Best Suitcase

The wife and I are heading back to Mauritius next year for our 10 year anniversary and we're also on the look out for new suitcases. We've been tempted by the American Tourister range from CostCo as they seem to get good reviews.
 
Another vote for Samsonite hard shell cases. I have a set of super ugly Kawasaki Green ones that are at least 30 years old and remain undefeated by the world’s baggage handlers.

The medium sized one must have survived around 50 flights across 4 continents.

Pro tips:

1. Buy luggage in very bright colours that can be seen from low Earth orbit.
2. Buy luggage with recessed wheels and flush handles that are spring loaded to stay out of the way when not in use.
3. Use a luggage strap around the middle of the case so that some of the load is taken off of the locks and latches.
 
dlockers said:
Don't the hard shells weigh a tonne?
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Depends. I had a soft shell one, which I like due to the depth of the suitcase is the entire depth of it, rather than split down the middle for a hard shell one. This enables me to pack larger items on the way back, such as a rice cooker :D

But that soft shell one broke and replaced it with a hard shell one. I just picked up a light one in yellow in Singapore. Almost didn't fit the rice cooker because of the split design, it made packing the other side more difficult.

I find it weird that I have no problem spending £250 on travel backpack that I keep my camera in but I struggle to get to grips with spending £100 for a suitcase.

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American Tourister is also a good shout, I've got a soft sided one that I bought in Washington in 2001, it gets used two or three times a year and it's as good now as it was when I bought it.
 
American Tourister is basically Samsonite, so good to hear they are a solid buy.
 
Reuben klang said:
Osprey or the north face duffel. You could even go full water proof with that budget. I pack everything in dry bags as they’re water resistance.

If you need to strap it onto the side or roof of a truck/jeep etc when traveling it’s so much easier. Getting around a city/stairs/trains etc is easier too.

The wheels on cases sound great but are a nightmare anywhere but the air port and are just a no go on safari, mountains, jungles, fishing trips etc

Like this one

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This man travels.

+1 for the big duffel. I have a Rab 80 litre, which I initially got to throw all my ice axes and ropes and crap in for an ice climbing trip, but now use it for all travel.

Just so so much easier that faffing with these hard plastic wheeled things, and saves you about 3kg of luggage allowance. Just put the shoulder straps on and wear it like a rucksack when you need to carry it round fully loaded.

Only about £40 if you shop around too. I'll be adding a 100 litre soon.

I also have a Globetrotter hard case which is older than me, used to be my dad's, BA staff issue in the 70s. No wheels though. They are 2 grand a pop now, insane.
 
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mid_gen said:
This man travels.

+1 for the big duffel. I have a Rab 80 litre, which I initially got to throw all my ice axes and ropes and crap in for an ice climbing trip, but now use it for all travel.

Just so so much easier that faffing with these hard plastic wheeled things, and saves you about 3kg of luggage allowance. Just put the shoulder straps on and wear it like a rucksack when you need to carry it round fully loaded.

Only about £40 if you shop around too. I'll be adding a 100 litre soon.

I also have a Globetrotter hard case which is older than me, used to be my dad's, BA staff issue in the 70s. No wheels though. They are 2 grand a pop now, insane.
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There is a difference between "travel" and the OP's family holiday lol

Can you imagine asking the wife and kids to strap on 20kg backpacks?
 
mid_gen said:
It's a lot easier to carry a duffel on your back than wheel luggage around.
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Depends on what surface, and depends who is carrying it.

I am off to Dubrovnik next month and taking a backpack because the town is all cobble stones and it's only a few days.

When i go to Japan, I take a suitcase, because i can literally visualise my entire journey from my door to the hotel and it's all either smooth paved, concrete or marble floors.
 
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mid_gen said:
Just so so much easier that faffing with these hard plastic wheeled things, and saves you about 3kg of luggage allowance. Just put the shoulder straps on and wear it like a rucksack when you need to carry it round fully loaded.
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I have a large North Face duffel and they are not easier than a hard plastic case on wheels with a decent handle. Just scoot it about the airport & outside, vs having 20kg on your back in potentially 30+ degree heat.
 
Reuben klang said:
Just get a trolley for the airport.
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The airport is the least of the problem really, since it's only between the shuttle to the check in desk, which is like 100 meters. It's what is outside the airport to the hotel is the most distance, it is much easier just to roll a 4 wheel suitcase than a backpack.

Does a backpack give you more freedom? absolutely. But a suitcase you are not carrying that weight, you are just pushing it, the hardest part is getting it on and off vehicles or up and down stairs. And when you are travelling with family, you can always ask the wife and children to help you push the suitcases, even 1 each. And then when you need to lift them in and out of cars or up and down the stairs. The man can do all that. It's much harder to ask everyone to carry heavy backpacks all the way.

Since OP states he is going on holiday with family, not trekking across Peru, not sure how a backpack is the answer in this instance.
 
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Duffel vs Hardcase :

Duffel:
  • Lighter (gives you several KG extra luggage)
  • Easy to carry on any surface, up/down stairs etc.
  • Doesn't break when getting chucked around airports
  • Doesn't make a god-awful racket when walking to the shuttle bus at 5am ;)
Hardcase :
  • Good if you've got perfect surfaces everywhere
Kids aren't manhandling 20kg hard cases or duffels around, and if they are, the duffel gives them more of an incentive to not take so much useless **** :p

I will not be going back to wheely luggage hardcases!
 
I have had an EagleCreek wheeled case with a No Matter What Guarantee for the last 15 years. Oversized rollerblade wheels and bearings, heavy duty ZKK zippers and very robust materials. If it does break then they will repair/replace FOC as long as you own the bag.

Its never let me down. The plastic covers on a couple of the metal zipper tabs have broken slightly (zips still perfect, just the covers) but, other than that, it looks brand new - https://eaglecreek.eu/gb_en/

In fact - I remember seeing it fall off the little luggage trucks and skid across the tarmac on its way to the aircraft as I was boarding and it came back undamaged. Its also a very distinctive colour/design so VERY easy to locate on baggage reclaims

Traditional wheeled, wheeled duffels, normal duffels, backpacks - they do everything.
 
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