MalevP

my checked bag arrived broken this morning and this is third one in last 2 years
this time i want to buy Tumi or Rimowa, i have several tumi's as carry on but never got one as checked bag

what is more durable, can anybody recommend/ comment
i thought of Rimowa topas 82L or Tumi Expandable Alpha

appreciate help on this one.

icycoldice

I've recently bought a Rimowa Salsa Deluxe and I love it. Its very durable and so far after three flights with it it hasnt sustained any damages at all.

I believe on of the key differences between Rimowa and Tumi is that one is made in Europe and the other is made in China

GadgetFreak

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Neither? Briggs And Riley is virtually indestructable and has a lifetime warranty including airline damage. Oh, and it is cheaper.

azepine00

A shiny hard shell will have plenty of scratches and look rather beaten up after a few trips so I would definitely stay away from those.
For checked bags get smth less expensive (and less attractive to thieves): kirkland or samsonite or delsey.

kitsura

Tumi is not worth the price you pay, neither quality or warranty wise. Rimowa might be more durable but it is also not value for money since it doesn't have a lifetime warranty.

MalevP

i like tumi as carry on and laptop case, i know this arguable and everybody prefer different bags, i have tumi since ages and some of them for over ten years so i'm happy with it. i never bought it as a checked bag because i always used hard shell, mainly Samsonite, but now my black label Samsonite broke and i have 500euro credit from airline so i'm shopping for something at this price range
and i do want it to be strong

kitsura

Don't get me wrong I don't hate tumis, I have 2 pieces myself one notebook carrier and one duffel. But I wouldn't get tumi for check-in luggage. I recently replaced my Samsonite spinner with a B&R Baseline and have been very happy with it.

tfar

Rimowa is strong and light. It will protect the contents well if that's what you need. Usually a bag with a hard frame and soft sides is all that's needed unless you transport fragile items.

The Rimowa will look beat up pretty quickly. It won't break but it will look beat up. If you don't mind, perhaps you can try it.

Also, Rimowa looks like a million bucks. Meaning it looks expensive even if it is beat up. Which suitcase do you think they will check or steal from more? The fancy Rimowa or the simple black nylon?

I see you are in Budapest. If you can, follow Gadgetfreaks suggestion and get a Briggs Riley.

The main thing is that you get a suitcase that has a good warranty rather than betting on it not to break. There are no unbreakable suitcases. In the infamous elephant test, the soft models did better than the hard cases.

If looks are not so important I might add Eagle Creek to the list of considerations. This should even be available in Europe. Not sure for BR.

Till

hosnah

For checked luggage, I would recommend Briggs & Riley. The overall quality is very high and you can't beat the warranty. My local luggage specialist says B&R has the best service and is virtually no questions asked. B&R has service centres in almost every city so you shouldn't have problems getting service while traveling.

EleanorMcDaniel

I fly about 200K miles a year.

Have tried just about everything.

NOTHING holds up like Rimowa. Period.

I have the Salsa Deluxe, a big one for checking and a 21" for carry on.

Skip everything else and get the Rimowa. You will not be sorry.

flyerkit

As Eleanor says, Rimowa will last very well and protect your belongings. The polycarbonate shell looks fine even when scratched - the color is all the way through. Also weighs less than most other bags and fits inside the international luggage guages, which Tumi may not do.

GadgetFreak

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If it doesn't have an unconditional lifetime warranty I would take that as a very big negative.

ShopAround

That's not been my experience. My Rimowa Salsa lasted through roughly a dozen trips (as checked luggage) before it cracked beyond repair. Fortunately, it was new enough to be covered by the warranty and Rimowa replaced it (although I was very disappointed that my color was no longer available and I didn't love the options they offered me). I'm fairly happy with it, but if it breaks again and is not still covered by the warranty, I will not buy another.

dko3tgk

Rimowa for sure. I can't think of anything more durable for a checked bag, and still lightweight. I've been a nylon checked bag person for years and the bag just gets destroyed every time I pick it off another carousel, broken or missing zippers, broken handles, etc. I was sick of that and switched to a Rimowa Topas and while yes the aluminum shell scratches easily and quickly looks beat up, its lightweight and probably the toughest luggage I've ever had. The polycarbonate looks even lighter, and polycarbonate is essentially the toughest material for luggage out there right now.

Tumi I use for carry-ons, wallets, and briefcases, but its not even in the same league as Rimowa for durability as checked luggage.

I'll probably get death threats for having this opinion, but I think Briggs & Reilly are too heavy for checked luggage, and makes a better carry-on product. I see why people like them, but I'll take a stronger Rimowa which made out of aluminum or polycarbonate, doesn't need to be repaired under warranty as much as a nylon bag, and is lighter.

Here's my take on the 3 brands discussed in this thread.

Rimowa:
PROS: Toughest luggage, with excellent construction from Germany. Very lightweight for its size and durability. If you care about the status, it is a luxury brand.
CONS: Very expensive. Does go from shiny to cosmetically beat up looking pretty quick. Available in fewer retail outlets at decent prices in North America. Yes it can possibly make you or your luggage a target, depending on where you travel. And no it doesn't have a lifetime warranty, if you care.

Tumi:
PROS: Nice designs, very executive fashion focused. Built decently. Available in many places on the internet, or physical locations, even at closeout stores.
CONS: Heavier than Rimowa. Alot less durable than Rimowa. Slightly cheaper but for alot less value in my opinion.

Briggs & Reilly:
PROS: lifetime Warranty. Built solidly. Least expensive of the three.
CONS: Very heavy, in my opinion. Designs are pretty bland.

GadgetFreak

But what makes you think B&R needs repaired often? That certainly isnt my experience. I also dont understand the logic of heavier carry ons than checked bags. I do love the look of Rimowa thought.