Best "Checked" luggage
 

What brand/model/style of luggage would you all recommend for when you need a larger bag that you'll have to check? What's something that will hold up well to a lot of international travel?

I searched through the archives and found a number of threads about carry-on luggage, but none about "checked" luggage.

Thanks.

As a very general statement, you can pretty much get an idea as to how long a bag will last based on the warantee it has. A 10 year bag will suffer through 7 years of abuse, a 5 year bag will last one or two, a lifetime bag will probably last a while. If I have it narrowed down to two or three bags, I always let the warantee come in to play.

BTC:

My Tumi ballistic nylon luggage has held up quite well, accompanying me on a number of international trips. Before that I traveled with Delsey hard-sided luggage and it, too, served me very well on many long-haul trips.

You will find a lot of votes for Briggs & Riley. Lifetime warranty like Tumi, unlike Tumi it covers airline damage! It doesn't have the Tumi snootiness factor and costs at least 25-50% less in most cases. It's just good quality luggage.

After 2 years and several international trips, I finally had something break that needed repair - the zipper pulls broke, I think that someone clipped them to break the lock off (nothing of value inside, of course, so nothing taken). I took it to one of the two companies in Seattle that does warranty work for them, they replaced the zipper pulls in a few weeks (I told them it was no rush) and paid $15 for them to UPS ground it back to me.

I am a huge fan of Eagle Creek luggage/backpacks. They have a lifetime warranty and are built to last..

I generally buy mine at http://www.letravelstore.com.

My wifes bag is http://www.letravelstore.com/WS20056.htm

For the record, I don't have any interest in any of the companies mentioned other than being a satisfied customer.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Eastwest

I'm very happy with my Travelpro bags. I bought from the Platinum II range, and they seem excellent even by TP standards.

I've only had them about a year, but they are standing up extremely well and still look brand new, despite frequent travel and rough handling.

I am amazed that the baggage handlers haven't destroyed my 3 suiter Zero Halliburton case. They have tried by dropping it to the tarmac many times. Only the wheels needed to be replaced on too many occasions. Otherwise it seems too secure for them to bust into!
The gold color turns many heads at the airport. Not many around!

The 4 suiter that came before is still around, but the hinges have given a little from the tarmac drops. The large size makes it easy to overpack. That makes it too heavy for easy handling by the destructive baggage crew.

I have had great service from a large, hard sided, wheeled Samsonite on many international trips. I swear by hardsided luggage. I have had everything from wine to framed artwork survive international travel when the hard side is packed well.

Esteban

I agree Samsonite hard cases are the best. But even those AC was able to break !

For strong and stylish I combine:

Tumi, look great, are stong and provide loads of room

Rimowa (www.rimowa.com), the strongest suitcase I could find, mainly for when I also pack equipment or need something that is hard to break into.

[This message has been edited by ScottC (edited 05-30-2001).]

Been pretty happy with Atlantic Professional so far...

Tumi has done me well... One case is about 9 years old (500,000 + miles), and still has the original wheels, only the handle broke, which I fixed. Costly no doubt!, but worth it in the long run. I have tried others, and were satisfied, samsonite, eagle creek, etc. I will have to replace the samsonite sometime next year, and the eagle creek is doing okay (3 years old).

I totally agree with usoftie on this one.

Personally I do not check bags and have not for at least 5 years. I carry Tumi when I take small domestic hops and an Eagle Creek back pack on my long international flights.

However, I worked for the airlines during college and I spent some time in the baggage service office. I have seen bags that were run over by a tug. It is not a pretty site. Briggs & Riley is the only company that I know of that will replace a bag from airline mishandling. The rest have warranties but that only covers wear and tear. Briggs & Riley have a life time warrantee for all damage.

This came in the e-mail today, maybe it can be of use.

Luggage Super Sale

Save up to 65% on top brand name luggage in our Travel Super Sale! Choose from great names like Samsonite, Briggs & Riley, Atlantic & more.
http://www.ebags.com/emaildirect.cfm...|10|14zxz|TEXT

Forgot to mention, the above isn't an affiliate link or anything, it's what came in the e-mail, I make no money if you click it.



[This message has been edited by cordelli (edited 05-31-2001).]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't bought luggage in years, so I wasn't sure where to begin.

When I was in Singapore, I found a hard sided luggage called LOJEL It is made in Japan and has 6 wheels allowing it to be rolled any way. It has two combination locks, two key locks and the 31" costs about 120 US dollars. Nice colors and interior too. I have 8 of them now and love them

Although my Tumi is great and lasts and lasts, a cheaper alternative which has done well for me is Black Paw. I have several of them and they are great looking and last forever. You can check them out at www.bpluggage.com

Hardside! Hardside! Hardside!

My Top 2 brands are Lojel: a great feature is 4-wheels in both horizontal and vertical standing position, and has key locks as well as combo lock) and Atlantic: I love the off-center deep clamshell design, easy to pack and really protects my stuff, but can only be pulled the 'wide' way, also, the locks on the Atlantic make me uneasy, they seem a little weak, and I usually use a strap for some extra peace of mind.

Eminent is a good third choice for reasonably priced hard side.