<p>A very dear friend wants to buy DD a nice luggage set as a high school graduation gift. We don’t travel much, and when we do, we borrow hers. Lol </p>
<p>Any suggestions for a nice luggage set? High quality, sturdy etc. </p>
<p>Thank you! </p>
<p>Well…it depends on what the daughter plans to do. We did NOT buy either of our kids sets. But each got a very good backpack, and a very good carryon piece. Those were what they thought they would use the most, and in fact, that IS what they use! Both have SwissGear carryon bags. Both have top of the line Jansport backpacks. </p>
<p>My youngest has an Osprey Ariel backpack & I have an Eaglecreek carry on.
Either recommended, depends what she do more.
Really generous gift!</p>
<p>Yes, incredibly generous. She mentioned it last fall & it completely slipped my mind. She just reminded me today so I wanted to follow up and not sure where to start. Luggagepros dot com. Everything looks nice but still not sure where to begin. </p>
<p>@thumper1 </p>
<p>She will be using it to travel via airplane & train I’m sure. My friend seems to think that dd will be needing it sooner than later. </p>
<p>NH…does this gal plan to haul her own things? How far is she traveling and for how long?</p>
<p>My opinion…a 24 inch suitcase is manageable. Anything larger is ungainly and can be easily over packed exceeding the weight limits for air travel. </p>
<p>I have a travel pro carryon. It is very lightweight and easy to manage. They make a 24 inch suitcase as well. </p>
<p>Okay. Thanks T1. A set would be good & yes, she would need something that she can manage on her own. A 3-4 piece set. 24" and smaller. Does anyone have any thoughts on the hard luggage? They sure are snazzy. Is that style of luggage cumbersome?</p>
<p>There have been several excellent threads on this topic . I agree that having luggage sets is probably not necessary in this day and age unless she plans to travel for a long period and needs to check a bag.</p>
<p>Older s wanted a carry-on that had more space inside, so chose a 2 wheel rather than one with spinners. Younger preferred spinners. But both wanted soft sided with the expandable option. Seems to be able to hold more, and they can use the trick of filling the suitcase in the expanded size, then sitting on it and zipping it smaller, Just got younger one the samsonite with the newest wheels (they are spheres and hopefully wont break off like the older ones). <a href=“http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/samsonite-reg-silhouette-sphere-luggage-collection-in-black/207284”>http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/samsonite-reg-silhouette-sphere-luggage-collection-in-black/207284</a> Older one has a Ricardo Beverly Hills carry on <a href=“http://www.ricardobeverlyhills.com/carry-on”>http://www.ricardobeverlyhills.com/carry-on</a>. They both use computer bags/backpacks as well. They travel a LOT and are very happy with these items.</p>
<p>3-4 pieces? Sorry, but unless she has a Sherpa, this is NOT going to be manageable if they are all suitcase.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest…one carryon size bag, one regular suitcase, but not a huge one! And a really good backpack.</p>
<p>We somehow never like the hard luggage. We also do not like a full set of luggage (the smaller ones were not used.) But DS only needed the luggage to go back and forth between his hometown and the school and no place else. (i.e., he did not study abroad.)</p>
<p>In early years, DS would often (or we made him to do so, LOL) have two check-ins. (back in those years when two check-ins were free.) Later, he had one large check-in only. In recent years, he only had one medium-sized check-in.</p>
<p>Over the years, many luggages were broken over use. I believe they were handled roughly at the airport. We stopped caring what kind of luggage we purchased because we assume they will be broken sooner or later, We just replace them when they are not in good shape.</p>
<p>We paid more attention to the quality of the wheels. In general, the larger (mostly) metal wheels are better. </p>
<p>All hail the rolling duffle bags. I haven’t had one fail me yet. </p>
<p>NH, have your friend look at the LL Bean line. They have several different size rolling duffles, plus suitcases as well. Very durable, and lots of color choices.</p>
<p>Instead of buying a set which has some fairly useless pieces, why don’t they get a large rolling duffel bag (Niquii seems to like hers, too 
), an international size (21’’ or smaller) carryon, a sturdy garment bag (very useful for overnight business trips), and a set of packing envelopes from Eagle Creek?</p>
<p>We have used large suitcases… not often, but have been glad when we needed them - typically for trips that are for two plus weeks long and in varying climates, requiring different clothes for each climate. They came in handy especially when each D studied abroad - they chose to travel with two large suitcases instead of shipping stuff. And my preference is for spinners as opposed to wheelers. Soft-sided has worked for us, but I suspect it’s not as durable as the hard-sided.</p>
<p>Check out the Eddie Bauer line. The carry on works for Europe - they roll. Have larger ones too - these are duffle style. My kids love them. Could get a larger one, the carry on and a backpack to match.</p>
<p>Okay! Thanks for your input everyone!!</p>
<p>My husband and I each have a 26" Eagle Creek rolling duffle. They expand and we try to pack them unexpanded so if we make an unexpected purchase, there’s room. They also have hidden padded backstraps that can be used in a pinch, so that covers most situations. Any larger than this and they become impractical for lifting up stairs and onto trains, etc. We find that we take about the same amount of stuff for any trip from 1 week and more and just wash as needed. I think most young people would want something like a rolling duffle to fit into the informal travel style of the young. Ours have been incredibly abused and held up and still look nice. They aren’t cheap, but worth it. Very nice gift for your D! Oh, and one important thing is lots of handles, top and bottom and sides, and compression straps. Most of Eagle Creek can be bought in different sizes, but I would pay a lot of attention to the details of the medium size which will get used a lot (hopefully for her!)</p>
<p>I like Hartmann because they last. To get a whole set of Hartmann would be very expensive, but I would prefer to get one or two pieces from Hartmann. I would get a medium size rather than get a huge one because of 50 lbs limit. A nice carry on with wheels would be very practical too.</p>
<p>I love my timbuktu laptop bag that slips over the handle of the hard carryon on wheels. Costco had some nice wheely carryons that were $40. Timbuktu bag is about $100 but can be used as a work bag when not traveling</p>
<p>We’ve tried just about every kind of luggage. We live overseas w 2 our kids in school in the States, so kids & us are all constantly schlepping stuff in luggage.</p>
<p>DON’T BUY HARD LUGGAGE. My closet is of several hardside suitcases that no one in the family likes to use. They are bulky; heavy-- easy to overload past weight restrictions; take up a lot of storage space; hinges break easily. </p>
<p>2-wheeled rolling duffels are the best for train travel. They are narrow enough when pulled to roll easily down train aisles. Then they smush down and take up little storage space.</p>
<p>I HATE 4-wheeled spinner bags. I think manufacturers have gone to this style bcs they are easier to manufacture. The wheels are small & wimpy so they don’t roll well if u pull the bags tilted on 2 wheels-- pulling is a faster way to go than pushing. The 4-wheeled bags move best on all 4 wheels, but then they have to be PUSHED, and they only glide well on mirror-smooth floors. Wimpy bags.</p>
<p>A big downdide to 4-wheel spinner rollaboard bags is that the compartment is shorter. You lose the bottom space bcs of the 2 extra wheels below. When have u ever seen an airline pilot w anything but a 2-wheeled rollaboard? Pilots know…</p>
<p>I’ve bought expensive luggage & I’ve bought cheap-a$$ emergency luggage. The best value I’ve found for price, utility, weight & durability is this 30" rolling duffle from FUL. Sturdy zippers & under a 100 bucks! Between the kids & us, I have bought more than a half dozen of these from Target:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IV5M8EM?cache=c0c9112a660148f4536a4bc1536256ae&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1402888823&sr=1-10#ref=mp_s_a_1_10”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IV5M8EM?cache=c0c9112a660148f4536a4bc1536256ae&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1402888823&sr=1-10#ref=mp_s_a_1_10</a></p>
<p>I will never buy another BLACK bag again. Too easy to confuse w everyone else’s black bag. </p>
<p>At a minimum, my kids have needed a backpack for laptop, a wheely bag that fits in an airplane overhead bin for weekend trips, and a rolling duffel for winter/spring break. </p>