<p>I have a variety of rolling duffle bags and I cannot speak stop raving about them. Everything that GMT touched upon. I’m able to pack the bag to its max or constrict it to a smaller size. It’s easy to pick up and roll when needed. I’ve gotten mine from Target, as well. </p>
<p>They are amazing. </p>
<p>Op,
Check out ebags website also.
There is luggage in general and luggage for move in to dorms.
For general luggage, I actually like having a 28" or so, 24" and 19". The 19 is a carryon.
D uses all of them.
The 28 is my fav size and u can keep it at 50 lbs if it’s not overstuffed. Pick luggage that is light so u can put more stuff in it.
I have not bought 4 wheel spinners because I’ve heard that the spinners sometimes break off.</p>
<p>For dorm move in, we bought rolling duffles from ebags.
Got the second to the largest size (maybe 26"?) at $30 each. </p>
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<p>Those things are the bomb! Finally a way to pack a couple of shirts and dress pants and keep them semi-presentable. Really cool product.</p>
<p>I’ve also become a fan of the Eagle Creek ultra-light zipper cube pouches in various sizes. I end up with a duffel filled with these. One for rolled up shirts. One for socks/underwear. Etc. I got hooked on this approach for loading a backpack, but it works equally well for a suitcase or travel duffel. </p>
<p>We have a variety of duffels- jansport, LL Bean, some very light ones made of parachute material, ones with bottom compartments for shoes/boots. Ou name it. They’ve come in handy. But none match, which is just fine.</p>
<p>Matched luggage is for woosies… it’s a sign you don’t travel enough to wear out your luggage.</p>
<p>I second everything that GMT wrote, especially the recommendation of FUL duffels! I’m still kicking myself for not buying a couple more of them at Costco when they were there for $40! I gave the 2 that I got to our overseas visitors after seeing them struggling with their lousy suitcases.</p>
<p>Out luggage (which travels quite frequently) consists of:
<p>None of it really matches, and I don’t really care. TJMaxx is a great source of luggage, and Tumi outlets often have additional savings during holiday sales. This is probably more info than our OP needs, but since we are talking about travel and luggage… Someone might find some of this useful. </p>
<p>This is the gift a generous aunt has given my 3 daughters when they graduated high school. They’ve purchased 3 pieces–all in the same line and color but not a set as they selected the specific pieces. My older two ended up liking victorinox which has an excellent warranty. Oldest D had her largest bag replaced for a $25 processing fee when it showed signs of wear. </p>
<p>One selected a 27" and a 22" (maximum carry on) that have wheels but not the spinners along with a tote. The second selected a style with spinner wheels (my personal preference) and also selected the 27" and 22" but then liked a duffel rather than the tote. The Avolve line of Victorinox has spinner wheels and the 22" has an exterior padded laptop pocket that is very handy. Third D just graduated and hasn’t selected hers yet.</p>
<p>Oldest D advises not to get a 27" as it’s very difficult to keep it under the weight limit but D2 has made it work for her. All 3 of mine go/went to college across the country so packing up quite a bit for plane travel has been a necessity a couple times each year and one studied abroad and they both have travelled a fair amount in addition so the suitcases have all been well used. </p>
<p>In some parts of the world, the largest size for a carry on is 20" rather than 22" and my daughters considered the former rather than the latter in anticipation of travel but both ultimately selected the 22" and it hasn’t been a problem. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Find out if she is looking at carry-on or checked bags, or both.</p>
<p>For carry-on, find out if she wants a non-wheel backpack or duffel, or a wheeled rollaboard?</p>
<p>If shopping for wheeled rollaboards, it may be worth bringing a tape measure, since some wheeled rollaboards are larger than the advertised size after considering wheels, handles, etc. that stick out (and cannot be squished in like for a soft sided backpack or duffel).</p>
<p>My sister just got a TravelPro wheeled 20" back back for international planes. we had to measure several bags to get the small one. It is not just the height, but the width.</p>
<p>I have and give as gifts lots of TravelPro, because the outlet and repair store is nearby. For my son, a light weight spinner set of carry-on and large bag. He uses his own backpack. The carry-on gets far more use than the large suitcase, which is used mainly for moves. </p>
<p>My go-to is a 22 inch Delsey light weight bag. Love that bag! Add the tote (made to attach to the handle and you are ready to carry-on. Plenty of room in that bag.
I really love the 4 wheel spinner bags but haven’t found “the one” yet. They are great in small spaces and wheeling down the tight aisle of the airplane.
If you shop for a bag, take a tape measure with you!!! Many bags labeled “22 inch” carry on are NOT 22 inches! They are 23 or 24 inches–the measurements conveniently do not include the wheels. They will not be carry-on.</p>
<p>I have Tumi luggage that’s held up for nearly 20 years. My H who travels for business–at least two weeks out of every month recently switched from his Tumi carry-on to a Victorinox Spectra Dual Access carry-on (with wheels). My kids bought it for him at Christmas and he loves it. </p>
<p>Mine is an Andiamo. I wish I can get another. Now my D takes it to college. Best luggage ever.</p>
<p>Don’t get big bags–not only are they cumbersome but it’s very hard to stay under the weight restrictions.</p>
<p>Lots of great suggestions & advice. She found a few sets/rolled duffles that she likes and is weighing the pros & cons of each. So much to consider. Lol is there anything in life that doesn’t require so much thought? Lol </p>
<p>This is probably not useful advice for your friend, as this doesn’t sound like what she’s looking for, but in case anyone else is interested, I have a great recommendation for frequent travelers.</p>
<p>I have a Travel Pro max lite that’s about 20-21 inches, carries onto almost all aircraft except the bug smashers. It is sturdy, fits quite a bit, and is SO LIGHT. I got it at Macys, about $200. You can cram it full of stuff and it’s still light. So many times people jump up to help me put my bag in the overhead (I look pretty weak, but I’m not), and I just twirl it around over my head, pop it in there, and say, “Thanks, I got it!” Leaving them perplexed. I can’t count the times the taxi drivers say, “How can a woman pack so light?” And it’s not that I pack light, it’s just that the bag weighs next to nothing.</p>
<p>Busdriver…I have the very same carryon…and I love it. But I got mine at TJMaxx…for $80.</p>
<p>My wife thinks I have a luggage fetish. I travel a lot – a couple of international trips a month plus domestic plus serious vacations (Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam early this year; Croatia/Czech Republic later this year). I own/have owned Tumi, Andiamo (sorry @iglooo but I believe they filed for bankruptcy), Samsonite, Travel Briggs & Riley, Hartmann, High Sierra, North Face, Ricardo, Kirkland, eBags, Mountain Smith, MEC, JanSport and no doubt others. I have sent my kids off traveling and to college. Unlike an earlier poster whose luggage has lasted for decades, mine does wear out.</p>
<p>Which luggage you want depends upon the use. I generally prefer soft-sided to hard-sided luggage – it gives you more flexibility. For getting to college, a rolling duffel and duffels that fold flat and can be stored under the bed (like this <a href=“http://www.mec.ca/product/5030-442/mec-duffle-bag/?Ntk=productsearch_en_q32008&h=10+20034&f=10+20034+50007&q=luggage”>http://www.mec.ca/product/5030-442/mec-duffle-bag/?Ntk=productsearch_en_q32008&h=10+20034&f=10+20034+50007&q=luggage</a> or this <a href=“http://www.ebags.com/product/mountainsmith/travel-trunk-xl-duffle/146214?productid=10007344&lastSearchTerm=mountainsmith+travel+trunk+-+xl+duffle”>http://www.ebags.com/product/mountainsmith/travel-trunk-xl-duffle/146214?productid=10007344&lastSearchTerm=mountainsmith+travel+trunk+-+xl+duffle</a>) are great. For coming home from college for a short trip and for weekend trips and job-related stuff, maybe a small carry-on rolling suitcase. I have found great ones at Costco (here’s a small rolling cart that I am using instead of my $600+ Tumi: <a href=“http://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature™-21"-Hybrid-Spinner-Carry-On---Black-.product.100080005.html”>http://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature™-21"-Hybrid-Spinner-Carry-On---Black-.product.100080005.html</a>). Something like this (<a href=“MEC Supercontinent 65 Travel Pack | MEC”>MEC Supercontinent 65 Travel Pack | MEC) - backpack with zip-on daypack – can be great for a trip to Europe or South America. </p>
<p>@thumper1, $80? That’s incredible. My husband’s suitcase is broken, I’m going to TJMaxx to find him one!</p>
<p>I know BD! It’s a nice sky blue color.</p>
<p>Nautica makes some really quality luggage sets for a reasonable price!</p>