Mrs.BurtonRW and I need to replace our main (large) suitcases - picked them up about 12 years ago at a Samsonite outlet and have used them HARD since then. They’ve flown tens of thousands of miles on several dozen flights through at least a dozen airports. They’re finally starting to fall apart.

I don’t believe repair is viable at this point.

What the hell with everyone’s “large” bag being over 62” linear? Do the airlines really measure? (Looks like American will charge you $200 for going over!) We’ve only ever worried about weight in the past, although I haven’t measured our current bags, so they may be 62” compliant.

What do we like these days? For price point, think Samsonite or TravelPro. Not so much Tumi (as much as I wish I could afford them).

Samsonite is having a killer sale (ends at midnight), and I’d already have ordered some bags if not for this >62” issue.

Thanks.

-Rob

don't know about the 62" issue.

My wife bought a 3-hardshell set from Away a few years ago. https://www.awaytravel.com/shop/suitcases They store inside the big one.

They have held up very well through international and domestic travel. We've only worried about weight - never the size issue.

Before covid Marshals had the best selection/prices for luggage.

I have bought lots of luggage and name brands from there. As long you are not picky about a particular about a brand/color combination.

I couldn't prove it but when you place them side by side, lots of the brands look like they are coming out of the same factory in China with the logo switched.

Travel pro is my new go to. I went through too many Samsonites, and now super happy with Travelpro.

My main bag, which has been in hard use for fifteen years now, and which I can live out of year-round on the road (and often do), is a 26" bag, and stuffed, comes to 26 x 10 x 18, or 48" linear. I also carry a small satchel with computer and work stuff, and a little duffle for miscelaneous, both as carry-on items. One fits under the seat and the other takes up nearly no room in the overhead, and can be gate-checked if need be.

62" is a lot of space, but I do see a lot of people lugging steamer trunks around, even for what amounts to a two or three day trip. God knows how they survive at home.

The only time you're likely to see someone measuring your bag is on a packed regional flight, and only then if your bag looks grossly out of place (too big). It's really amazing what people think they have to haul around with them on airline trips, sometimes.

I'm going to a training even shortly, and am taking some books and a few things I'll need; rather than carry it, I'll mail it to the hotel, and mail it back when I'm done. Better than trying to haul it around. I can print the UPS label at the hotel and leave it at the front desk. Done. Cheaper than extra baggage fees, too.

Over 50 lbs is generally considered heavy baggage, and may incur a fee. 62 linear inches is a pretty big bag, and may also incur a fee.

For whatever it's worth, I always advise getting two large wheels to drag luggage, rather than the four castering wheels that seem so popular today. I lost count long ago of the number of those castering wheels that I've seen knocked off luggage, and it doesn't track well over rough surfaces. They tend to have little or no bearing in them, and I've seen the develop friction and burn up while people are towing their luggage, snapping off and burning fingers when the owner tried to pick them up. My bag uses two replaceable inline skate wheels; every two or three years I replace the wheels and bearings, and it's a lot easier to haul around.

If you need more than 62" of bag space, then you may end up getting charged. If you aren't on the road all the time, then it's probably not a big deal. The occasional trip doesn't amount to much, and maybe the extra is worth it for whatever your mission might be. Most likely, unless the bag is grossly oversize or obviously too big, no one will say anything.

My main bag weighs just under 50 lbs, because I do have to live out of it indefinitely. About half of that, however, is the weight of the bag; it's got a metal framework and the bag empty, isn't light. That's why it's lasted fifteen years of hard use. I'd have to carry a lot of junk, in a light bag, to make up the 50 lbs, so if you do get a light bag, you can haul quite a bit in something 62 linear inches.

As noted, travel pro makes some good luggage. I've had a number of samsonite bags rip, including one that literally ripped in half, and showed up on the baggage carousel in two pieces with gear spread all over. The zippers tend to fail early, too. Their warranty service is poor, and on one occasion, I had a manager at their repair station suggest I'd be better off with something other than samsonite. Again, for whatever it's worth.

I use Luggage Works for my bags. I've had some decent stuff from ebags, too. The satchel with my computer and work gear is an ebags item.

quote:

I'm going to a training even shortly, and am taking some books and a few things I'll need; rather than carry it, I'll mail it to the hotel, and mail it back when I'm done. Better than trying to haul it around. I can print the UPS label at the hotel and leave it at the front desk. Done. Cheaper than extra baggage fees, too.

^^^This. When we used to travel to go skiing in December, I'd box up the majority of our stuff and ship it UPS to the hotel. Then all we had to deal with were our carry on's. With what the airlines are charging today for baggage, its way less expensive (and headache prone) to just mail it. And if I'm traveling for less than a work week, I live out of a 22" carry on bag (currently one of these which I really like so far).

25-26" is about as large as most people want to manage, and hopefully that trip better be at least a 3-weeks in length or, something unique; the weight, bulk, and overall clumsiness of such big luggage is a headache itself. Nobody has ever returned from a trip and said, I wish I brought more

My go-to luggage brand are these two:

Briggs-Riley - a bit more upscale but, best warranty in the luggage business. Baseline is their most popular.
Eagle Creek - lower in price and not as refined for business use but, solid warranty and functional features, their Tarmac series is their best.

Larger capacity luggage, you may consider rolling duffels as the weight of structured luggage itself will work against you; you see a lot of these types for Winter vacation/ski trips, hunt trips, overseas deployments, mission trips, year-abroad, etc...:
Eagle Creek Gear Warrior
The North Face Rolling Thunder 36"
Osprey Transporter
London Bridge Loadout Bag

Good resources for online
eBags
Zappos

TravelPro was highly recommended when we were shopping. Seems well made and lightweight. We found the best deal at the Kohl’s website using their coupons.

I’ve had good luck with samsonite but I havent bought any in 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
Before covid Marshals had the best selection/prices for luggage.

I have bought lots of luggage and name brands from there. As long you are not picky about a particular about a brand/color combination.

I couldn't prove it but when you place them side by side, lots of the brands look like they are coming out of the same factory in China with the logo switched.

Over the years bought at Marshall’s or TJ Max. Significantly less expensive. Pick up an unusual color and make it easier to spot on the luggage belt.

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:
Pick up an unusual color and make it easier to spot on the luggage belt.

Or, if the more pedestrian colors are the better values, buy the plain ones and then get brightly colored snap-connect belts to put around them for easy ID at the carousel.

We have 'blah grey' luggage but the bright green belts we put on make it a cinch to watch for at the destination baggage claims.