<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for luggage for a college bound freshman?
D will be travelling by plane - only an hour away- so a carry on may be a good idea. A duffle would take up less room in her dorm. Wheels would be an advantage too. Any thoughts or experience?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>We got our D three pieces: a 22-inch carryon, 24-inch for checked baggage and a nice big 28-inch again for checking that will accommodate lots of stuff, like tennis racquets, etc. Wheels on all three. The dorm may have a storage shed or just fit them under the bed.</p>
<p>I like the duffles with wheels. Can be rolled up and tucked away, can also double up as laundry hamper.</p>
<p>Our daughter got 2 LLBean Rolling Adventure Duffles - large and extra-large, I think, monogrammed. She will have long plane rides, with multiple flight changes, and is very petite, so we may get her the medium as well, just for trips home. We thought these pieces were a good compromise of relatively lightweight, relatively sturdy and relatively cheap. ALso they flatten down very well for storage. We each have a small rolling carry-on, but have almost given them up in favor of cheap duffles from W’mart - we use these for a few trips and then they get downgraded to gym bags. Gym bags and camping bags have a habit of walking away at our house.</p>
<p>GOOD TIP</p>
<p>DD’s bags came monogrammed, they were a gift. BUT, we ordinarily mark our anonymous black bags by writing DH’s screen name on the bag with white fabric paint. Screen names are usually sufficiently unusual and anonymous to make a good identifier. We lost a bag an an overseas flight once, and got a note back with the bag that ours was one of easiest to identify they had ever had. Great tip I got from another website years ago.</p>
<p>Don’t buy expensive luggage. After all, you only use it when traveling. ;)</p>
<p>Another one of those LL Bean duffle parents. D has XL rolling duffle and the XL duffle both monogrammed. Also has LL Bean tote for the trip home.</p>
<p>I got some great hard sided luggage at Marshalls. It has self-contained locks both with keys and combination locks. I got two pieces with a ten year warranty that seem to be very well constructed so they won’t end up in shreads courtesy of the airlines.</p>
<p>This rolling duffel by Jansport has been GREAT- its HUGE and very durable, but also very easy to handle. Comes with a lifetime guarantee. And for the quality and size, the price ($99) is great. It holds 12,000 CU inches of stuff! We’ve used it for camp, ski trips and college. Love it!<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/jansport/36_wheeled_sport_duffel/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=19321[/url]”>http://www.ebags.com/jansport/36_wheeled_sport_duffel/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=19321</a>
Also, there are lots of coupons on line for ebags.com. You can probably get at least another 10% off this price.</p>
<p>We got huge ones, with 12 pockets, double reinforced handles, and easily identifiable (colored pockets) from Office Depot, remaindered, for $9.95.</p>
<p>Mini
??? Couldn’t find anything like that on their website. Does yours have wheels?? I’d pay the extra for wheels. Its cheaper than having surgery to repair a blown- out disc in my back :)</p>
<p>Yup. good wheels! But you won’t find it on their website - you have to go into the store when they have them. We’ve also had good luck at Ross - I found the same computer bag that I was about to buy on eBags for $79.95 for $25.</p>
<p>I’ll keep my eye out. But I feel a little better because we get our computer bags for free. Really nice ones, too. The one sitting behind me is made by Targus. Retail price is about $70, I think. Think we can pack all the college stuff in computer bags?? Hey, free is free…</p>
<p>I got my D a great set of luggage at Target. It has three suitcases and a computer bag. The suitcases have tough woven material and wheels and they all fit inside the biggest suitcase for storage. I thought this set would just be for the first year, but they are heading into her junior year just fine. The whole set was about $150.</p>
<p>I had purchased a rolling carry-on suitcase made by Worldbound at Target several years ago for business travel. It’s the greatest bag and has survived all modes of transport. Bought a newer model for D to take with her–good for weekend/overnight trips.</p>
<p>Coach? (see, I’m learning - or maybe they don’t make luggage? :()</p>
<p>We looked at the cheap luggage at the local store, since it was on 50% off sale. But every zipper we looked at was crooked, and it just didn’t look durable. We visited the Samsonite outlet store and picked up a 24" (I think) that was on sale for less than half price. (It even had a toiletries bag inside.) Then we ordered a 30" and a 26" Samsonite from an online site (Luggage Online) with good prices and free shipping. It just arrived today–hasn’t even been opened yet, since S is out of town. All have wheels. He didn’t get a carry on bag because his trumpet will always be his carry on, along with a daypack and perhaps a laptop.</p>
<p>Get an LLBean VISA and get the monogramming (and shipping) free.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input.</p>
<p>No one has mentioned the Lands End duffles that we own 12 of. No kidding. My son has four, we have three for dive equipment, my D has a bunch, and we have them for traveling, too. They are cheap, come in an ugly bright yellow that you can spot a mile away (as well as red, navy, and brown), and are durable. Nice for storing stuff in, easy to stuff for traveling. None have wheels (although I think they are available with wheels). Since D goes to college by car, lack of wheels is fine; son can easily lift two 50-lb duffles (the flying-with limit); and every airport H and I have ever been in has rental carts to get you to the hotel shuttle, which we only need when we’re traveling with dive equipment. (When traveling without dive equipment, we have a 20-inch roller from Eagle Creek that weighs (honestly) 6 pounds empty and holds everything we need for a three week trip. H carries a photography backpack, and I carry a small backpack as well.)</p>
<p>1moremom,</p>
<p>I have had the LLBean card for about 10 years and love the benefits. It is the only credit card I carry. I got a great smaller suitcase on sale from them for $30.00 off due to coupons I have gotten through using the card. And, as you say, free shipping!</p>