap and throw it away after a short time of use.

it also makes no sense because you'll be dealing with the hassle of a broken bag and having to get a new one five times instead of once.

Samsonite has been mentioned a few times. In my experience they do make some good stuff which is usually their pricier product range but they also have pretty bad, relatively cheap bags which I would avoid. It's not as simple as just buying a Somdonite..

[AC560]

I am a Tumi fan and still use the same bags I bought in 1997. It spent a lot of years in West Africa and other places, replaced the wheels several times otherwise still great.

I have watched more people rip a handle off, have a bag fall apart, etc on trip. Yes expensive but 22yrs and counting to me it was worth the $$$.

[Carbon Bootprint]

Briggs & Riley gets my vote.

[oceancrosser]

I have used Travelpro for about 20 years. All spares easily available, last long and moderate weight. I rarely check baggage, but these do not tear easily. Resonably priced. Far better than Samsonite.

[Herod]

I find Tesco's or Sainsbury's pretty good value. The plus side is that they will replace them for free!! :ok:

[PHDracing]

I heard a rumor that Amazon Basic works pretty good. (That might make this post legal). But after a career as a road warrior, I still believe in Samsonite.

[bill fly]

Trouble with Antlers is that they sometimes caught in the baggage belts - but maybe that‘s a rumour...

[Hotel Tango]

There you go Sand man. Apart from choosing the wrong forum, you have so far got something like 9 different recommendations. Good luck with your decision ;)

[sika]

Briggs & Riley gets my vote.
Try itfitsbag.com