Best suitcase for carry on luggage?
#3
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 969
Far too broad a question, what with there being a gazillion carry-on bags in the market.
Narrow your choice down. Budget. Soft or hard. Wheeled or non-wheeled. Size (some airlines have "unique" size restrictions). Internal pockets. External pockets. Weight (international, which might only be 7kg limit for carry-on, vs domestic). Brands you like. Brands you don't like. Unbranded. Horizontal or vertical. Et al.
Narrow your choice down. Budget. Soft or hard. Wheeled or non-wheeled. Size (some airlines have "unique" size restrictions). Internal pockets. External pockets. Weight (international, which might only be 7kg limit for carry-on, vs domestic). Brands you like. Brands you don't like. Unbranded. Horizontal or vertical. Et al.
Last edited by DragonSoul; Sep 10, 2018 at 12:02 am
#4
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,417
#6
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 46
Just like you, I had to research my needs and find the right bags for my travel needs. I’m a male, luckily not needing to pack suits, but do wear dress pants, button down shirts with comfortable rubber soled dress shoes. Sometimes a light jacket.
For a typical Monday-Friday client meeting trip I prefer soft sided/non-wheeled luggage for clothes packed in cubes. My bag of choice is a Redoxx Skytrain. For laptop, brochures and sample pieces I have a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 which has fit underneath every airline seat I’ve put it under. Both products well built and pricey. If you are budget conscious, I would recommend the bags Rick Steves sells to his customers under his own brand name.
If if I need wheels, I do really like my Tumi International carrry on for a few extra days or formal wear. It’s exactly the dimensions for typical trips except CRJ & E-140/145 aircraft. Soft sided highly recommended for those planes, otherwise get used to gate checking. Again if you are budget conscious I found on Amazon for my wife HAUPSTADTKOFFER bag at a great price.
For a typical Monday-Friday client meeting trip I prefer soft sided/non-wheeled luggage for clothes packed in cubes. My bag of choice is a Redoxx Skytrain. For laptop, brochures and sample pieces I have a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 which has fit underneath every airline seat I’ve put it under. Both products well built and pricey. If you are budget conscious, I would recommend the bags Rick Steves sells to his customers under his own brand name.
If if I need wheels, I do really like my Tumi International carrry on for a few extra days or formal wear. It’s exactly the dimensions for typical trips except CRJ & E-140/145 aircraft. Soft sided highly recommended for those planes, otherwise get used to gate checking. Again if you are budget conscious I found on Amazon for my wife HAUPSTADTKOFFER bag at a great price.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 46
On another note. My wife purchased a satchel for a personal trip from Travelon for me a year ago. It is something I wouldn’t have picked myself, but I really like it. Materials are really top notch and from looking at their web site a good range of products at reasonable prices.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9
My favorite is Delsey as it is both durable, lightweight, and stylish. You may have to do some research to find what's right for you. This resource on best carry on luggage can help you decide.
#10
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt
Posts: 1,086
A bag like how you dress is very personal, driven sometime by personal preference, style, image etc. etc. There are ton's of really expensive to overpriced and at the other extreme cheap bags that do really 99% of the basic very similar and some will swear by the cheap one and than others for the expensive ones. I rather like my BR International, but if I had to do it all over again I'd probably be just has happy and proud of a Costco Kirkland brand.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLE
Posts: 1,886
A bag like how you dress is very personal, driven sometime by personal preference, style, image etc. etc. There are ton's of really expensive to overpriced and at the other extreme cheap bags that do really 99% of the basic very similar and some will swear by the cheap one and than others for the expensive ones. I rather like my BR International, but if I had to do it all over again I'd probably be just has happy and proud of a Costco Kirkland brand.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 106
Rimowa Salsa Deluxe - lightweight, durable, glides like a dream. Older models being sold at a discount if you can still find them:
https://www.londonluggage.co.uk/collections/rimowa
https://www.londonluggage.co.uk/collections/rimowa
#13
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,347
The Costco brand is a nice piece of luggage and they have a great guarantee. If you don’t like it, return it. Now for cheaper luggage, lightweight brand “It” luggage is kind of stylish, and very lightweight, don’t know if it would survive being checked in, but the smaller versions are good for carryon.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Posts: 1,385
There have been a lot of threads on this subject over the years. Some time ago I read (skimmed!) most of them. Briggs and Riley and Tumi were the clear winners in the upper price range. A bit more research indicated that High Sierra -- and a couple of others -- came close to the two winners, at 1/4th to 1/3rd the price. I ordered my High Sierra, two wheel (wish it had four) through Amazon for about 80 USD. I never check luggage when traveling alone, and it has been to four continents on a variety of airlines, and it has held up very well. Just one user's experience.