Travel Technology - How many rolling miles on wheelie bags?

My laptop wheelie is being towed back and forth between house and office on a daily basis. I walk about one km (2/3 of a mile) each way. Add on all the extra miles for meetings etc. Say it's doing 2 -3 miles per day.

The wheels are starting to look a little flat.

Have had the bag since March. Bought at Staples in CA. No brand name like Samsonite, B&R or anything like that so I doubt I can get wheels easily replaced.

So on an average - how many miles do you physically get out of a rolling bag?

Cheers
/E

Not sure, but, I do know that many rolling bags use the same wheels that roller blades do. And they don't cost much to purchase....

I'm not sure, but I'm about to replace the second set of wheels on my TravelPro bag. For me, it's usually the bearings that give out before the wheels do.

Not all rollerblade wheels fit, the tolerances are pretty tight. Last time, I had to steal the wheels off my favorite rollerblades and I've still not gotten around to replacing them.

I'm not sure, but I'm about to replace the second set of wheels on my TravelPro bag. For me, it's usually the bearings that give out before the wheels do.

Not all rollerblade wheels fit, the tolerances are pretty tight. Last time, I had to steal the wheels off my favorite rollerblades and I've still not gotten around to replacing them.

I can't actually find any where to access screws and nuts to remove the wheels so am not sure the wheels can be replaced on this bag.

So far it's rolling along nicely but wheels are getting worn. I probably have 6 months to a year left in it. It was bought in March this year.

Not sure what I will go for next. Probably a costco roller. Maybe something else. As long as it is lightweight. This one is rather heavy.

/E

Ps. LightingGuy, would your nick name have anything to do with your line of work?

When I started travelling, I purchased a Kirkland rolling bag from Costco. It went about 100 segments a year for five years before I replaced it, and only because the wheels were noisy, not broken. I purchased the upgraded version of the same bag. I own't need a new bag for at least six years now.

I've been using the same samsonite wheelie for the past 5 years, and I've flown pretty much over 1.5 million miles with it during this period... The wheels are still pretty good condition, and looks like other parts of the bag will start falling off before the wheels do...

The Briggs & Riley bags have the big wheels which I find very useful - much easier to pull along on terrains other than smooth airport floors. It's got a noq uestions asked lifetime warranty, so when the wheels need to be replaced I can ship it back and tell them as much.

I'm at about 400 miles on my Tumi - 4 years of travel - and the wheel bearings are getting squeaky. I've squirted them with lubricant a few times but will take it to the local shop when I am in the office for a week (hopefully before 2010...)

I've been using the same samsonite wheelie for the past 5 years, and I've flown pretty much over 1.5 million miles with it during this period... The wheels are still pretty good condition, and looks like other parts of the bag will start falling off before the wheels do...

It's not number of flown miles. It's number of rolled miles I'm after.

This thing is doing a couple of miles a day rolling on tiled and paved streets. Up and down curbs, steps, escalators etc. I abuse it a lot.

I'm going to have a poke around to see if wheels can be accessed from inside. Outside - no way. Looks bolted to me.

I kind of like the bag, despite it being rather heavy. Laptop, charger, mouse, mags mobile external hdd and there is no way it passes minimum weight restrictions as carry on. Thankfully I've gotten away with it as it hasn't been weighed yet.

/E

So why not just replace it with the same model...? Is it not avialable

So why not just replace it with the same model...? Is it not avialable

It was bought in Canada and I'm in UK.

That's why.

:-)

/E

Funny you should ask. Back in September, I think, the wheels on my Travel Pro (which must be around 5 years old) started to fall apart in the parking lot at OGG as I was starting a trip. Fortunately, I was traveling to NYC, and when I got there, I found a place that does all sorts of luggage repair while you wait at a reasonable price.

If I'm remembering it correctly it was Modern Leather Goods Repair. on the 4th floor at 2 W 32 St.

Do you get to NYC much? If not, I'm sure you can probably find a place like it in the UK, especially if you're in or near London. I could have purchased a wheel replacement kit, but this was just much simpler and easier. Any of these shops should be able to match up a set of new wheels for your no-name bag.

-David

Posted this before, but here (http://www.bladebag.com/) is the link again for kits to replace crap TravelPro (and others) wheels with excellent roller blade sealed bearing wheels. fast good cheap
Caution: a small level of mechnical skill and a few hand tools required.

..Have had the bag... Bought at Staples in CA. ...
It was bought in Canada and I'm in UK.
Last time I checked, California (CA) is not in Canada. :) ;)

Last time I checked, California (CA) is not in Canada. :) ;)

Mississauga is most definetly in Canada and that is where I bought it. Why it says CA is beyond me.

:-)

/E

I get about 500-750 miles out of a set of wheels on cheap rollaboards. I throw them away when they die. I tow them when I walk trade shows. carpets are very hard on wheels.

I get about 500-750 miles out of a set of wheels on cheap rollaboards. I throw them away when they die. I tow them when I walk trade shows. carpets are very hard on wheels.

Oh yeah, trade shows. I forgot about those. The NAMM show in January is coming up. 4 days of non stop walking.

I think I'm getting very close to the 500-750 already with this one. I use it when I take the flyers and posters from the printers and walk around to all the pubs and music stores in town delivering them. That's another couple of hours of rolling on asfalt, concrete, cobbles, gravel and tiles about twice a week.

It's hard work doing marketing for this entertainment business.

/E

Oh yeah, trade shows. I forgot about those. The NAMM show in January is coming up. 4 days of non stop walking.

I think I'm getting very close to the 500-750 already with this one. I use it when I take the flyers and posters from the printers and walk around to all the pubs and music stores in town delivering them. That's another couple of hours of rolling on asfalt, concrete, cobbles, gravel and tiles about twice a week.

It's hard work doing marketing for this entertainment business.

/E

Ever consider a Porter (http://www.portercase.com/) case? Sounds like it's RIGHT up your alley. I don't have one but know lots of folks who do and they adore them. My personal fave is LuggageWorks (http://www.luggageworksonline.com/product.asp?CatID=1). The bags weigh a ton but are neigh indestructible and the wheels are already rollerblade wheels.

Roller bags may start to have an impact on the design of airport terminals and elsewhere. Analysis by London Transport at Heathrow station showed they were getting a 30% reduction in escalator capacity with the current percentage penetration of wheelie baggage. So that's £1m extra a time for additional escalators (yes, that's what the machinery can cost, and if you take into account extra tunnelling for wider escalator shafts down to the Underground platforms, multiply that by a substantial figure)

Ever consider a Porter (http://www.portercase.com/) case? Sounds like it's RIGHT up your alley. I don't have one but know lots of folks who do and they adore them.


Yes,I've seen those. Not IRL though. They don't appeal to me.


My personal fave is LuggageWorks (http://www.luggageworksonline.com/product.asp?CatID=1). The bags weigh a ton but are neigh indestructible and the wheels are already rollerblade wheels.

That's the one I keep seeing US pilots and airline crew drag around in AMS. I recognise that piggyback hook.

For flights, my bag MUST be lightweight. Digital SLR, Laptop, cables, reading material a change of clothes and some toiletries and makeup needs to fit within the weight limits.

/E