<p>Am looking for a new wheeled bag for DH, who does lots of travel. He currently has a 26" LL Bean wheeled bag, but it has seen better days. He is tough on luggage. He has a carry-on sized bag already, but he does a lot of int’l travel/longer trips that require a bigger bag. </p>
<p>Requirements:
– 26"
– soft sided
– 360 degree spinner wheels
– relatively open interior (not a lot of interior pockets)
– good internal construction so that the handle doesn’t get bent and not slide shut properly (has happened a couple of times on other bags)</p>
<p>Would love to know what brands to avoid and any specific recommendations!</p>
<p>The real issue, for such travel, is getting a bag that has a great repair/replacement warranty. There are a number of manufacturers who still do this at various price ranges, though most will be at the higher end of pricing.</p>
<p>I have been happy with my Tumi and have used it pretty heavily for about 10 years, but it has seen better days and I, too, would love ideas for a replacement. Tumi is just a little too pricey. We have some Swiss Army pieces that seem to do well, but I don’t know about the 360 wheel rotation (ours don’t have that) and they haven’t seen the kind of wear my Tumi has.</p>
<p>If you could live without the spinner wheels, I find the incredibly un-sexy Kirkland luggage at Costco to be a great value. It holds up much better than the more expensive/lifetime warranty bags I’ve had (like Briggs & Riley). The problem with getting an expensive bag with a lifetime warranty is that you have to send it to be repaired. Suitcases are big and a PITA to ship. It’s also hard to have a suitcase out of commission while you’re waiting for its return. I’d rather get a cheaper bag and just replace it when it dies, which was my theory when I purchased two $99 bags from Costco. Of course now the Costco bags refuse to die…</p>
<p>I don’t have the spinner wheels but absolutely love the Delsey bags. Light weight, very roomy, sturdy. Mine’s seen a fair bit of abuse and seems to have survived. Good zippers and expansion possibilities. I go carry-on usually (even long trips) and the 22" can be packed to the max. These days you can’t get over a certain weight anyway without incurring big charges. Dillard’s carries them and on clearance you can get some great deals.</p>
<p>^^Ditto Dad II’s suggestion. We’ve used Travelpro for years and love it. One of the best features is how lightweight the luggage is to begin with. Very important when you have weight limits!</p>
<p>I hate the Travelpro spinner collection, Walkabout Lite 4. I have 4 of them-- two 29 inchers and two 25 inchers.The airlines “lose” the zipper tongues (handles) which the airlines (SWA) don’t cover since it is considered “trim”. Sure, the manufacturer has a lifetime warranty. The only problem with that is there is ONE repair shop in the entire east S.F. bay area, located in S.F. 2 miles from a BART station. (I live in Walnut Creek.) I DO have a standard roller Travelpro that is about 25 years old and is still going strong, but I would not purchase their spinners.</p>
<p>I also say purchase your next bag at Costco. The selection is minimal but usually you can find the size bag you’re looking for from Samsonite or Ricardo of Beverly Hills. When it finally “breaks” in a few years or sooner, Costco will take it back for a full refund.</p>
<p>3rding or 4thing TravelPro. For ~$150, they’re the best carry on bags I’ve ever had. Rolls great, great warranty. Anything you check is going to get used and abused, but TravelPros seem to hold up to the damage the best. Plus they’re so fun to roll!</p>
<p>I buy everyone in family Travelpro, as store nearby. 4x a year they have a big sale. They always have an outlet room. Contact them directly. Or PM me.</p>
<p>If you choose to go with TravelPro, do not go with the lightweight line. It is NOT durable. Definitely does not live up to the reputation of their heavier and more expensive bags.</p>
<p>Additionally, if you choose to go for an expensive brand (rather than buying a cheap Costco bag), watch for sales. I have had very good luck at sierratradingpost.com. They often have Briggs & Riley, Victorinox, and Eagle Creek, among other brands (they even have the cheap, lightweight TravelPro line, but don’t buy it, no matter how cheap). But don’t buy a bag from STP without using a coupon code. They often mark things down an additional 20-45%. For example, I just got a 22" Eagle Creek carry on that most places are selling for around $250 (down from over $300) for $105. This might seem to contradict my buy cheap Costco luggage advice, but I wanted something weather resistant for this bag.</p>
<p>DH is a VERY efficient packer. He generally tries to go with the carry-on since he has a “known traveler” pass that gets him through customs quickly and is also a muckety-muck on United and gets free bags. However, when he is overseas for 7-10 days, he needs more than one suit (no business casual). His employer does not pay for laundry services while on business travel, and he’s not going to wash underwear in the sink. He “double shifts” on his overseas trips, too, meaning he works a full day on site, then goes back to the hotel and spends another 6-8 hours doing his regular day job. (When it’s 6 pm in Frankfurt, it’s barely lunchtime here, and he has to keep all the other balls in the air while he’s away.)</p>
<p>His carry-on bag is from Costco. It has worked out very well.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, pro and con on the various bags. He is really hard to shop for, so I try hard to hit home runs with this kind of stuff.</p>
<p>I have purchased a couple of wheeled bags from Eddie Bauer recently. They are apparently guaranteed forever, so f you have a problem you can return. I also have had success with the Costco bags, but they don’t always have them near us.</p>
<p>My DH had the costco carry-on when he travelled weekly. It was just a smidge too big fro some of the overhead compartments. A real shame. Its a great bag. He loved it. If only it were a 1/4" smaller…</p>
<p>I have had good Costco and Macy’s bags. I prefer the former so I can get them refunded if they break. Seems like a good plan for me. H, D, S and I have been happy with this strategy. The limited selection at Costco is more than offset by the great return policy. We have Briggs and Riley luggage bags now from Costco.</p>