The "stand" on the bottom of my Samsonite "legendary lightness" hardshell broke. The whole thing looks beaten up, most stands broken off so it's a problem more and more. The handle is finicky going back... it's been a faithful companion for five years and a real lot of flights but it's time to say good bye.

What's next for a 25-28 checked in lightweight hardshell suitcase? Samsonite Cosmolite? Cubelite? Some other Samsonite? This new Tumi Tegra-Lite? Vapor? Rimowa Topas? Limbo? Silver Integral? Some other Rimowa? And then there's Zero Halliburton... Confusing amount of choices!

Price is less of a concern, to be honest, and warranties only go so far if I need to part with my luggage for a month or something. What I need is a bag that doesn't need repairs I know aluminium is going to dent and scratch, bring it on, I dont care about that. I need a suitcase that keeps going, keeps my monitor intact (I fly with a samsung ld220g and I think a hardshell protects it better) and that's about it. I really dig latches but then again I never had a zipper break so I am not going to make a decision based on that.

Ps. the Topas Titanium is just a color, right? It's not made of titanium alloy ? If accidentally it is then I am buying two, now I want an suitcase made of the skin of the SR-71s

Haven't tried hardshells but love my Travelpro Crew 7 with the business suit packing insert. My wife was an NWA FA and we've always used them, but the latest version I picked up in Nov 2011 was vastly more improved over her 10 year old crew bag. Fits all overhead bins on DL's fleet but must be gate checked on CRJ's as the only drawback.

No softshells, thanks. I have an Eagle Creek for that.

We would highly reccomend the Tegra-Lite range. The after-care service on Tumi products is excellent, and they look fantastic.

"What I need is a bag that doesn't need repairs"
"I need a suitcase that keeps going,"
"keeps my monitor intact"
"I really dig latches"

I think you are describing a Pelican case here! You did not mention weight or looks so these will be the 2 drawbacks of the Pelican.

Interesting. Looks are so far down my list I do not even see it :P You are right, durability and perhaps manuverability is what's important. Well, just how heavy is that and which? I just looked at the Pelican cases and they do not seem to be suitcase-sized. Indeed, we can get away with some weight, I do pack my Tempur Neckpillow when I can in my suitcase which takes space but little weight.

Every single person I know in real life who have had Rimowa have all been highly disappointed in them. One group of people bought them to cut down on excess baggage fees only to find themselves going to luggage shops to find replacement suitcases of different brands as all broke. Another group went off on a trip with brand new Rimowa cases only to find them coming off the conveyorbelt - broken - on the first trip. They look fantastic but their durability is no-where near as good as what you can pick up at a fraction of the cost at TK Max.

I have a Delsey hard shell spinner that is now 7 years old and still going. Best suitcase I've had - ever. The last trip it did see some damage but none that impairs its usability or protective capacity. It has latches. Like you, I prefer latches. I find the zipped hard shelled check in bags are not that stable when rolling them around.

However, the Pelican suggestion is very valid. They might be ugly but they do protect what's inside.

I am now looking very closely at the 1610 and the 1620. Anyone owns them? Experience?

Edit: I found the foam info I needed at http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xii...rmation_travel and http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xic...rmation_travel Very very informative videos! Useful comparison http://www.specialtycases.com/2-int.htm here. Also look at http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=910667 this, good luck someone entering uninvited into my bag. Definitely not the "grab a ballpoint pen and mess with the zipper" level. More like "grab a bolt cutter or a dremel" level

I have heard similar first hand accounts on Rimowa's that is checked in. Mine suffered broken zipper pulls in its first trip. They really do look good, but I think I will stick to carry ons if I end up getting another.

I have a 1650 peli which is the size of a big suitcase. I use it for all my tools and test equipment with the foam and the seals it is waterproof and will keep everything safe it can take big padlocks to to keep things secure. you can stand on it and it will take a good beating from the bagage handlers and it will not break.

The only down side is that they are quite heavy I think about 10Kg for the big one I have. Some of the new Storm peli cases are lighter.

I often have to put a drill in my clothes suitcase.

We have several Pelican cases that we use as suitcases. As everybody else mentioned the weight is a drawback, but may not be depending on which part of the world you travel in and whether or no you have elite status with your airline of choice.

Personally, I like the way they look as they ensure that nobody else will accidentally walk off with your bag. We own yellow, black and grey ones.

Another nice thing is that they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and depths.

Yet another benefit is that due to the lack of zippers it is more difficult for airline employees to steal your stuff.

I'd go with a Rimowa Classic Flight, ordered from one of the German sites.

I have a Pelikan case, and a large collection of Rimowa cases.

I find the Pelikan case to be tough, robust, protective and somewhat heavy. The foam liner inside is cut to fit spoting telescopes, cameras, and other opticals. From the Amazon to the Alps, it performs just as I expected it to when it was purchased.

On that positive note, so do all of my Rimowa cases, which range from pre-9.1.1. Topas to a recent Salsa Air. Yes, the Titanium is an outside finish, with a better quality interior. And yes, alu cases do dent which seems to have surprised a few, but the packed contents remain protected inside.

I have carried televisions, B&O stereo equipment, R�sle cook sets, expresso machines, etc. from Europe to Brasil over many years, and everything was protected, intact and functioning on arrival. I care about my packed contents, not a dent or a scratch on case exterior.

On the subject of service, I cannot commend both Pelikan and Rimowa more. Both are available to speak with and cannot do enough to keep customers happy with purchases. Pelikan replaced a broken handle 3 years ago free, and recently Rimowa changed a newly purchased Salsa Air Ultralite ( no side handle) to a new Salsa Air (with side handle ) at no charge.

I went with a Pelican 1620. This is a keeper. One day after buying it I went on this crazy two week trip with eight flights. I never was worried about whether I will have my monitor intact at the next city. But also: OMG this bag is so ugly

Warning: it attracts CATSA and TSA like the honey bees. Although CATSA at least has the brains to just ask me politely to open it, swab it and I am a go. TSA opens my hasps, goes through it, the second time they even lost my hasps and on the fourth they did not put back things in order. And if anything would happen they would take no responsibility. I had a friend who was moving after a messy divorce with a small kid so she made the mistake of checking in a high end DSLR , the TSA destroyed it