<p>My niece just got a job that will require a great deal of travel (5-7 days/trip). She will be packing business type attire. My sisters and I want to buy her a nice, durable, quality, large, soft-sided luggage. We are thinking Tumi, Briggs & Riley, Hartmann, Victorinox NXT, or ???.</p>
<p>Would greatly appreciate any recommendations and/or advice. TIA</p>
<p>Tumi is great stuff but expensive. I’ve been using an LLBean carryon for years and years (for the last year, every week) and it’s held up very well.</p>
<p>Thanks VeryHappy – we are thinking more of a checked bag size versus a carryon.</p>
<p>I like Hartman. We bought 4 few years back and bought a different few years later. Hartman bags are still going strong. I also like Tumi. They are more expensive, but the quality is great. I think Hartman comes close.</p>
<p>H has a 10+ year old Tumi that has literally traveled around the world and is still in great shape. It was expensive compared to other brands, but good luggage is a worthwhile investment if you travel a lot. And if you can find a piece at a Tumi outlet store or on sale at Nordstrom’s, all the better. I have also seen a Tumi bag at our local Costco. </p>
<p>I have been using a Victorinox rollaboard carry-on for about a year and it has done well, although it is too soon to tell how well it will stand the test of time.</p>
<p>We have pieces from both Tumi and Briggs and Riley. Tumi is very nice, but I am almost even more impressed with Briggs and Riley. Their stuff is indestructible and comes with a full lifetime warranty.</p>
<p>I inherited my H’s Briggs&Riley when he traded up to a Tumi. My used B&R outlived his Tumi by several years :D</p>
<p>We eventually replaced both of them with Eagle Creek: [Eagle</a> Creek HC2 Hovercraft 22" Upright 20236-024 - Luggage Pros](<a href=“http://www.luggagepros.com/eagle-creek-hc2-hovercraft-22-upright.shtml]Eagle”>http://www.luggagepros.com/eagle-creek-hc2-hovercraft-22-upright.shtml) We absolutely love these bags - they are roomy, sturdy and very lightweight.</p>
<p>I have an eagle creek carry on I love it.
<a href=“http://www.rei.com/product/810513/eagle-creek-traverse-pro-wheeled-luggage-22[/url]”>http://www.rei.com/product/810513/eagle-creek-traverse-pro-wheeled-luggage-22</a></p>
<p>If niece will be doing a great deal of travel, she’ll definitely get good at packing all of her stuff into a carry on bag. H can pack for a business trip (including a suit) in a carry on bag.</p>
<p>Travelpro has an store near me, and 4x year does special sale. I buy for family members. They stand by their products.</p>
<p>This is a timely thread/. </p>
<p>We’d like to buy a nice carry-on bag. I find lots of cheapie ones ($49, three bag set)… but afraid they won’t hold up and I don’t need more big bags. I also see them for $100 to $300… but it’s hard to judge the best value.</p>
<p>I have a Hartmann tweed rollerboard that I really like. My S has a Victorinox, though like the poster above, it’s too new to be able to judge whether it will stand the test of time. D has a Vera Bradley.</p>
<p>Do NOT get an all black suitcase, whatever you do. Get something distinctive.</p>
<p>I also suggest she or you check out the Road Warriorette blog - lots of useful advice for female travelers.</p>
<p>My D is going on a Birthright trip this winter. Since my husband does not believe in travel, we have no luggage. Does anyone have any recommendations for a piece of luggage that can pass El Al scrutiny and fit on a tour bus which will be holding 50+ other people’s luggage? She may extend her trip and go to Europe as well. She is not a big girl so I would prefer wheeled luggage that she can use as carryon on the second part of her trip.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>At the risk of offending other posters, do not buy Travelpro, especially if you are buying a bag that you plan to check. We have had numerous problems with broken zippers and damaged wheels with checked Travelpro bags. Prior to my current Victorinox (which was purchased at a deep deep discount at Macy’s, and happens to be red, my favorite color), my other bags were Travelpro, all of which were eventually discarded due to wear and tear.</p>
<p>Someone going the carry-on-only route may want to take a look at [Leisure</a> / Business Travel Packing List - Travel Light (One Bag)!](<a href=“http://www.onebag.com/]Leisure”>http://www.onebag.com/) for suggestions.</p>
<p>They don’t like wheeled carry-on bags, and I agree with them on the reasons why. The wheel hardware reduces interior space and adds weight (important on foreign airlines with carry-on weight limits). It can also make “fitting into a bin that is 1cm too small” impossible.</p>
<p>For checked baggage, it is best not to get an obviously expensive brand that invites theft. Also, black is the most common color by far, so if you have a black bag, you or someone else has a greater risk of taking the wrong bag.</p>
<p>We’ve had Tumi luggage for years–various styles, including the newer, lightweight Vapor model–the stuff is great. It’s pricey, but it lasts a long time. My H (who travels frequently for work) has a Victorinox garment bag that he loves. It’s a little less expensive than a Tumi garment bag and seems to have held up well. My new, all-time favorite is a Goyard duffle bag.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl – thanks for the female travelers blog info – will pass it on to my niece.
Yes, that does concern us – which is why we are leaning towards a Briggs and Riley versus a Tumi or Hartmann. Another concern is the weight of the bag when empty. It is difficult to determine this fact, even when you go to the brand’s website. I think the Victorinox NXT is also lighter than a comparable size Tumi.</p>
<p>After she becomes more comfortable with packing for her trips and can down size to a carry on bag, we may buy her a Tumi or Hartmann.</p>
<p>Bromfield - I will check out the Vapor model, thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t think thieves are that discerning about luggage. I’ve had Hartmann bags for 35 years and have had no issues. Their lines today blend in with all of the other luggage.</p>
<p>One other brand you may want to look at is Longchamp. The handbags they make are very popular with that age group and they make some very attractive bags. They have a combo that’s a carry on sized roller with another Cary on that fits down over the handle. It’s sleek and pretty and works for 5 day trips without the dreaded Checking of luggage.</p>
<p>^^Yes, D and my niece both love Longchamp bags . but do you know how durable their luggage is?</p>
<p>Very high quality, very very light weight and beautiful : [Rimowa</a> Salsa Cabin 22" Trolley Domestic Carry-On | Wayfair](<a href=“Wayfair.com - Online Home Store for Furniture, Decor, Outdoors & More”>Wayfair.com - Online Home Store for Furniture, Decor, Outdoors & More)</p>