Luggage Recommendations?
 

Hi. I'm from the Usa and looking to travel domestically by air. I have traveled before on domestic flights before but never had a checked bag. The reason is because my trip is always less than a week and all i carry is a big messenger bag and that is enough for me and never have to carry too much clothes and also because i'm not allowed to carry liquid stuff so my bag is never huge.


Well this time, I'm looking to carry a lot of my clothes with me as I'm looking to travel to las vegas and stay there for an extended time, most likely a month. And the thing is I want to have a ton of my clothes with me and some other shoes as well.


I see lot of people want to have just a carry on luggage like 21 or 22' so they dont have to pay for checked bags. Well, I'm looking to fly by jetblue and jetblue allows one free checked bag. And I also know i'm allowed one free carryon. Well even if i cant fly by jetblue, i dont care for paying for checked bag as i want to bring lot of stuff with me.


I have many questions that i want to ask and would want recommendations especially from those who travel and bring lots of stuff with them.



1. Which size luggage would be best for me? I read that 21' or 22' luggage is only good if you are on like a weekend trip so this would obviously be not good for me. I read 25' and 26' are best for 1 week but I'm planning to stay for a month. I also read that 28' luggage is the best if staying for more than 2 weeks. Is this true? I read luggage that are 30' and above right now isn't good because airlines dont accept luggage that big and even if they did... it would be way too huge to move around. The thing is I plan to bring 2 bags with me... one as a carry on and one as a checked bag.


2. What brand would you guys suggest? The thing is I basically want something functionally and don't want to spend a lot for lugage. I'm not those people who care about $400 luggage sets and those who travel in style. Just want something that is functional and basic. I read a bit online and it seems Traveler's Choice is the best option as it doesn't cost much and its pretty good? The other brand that I see is okay seem to be High Sierra as well?


3. Would you guys say getting a wheel luggage is superb compared to a big duffel bag? What about to a wheel luggage duffel? Also, is there a reason why so many duffel luggage bags are so much cheaper compared to a regular wheel luggage? I see some of these 28' luggage duffel on wheels that cost like $65 but then the same one that is not a duffel but a luggage cost like double the price. Is there a reason for this? I would assume its because duffel luggage even on wheels look bulky as it doesn't have straps on the inside like a regular luggage? Also, I see that many say most of these duffel luggages on wheels can't stand on its own and you have to hold on to it or leave it on the floor?


4. Basically i will be putting a lot of my clothes with me, a laptop, like 3-4 shoes, a few jackets as well and of course t shirts/shirts and sleeping garment. So i basically will be putting a lot in the luggage. I'm thinking about getting a 21' carry on luggage on wheels and a 26' luggage on wheels and forgetting about having a messenger bag as the one i usually bring with me when i take flights. Also, is there such a big differennce between a 26' and a 28' luggage? What should be the maximum size I should get? I read that 62.5 is the biggest size for a bag when checking a bag and it seems like 30' would be very close to pushing it as the dimensions for a 30' is very close to 62'. Should my checked bag be 25', 26' or 28'?


5. Since I"m a male, would you say its best to just get black as the color? Someone mentioned that black isn't good because everyones luggage is black and it would be hard to find the bag when trying to get your luggage. Also, some people said that they get black because it doesn't look like a little kid and looks professionally. To me, I feel like grey is the best color because doesn't grey go with everything? What about tan?


6. Why do they sell those luggage sets online so cheap compared to regular luggage? I see like 4 luggage bags for like $110 and the smallest luggage they give is basically useless if you know what i mean. Isn't 2 luggage pretty much the best?


7. These are the 2 luggage bags that I checked online which I think is good.
May i have your thoughts on it?


This is the 21'

http://www.amazon.com/Travelers-Choi...3173244&sr=8-1

This is the 26'

http://www.ebags.com/product/high-si...uctid=10100934

This is a 30x15x15 duffel bag and its real cheap. Basically a bit over 30 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Produc...3169923&sr=1-4


I see people mention they buy this as oppose to luggage but would you say this is bad because it has no wheels? I never traveled with a ton of stuff with me which is why i'm looking at many different bags but it seems like duffel bags without wheels just should be avoided if traveling on airplane?

Hmmm, I think you are over-thinking this a little bit. You're putting all this effort into what will be one round trip? And trying to save money doing it?

Asking this question here is kind of like asking a bunch of Formula One drivers which tricycle you should buy for your kid. ;)

If it was me, I would go to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army and buy 2-3 suitcases in the $10-20 range and spend the savings on your checked bag fees. Use your messenger bag as a carryon.

Anything valuable goes into your messenger bag (laptop, jewelry, prescription drugs, etc). Just the bare minimum in the carryon, because it's a pain to lug a load of unnecessary stuff through airports. If that's not big enough, then get a bigger carryon bag while you are at the Goodwill. Everything that isn't very valuable (clothes, etc) goes into the checked bag(s).

Regarding wheels, I can't even imagine owning/using a suitcase without wheels these days. Unless they don't have any wheels at the second-hand store, in which case just make do. It's only one trip.

Regarding color, it makes no difference, just personal preference. Some people think that black luggage is more likely to be stolen. I swore off black luggage years ago because they all look alike. But no hotel bellhop has ever spit on my when he saw my weird-colored luggage.

Thanks.

Anyone else?

Also, what size should i get? I'm going to just get 1 luggage with wheels. I will carry my messenger carryon with me then.

I mean if you are looking for really a one time use thing...I would either go the route RevJim suggested, or check TJ Maxx/Marshalls.

They usually sell Samsonite for a really low price, lower than the luggage you suggested online. I would do some more research if I were you...and as for size, I am not sure what you mean, you said you are checking it in? So, the best thing to do is go to a place, look a the suitcases, and determine if they will suit your needs. I think its better to buy in person, especially if this is your first real suitcase purchase.

I've never seen any ticket agent measure a bag. They publish hard limits but that's mostly for weirdos who show up trying to check in with a craftily-packed army jeep or something. Any bag shorter than about 30" or so (from the floor to the top of the bag) isn't going to get a second look.

Every bag is smaller than you think when you are traveling for a month. If you are really going to try and fit everything in a single bag, you should do a practice-packing a few days in advance to see if it all fits. That way you still have time to go shopping for an extra bag if you need one.

Okay so i'm planning to get a High Sierra luggage on wheels. There is a big difference between 25' and 28' correct?

Traveling to long distances is not always easy but but it can be very enjoyable if you have right travel accessories which facilitates you finding things once you arrive. You should choose the luggage which is best for your comfort, nowadays soft bags are more common than hard-shell luggage and are easier to squeeze into overhead compartments. These are available in a number of models in wide variety but if you have some fragile items, go for light weight luggage pieces but the quality matters. Designer luggage is more a fashion symbol and not choice of experienced travelers. In US airlines the standard size of checked bag is maximum 60-62 inches large however you can bring as large a bag as you can into the plane. Check your airline rules about what size bag you can bring on board.

we just bought 2 maxi bags, and 2 more bags from marshalls. they are 65" additive, and have a 3 inch unzip. i have never seen anyone get a bag measured. the old ticket agent bounding over the counter tape measure in hand sort of thing. i have asked every time if they measure. the reply is we weigh, never measure.

these bags have an FT logo on them, and are some kind of flexie plastic. there are immense graphics on them. anyone have/had one of these? do they hold up at all?

i got red bags when black was the only color. now red is popular, so i'm going to graphics.

Okay guys. So should i go with 25' or 28'? I"m looking at the high sierra ones are both are pretty much the same price. Does an extra 3 inches really mean much in this? Well i can say 25' and 21' is probably a big distance but i assume 25' and 28' is not that much of a difference?

I predict a zero percent chance of being able to fit all of that into a 28" suitcase. So yeah, definitely buy the 28" one. Cram it full, and then buy another 28" case to match it.

As RevJim says;

Personally I would recommend getting a 26" 4-wheeler spinner case. This will give you the most flexibility for the future (sure you think you're doing a one-off trip, but how about in a year from now).

See how much you can pack into the 26" case, then buy another cheaper larger (28") one to fit all the leftover stuff.

You then end up with;

And finally you're right about the 4-piece luggage sets you can buy for $100 - I don't think they're good value (sure they're cheap, but not 'value').

I don't know what you'd end up preferring, but here are a few recommendations based on 30+ years of flying:

1. During long trips, you'll have to do laundry sometime. You don't have to pack more and more just because a trip is long. :)

2. Unless your lifestyle is drastically different, avoid leather. Stay with ballistic nylon that can stand up to dirt and water.

3. Checked bag has to be strong and well warranted. If you buy cheap, you'll be buying again and again, and end up spending more money. It should be wheeled suitcase (not duffel), I would purchase a 26"-27" Briggs and Riley, "Baseline" if possible. From a quick check, this is a very good deal: http://www.amazon.com/Briggs-Riley-T.../dp/B004G87B5E.

4. You can skimp on the quality and price of your carry-on, because it remains under your care and is not subject to airline abuse. I would buy a non-wheeled shoulder bag, size is not critical, but around 18"-21"? My favorite is Red Oxx Air Boss, but as I said, feel free to go cheap. Just make sure it has enough compartments you'd need to separate different kind of belongings.

One advantage of this combination is that your carry-on can ride atop your rolling main bag. Combinations when both are wheeled, or both non-wheeled, are less convenient to manage.

5. Other than basic acceptability to you, I wouldn't worry about or pay extra for a particular color. You'll not be posing with your luggage for magazine photos; this is something that will be tossed around from belt to tarmac to trolly by surly careless workers.

You can personalize any bag with ribbons, luggage stickers from your college, hobby club, etc. So even a black one needn't look like all others.

6. "Expandable" is ok, but I wouldn't pay extra for it.

Good luck.

Guys. I noticed that the High Sierra Brand has one of the most lightweight luggages. The 25' is 7.3lbs and the 28' is 8.2 lbs. I had looked at other brands and it seems like most 25' are minimum 10 pounds. And those that are 28' are 12-13 lbs.

Does that make a bit of a difference? Also, i saw a video of a 25' high sierra on youtube and it looks pretty small to pack stuff in. And the 28' did look big but not huge.

Does anyone say 28' is just too big? I feel like the 25' just looks way too small.

It is really smart to look for lightweight luggage. If you look at the answer about volume to weight ratio from your other thread, you will see that you can calculate that yourself quite easily. It will be a very telling number.

Here is the link for your convenience: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...criterion.html

I suggest you go out and you buy a 25" suitcase cheaply, locally and where you can easily get your money back when you return the item. Then you test pack. That'll be the best way to find out for sure. We cannot tell anything but our experience but if you have trouble imagining/deducing something from a video how will you do from the written word? Try it out, man! If the 25er doesn't work and you need advice on the packing list, consult again. If that is still too small, you know you need the 28" model. Easy.

Till

FWIW, I use an Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30 and a #5 Duffle from Bad Bags. I carry clothes, hard hat, steel toes, harness, respirator, and other items in them and have found them adequate so far. The Eagle Creek is obviously 30" and the Duffle is 28".

As far as color unless you plan on flying with clients I wouldn't overly worry about professional color selection, but just my opinion. My bags are black and red.