The old chestnut of New luggage being required and advice sort

[Mr Mac]

The cabin
Given our extensive travelling experience I could do with some assistance. My carry on and indeed hold bag are showing signs of distress, and even my PA has said travel worn is one thing, but I maybe taking things to a new level (not sure if she was talking about me or the bags !). Anyway currently have used Headgrun (Samsonite) for hold bag and Samsonite for carry on. I have looked at doing direct replacement but some how (as in many things) they do not feel as robust. A colleague recommended the US luggage company Briggs and Riley or indeed Tumi. Does anyone have any experience of either brand or indeed other options as one of my staff uses Victorinox and another Rimowa both being very happy. As the company pays for the bags money is not really an issue. Any advice or experience please would be appreciatted.

Compliments of the Season to the cabin as well..
Kind regards
Mr Mac

[PAXboy]

As one who pays for hs own cases ... I used Delsey for about 20 years and then Samsonite for 20. Having learnt that the baggage sustem and throwers can break expensive as easily as cheap - I only buy cheap. I get ones in the 'close down' sales or similar. I eschew all those fancy hand cases too. I have a mid-sized Samsonite that has survived for 20 years. My cheap n cheerful hand case about 7 so far.

[BRUpax]

Different sized Samsonites over 40 odd years and no problems. I never had to replace any because of damage or wear & tear, but only to acquire improved designs and the TSA approved locks when that became necessary.

[Donkey497]

I guess it also comes down to what you are planning to put in each.

I've a company issue (Ogio) backpack that I use most of the time, except when I'm headed out to the Far East when I use a Briggs & Riley hard-bodied spinner carry-on with an external laptop pocket, as the trips tend to be a bit different in character & most of the time I only need limited documents with me so the backpack does fine. When I need more paperwork & electronic entertainment with me the hard carryon is a better option. Briggs & Riley are expensive though, but on balance, I think worth it.

As far as hold bags go, I used to be a devotee of Samsonite, as I have a bag I bought in Houston about 15 years ago & it's still going strong. Having said that I stopped using it a few years ago and switched to Helly Hansen (mainly) soft bags as I don't tend to pack anything fragile in the hold. I do have two HH trolley bags, one of which goes on holiday with me. My only issue with it is that the stitching on the small external pocket for keys or Ipod or something similar was done too close to the edge of the cloth and it has partially pulled away from the zip. I guess one day I'll need to get out the sewing thread and fix it, but it doesn't impact the use of the bag, so it's low on the priority list. North Face also do the same kind of heavy duty holdalls - either square or barrel shaped made from heavy duty pvc waterproofed fabric and normally with concealed backpack straps - handy if you've multiple bags and no airport trolleys.....

This year however, I've invested in a couple of Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler duffels. They are very light, pack down very small into (provided) packs and appear very robust so far. A little more expensive than HH of NF, but weight was a concern for a couple of trips that justified their purchase. One selling point for me apart from their light weight was a (3rd party IIRC) video showing their use as roof luggage, tied on simply using the existing handles in some rough weather with no ill-effects. Again, I had nothing particularly fragile packed into the bags when I used them and it's proved successful so far.

As with anything, you broadly get what you pay for. I've used a fair variety of cheaper bags over the years and as expected one or two hard trips and they need replaced, but even the high end of the market will get damaged in the worst of the baggage systems, so ultimately you kind of have to accept that luggage is a consumable item if you are doing any kind of business or personal travel.

My only other tip would be if you are based in the US and you can find a US Walmart with old stock "Jeep" trolley holdalls, (as I recall about 75 litre capacity, are dark grey & silver with a square cross section) these are worth snapping up. I last saw them in Walmart a couple of years ago, but haven't been in a luggage section since. I picked up a pair about 10 years ago for USD45 the pair and despite some serious abuse are still usable.

Hope this helps & before anyone asks, no, I am not on a retainer from any of the above manufacturers.

[Paul Lupp]

Different sized Samsonites over 40 odd years and no problems. I never had to replace any because of damage or wear & tear, but only to acquire improved designs and the TSA approved locks when that became necessary.
Same here. I'm a fan of Samsonite cases as they do, in my experience, seem to last despite the abuse handed out by baggage handlers. I've also had cause to have a couple of repairs and Samsonite will sent out spares FOC (including carriage) for genuine "broken by rough handling" incidents. I go for the hard plastic cases with hinges and solid clamp-locks as opposed to the "zips up all round" designs.

If you're in the UK..... I also have a c. 66 litre A&N "Linea" own-brand hard plastic case that seems to survive pretty well too. But I think these are discontinued.

[krismiler]

Samsonite, Delsey and Antler have the advantage that every luggage repair shop in the world is familiar with them and has spares on hand. More exotic brands might only have one or two service centres in the whole country.

[Pontius Navigator]

Samsonite, Delsey and Antler have the advantage that every luggage repair shop in the world is familiar with them and has spares on hand. More exotic brands might only have one or two service centres in the whole country.
I was in India when Samsonite offered free repairs. In Brussels I was able to pick up spare keys at the airport. I guess the logic is if have your case stolen they may as well well keys; you might get it back undamaged 😀

[Mr Mac]

All
Thanks for the information and comments. I decided to go with the Briggs & Riley and we will see how we get on. Got them from London Luggage with a good sale,s discount so company pleased as well. !
Cheers
Mr Mac

[PAXboy]

I continue to be amazed at the ever more expensive cases being offered. I see that cabin cases are now featuring battery storage for charging, Bluetooth for keeping in contact and even one unit that is self powered. I guess if you are going F you can afford a very expensive case with a small capacity and a big battery.

You have to wonder how many cabin bags they are selling at £250+ but someone must be.

[MathFox]

I guess those built-in batteries are to prevent the bag from being gate-checked... Li batteries have to travel in the cabin!

[SamYeager]

I guess those built-in batteries are to prevent the bag from being gate-checked... Li batteries have to travel in the cabin!
Of course there was that period when the US insisted that laptops and the like had to travel in the hold from the middle east.... For security you understand. :rolleyes:

[Impress to inflate]

Hi, for my pennies worth, I was in the same situation a while ago. A lot of air travel and buying new suitcases every few years so I bought a Rimowa case in the classic style. I LOVE IT, best case I've ever had. The first time I used it, the local baggage checkers tried to "ding" it and put a few small marks on it but now it looks a bit used, they leave it alone. I recon it's done 65-70 airline flights in just under a year and it's still as strong as ever. It was expensive but as far as I'm concerned , worth it.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I used to swear by Tumi, due to it's ballistic nylon and good customer service if any problems arose. The cost was high, but it also was a form of signalling status to others that you were cool and sophisticated. Then I started to swear at them, as the customer service reduced, the price kept climbing and then a sea-change in thinking ensued to the point that these days I just get 'cheap' hard suitcases sold by/through reputable stores and chains (Clas Ohlsen for example). The quality is pretty impressive all said and it does the job. However if you're a real road warrior then it would be best to stick to Samsonite or Rimova as the quality and suppliers the world over make it a no brainer. When you're more worried about the suitcase getting hammered by the baggage handlers than the contents inside, something is out of balance ;-) If you fly private, then get the Louis Vuitton set out!

[Mr Mac]

Springhealed
Done 3 flights with bag which has the ballistic nylon (as had my old bag) and now suitably dusty due to middle east. As for private jet I have used them a few times, but the only place I have noticed LV bags was in southern France during Monaco Grand Prix week !

Paxboy
I do not get the battery built into the bag thing, I have enough issues with lap top never mind having to worry about bag as well. Only thing I like is soft shell case rather than hard case , good zips and handles and robust wheels, and a built to last "feel" rather than form over function.

Cheers
Mr Mac

[Asturias56]

Also something so hideously patterned or coloured that no-one would ever nick it and you can spot it a mile away on the belt....................

[Mr Mac]

Also something so hideously patterned or coloured that no-one would ever nick it and you can spot it a mile away on the belt....................
I have a hideously Day Glo Green Rubberized luggage tag courtesy of Vancouver Airport Authority which stands out a mile for that purpose. Fiendishly difficult to remove as I found and cut resistant, and no it does not have have an address on it .
Mr Mac

[golf yankee one one]

I've come a little late to this discussion, and my travel is largely for leisure.

I came across CabinMax a while ago - a UK company (based not far from Mr Mac, I think) which make luggage to the absolute maximum size allowed by different airlines as carry on.

My current backpack isn't pretty, but takes up to 44L, and hasn't even been questioned, never mind refused by any of the airlines I have used (including EZY and FR).

I have no connection with the company except as a satisfied customer.

I much prefer a backpack, because it gives me an extra hand for passport, boarding card etc etc, and the liberating experience of not going to check in, not worrying about a lost bag and not visiting the carousel is well worth the extra effort planning my packing.

[Asturias56]

I have a hideously Day Glo Green Rubberized luggage tag courtesy of Vancouver Airport Authority which stands out a mile for that purpose. Fiendishly difficult to remove as I found and cut resistant, and no it does not have have an address on it .
Mr Mac

Years ago a colleague of mine bought a vast set of Samsonite hard shell luggage in THE most hideous shade of pink which he got for almost nothing in a sale in the USA. This was at a time when attitudes to gay folk were pretty neolithic and pink goods for men were rather stereotyped. He reckoned his luggage sailed through everything, he could see it a mile away and no-one ever touched it....................