<p>I just found the suitcase I liked on Amazon for a lot more than 50% off and the salesperson could not tell me what the actual discount would be on Friday – could be as low as 30%. Also, I’m crazy busy and it would be nice to get it shipped (I don’t pay shipping as I’m a Prime customer.)</p>
<p>Good wheels are a must. I liked the idea of a large wheeled duffle, but the one I bought was canvas/floppy and tipped. Also it became a pain at the destination - more pockets would have helped. It was a bit of a relief when it tore, and I went back to normal suitcase. </p>
<p>I do recommend shopping in person. Kohl’s often has good sales and/or coupons. </p>
<p>One of my luggage shopping complaints is that the ultimate models with great wheels and brand name are too expensive. But the “sets of five” (much less expensive) seem too cheaply made.</p>
<p>Thanks, Puzzled. FWIW, the tip I got from my MIL many years ago is to leave stuff from the dry cleaners in the dry cleaning bags. Fold it as many times as necessary (like 2 for shirts, 3 for dresses) and lay in the bottom of the suitcase. For some reason things come out surprisingly wrinkle-free. (And DH never used hard suitcases–just duffles with no wheels. I <em>hate</em> lugging stuff around an airport.)</p>
<p>I like duffel’s because they are light but both my son and my oldest son really like their Spinners. I got one similar to this one [Delsey</a> Meridian Plus Hardside 25" Suiter Trolley - eBags.com](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/product/delsey/meridian-plus-hardside-25-suiter-trolley/67791?productid=802601]Delsey”>http://www.ebags.com/product/delsey/meridian-plus-hardside-25-suiter-trolley/67791?productid=802601) for my husband after he kept borrowing our son’s. Both are about five years old so I don’t think they make the same model that I bought. The things to look for, as other people have mentioned, are the four wheels, which makes them so easy to maneuver.</p>
<p>A couple years ago I found Victorinox at Tuesday Morning at unbelievable prices. The thing I like best–and will not buy another piece without–are the spinning wheels. They enable you to turn your luggage and roll it the ‘thin’ way through the aisle in the airplane and they’re just so easy to manuever. Once I hurt my back midway through a trip I was taking solo and I was still able to wheel my bag, albeit incredibly slowly, because of the wheels that enabled me to turn the bag 90 degrees. </p>
<p>I also like that this luggage has a front outside pocket that is deep and large enough to hold several magazines…and a smaller outside pocket on top that’s the right size for my very full baggie with liquids and phone charger. DH’s favorite bag has two smallish pockets that are the same size and I appreciate mine all the more the few times I’ve had to use his (these are the suitcases that can be carried on). </p>
<p>Finally, if you’re getting a coordinating small bag to go with your new suitcase, my new discovery is getting a bag that has a flap along one side that enables you to slide the smaller bag along the telescope (?) handle of the suitcase. Walking through the airport (or anywhere) just pulling the one handle without juggling a big over the shoulder bag at the same time makes travelling so much easier.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Thanks. That sounds like the same design I purchased last night. I was attracted to that large outside deep pocket.</p>
<p>Several years ago, just before a big overseas family vacation, the Container Store had all of their Eagle Creek Packing do-dads on markdown. Best packing tools ever!. [Eagle</a> Creek The Pack-It? System](<a href=“http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions/]Eagle”>http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions/) Now no one loses socks at the bottom of the mangy old duffels we travel with, and the nice clothes come out almost wrinkle free!</p>
<p>One word of warning: If you get a nice suitcase, guard it with your life. My D made off with mine…pout.</p>
<p>I bought some of those ‘packing squares’ before my last big trip. They really are great. You can find them in different sizes. I bought mine in bright colors from Target. Undies in the blue, socks in the pink, scarves and t’s in big orange one. You don’t wind up with a ‘stew’ of clothes in your suitcase by the third day and, if you are traveling with someone, it is easy to find what you need even if they are asleep and you don’t want to turn on the light.</p>
<p>Also, if you can find a toiletries bag that hangs up, it helps to keep the tiny bathroom counters clear, esp. in Europe and on cruises. <a href=“L.L.Bean: Page Not Available”>L.L.Bean: Page Not Available;
<p>Ditto, mimk6: I will never leave the parent cafe. I think it’s taken the place of going and consulting with the village elders.</p>
<p>We have several older, rolling duffels that we got at Target. They are the type that have two compartments. The top zips open duffel style and the bottom section is accessed by unzipping and flipping up the top section. I find this to be rather unhandy, because the top section can get rather heavy and cumbersome once packed. My husband loves these bags, but he’s the sort who unpacks his bag at every hotel. I prefer to live out of the suitcase unless we’re staying multiple days, so I prefer a regular suitcase.</p>
<p>I tried shopping Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning for luggage until I realized that they are(for the most part) unloading older style heavier bags. With the new strict weight restrictions it does not pay to get a bag that weighs over 8-10 lbs. So beware.
I also love the Eagle Creek packing cubes.</p>
<p>Costco has a lot of luggage in inventory these days. You may wish to look them over to see if any meet your needs. As has been written many times, their exchange policy can’t be beaten and usually their prices are pretty decent.</p>
<p>The general perception around duffels is not that great. It is felt that clothes wrinkle, they’re difficult to maneuver, etc. Personally, I love duffel with wheels for a number of reasons. For one, they easily fit into the overhead compartment on airplanes. We have been using the [Eagle</a> Creek](<a href=“http://www.bergmanluggage.com/eagle-creek.html]Eagle”>http://www.bergmanluggage.com/eagle-creek.html) rolling duffel for a long time. I can pack in a weeks clothes, shoes and toiletries. It still feels light! It is also highly durable and has held up better than any other luggage case I have ever owned.</p>
<p>we love the motherlode…big enough for long trips or college overseas trips with decent places for shoes…plus it does stand up and combines suitcase and duffle features.</p>
<p>I checked out Mother Lode as well as high sierra and eagle creek. Only the last one has no wheels which is a requirement for us. S is going for a long trip overseas, and we need all the weight we can get. The wheels do add extra weight. Is eagle creek x-large duffle a reliable deal? A friend of S has a LLBean duffel but when I checked their website it seems that all of their luggage has wheels. S is the first in the family to travel on such a long trip so I need all of your advice and experience.</p>
<p>Hmmm… I’d rethink the sacrifice of wheels to save weight. It might be just too darn heavy to carry very far.</p>
<p>Wheels and handle shouldn’t add that much weight. Wheels are like inline skate wheels…and…skaters don’t want heavy wheels! On most pieces…there are only 2 wheels…and handle/frame are also made out of lightweight materials. I’d give up the pound of clothes for the wheels and handle…</p>
<p>Mother Lode duffel is very impressive…I looked at the video on the ebags site. </p>
<p>One of our children got LL Bean luggage, and it still looks almost new even after at least 2 flights per year cross country for 4 years. However, the pieces are canvas-like and not very lightweight (they may now have lighter pieces…)</p>
<p>Thanks, 2boysima. I searched LLBean site again and found X-large adventure bag.[Rolling</a> Adventure Duffle, Extra-Large: Duffle Bags at L.L.Bean](<a href=“Rolling Adventure Duffle, Extra-Large | Duffle Bags at L.L.Bean”>Rolling Adventure Duffle, Extra-Large | Duffle Bags at L.L.Bean)… S already has one wheelie and I was trying to free up his hands. One of the reviewers on the adventure bag site claims that the bag itself is very light which is a major selling point for me. Has anybody used it before?</p>