Travel Products - Best 4 Wheel Luggage Trolley

Hi All,

After 4 and a half years in consulting, and after having watched "Up in the Air" again, I decided I finally need to upgrade to a sleek 4 wheel luggage trolley. Especially since I have about 6 international flights coming up in the next 2 weeks...

That said, I was hoping the ever-helpful FlyerTalk community can help me out with some recommendations.

What I'm looking for is a piece of luggage like this - http://www.amazon.com/Delsey-Luggage-Helium-Lightweight-Spinner/dp/B004G8GP3S/ref=sr_1_15?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1344626716&sr=1-15&keywords=4+wheel+luggage

Something that is a good value but still high quality would be ideal. Don't want to spend a fortune (over $150 or so) but would like something that is of good quality since I'll be using it quite a bit.

Thanks in advance!

Jake

Hi Jake,

Welcome to Flyertalk! This is the right place to ask this question, but I'm afraid your budget is a bit low, especially considering the mileage you are putting on your gear.

Six international flights in the next two weeks? If that's one trip with a handful of connections then fine, you might be able to get away with something cheap. But if you routinely keep up a schedule like that then cheap luggage is going to break down and be a waste of money. I would recommend a Briggs & Riley spinner myself (here (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/group.aspx?sec=travel&cat=spinner%20luggage)).

I would stay away from a center-opening "clamshell" design at all costs (like the Delsey you linked, and other famous makes like Rimowa). They open in the middle, which means you can't just put it on a luggage rack when you get to your hotel and live out of it for the week. To open it you have to lug it over to the bed and flop open both sides at once, which is a real pain. Get a top-edge opening case like Briggs instead.

I know B&R is priced out of the range you mentioned. But they have an awesome lifetime warranty. If you keep traveling it will last you a long time.

Welcome to FT, Nastrodomuz! :)

While I agree with Jim about the general quality of Briggs and Riley, I don't share his opinion regarding clamshells.

There is no reason why you couldn't put a clamshell suitcase on a luggage rack. I have never seen a luggage rack so small that it would accommodate a clamshell style suitcase. Even the ones that have a bar at the rear are deep enough to hold such a suitcase. So it's a non-issue.

Once it's open, access and organization are actually easier in a clamshell. The only downside of a clamshell may be when you have something to pack that is deeper or higher than the shell sides and you have a divider that you cannot remove (most are removable).

Now you say you like the spinners because they are sleek. Yes, they are. But they are not really needed if you can still comfortably pull the suitcase (i.e. it is not overloaded and your back and arms are still in good shape). They do cost a bit more money usually and they break more frequently (more wheels, more exposed). They also have less packing space for the same outside dimensions. So it would be wise to weigh your options carefully.

If you do decide that you want a spinner, I'd go for one that makes the most of the inherent qualities of the design. For me that means double wheels because they roll much better and are more stable even under load.

For example this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Delsey-Karat-Wheel-Hardside-Trolley/dp/B004CSUQX2/ref=pd_sbs_a_24

Very sleek by the way.

But even this case isn't completely tricked out. See, because 4-wheelers essentially handle like a box on wheels (aka car) it's good if they are really stiff and rigid. They'll handle better. That means you need something with a frame instead of a zip.

For example this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Luggage-Cruisair-Spinner-Silver/dp/B007P10MDC/ref=sr_1_62?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1344653665&sr=1-62&keywords=samsonite+spinner

Super sleek, if you ask me. I'd say it's the next best thing after a Rimowa Limbo which will set you back twice the price and may well be a tad heavier (not much) if the specs on the Amazon site are correct (they often are not).

Till

I agree with Tfar.

Rimowa cases do in fact sit and remain open just as the other cases do on a hotel luggage rack, bed, or small table. I've done it repeatedly: One can lay the case down on one side, unzip it or open the latches, and flip the other side open. It remains open for as long as ones wishes, until it is shut. Topas, Salsa, even the XXL cases.

Stating otherwise is misleading and neither accurate or helpful on this forum. I don't own a Delsey or Briggs and not having any experience with either, I would be the first to admit that I just do not know what they are like to use, pro or con.

Rimowa cases do in fact sit and remain open just as the other cases do on a hotel luggage rack, bed, or small table. I've done it repeatedly: One can lay the case down on one side, unzip it or open the latches, and flip the other side open. It remains open for as long as ones wishes, until it is shut.

LOL. We all must be talking about different things. I never said a Rimowa wouldn't stay open.

I own a Rimowa Salsa 26" and as long as I'm traveling, it's the best suitcase I've ever owned. It is sturdy and durable and awesome. But once you check into the hotel, you pretty much have to unpack everything and put it in drawers. If you put it on a luggage rack (like this one (http://www.luggagepros.com/luggage-pros-luggage-rack-with-black-straps.shtml)) and open it to get a shirt out, half your stuff will pour out on the floor (whatever stuff is packed in the upper half).

I guess if your divider is secured in place on the upper half you could open it up and grab something out of the bottom half. If you need something from the top half, you really have to fully open both halves of the suitcase, which is far easier on the bed. Then unstrap the divider, find your item, and then re-strap the divider and lug it back to the rack.

I guess it might also be possible to open a clamshell-style suitcase on a luggage rack if it is much smaller than mine (carryon maybe?), but 26" is not an unreasonable size for a week of business travel.

Either way, having the opening on the top edge means you never have to mess with dividers, and you never have to flop open both sides of your case at once, even assuming both sides can fit on a luggage rack. With a top-opening case you just lift the lid and you have full access to everything in the case. It's far more convenient that way.

Nastrodomuz: As you can see, there are people on both sides of the clamshell debate. Make up your own mind based on the style of travel that you do. I just wish someone told me about the luggage rack issue before I spent $500 on a Rimowa. My Briggs was the same price, has a lifetime warranty (even covers airline damage), and it's tons easier to live out of for a week.

LOL myself!

There are two things that seem wrong here.

1a. A week of business travel with a 26" suitcase that holds up to 20kg and must be checked is certainly not the most common nor the most reasonable way of addressing the task, at least not for those who've heard about light packing. Notwithstanding the poor souls who have to bring their own 18" laptop for playing games and a projector, printer and scanner as well as 1000 brochures. :D

1b. If I am not mistaken Jake, the OP, was talking about a carry-on rollaboard not a 26" suitcase which makes Jim's concerns even less of a concern.

2. Even a 26" clamshell will fit onto the luggage rack easily if there is enough space around it. Most of them are outfitted with two dividers. If it doesn't have two dividers then it is easy enough to remember which side the divider is on. Open that side first and nothing will fall out.


Plus, there are people who unpack even if it's only for one night. I don't but many do. I unpack if it's for two nights. At least the main stuff goes on hangers. Shirts that aren't worn stay in the shirt folder which goes in a drawer. Having a shirt folder, a suit, a cube with underwear, a toiletry pack and a pair of shoes to unpack takes roughly 45 seconds. Even in a hurried trip I find that time.

Till

1a. A week of business travel with a 26" suitcase that holds up to 20kg and must be checked is certainly not the most common nor the most reasonable way of addressing the task, at least not for those who've heard about light packing. Notwithstanding the poor souls who have to bring their own 18" laptop for playing games and a projector, printer and scanner as well as 1000 brochures. :D

Yeah, I'm in the minority here as an expat. I travel with an empty suitcase so I can ship home all the goods that I can't find in my country of residence.

1b. If I am not mistaken Jake, the OP, was talking about a carry-on rollaboard not a 26" suitcase which makes Jim's concerns even less of a concern.

Jake didn't specify, but the suitcase he linked to on Amazon was a jumbo 29 inches.

2. Even a 26" clamshell will fit onto the luggage rack easily if there is enough space around it. Most of them are outfitted with two dividers. If it doesn't have two dividers then it is easy enough to remember which side the divider is on. Open that side first and nothing will fall out.

Plus, there are people who unpack even if it's only for one night. I don't but many do. I unpack if it's for two nights. At least the main stuff goes on hangers. Shirts that aren't worn stay in the shirt folder which goes in a drawer. Having a shirt folder, a suit, a cube with underwear, a toiletry pack and a pair of shoes to unpack takes roughly 45 seconds. Even in a hurried trip I find that time.

My Rimowa Salsa 26" is a total balancing act trying to open both sides on a standard hotel luggage rack. And yes, the dividers are helpful, but why bother with them? If you have a top-opening case you can spend a lot less time fiddling with those. The Rimowa Salsa divider is not attached, so that makes it even harder to use (you have to tie it in with criss-cross straps, it is pretty hopeless if you just want to open it up a little and sneak something out).

I never unpack anything except button-down shirts, which go immediately on hangers. Everything else stays neatly folded in the suitcase on the luggage rack. In these days of bedbug scares I'd rather not spread my stuff around the room any more than necessary.

But this is why they make cars in different colors, so everyone can pick the one they like. As I said, I like my Rimowa a lot, I just wish I had been warned about the extra work involved in clamshell cases.