I used to rep Briggs & Riley and I have no problems recommending them.

In my hierarchy of recommendations, B&R is #1, besides the sheer variety of models and collections, their biggest separator is their warranty. It's called No Questions Asked, you could have a gorilla use your luggage as a punching bag or, a ramper spill jet-fuel on it...B&R will replace or, fix-it. Build quality is top-notch, any recalls are fixed promptly; repair work is done either at authorized repair places or, their own facility (Half Moon Bay, CA). Their Baseline collection is their best selling line, I personally like the old BRX collection.

#2 Eagle Creek. Not as expensive as B&R, but a bit more functional on features; more outdoorsy looking whereas B&R is more professional/sophisticated. Their Tarmac collection is the most copied luggage design in the last 20-years....even B&R copied it.

Tumi used to be a big-deal, with their modern designs and collaborations, they've since been bought a few times (Samsonite) and they weigh a lot empty. TravelPro, eBags, are solid and good value, however, they don't compare to the above two. Purdy is the brand you see pilots use; designed for and by pilots, they're built to withstand a career of load/unload abuse, not space maximization, the common traveler will likely find them to be lacking. They're also heavy..empty.

I personally don't like spinners, they're not as robust as a two-wheel rollers and I still think in my mind I can muscle through everything . Older travelers can appreciate the spinners, especially if you're hauling around anything bigger than 25". The trolley (the extended handle) I prefer the two bar rather than single bar. Two bar you can slip a bag/pack (if it has a pass-through sleeve) over the handle or rest a bag or, tie-off your jacket, a single-bar your bag will spin around. It's sleek and modern but, not useful.

Thanks for the detailed product assessment, corsair.

I looked at the Eagle Creek Tarmac and that line is a bit spendy at $270 for a 26".

But that caused me to look at Eagle Creek's product line on their web site, rather than on just Amazon, and I found the...

Eagle Creek Expanse Upright 26 inch



The Load Warrior looks cooler , but this one appears to have a method to secure the zippers to a central, fixed locking point (re: member Voshterkoff's point), it has the dual-rail telescoping handle for handling stability and it's about $24 cheaper.

This may be The One

I paid $150 for two lightweight spinners hard sided Samsonite at Costco. So far no issues. For years before that, I had Andiamo that worked well for 15 years of occasional travel, and two years of consultant travel (every week, six flights).

Costco has a TravelPro bag, looks like it's based on the Crew line, but it is only $99.00. It went on sale for $79.00, so I picked one up. Not quite a B&R, but it's very solid and one helluva value.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Thanks for the detailed product assessment, corsair.

I looked at the Eagle Creek Tarmac and that line is a bit spendy at $270 for a 26".

But that caused me to look at Eagle Creek's product line on their web site, rather than on just Amazon, and I found the...

Eagle Creek Expanse Upright 26 inch



The Load Warrior looks cooler , but this one appears to have a method to secure the zippers to a central, fixed locking point (re: member Voshterkoff's point), it has the dual-rail telescoping handle for handling stability and it's about $24 cheaper.

This may be The One

Ebags has that for $183 shipped with code "TRAVEL."

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Costco has a TravelPro bag, ...

The only TravelPro bag they show on-line is the 22" carry-on. We're looking more at checked luggage-sized bags. Thanks, though.

quote:

Originally posted by pingman274:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
...
Eagle Creek Expanse Upright 26 inch
...

Ebags has that for $183 shipped with code "TRAVEL."

Same price at Amazon Prime and I've already an account there. But thanks for the heads up!

Gets good reviews. Nobody here saying "NO! DON"T DO IT!," so I think I'll probably pull the trigger on that one sometime tomorrow.

Thanks, everybody, for the education, suggestions, etc.

Now I just gotta figure out the safest way to stash that liquor in there...

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Thanks for the detailed product assessment, corsair.

I looked at the Eagle Creek Tarmac and that line is a bit spendy at $270 for a 26".

But that caused me to look at Eagle Creek's product line on their web site, rather than on just Amazon, and I found the...

Eagle Creek Expanse Upright 26 inch

Luggage is an investment. Like a good pair of shoes, or a quality rain jacket, you'll appreciate the expense after a couple of uses, these are things that will last. Once you're at the airport with your new roller, you'll start looking at everyone else's bags and realize, there's a lot of crap out there. A carry-on will get a ton of use: pleasure travel, business travel, weekend trips or, over-nights, it's a worth while investment. Expanse Collection is a solid price-point assortment for EC, a step below Tarmac but, still well made and their most popular.

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Costco has a TravelPro bag, looks like it's based on the Crew line, but it is only $99.00. It went on sale for $79.00, so I picked one up. Not quite a B&R, but it's very solid and one helluva value.

I picked one up as well. 5 trips on it so far, it appears that it will do well.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Costco has a TravelPro bag, ...

The only TravelPro bag they show on-line is the 22" carry-on. We're looking more at checked luggage-sized bags. Thanks, though.

quote:

Originally posted by pingman274:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
...
Eagle Creek Expanse Upright 26 inch
...

Ebags has that for $183 shipped with code "TRAVEL."

Same price at Amazon Prime and I've already an account there. But thanks for the heads up!

Gets good reviews. Nobody here saying "NO! DON"T DO IT!," so I think I'll probably pull the trigger on that one sometime tomorrow.

Thanks, everybody, for the education, suggestions, etc.

Now I just gotta figure out the safest way to stash that liquor in there...

When you get it, let us know how well the internal frame handle could be accessed to loop a Nanovault cable around it. On our other luggage, we unzip the lining or cut a small slit.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Luggage is an investment. Like a good pair of shoes, or a quality rain jacket, you'll appreciate the expense after a couple of uses, these are things that will last.

Understood. But shoes and a jacket I know I'll use time-and-again. Depending upon a variety of factors this could well be the only time this bag ever gets used.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Once you're at the airport with your new roller, you'll start looking at everyone else's bags and realize, there's a lot of crap out there.

I know that already. Just perusing Amazon, and seeing all the low-end, no-name stuff with high ratings.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
A carry-on will get a ton of use: pleasure travel, business travel, weekend trips or, over-nights, it's a worth while investment.

Well, the carry-on was already covered. I used to use a Wilderness Experience messenger bag kind of a thing. Indestructible. Still have it, and I may use it this time. Or I'll use my Ranger-style backpack. Have not decided.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Expanse Collection is a solid price-point assortment for EC, a step below Tarmac but, still well made and their most popular.

Thanks for the input. I figured it was a step down from the Load Warrior but a significant step up from TravelPro.

quote:

Originally posted by pingman274:
When you get it, let us know how well the internal frame handle could be accessed to loop a Nanovault cable around it. On our other luggage, we unzip the lining or cut a small slit.

I'll try to remember to take a look and let y'all know.

quote:

Originally posted by pingman274:
When you get it, let us know how well the internal frame handle could be accessed to loop a Nanovault cable around it. On our other luggage, we unzip the lining or cut a small slit.

I don't know why they put it in there, and especially why the pull is on the wrong side, but there's a zipper all the way along the middle of the liner:



It's easy to zip back-and-forth, though, so the backwards pull is no problem. In fact: The bigger problem might be keeping the pull up with a nanovault cable playing through there. A piece of tape across it, perhaps?

Initial impression of the bag: Seems well-made. I expect that, with the carry-on carrying one full change of clothes (two changes of underwear), all the toiletries and medicines, and everything valuable (tablet, camera, etc.), this bag will be sufficient for ten days to a couple weeks of clothing.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by pingman274:
When you get it, let us know how well the internal frame handle could be accessed to loop a Nanovault cable around it. On our other luggage, we unzip the lining or cut a small slit.

I don't know why they put it in there, and especially why the pull is on the wrong side, but there's a zipper all the way along the middle of the liner:

It's maintenance access to get into the frame and backside of the trolley.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by pingman274:
When you get it, let us know how well the internal frame handle could be accessed to loop a Nanovault cable around it. On our other luggage, we unzip the lining or cut a small slit.

I don't know why they put it in there, and especially why the pull is on the wrong side, but there's a zipper all the way along the middle of the liner:



It's easy to zip back-and-forth, though, so the backwards pull is no problem. In fact: The bigger problem might be keeping the pull up with a nanovault cable playing through there. A piece of tape across it, perhaps?

Initial impression of the bag: Seems well-made. I expect that, with the carry-on carrying one full change of clothes (two changes of underwear), all the toiletries and medicines, and everything valuable (tablet, camera, etc.), this bag will be sufficient for ten days to a couple weeks of clothing.

Thank you for checking!

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Going to be going on an overseas trip soon. Don't feel like hauling around the old Samsonite hard-side thing I've had forever. Thinking something with wheels and telescoping handle?

I've a backpack like this



for carry-on.

So what works and what does not? Want something that can take a beating w/o breaking, breaking open, what-have-you. I expect this'll be the last luggage of this kind I'll ever buy, so I don't mind spending a bit more to get a bit more.

The soft-side stuff seems like it would be more resistant to abuse, but what about security? How to you keep thieves out of the soft-side stuff?

If it matters: I will want to stash a couple fifths of bourbon in there, as a gift to a nephew.

That's a nice shoot-me-first backpack that doesn't stand out at all...not. Especially for international travel

Two wheels on the suitcase are far better than four.

I travel a lot, all international legs much of the time, for several weeks at a time, and live out of the suitcase when I'm on the road. It's got to be organizable, reliable, and it's got to hold up. I stick to crew cases, so I use a LuggageWorks bag with replaceable inline skate wheels and bearings, and a metal frame and heavy duty handle. The current bag has seen some very heavy use, day in and day out, for 11 years. I've changed the wheels once. In and out of the airplane every day, it's held up remarkably well.

Get something with heavy duty zippers; they're often the first thing to go.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Going to be going on an overseas trip soon. Don't feel like hauling around the old Samsonite hard-side thing I've had forever. Thinking something with wheels and telescoping handle?

I've a backpack like this



for carry-on.

That's a nice shoot-me-first backpack that doesn't stand out at all...not. Especially for international travel

I wondered about that. Then thought "Nah." Thinking "Surely other travellers must use them. They're commonly available and work so well." Now you have me rethinking it.

It really is an exceedingly handy pack. With all its separate compartments it's easy to organize your stuff so you can get to one thing w/o digging through a bunch of other stuff and then having to rearrange it all, afterwards. And it holds more stuff than any one of my other carry-on-sized things. Even more than the backpack I have that looks larger.