purchasing new luggage bags --- tips

looking for a good quality carry-on bag. current one is 5-7yrs old and in terrible shape. it certainly doesnt help that it was cheap and not especially well constructed.


any ones that you guys recommend?

[jason_carreira]

http://putthison.com/search/luggage+guide

[jicarv]

I used to buy cheap luggage that would break after a few trips because it could not take the abuse from the lugagge handlers at the airport, so I finally decided to buy three pieces from Briggs and Riley and the quality is fantastic. I have owned the luggage for about 8 years now and still looks great. They are expensive but they offer a lifetime guarantee, so if anything happens to it, they will fix it. http://www.briggs-riley.com/


My pieces from them are in the Olive color, so they are easier to pick out from all the black bags going through the luggage carousel at the airport.

[Chareth]

I'll second Briggs and Riley (quality and warranty).


I have a work bag from them whose zipper had come off. One quick stop to a local repair center and it was fixed in 15 minutes. All I had to do was sign a form.

[nicholascrawford]

No dice on that link, JC. Maybe you meant this? http://putthison.com/post/803004907/luggagepicks

[jason_carreira]

Weird, yes.. That's what I was trying to link, and they also recommend Briggs & Riley.

[alan]

I fell in love with the Hartmann tweed series a while back, and someday I will own a set - even if I have to piece it together myself. Most rolling luggage in the tweed series is pullman style and meant for checking, but they have carry-on sized luggage without rollers.


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=hartmann+ tweed


The Pullmans aren't particularly practical, but damn are they cool.

[jason_carreira]

Yeah, I love the Hartmann tweeds too. I've been looking at getting some but I haven't wanted to spend the money.

[alan]

Yeah, it's hard for me to justify buying luggage when the stuff we have still works and we don't even have any trips on the horizon with grad school in the way.

[nftmlk]

Those hartmann tweed bags look pretty nice. They're not too expensive either. I might pick one up if the price is right Thanks for sharing.

[ninja138]

Briggs & Riley if you got the money, Delsey if you don't.


Consumer Reports has a section on luggage, might want to check it out at your local library.

[zerostyle]

I just did a ton of research on this.


Luggage ultimately gets down to about 3 or 4 categories:


1. Lifetime warranty, no questions asked. High quality (ballistic nylon, replaceable wheels), insanely expensive. Example: Briggs & Riley, Eagle Creek Platinum series, Victorinox, etc. Around $250-$300 for a 26". Check deals on sierratradingpost - can find some with odd colors/styles for $200. A possible bargain: Costco carries their 22" for around $130, can be returned anytime.


2. Lifetime warranty, but only on workmanship, not on damage from airlines, etc. High quality (ballistic nylon, replaceable wheels). Example: Travel Pro, some lines of Samsonite. Around $160 for a 26"


3. Limited warranty (3-10 years), ok quality. Regular nylon fabric, non-replaceable wheels. Delsey, Samsonite, etc. Usually around $70-$100 for a 26".


4. Junk - throw-away luggage from department stores, etc that are like $20-$50.


For my main luggage, I decided on a Travel Pro Crew 8 for $160 (26"). The ballistic nylon is nice and tough, and I really like the high quality replaceable wheels. I figure wheels fail the most commonly. That said, I wasn't a big fan of the interior layout of the bag.


I opted for #2 above. It seemed like a nice price/quality ratio. Yes, it won't cover airline damage, but airlines cover that already. Options #3 and #4 seem like a good idea until you pickup your luggage at a foreign airport and it's in 3 pieces.


Also, I'll check my email. I think I saw a deal running somewhere for Victorinox 22" carry-ons for $99. EDIT: It was 1saleaday.com - looks like the sale is over, though.

[ninja138]

As for the Costco/Briggs & Riley deal, I only see 7 warehouses with them. If you are lucky enough to live near one of them, I would say go for it.