Suitcase help please?

cpu

I posted this in the I wanna board and it sank like a stone. Any of you good frequent travellers got opinions about luggage? Since posting originally I've had to revise my expectations and will have to accept I'll be spending more than I first thought. I'd like decent quality ones though, some of the cheaper cases I've seen are really flimsy.

Anybody happy with their cases or wish they hadn't got a particular kind? Since I need to buy so many, I don't want to buy the 'wrong' kind and I'd like them to last. Any pointers on best makes/best place to buy/best type for long haul etc etc???? I've always made do with an old holdall before but my wife wants an upgrade.

cpu wrote:

I can't believe the price of luggage these days! This holiday we're going on is rapidly bankrupting me!

I need at least 5 same size cases (28" or 30" I think) and a 6th which could be slightly smaller, which is where the problem first starts as most reasonably priced sets come in 3 different sizes.

We think we'd be best with hard sided cases rather than the soft versions and we need them to close with zips rather than the suitcase type clasps you get at either end of some of them.

I was hoping to just walk into Argos and be home in an hour with my feet up but it just aint happening.

Am I being unrealistic expecting to get the kind of case I want for around £25/£30?

As ever, I'm grateful for ANY help, lol.

djl

hi

i`ve had three suitcases in about 14 years my current one is slighty damaged i`m going to buy a hard shell one like the airline crews use as these must be better then soft ones, i will also buy a large one (to fit in all the cheap scotch and brandy)

girders

Problem with the hard cases is that as well as being expensive they also seriously eat into weight allowances on flights. If you ever use the budget airlines with the lower allowances seriously consider if this is the way you want to go as out of a 15kg allowance these could use 5+kg easily.

jess123_2

I can recommend the Samsonite hard shell ones. We've had ours 15 years and they're still going strong, just a few cosmetic scratches.
Recently bought a quite expensive Antler one which was a mix of hard shell and fabric - it came apart on its first journey and we had to claim off the airline although personally I think the case wasn't up to the job.

finallydebtfree!!

If its hard sided your after I would recommend one of these cases,

http://www.johnlewis.com/Sports+and+Leisure/Luggage/Luggage/Trolley+Cases/4067/3594/Product.aspx

this one is light weight compared to most hard sided cases and it has the zip fastening you are after! it also comes with a 7 year manufacturing guarentee which covers most things but not problems caused by airline damage or misuse.

or this

http://www.johnlewis.com/Sports+and+Leisure/Luggage/Luggage/Trolley+Cases/4067/5853/Product.aspx

this comes with the same guarentee but is covered for 3 years

either can be purchased online and 8% cashback via quidco

hope this helps

chalky_bertie

Just watch the weight of the "hard shell" ones as it is quite easy to fill up with 20kg of clothes and then you've got to factor in the weight of the case. I try and use my rucksack of 10 years but ot suitable for evry holiday.

moonrakerz

The Clarks shoe shops in various outlet villages often sell hard shell cases, I've had a couple for some years which are wearing well !

nearlyrich

Outlet malls are the way to go to pick up quality in last years colours ( Who cares if it's last years?)

I travel most weeks and I have a selecion of decent bags of various sizes, depends how long I'm going for and how many changes I need.

My Samsonite "carry on" size rollercase is wearing really well as is my Antler large holdall on wheels, that's been to New Zealand, the states and Australia to name but a few places, many flights over about 10 years and it still looks good.

I recommend holdalls on wheels over hard cases, you can get a lot more in and they are lighter to start with so don't take up the luggage allowance before you pack.

lig

Depending if weight is a factor try Nomad travel luggage have a "hold all with wheels and a pull out handle" have used it at least twice a year for the past 7 years and it only weighs 2.5kg. A lot easier to pack than a hard case with more versatility. Meant to say it holds about the same as a 3o" suitcase at least.

lig

spooky just saw the post above when I hit the reply great minds eh

chipfire

Just bought a pair of Samsonite cases -

They are hard shell but they are amazingly light. Go and pick one up and see.