Luggage problem/help select replacement
 

Hey folks,

I travel a fair amount- usually 3 days every other week. Lately I’ve been traveling every week. While the miles are rolling in I have a luggage issue. I have an Orvis rolling carry-on. In less than 2 years I am on bag number 5. The zippers keep breaking. They are nice looking brass zippers, but now number 6 just broke. Orvis has a lifetime warranty and keeps replacing them but I’m at my whit’s end. My co-workers travel with $50 suitcases that never break. Here I am with a $250.00 carry on that has broken 6 times.

Orvis will send me another and get it here in a week (what I pack in Monday is anyone’s guess). I’m thinking that its time to jump ship with Orvis. However, I need some good suggestions.
I’m looking for something that can hold 2 suites in a folding/hanging area. I LOVE the fact that this Orvis is green canvas and not black like every other suitcase at the airport. I also love how sturdy the rest of the bag is (the handle, fabric, etc).
Does anyone have any good recommendations? I don’t want to spend more than $250-$275 tops. I’d really prefer something that is recognizable, so when I get off of the canadair jet, I can go right to my bag.
A folding garment bag seems like a good suggestion, but I can’t carry anything else off the shoulder, I need something that rolls.


Thanks!
-N

I purchased the large and small Kirkland (Costco) rolling bags over three years ago and love them. They have upgraded the design since, and the carry-on now expands and the retractable handle is improved. The little (max carry-on) size comes in black and blue. I think the cost is about $90 for the little one and $130 for the large.

Over 400,000 miles between them, and if it were not for United losing my big one http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif, I could easily use them a few more years.

Kirkland roller bags are too heavy for me to lift to the overheard. Bought a $39 swapmeet bag, and it went around the world twice until the top handle fell off in the hands of a rock-star wannabe doorman at SF Monaco. He was pissed. No tip. Although the zippers held, it seemed time for replacement.

Fortunately I had just picked up a smaller (hard-sided) bag in Italy with FOUR WHEELS!!

Four swivel wheel bags are now my requirement. They don't fall over, they are extremely agile. Mine was less than $100, but I can't find another for less than $500.

SpaceBass,

You're in luck. Radiocycle, the NW moderator had the same question about replacing his old TravelPro bag... this thread is here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/006494.html

It's actually very informative and the PurdyNeat bags they speak of are actually very good for frequent travel.

You should try e-mailing a few of the posters to get a personal response on those bags.

Hope this helps.

aloha

Im a big fan of Briggs and Riley. About as tough as it gets construction wise. Lifetime unlimited warranty even against negligent damage.

B & R is the way to go. Extremely reliable and well built.
They're so popular that it's hard to get them at a discount. However , you can buy "seconds" direct from the factory outlet store at around 1\3 to 1\2 off. The quality of the seconds is so high, you'll never be able to tell the difference from a "first".

http://www.briggs-riley.com/outlet.htm

For more info, there was a long thread on this subject around a year ago, search the archives....