We’ve used both very expensive sets (Hartmann, Tumi) and cheaper ones. Nothing beats Costco (Kirkland Signature) luggage for value. We travel 50-60 nights per year and mostly use the small Costco carry-ons for personal trips. We use the larger ones ( for longer work trips) where more clothes are needed. They have lots of pockets and spaces, a dirty clothes bag, pockets for shoes, etc. They have a 22" 2 wheel and 4 wheel model, the 4 wheel model is a lot more practical for air travel and slightly smaller. The 4 wheel model is small enough for carry-on on most airlines, except a few in Asia where the carry-on size is extra small and limited to 7 kg. The 2 wheel model works on domestic airlines but is too big for most overseas ones. It’s a pretty good value for $100 and if it wears out just return it to Costco for a refund or exchange.
As a benefit carry-on only lets you easily take advantage of overbooking compensation offers.
For a checked bag, a wheeled duffel is very practical for odd shaped and loose items like shoes and boots.
I’d avoid hard luggage unless you are transporting delicate or fragile items.
We’ve always used soft-sided luggage probably for a trivial reason - we just don’t like hard luggage banging and knocking on stuff whenever you handle it. Loading it in the trunk, thumping against your knees/legs when you’re lifting it, whacking on stuff in the closet when you’re putting it away, etc.
It does seem like hard-sided would protect fragile contents better, so if I did a European vacation and was expecting to bring back Murano Glass, then I’d probably bring along a piece of hard-sided luggage. We did have a trip many years ago where some Murano Glass did not survive the trip home in our soft-sided duffle.
My soft Tumi rollerboard is about 30 years old, been with me on many, many business trips and still looks practically new. I had the handle repaired once a few years ago, but that was it. It rarely gets checked, though. Definitely turned out to be a good investment at the time, although I probably wouldn’t pay $600+ for it now.
Just a side anecdote about how rough airlines can be on checked baggage, not a comment on hard-sided durability: my cousin was a million-mile flyer some years back. He always checked a full size hard-sided suitcase and about once a year needed to replace it as the airlines somehow always managed to destroy it (we were in one of the cities he regularly visited so got to see him regularly and hear his road-warrior stories). IIRC he was fond of Samsonite at the time.
^^^I have an old soft-shell Tumi that’s 20+ years old and was starting to look bad. I decided to get a new carry-on last year and nixed a new Tumi. I bought a Rimowa 17 inch Salsa Air with spinners. It weighs 3.5 lbs with mesh separators. It’s hard-sided—I love it.
We’ve undertaken a considerable amount of travel in the past few years. It’s been different types of trips -cruises, weekend jaunts, longer land/car based international trips, business hops, tropical destinations with all the assorted snorkeling gear etc.
As we’ve gotten older the basic stuff we bring has changed. There are more ‘personal support’ items which need to be schlepped - CPAP, extension cords, electronics of various forms and such. Plus, in a complete reversal of stereotypical gender rolls, H has begun shopping like a man possessed. I tend to return with a small piece of jewelry while he has driven us to panic purchase another piece of luggage so that we could wrangle all of his newly found treasures.
I say all this because when our travel phase started we were using Costco duffels - the two compartment kind - hard shell bottom/soft top. I found myself hating these things and really liking the junky soft sided suitcases which we had sitting around.
We’ve now settled on all soft sided suitcases. I’ve been purchasing IT brand pieces at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. They are amazingly light weight and so far seem to be pretty durable. They come in an array of really loud (tacky chic?) colors, No one will mistakenly take these as their own when they roll down the baggage claim track. Two of the pieces nest and I’ll have H pack the smaller one and nest it in the larger one - so we have an extra suitcase if we need the space for the return trip.
We’ve packed very delicate items in the soft sided luggage with no damage.
We also have two hardish sided Costco roller carry ons. These are slightly larger than our soft sided ones. We sometimes use these for shorter trips where we only have carry on luggage.
Not sure I’d trust the IT bag to being checked but I love it. Seems like you’ve checked them and they’ve survived. Good to know. SO light. Pick it up and it’s difficult to convince yourself to go heavier. I figure with weight limits I can cram in more items than with a heavier bag. True about the loud colors but I have a bright blue and it’s my favorite.
Also love Delsey and Revo bags.
I was looking at an IT set at TJ - it was hard shell and was a pale dusty pink with brown “leather” trim - it was super attractive but I thought the pale pink would be a disaster after a couple of trips.
I have a lot of my marine gear and tools in Pelican cases, but there is no way in Hades I’d use it for luggage… too heavy. If you have delicate, expensive equipment that you absolutely want to protect - Pelican is awesome. For schlepping clothes, shoes and toiletries around, it would be overkill and a nightmare.
My son is at a college far away so he needs to fly and so we are also looking at luggage for him. I found a nice one at TJ - hard side but with some “give”. Had a lot of organization features inside. Now i’m worried that you all say hard side isn’t good!
That is the tradeoff for the “armoring” that some in this thread are concerned about (regarding other hard sided bags that are damaged easily, or want to be able to protect fragile items in the bags).
Look, UCB, we are talking about typical travel suitcases. If the OP asked for a case to pack photo gear or specialty chemistry glassware, yes, those would do. Apparently, that is not the case (pun intended) here.
Daughter goes to school abroad. Bought 2, extra large IT soft side bags, found at Walmart for about $45 or $50. She packed them to the maximum weight allowance. They have made several trips and work fine, wheels, zippers, material all have held up very well. She carried desk lamp, shelving, dive equipment, larger converter,etc.
My D3 travels a lot. She has an Away hard sided suitcase. She loves it. She wants to get me one for Christmas, but I think I will pass. She does carry wine in it, and checks it, so that is a point in its favor.
Let your daughter buy you the AWAY-Bigger Carry On sized bag for Christmas.
You will not regret it but if you do after using it for a few trips… then return it.
Fits overhead compartments wheels first.
Rolls like a dream.
Far and AWAY(pun intended) the AWESOMEST carry on, I’ve owned.
If I checked in luggage regularly then I would go for the Away in the bigger size.
Lucky Mom, let her buy you something she believes will make your traveling easier…
I’ve said it before, but I am a fan of Travelpro. Their store is in my city, so convenient for repairs. They have both soft and hard, and pretty colors. Today they are having BIG sale.
Writing in from Asia, frequent overseas traveler. I have gone to Delsey Helium and Briggs and Riley (like @HImom). Light weight for the strength and not total break the bank to purchase. Many overseas flights are stricter on weight limits than domestic flights. It’s made a difference for me when I lack status with an airlines for slight overweighted.
I also have a travel pro which I love, but don’t fly with any more. Too heavy.
I suggest you get something with 4 sets of double wheels - I think they are called spinners. I got my daughter one last year and the thing practically wheels itself. It is soft sided, Ricardo brand which I got at Macy’s. Between sales, coupons, and using my Macy’s charge it was a great deal.
If the OP asked for a case to pack photo gear or specialty chemistry glassware, yes, those would do. Apparently, that is not the case (pun intended) here.