<p>Looking for a tough duffle that will handle the abuse of flights going to and from college for our son. It needs to meet typical airline specs and I am only interested in a rolling duffle because it can collapse. Any suggestions and who has the best pricing? I’d would prefer to buy a bag for him that will stand up when loaded.</p>
<p>Also looking for suggestions for a carryon that can hold a laptop, for the same college/home need.</p>
<p>Our Costco has a variety of sturdy-looking, dual-compartment, collapsable rolling duffles that can stand up for under $40. At this price, I can afford to buy another one if the bag breaks after a couple of years. The big red duffle that she currently travels with is a Skyway Luggage piece:
<a href=“http://www.skywayluggage.com/[/url]”>http://www.skywayluggage.com/</a></p>
<p>I went on Costco’s website, and I read too many comments about the $40 bag not standing up. I want a better quality duffle, I guess.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> JanSport All Terra 30" Cargo Hold Wheeled Duffle, Black: Clothing](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Jansport-All-Terra-Cargo-Hold/dp/B000MAQSKE]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Jansport-All-Terra-Cargo-Hold/dp/B000MAQSKE)</p>
<p>One son has this Jansport duffle. I paid $59 for it at TJMaxx about a year ago. He doesn’t use it for airline travel–he fills it up and throws it in the trunk of the car for college breaks. He likes that he can skwoosh it down when it’s empty and slide it under his bed. If you have a TJMaxx near you, check their luggage dept.</p>
<p>Anything from LLBean. It’s not the most inexpensive, but it will last forever.</p>
<p>Tough Traveler also makes excellent products, but not cheap:
[TOUGH</a> TRAVELER: WORLD CLASS LUGGAGE! Durable, stylish, and practical.](<a href=“http://www.toughtraveler.com/lug/index.asp]TOUGH”>Tough Traveler - Made in USA Luggage, Backpacks, Dog Carriers & More!)</p>
<p>Consider the cost per use thing…</p>
<p>[Luggage</a>, Handbags, Backpacks, Suitcases, Purses, Briefcases, Wallets & More - eBags](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=searching&search=BOTB&n=20041200]Luggage”>http://www.ebags.com/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=searching&search=BOTB&n=20041200)</p>
<p>I don’t have personal experience with this duffle, but I have purchased backpacks from this company. The ebag’s “mother lode” comes in a variety of sizes and they all seem to have a very large number of positive reviews.</p>
<p>This is an old thread, but had many useful suggestions <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/84010-luggage.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/84010-luggage.html</a></p>
<p>S1 travels with the Jansport duffle I got as a college graduation present some 3O years ago and the LLBean backpack he has had since 5th grade. The duffel doesn’t have wheels and it doesn’t stand, but it squishs in every where (he usually just carries it on even when full),it does have a shoulder strap so he can carry on his back if he needs to, it expands or contracts as needed, he can throw in the washing machine if it vomited on (bad roommate story), it has been all over Europe four or five times and it still looks good. Nothing makes me happier then to go pick him up at the airport and he hops off the plane with my old blue duffel slung over his shoulder like he is just returning from the adventure of a lifetime.</p>
<p>His back pack has lived through the life of a middle school boy and still looks great. Nuff said. </p>
<p>From this experience I would highly recommend anything Jansport or LLBean. You may pay a little more, but some day you grandchildren will thank you.</p>
<p>As I’d mentioned in the thread I linked above, older s also has a jansport (younger s is now using it). One of the wheels broke and theyno longer offer the same lifetime warantee they used to. In the past they’d send you to a local repair place, but now they expect you to mail the huge duffel to them, which would cost more than just having it repaired locally (which is what I expect they are counting on). I was non-plussed about that.</p>
<p>My son has the LL Bean wheeled duffels (both the large and the medium) and they’re great but they tip over when you stand them up. They certainly wear beautifully, though. He got the black ones and they still look brand new after 2 1/2 years of flying back and forth to school.</p>
<p>Thanks, I am going to read through this tomorrow! It’s been a long day for me. Thanks again everyone!</p>
<p>Campmor: Sierra bag is excellent; got it on sale a couple of years ago…think it was $35…just picked another one up at Marshall’s…</p>
<p>I highly recommend the Mother Lode Junior from eBags. My family has lived and traveled internationally for the past 30 years and it is by far the best “suitcase” we’ve ever owned. The Mother Lode comes in three sizes. The original 29" model is great but when you load it up, it usually triggers overweight luggage charges. The Junior is just right and is incredibly sturdy and easy to roll. (There’s also a Mini which can be carried on but it’s pretty small.) </p>
<p>We own five of the Juniors and have been using them for years. Only once did one of them have a problem with the handle (someone borrowed it and apparently mistreated it) and eBags sent a replacement part and it was good as new. (I believe they have a lifetime guarantee.) The only complaint I have is that the ebags website jerks you around by changing the prices often and sometimes offers free shipping then takes it away. You kind of need to track the price and then strike when it gets low.</p>
<p>[eBags</a> Mother Lode eTech Junior 25 Wheeled Duffel > Wheeled Duffels > Duffels - eBags](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/ebags/mother_lode_etech_junior_25_wheeled_duffel/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=54633]eBags”>http://www.ebags.com/ebags/mother_lode_etech_junior_25_wheeled_duffel/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=54633)</p>
<p>Bought D two of the 29" Mother Lodes last year. They are the max airline dimensions. She totally stuffed them and they both came in at 47 lbs. Was careful to put the “heavy” stuff (books) in carry-on. (I swear those overhead bins will come crashing down some day.) They stand up with no problem.</p>
<p>One night when I was about to order, the sale price disappeared. Did the chat thing with customer service. Told them I was in a different time zone and it wasn’t midnight yet (when sale ended). They IM’d me a promo code to get the lower price. They seem very customer service-oriented. Have had good experiences with eBags, including returns.</p>
<p>Do Mother Lode Bags collapse for storage in a dorm room?</p>
<p>Wow, this was timely. I was thinking about buying a new suitcase for a trip. I looked at the junior motherlode. It is on sale today for $129 and I scored free shipping. Maybe I should stop complaining about the post Thanksgiving sales.</p>
<p>Thanks for the recommendations.</p>
<p>The frame of the MotherLode is kind of like a handtruck that they wheel cases of bottled water on (except more plastic.) So the fabric part collapses down, but I don’t think the “bottom,” which is solid, collapses, and I’m not sure how much it sticks up when laying flat. So may or may not be an issue in storing it under a bed. I’d guess it’s more than 5" but less than 15".</p>
<p>D has one from LL Bean. Agree about the tipping over. Also, everything gets all jumbled inside them (which is true with any rolling duffle). The perfect solution to this (and for any suitcase!) is packing cubes. They look pretty basic, but they are a genius solution for keeping stuff organized (and if you roll your clothes in them, you can avoid most wrinkles). Can you tell that I love mine? :)</p>
<p>Here is an e-bags link (they are on sale today, I am buying a set for my sister in law):</p>
<p>[eBags</a> Packing Cubes - 3pc Set > Packing Aids > Travel Accessories - eBags](<a href=“http://www.ebags.com/ebags/packing_cubes_3pc_set/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=13032]eBags”>http://www.ebags.com/ebags/packing_cubes_3pc_set/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=13032)</p>
<p>bonnie, Thanks.</p>
<p>My H just uses the giant (mega gallon) ziplock bags and vacuum packs his clothes!</p>