looking for suggestion re luggage

I really like the hard cases, but I'm not tied to a particular brand. I do look for bright colors and unique designs, because it is so much easier to find the suitcase on an airport carousel. However, if you go with a light colored bag on soft sided luggage, it shows wear faster (ask my gorgeous hot pink bag).

My DH and I each have a soft piece that can convert to a backpack. I can use it as a carry-on or expand it and check it. I like the soft unconstructed nature of the bag because it can be jammed in places. It has regular handles to carry like a suitcase, but I always use the back pack straps - that also has a waist belt to distribute weight - because I like to have my hands free.

Here is what we use. store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/carry-on-backpack

Mine is 15 years old, DH has had his for at least 5, both have held up fantastically.

J

I prefer soft-sided. I don't invest in high-end luggage because the airlines are just too rough. I usually just go to Marshalls or TJMaxx. My favorite piece though is my medium sized SwissGear case I got from Target. I've had it for at least 7 or 8 years and it's still going strong.

We have this stuff: Timberland Luggage and it has proven to be very durable. We bought it piece-by-piece at TJMaxx so don't have the backpack, but we love the rest of it.

I just came back from Europe and we all used the Ebags Motherlode backpacks. They held up wonderfully except one that a buckle was ripped off by TSA (when they didn't lock it back up). Ebags just sent me a brand new one, free.

make sure it fits the new small guidelines for europe...

Bigger is not always better because it allows you to over pack the weight limit and end up with excessive baggage fees.
I bought this one green carry on
Because it has the 360 spinner wheels, the size met the most stringent US plane sizes and the color is very easy to spot among all the dark bags. It wipes up nicely. I like the harder shell as it does seem to protect things inside a bit more. And at that price even it if doesn't hold up for decades of travel it will have been worth it. So far, two plane trips (gate checked) and several car trips it is holding up nicely. I feel like I've gotten my $50 worth out of it but it still looks new.

Since part of my job is picking up students at the airport who are arriving for a semester or two, my advice is to ditch luggage. Pack her stuff in some sturdy shipping cartons and take folding luggage cart as carry on. None of the students arrive with their over packed luggage in good shape. Everyone tries to over pack and all suitcases come apart at the lid hinge or zipper pulls apart when over packed.

We're having a debate in our house right now on luggage. We went to a huge luggage store this week in the Chicago area that repairs luggage for the airlines as well as sells the various luggage brands from cheap to uber expensive.

The wheels "blew" out on my 2 wheel soft side carry on roller bag and I was contemplating buying a new bag with 4 wheels vs. fixing. Here's what happend....

DH went w/me as he works for United.....he strongly recommended that I didn't buy a 4 caster roller bag because he's always finding the roller wheels in the "cargo bins". He said I could get one only if I promised to NEVER check it---or it comes with a lifetime warranty to fix the wheels for free no questions asked. Well I know I'll check it as I fly regional planes sometimes. The "no questions asked" to repair the wheels on your bag for free start around $500 which is WAY more than I want to spend.

Repair guy at the luggage store 100% agreed with my DH and said NO WAY on the casters---even though they are on 75% of the suitcases they sell he said most are "cheap" and break off and they fix a lot of bags. He said the bag I had was a great quality Samsonite and worth the $60 to fix the wheels. He was very honest with us probably due to the fact my DH works for an airline and we've been good customers over the years. He also said most airlines do not pay for damage to the caster wheels since they stick out and they are not liable as "bags shift" during flight. He also recommended I check out the flight crews next time I'm in the airport as most are still using 2 wheel roller bags because they are durable!

So guess who fixed their 15+ year old bag for $60 ---and will just learn to "love it" again. Waaaaa I wanted a new bag--I think I'm bored with this bag ----guess I'll put a new tag on it to "spruce" it up.

A few words of experience ----

1-Duffle bags are ok but when you stand them on end everything slides down

2-Love a suitcase w/built in scale




Good Luck in your search.

Another something to say about the bag I mentioned above, Two years ago the three of us went to Europe for 3 weeks in September. We knew we would likely hit quite chilly and wet weather as well as rather warm, so we had to be ready for both. That said, my husband and I each used one of these bags and my DS13 used his hiking backpack. We did not check any bags.

J

I have both soft and hard side pieces. I bought the hard side suitcase after my soft side luggage was unloaded from the plane during a downpour and was so completely soaked I didn't recognize it on the carousel. It was purple, but was so wet it looked black, so I told the airline that I couldn't find my luggage. I felt like the hard side would protect my stuff better. But I have the same problems with hard side as mentioned above. I don't like the zipper in the middle. I occasionally pack a tool kit for work that is too deep for half the suitcase, so I wouldn't be able to use the inside zipper to hold my stuff in.

I will probably not buy another hard side case. I really like the flexibility of soft luggage. I prefer 4 spinner wheels, but I occasionally drag my luggage anyway, so two wheels would probably be fine. Don't go too large or you'll likely exceed weight limits. It's cheaper to check two medium pieces of luggage than to pay over-limit fees on one large piece. They are crazy high.

I have never (knock on wood) had a spinner wheel break off, and I fly very frequently. Several of my frequent-travelling colleagues have lost wheels, every time I'm aware of it was on expensive hard side suitcases. I've also seen their hard side cases get cracked.

The best suitcase I know of for durability is Eagle Creek. They only sell soft side. I can't quite afford it, so I always buy Samsonite, and I try to get it either on a great sale at Kohl's, or at TJ Mazz or Marshall's. I have had great experience with that brand. 

ETA: If you buy in person, pull out the handle a few times to make sure it isn't sticky, and then pull the suitcase around for a couple of minutes to see how it handles and if it's comfortable for you.