Cheap luggage or expensive luggage?
It’s spring! Don’t you just feel like hitting the road? Well, maybe you do if you don’t travel for a living.
Either way, luggage. I’ve had my fair share of experiences with luggage over the years. Lost luggage, broken luggage, matching luggage — you name it. Currently, I travel with a non-descript, black roller that I can barely distinguish from anyone else’s. I bought it for $49 at Target in 2008. It replaced a smaller roller that lasted two trips and cost all of $19. (No wonder, right?)
I can get away (haha) with a $49 roller because I don’t travel a lot these days. If anything, it’s a weekend jaunt to visit family and friends every six months or so. I expect I will have to buy something new later this year because one of the wheels is shot and it wobbles when I walk too fast.
It doesn’t just wobble, actually. It starts to wobble. And then if you don’t slow down or stop, the wobbling gets more and more violent until it actually flips itself over! It’s really fun when your flight was delayed and you have 10 minutes to get to your next flight on a different concourse.
To Wobble or Not to Wobble?
Since I don’t expect to be traveling any more frequently than I do right now, I’m not likely to spend a lot for a replacement.
But if my job required it or my vacations were a little more involved like Holly’s family vacations, I think I would buy more expensive luggage. My husband, Terry, travels a lot for work — and he swears by his expensive brand.
I have to admit that more expensive luggage has its advantages. Of course, it tends to last a lot longer. Terry bought his set in 2012, and it still looks like new. That, and it is just well-designed for the business traveler. The important, frequently used things you travel with are within easy reach and there is no wasted space.
Still, he had to convince himself that it was the right way to spend his money. His work has always involved a lot of travel. And before he decided to invest in the expensive brand, he would spend about $80 to $100 every year replacing his worn-out luggage. The expensive brand cost about $500 and came with a lifetime warranty. I don’t think he will ever go back to cheaper luggage now.
Luggage always tells a story. It used to be that you’d plaster it with stickers from the places you had seen. Even empty, it was heavy and sturdy. Sometimes it was musty from being on the rafters in the garage too long. Before then, people traveled with a trunk!
Now, it’s designer high-end luggage or hard-sided, spinning luggage or superhero luggage (my personal favorite). My kind of luggage has no story to tell, no personality whatsoever. What a waste! Maybe I should wait for luggage that hovers over the ground so you only have to move your hand slightly to the right or left to get it to move with you as you run to the next plane. I had best start saving now! 😉
Do you buy cheap luggage or expensive luggage? How much do you spend, and is it worth it? Tell us your luggage stories in the comments below!
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There are 48 comments to "Cheap luggage or expensive luggage?".
Expensive-ish (Samsonite) luggage on online Black Friday sales. Totally worth it. Especially when bought by a relative as a present.
We did have some great luggage from Target that we got as a super-cheap set, but it finally broke down and we haven’t been able to find decent quality cheap luggage to replace it. Although the kids have some pretty nice kid-sized luggage from Target. Cheap luggage tends to be hit or miss. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don’t. Expensive luggage is also hit or miss, but at least you can get hits by checking out online reviews and only getting highly rated stuff.
I have travelled the world for my work for 12 years. Of those 12 years, the first 2 years where full-tiime travelling between Europe, USA and Japan. After that I travelled about 50-70% of the time. I started with a set of Samsonite Oysters and a cabin-bag. The Oysters served me very well, were very sturdy and protected the content very well but looked well travelled (=tatty) after a while.
In my experience though deciding what you take and what you do not take with you is more important. I started travelling with 2 suitcases and 1 bag, and the last 4 years or so I only travelled with one cabin bag. That one bag contained everything essential for global business trips lasting up to 3 weeks. The reduction was done in little steps till I found a web-site called one-bag. After studying that site I started travelling with one bag and never went back to lugging suitcases or dragging rollies behind me. And no more waiting at the airport for your bagage to turn up.
I never spend more than 80 dollars on a cabin bag and they lasted 5 years or so.
It helps to look at it from a cost per use perspective. I spent $150 on a good quality suitcase I had for 12 years and used several times a year. If I used it just five times a year — that’s 60 uses — that’s $2.50 per use. Based on my needs, that’s better value than Linda’s $19 suitcase that she used twice ($9.50 per use).
I also think “cheap” versus “expensive” is a false dichotomy. There’s a spectrum of prices and quality. I aimed for somewhere in the middle — something that was good enough quality that it wouldn’t break during plane or train travel, but not so expensive that I was paying for features I didn’t need or a designer name.
There’s also the used market.
Since I’m a “Rail”(railroad employee) and am employed as a locomotive engineer in over the road freight service I am basically on the road every day. Our “grips” as we call them are put up to tremendous abuse as we literally live out of them for 20-40 years. Some Rails will buy Goodwill stuff or cheap junk and keep buying new grips fairly regularly. I’m in the camp of buying quality made grips that are designed for railroad use and have the features and functions that make things handy. Buy quality, buy once, and use the tax write off.
P.S. I’m putting in a shameless plug for Red Oxx Mfg. of Billings Mont. I don’t know anyone who works there and I’m not being paid to endorse their products, but they have outstanding quality luggage!
Cheers!
I think, more important than cost, is the quality of suitcase matches the type of travel you do. I backpack when I go to Europe, so I have an expensive but sturdy backpack that suits my needs. My rolling luggage (Delsey hard-side) on the other hand is excellent quality, but was purchased at a warehouse sale price because it gets used less often and is rarely checked, so the sturdiness was less important. I will note, however, that 4-wheel spinning luggage will change your traveling life.
My family and i traveled to India every 2-3 years and we prefer not so expensive bags.. usually after 2-3 trips we end up replacing them.. so we tried to go with cheaper bags with intention of using them only 2-3 time at max.
I buy all my luggage at TJMaxx/Marshalls – name brands at very discounted prices. I have 3 sizes of HEYS polycarbonate suitcases that have lasted for years of work travel – and I paid probably about $120 for the three.
Bags? Where we’re going we don’t need bags. I second the advice of Jerome to work toward a single carry on. When I travel to really travel, I will take only a small backpack, a lesson learned from hiking bit sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s amazing what a comfort it is to be able to have everything with you, all the time, and for it not be be a burden. And when the amount of stuff you carry is negligible, any old school rucksack will do.
Honestly, I’ve bought little luggage, i’ve used stuff from thrift shops and hand-me-downs. The one nice piece I did buy and use a lot was a Samsonite roller; but a wheel popped off eventually, rendering it not to useful. When I’ve had to carry large loads, which for me is infrequent, cheaper bags can break, but probably not sufficiently to justify paying three or four times.
And I do travel a lot, and I have a young child (he carries his own stuff, now). I live in Europe, I return home to the States once or twice a year, we wander about frequently in France, Germany, Spain, etc. If at all possible, I only take a small backpack. It makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable.
A versatile wardrobe is key, but can be easily achieved if you’re creative. You don’t have to spend thousands on Outlier clothing. In fact, good old fashioned wool is surprisingly durable, wrinkle-free, weather proof, and fashionable. And you can get it at thrift shops as everybody else upgrades (or upsizes).
It’s not just me. Tim Ferris describes his trip with a 10 pound bag: http://fourhourworkweek.com/2007/07/11/how-to-travel-the-world-with-10-pounds-or-less-plus-how-to-negotiate-convertibles-and-luxury-treehouses/
So, maybe a quality roll on for those exceptions when you take a lot. Otherwise, minimize.
I always go with the strategy of finding a decent suitcase at Goodwill, have purchased 4 or 5 nice suitcases for my family there. Pay $10 for a mid to high end suitcase with some cosmetic issues, but still solid. Gives you the best of both worlds.
It’s like most anything else. If I need a tool only very occasionally I might buy it at Harbor Freight (generally cheap, lower quality, poor craftsmanship, etc.). However, if I am going to need it regularly, depend on it for work, use it to protect or provide for my family, etc., then I am going to buy quality (which often correlates with ‘expensive).
The Christmas before I left for college, my mom’s big gift to me was a really good set of luggage. 10 years, 6 countries and dozens of flights later, it looks as good as the day it was bought. The wheels work great, despite the fact that they have rolled down cobblestone streets and up dirt roads, and the zippers still hold no matter how many pairs of shoes I shove in. Absolutely an investment worth making!
I think Melissa has a good point. I remember Martha Stewart saying, “Buy well, buy once.” That goes back to Beth’s comment on cost per use. I know that our crew members (I work for an airline) spend about $300 on their rollerboards and they’re used roughly 15 days/month – but they’re soft-sided, so I don’t know how often they have to replace them. Again, it goes back to cost per use. I’d rather spend a little more money to have something that’s going to last longer, especially on something that will get used a lot. If you have to keep replacing an item that you purchased at a cheaper price, it really isn’t cost-effective in the long run.
It’s not that I recommend cheap, it’s just that cheap has served me SO well! I bought a forest green (excellent–not black! easily spotted!) rollerboard at Target which was marked down and had a 10 year warranty. I think it was either $7 or $10. Yes, that’s correct! I’ve used it for about 12 years (not heavy travel, but it’s been used a fair amount) and it’s falling apart. Sad.
THEN I was shopping at a second hand store and saw the IDENTICAL suitcase for $12. Damn! More than I paid for it new! But it looked pretty new, so what the hell? I bought it. Still can use the old one if needed, but I have an almost new carry-on that I know is going to serve me well for many years.
Before our honeymoon, we invested in 2 quality bags that had a lifetime replacement warranty. Unfortunately, that company went out of business (and there goes the warranty) right before one of the bags broke. Argh! (Stupid baggage handlers.) The other bag is still fine though and keeps working well after 7 years, numerous road trips, and a few plane trips.
I don’t travel too often and I bought my first luggage set in 2011 when I had several travelling occasions for job interviews, etc. I paid just over $150 for my set and it still looks and works great. I don’t travel too often though, but when I do it’s nice to know that my luggage will withstand the abuse. 🙂
I identify the features I need, and then look for a sturdy suitcase at a reasonable price (less than $50 for one bag). I only carry-on, which means it takes less of a beating. I like 4 wheels and hard sides. I read recently that 4 wheels means if you DO check your bag, handlers give it a push to roll it from the front of the plane to the back, instead of chucking it like the two wheelers.
Expensive luggage all the way! If your cheap luggage breaks, you might have to waste half a day of your vacation, paying a premium to buy whatever luggage is affordable.
Not only did my Victorinox come with a lifetime warranty, it is incredibly sturdy and light. The wheels work well. The zipper is dependable. I’ve had it for 5 years and it still works like new. There’s a bit of dust on one side.
2 trips a year? Go for inexpensive (but not cheap). Or have your husband talk to his co-workers/business contacts and ask if any of them are looking to upgrade their luggage soon. They might sell you a good set of serviceable pieces at a nice price.
It’s all very well to recommend one bag, but people have different needs. I have chronic illnesses and I can fill up a cabin size bag with just my prescription meds and the CPAP required for sleep apnea. And all those things must travel in the cabin (pressurized compartment). A second carryon brings my laptop, phone, and charging cables (not willing to trust my laptop to checked baggage). Then I always check one bag for clothing and toiletries.
As for expense-I’ve found cheap luggage that lasted 10 or more years and expensive luggage that didn’t last 2 years. I try to find good brands either on major sales or at secondary markets: retailers like TJ Maxx or Ross.
My family’s typical travel habits require sturdy luggage that isn’t going to fail mid-trip. My husband travels domestically and overseas for his profession (research science) and we occasionally accompany him. Our extended families live either on the other side of the US from where we live, or overseas. Sometimes we combine our family visits with my husband’s work trips. More often than not our travels are long-distance, multi-city or country, not only by air but also utilizing a variety of public ground transportation options.
Cheaply made luggage from Target and TJMaxx, etc., just hasn’t held up up well with the kind of travel we do. I nearly always ditch these bags even if they are merely annoying – they flop over when fully loaded, don’t roll/zip smoothly, are too heavy/flimsy/noisy, but often they just aren’t robust enough. Wheels that fall off on busy urban streets or village cobblestones, zips that break, handles that fail to telescope smoothly (or jam tight), lock shackles that bend and fail to open are a major hassle when one is jetlagged, running late, lacking tools or fixing materials, and/or there is no time or opportunity to shop mid-trip for a reasonably priced replacement. I’ve had all that happen, sometimes in one trip, so I’m wary of relying on cheaply made luggage unless I truly only need it to last just one or two journeys (as “overflow” bags). I either donate these cheap bags post-trip so I don’t have to store them, or I give them to houseguests who need an overflow bag when they depart our home (with no need to return the bag).
Costco/Kirkland carry-on sized rolling bags have traveled internationally with us for any years, all without failures for at least 5-8 years. The main reasons we have either given away or otherwise stopped using our older Kirkland bags is either we travel with fewer belongings now and prefer lighter, smaller bags that we can carry-on, or something spills inside the bag that is difficult to remove (olive oil!). My husband prefers a several year old Kirkland 20″ carry-on for his domestic and international trips lasting 3-20+ days.
The bag my husband prefers for 1-2 day trips is a Lands’ End fabric expandable briefcase-style laptop bag – these bags are known for their long lives. This bag perfectly holds his MacAir laptop, some work papers, and enough clothing/personal care items for a couple days. The bag is 15+ years old and though it seemed a bit expensive when we purchased it, it’s going strong and still looks almost new.
My personal favorite for nearly all my travel is the two Eagle Creek piggy back 2-bag bag system that my teenage son and I use – the first one I bought was so fantastic I bought a second one (a matching day backpack and rolling 22″ carry-on bag system – when attached together they make one larger bag – which must be checked). I bought both of our Eagle Creek “piggy back” bag systems at Costco.com for a considerably discounted price several years ago, maybe about $160 (for a limited time, Costco.com was selling the previous year’s model of the EC bag, which had just been redesigned). Eagle Creek is guaranteed for life, but these special Costco buys are backed by the Costco satisfaction guarantee. For the kind of bag-punishing travel we do I even think Eagle Creek bags are worth full price a(I’d purchase them at REI, where full-price purchases earn a dividend). I’ve had other brands of “piggy-back” bags from LL Bean and Lands’ End, but the Eagle Creek are definitely the best. Ours are aolmost 5 years old and have crisscrossed the US, knocked around metropolitan UK/Europe multiple times, as well as New Zealand. We use the EC daypacks all the time at home as well. Nothing has failed and they all look practically new. No hassles whatsoever.
I travel a lot. 50,000 miles already this year.
For business, I use a nicer carry-on in the $200-300 range. But not something flashy or nutty expensive. Needs to look presentable since often run into people I know at the airport or travel with colleagues.
For vacations and private travel we go the TJ Max and buy what looks sturdy, usually they arent expensive. Needs to be “check-in compatible” – i.e. nothing that could tear off, no loose gimmicks etc. They tend to survive 3-4 air travel vacations, then they die. In my experience more expensive brands dont do any better, so no benefit in buying them. Air travel is so brutal to checked baggage .
Yes and no – we bought a very expensive name-brand set (small/carry on size, medium, large suitcases plus matching shoulder tote) for less than $200 on woot.com. I’ve gotten nothing but compliments on them, the suitcases nest perfectly (as well they should!), and each case came with a small plastic toiletry case. The buckle to one of the straps inside one of the bags broke, but I think my husband was a little aggressive with his buckling, TBH.
I don’t have many complaints – the cases roll on four wheels (stand-up instead of pull-behind-you) which is a little annoying on city streets sometimes, but not enough to consider it an “issue”. The medium case, which we’ve checked, has gotten a little bit beaten up, but that’s sort of to be expected, unfortunately.
We also each have a big LL Bean roller duffel – they are guaranteed to last a lifetime, but are a little unwieldy for shorter trips.
For some reason I really liked this topic and would enjoy seeing more posts along this line.
I agree with the reliable / presentable / but not flashy carryon. I have a nice leather one bought on sale at TJMaxx. Like having a decent emergency fund, there is a certain value to knowing that you’re not going to be looking at your underwear and sweater coming to meet you on the baggage carousel separate from your less durable bag that gave up the ghost at the hands of baggage handlers.
I have spent way more time than I would like to admit trying to nail down the solution to this problem and don’t feel like I’ve gotten any closer to the solution.
We travel all the damn time. I’m lucky enough to be in a job where we live internationally for reasonably long periods of time — which means we have to get there (an enormous undertaking involving maxing the baggage allowance for our family because whatever we schlep with us is what we have to live with for the next 3-5 months) and then travel as much as we possibly can when we’re there as a family, involving anything from hiking to a mountain hut to hosteling it through a major city, or anything else you can imagine. I also have to travel for work, which could be anything from an overnight in professional clothes to a two month stint filling in for a colleague.
In short: I am not the person they make luggage for. Also, there is no one bag that is going to work for all these situations. I’m still fine tuning and banging my head against the brick wall that is luggage.
What I do know: I bought the top rated luggage on overstock, and it fell apart within a year — catastrophically. I had to sew the zippers together and pray it held until we got home. This taught me that there is nothing wrong with cheap, as long as it comes with quality, but that there’s really no good way to judge quality without traveling with something for a while. (Also, I was horribly disappointed since everyone told me to buy something pricier than the mid-range best-rated and I didn’t listen)
I LOVE the eBags convertible luggage, and would have the whole family in it if it wasn’t so freakin’ pricey, same thing with LLBean rolling duffels, which I hear great things about. So there’s a point at which I won’t trade money for functionality, even when I know I’m getting great functionality.
Ikea makes a surprisingly functional rolled backpack that works great for my kids and my sin qua non of personal luggage remains my 2001-era REI Grand-tour backpack, which sadly doesn’t fit with my supposedly-professional image. These are both mid-range items that provide surprisingly great value for their cost. Now I just need to find the equivalent value in suitcases.
I have two Ricardo of Hollywood luggage pieces. The 20″ and a 28″ (I think) and use the 20″ the majority of the time. I find the 28″, aka “the condo” to be too large for the majority of my needs and purchased it for a cruise. I also travel with a backpack that holds a days worth of clothes, laptop and meds should my bag get lost. Yes, I do usually check the 20″.
Both are about 15 years old and were purchased at Stein Mart and both for way under $100. Absolutely love them. Since I’m a pretty good packer I can go with the 20″ for about 2 weeks as long as I have access to laundry service.
IMO, the main thing these days is to find a lightweight bag due to the increase in bag fees. For weekend trips I use my backpack and all my bags have the 3 oz. sprayer (or two) of wrinkle release should I not have access to a iron.
I like inexpensive.
Ummmm. I don’t even own luggage. I guess I have not officially entered adulthood yet haha. I just use a duffle bag and it can be a pain lugging it around sometimes. I wish I had that wobbly wheel of yours haha.
I only own a duffle bag, never check it in, can go for 2 weeks, have it over shoulder, it fits in a smallest of space, and much easier to carry when in a hurry than trying to run to catch a plain with a wheeled thing. Keep it simple.
I used a duffle bag throughout university – it was great! However, I bought luggage with wheels a couple of years later following a shoulder injury and now ! wouldn’t go without it!
Pack ultra-light. The luggage won’t matter much. Unless I am going backpacking for a week (not car camping), I never even check in. That includes abroad travel. And traveling with kids (now in the past).
I always pack more than I need to, so I bought a smaller bag that means I have less stuff.
Most of my luggage are either hand-me-downs or purchased at Ross/Marshall’s. My favorite is a small, older American Tourister suitcase that stood the test of time. I’ve never been a light packer. Between the medication that I have to take on board and check in with TSA (sometimes syringes and liquids) and beauty/hair products in amounts that I need to check in because its over the limit, I usually have one checked in luggage and one carry on. If its only a couple of nights, I only need a carry on. Call me high maintenance if you want. 🙂
Traveled 280 days a year.
Went for a “top line” bag. It was destroyed by baggage handlers the second trip. Went back to my old (and I mean old) soft sided Samsonite. it lasted the rest of my three years on the road.
I actually don’t buy super expensive luggage, but maybe that’s because I buy during sales (either Black Friday or I track the price changes on Amazon). I do buy good luggage though – I learned my lesson when I traveled to Spain and wanted to die carrying my 50 lb. bag on cobble stone streets. Die.
Since then, I buy sturdy, well-made pieces that have thick wheels and wheels that can move in all directions. I have enough to deal with when traveling – my luggage needs to accommodate me, not the other way around! 🙂
I bought a set of TravelPro nearly 12yrs ago. Medium in price from QVC. It made untold business trips, 3 deployments to the Middle East which included trips back to the US every 3mos in not so ideal conditions. Sometimes they were loaded on a pallet, they could be on the bottom or top, with other cargo and then dumped in the desert for me to find and drag to catch the next mode of transportation. When in the ME I used them to store things that I had to ship to myself, Puffs, vicks, aspirin, extra towels, etc,to make being there a bit more bearable.
When bought it was the latest technology w/ extending handles, expanding top, and wheels to pull them behind you. Then I got the bug after my last vacation to look for something new. It didn’t make sense from looking at my luggage it looked great. No rips, zippers still worked, great external and internal storage but they were heavier than the new stuff.
I watched and waited and finally Macy’s had a clearance sale. The ratings for the ones I was considering were good. So I am now the proud owner of a Nautilus set with spinners on all but the middle piece (why?). It is lighter. The storage inside is not as good but I paid just under $150 for 4 pieces. (one piece isn’t really a piece, it is a equivalent to a shopping bag)
My parent’s set of luggage fell apart so they now have my old set which they love. When Mom and I take that cruise we’ve wanted to take together I’ll be dragging my old luggage thru the airport once again. (eye roll and chuckle)
Should I have bought a new set? I could answer that either way.
I travel several times a year, but we’ve had the same cheap ($150 for a set of three) pieces for a several years now. They’re flexible polycarbonate, bought at Costco and Target. It’s true that zippers will eventually fail, but they can be tested before purchase. Large, heavy-duty zippers last well. And according to me good luggage worth buying. Thanks for sharing.
I am a big fan of the house brand from the outdoor store REI. It isn’t “cheap” like Marshalls/TJ Maxx but in my opinion the price is quite reasonable for the quality, and they offer 20% off member coupons several times a year. It isn’t over the top expensive designer luggage or real tech-y looking stuff…kind of no-frills looking, but it is durable, functional and practical. I have been very happy with my wheeled luggage and travel backpacks purchased there, they have lasted for years.
What I can’t believe is how every luggage maker assumes I’ll be taking a taxi or car once I’m at my destination city. I have yet to see a suitcase with large rubber wheels suitable for sidewalks. If you have seen one please let me know in the comments. Thank you!
I actually have a mix.
I travel 80 – 90% of the time for work, and I have a most-excellent glider that I purchased 5 years ago. Small enough to carry-on, it serves me well for trips 2- 5 days long. Very high quality, and it’s been my constant companion for the past 400,000 miles.
However, last week, I went on vacation with my wife to Mexico. I went to Walmart and bought a cheap but giant suitcase to hold all of our excess luggage (things like pool noodles and floatation beds). It cost just $40, and I don’t expect to use it more than 2x per year. It doesn’t have to live forever because it will be rarely used.
So my take away is that you need to spend money for quality only when you really need quality. Otherwise it’s just a waste.
This is a really tough question. I have a hiking-type backpack that I use for travel – maybe 5 or 6 trips a year – and that works for me. I have had this bag for about 5 years and it is in great shape. I think it helps that I don’t check it. Not everyone likes to carry their bag on their shoulders, so roller bags are necessary.
I have a co-worker who is a road warrior and goes through 2 suitcases each year. I think he actually keeps a spare at home for when his finally fails. Someone like him should probably get a $500 suitcase like the halburton aluminum one, but that may be overkill. As far as wheels go, I think that the best route is recessed rollerblade-style wheels because “spinners” break too easily.
I’ve been writing a lot about BIFL products on my blog lately, so I would probably recommend buying a suitcase that should last at least 10 years, and try to find a used one (like the haliburton) or a good deal on a new one.
About 25 years ago, I bought an inexpensive rolling suitcase (Concourse brand) for about $20. I have travelled all over the US with it, along with trips to Canada, England, France, and Italy. It is still in goo shape and I still use it. I currently see one advertised by K-Mart for $19.99 (don’t know if it’s the same quality).
My only advice is never pick up luggage by its extension handle.
We had a four-piece nondescript set we got from Target. It lasted maybe five years before it started falling apart.
We then read a bunch of reviews and decided to get one Tumi carry-on hard case, which we found on a decent sale. It’s spendy, but it gets used at least monthly for business travel (plus the occasional family trip); we expect it to last at least 15 years, and if we need overflow we just use whatever backpacks we have around.
I travel for work nearly every week, and have been doing so, on and off, for 20+ years. I purchased good luggage as soon as I could afford it. My first Tumi Alpha roll-aboard, purchased from a Tumi outlet store for about $300, lasted for over 1 million air miles of travel. Tumi provided repairs when needed, under warranty, with only a $15 service charge. My current roll-aboard, a Tumi Alpha 2 purchased from tumi.com during a 25%-off sale, is holding up well after nearly two years of weekly travel.
I’ve purchased cheap bags when I need them. I got a cute little blue roller bag, at a Carrefour grocery store in China for $20, to carry home an overload of souvenirs. It gets used once or twice a year, and is falling apart slowly, as expected. We use a big nylon tote bag from L.L. Bean for carrying dive equipment. It weighs almost nothing, takes a lot of abuse, and hosing it down doesn’t hurt it.
Anticipated frequency & intensity of use is one of the major factors in most of my purchasing decisions. If I traveled very infrequently, I’d choose something that’s inexpensive but rated well by other owners.
For me I would go for an expensive luggage. I’d go for Quality luggage rather than the ones that can be used only twice.
Partially it depends on how much you travel. I travel often so I go with quality, and I do think more expensive pieces are generally made better.
For me it’s a little like buying a handbag. Not only do I want it to look nice, I want quality material, hardware, stitching and especially in luggage a decent warranty.
anyone looked into buying pelican cases for luggage use? as long as you buy an actual transit case and not their new line of travel luggage it has a lifetime unconditional warranty. expensive but indestructable for the most part
I own many Pelicans for production gear but wouldn’t recommend them for any luggage that isn’t fragile enough to warrant using them.
A) They look like whatever is in them is worth money
B) They a very rigid and don’t fit that much for their size
That said, if you need to protect delicate items, they are great. I recommend the new featherlight series carry-ons. They are fully waterproof and double as a set.
having a nice luggage can actually work against you especially if you travel international. They look for nice bags to look thru or even try to shake people down at airport. As general rule, try not to stand out when traveling int’l with nice luggage or expensive jewelry on.