small suitcase - recommendations?

Pollycat

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Tumi is what I use. The reviews and high opinion everyone has of it says all you need to know about it.

If your looking in the "Argos, Matalan, Debenhams" sort of price range then Tumi is not for you.

How much? :eek:

k3lvc

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Tumi is what I use. The reviews and high opinion everyone has of it says all you need to know about it.

If your looking in the "Argos, Matalan, Debenhams" sort of price range then Tumi is not for you.

Pollycat wrote: »

How much? :eek:

Likewise for me - I travel a lot and 'invested' in mine 10+ years ago. In that time I've had any damage sorted free of charge (2 zips replaced and a theft incident where one of the panels was cut)

Would I buy one at full price - probably not - but from their outlet stores or via Ebay they can be had for a reasonable price

Blue264

k3lvc wrote: »

Would I buy one at full price - probably not - but from their outlet stores or via Ebay they can be had for a reasonable price

Please define 'reasonable'? I've had cars and holidays that didn't cost that much! :rotfl:

My current hand lugagge case cost £17 in the Matalan sale 5yrs ago. It's been on 26 flights, 2 ferries and the Eurostar a few times, plus countless weekend trips and has also been used to move house twice. It's bright turquoise with a palm tree and surfboard on it, so I can spot it from the other end of the baggage hall and only now does it need a wheel repairing. Everything else is as new.

Mr_Singleton

Blue264 wrote: »

It's been on 26 flights, 2 ferries and the Eurostar a few times, plus countless weekend trips and has also been used to move house twice

5 years use? Amateur!!! I'd do all that in less than 3 months (a part from move house.)

I don't disbelieve you put I file those sorts of claims under the "My granddad started smoking 120 cigarettes a day every day since he was 10 years old and we're going to his 103rd birthday next weekend.... who said smokings was bad for you?" I'd bet there a legions of people that have bough Matalan/Argos etc luggage only for it to last a couple of trips if that. I regularly see broken and dumped luggage at airports. Looking at some Amazon reviews of Matalan luggage its hard to get away from statements like "Worst suitcase ever bought", "Uselss suitcase" and "Beware of the guarentee"

Anyway, yes, Tumi isn't cheap but I've still got the first item I ever bought in 2001 at a Black Friday Event in Chicago. I paid from memory less than £100. I've subsequently bought 3 other items all from America where its much cheaper. The guarantee is bomb proof. I wouldn't buy or use any other luggage.

Just having a look and buying in America rather than the UK will save you 50% on the base price before any in the sales discount.

Blue264

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

5 years use? Amateur!!! I'd do all that in less than 3 months (a part from move house.)

Charming!

I wasn't aware this was a competition? The point I was making is that a item of hand luggage bought very cheaply in the sales has served me very well.

I was under the impression that this was a money saving forum....

Moto2

Blue264 wrote: »

I was under the impression that this was a money saving forum....

Some people will always turn posts into a p***ing contest
Just the same in real life really

System

My parents have IT suitcases. One of them broke. It's because the baggage handlers at airports throw suitcases about. Then throw a 20kg on top and another. Sometimes you see up to four cases high on the baggage trucks. I have no idea how many suitcases high they are stacked in the hold.

Yes Ryanair have 10kg hand luggage allowance plus a small bag. Hate it when suitcases say 'lightweight' when they are 4kg empty.

pleasedelete

It are no good if you are tall or have long legs. The handles are too short. I prefer Eastpak (well I prefer Rimowa but probably not money saving enough)

[Deleted User]

I would also recommend Tripp luggage from Debenhams, we have two sets of different sizes that have been on alot of holidays and still look good

catwoman73

As well as being light, the IT cases are also designed to maximise internal volume because the trolley frame goes round the outside rather than up the middle of the case. As well as being heavy, some other cases have much smaller internal capacity.

I've got a IT worlds lightest cabin size case that has also been in the hold a couple of times and has stood up to dozens of flights and bus/train trips over several years. It cost less than £30 from Argos and if it ever wears out, I will buy another straight away.

I don't really see the point of paying a lot for suitcases. My first hold suitcase cost £13 from Matalan and lasted over ten years of several flights per year.

It is starting to look a bit shabby now and I've just replaced it with a similar one a bit bigger (it was also a bit small and only ever about 13 kg full so could easily use a bigger one).

We also have the above mentioned IT case and another trolley case that came from TK Maxx and cost about £20/30. All these cases have been used on several flights per year for years.

Expensive cases costing £100+ would have to last for decades to be worth it IMHO. And it wouldn't necessarily be the right size or whatever - they are talking about making the maximum cabin bag size smaller - you would be quite annoyed if you spent a lot on a case that suddenly became too big to be used as airline cabin baggage,