Suitcases/Luggage

[bitchstewie]

I need "something" that I can take on a business trip for maybe 10 days.

Any suggestions on Tardis type luggage that isn't a massive PITA to carry?

I've not been anywhere for that long for a while and it's slightly outside of "throw in a rucksack" territory.

[Du1point8]

Throw away?

Then just go down to the local outdoor/indoor market and pick up a cheap nasty one, mine from Sydney ($25) is still working well and was just used to get me home to London, but didnt fall apart.

Other than that I have Dakine/Victorinox/Tumi for my proper bags and prefer them to the throwaway.

Can usually find good deals on them somewhere.

[FoxtrotOscar1]

Just remember whatever you buy literally gets launched / dragged / thrown around by baggage handlers etc.

[bitchstewie]

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

Just remember whatever you buy literally gets launched / dragged / thrown around by baggage handlers etc.

Yes I'm very much aware of that which is why I don't want to be spending a fortune on something that will look like utter st anyway.

@Du1point8 not throwaway but not Tumi money. Not having done much "long haul" business travel before I have no idea what's practical in terms of space required.

Whatever I get I assume needs to be hold-size as I can't see everything going in any sort of carry on however Tardis-like

[Phil.]

North Face travel bags last forever in my experience. Had some for more than 10 years. Only used in the hold and look good as new. Excellent strong zips.

https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/shop/en-gb/tnf-gb/b...

[Du1point8]

bhstewie said:

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

Just remember whatever you buy literally gets launched / dragged / thrown around by baggage handlers etc.

Yes I'm very much aware of that which is why I don't want to be spending a fortune on something that will look like utter st anyway.

@Du1point8 not throwaway but not Tumi money. Not having done much "long haul" business travel before I have no idea what's practical in terms of space required.

Whatever I get I assume needs to be hold-size as I can't see everything going in any sort of carry on however Tardis-like

Get yourself on here (I know you need to register):

https://www.sportpursuit.com/accessories/backpacks...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dakine-Split-Outdoor-Trav...

The above in Black is on for £106.99

The 110l in carbon is £125.99

I got the below and its been on dozens of flights (business and leisure) over several years (believe I used it at friends 30th so its 5+ years old now) and still looks like new:



Think I got it for circa £85 from that site.

Better than paying £45 every 2-3 years IMO

[RicksAlfas]

Grit your teeth and go to your local TK Maxx.

[Du1point8]

RicksAlfas said:

Grit your teeth and go to your local TK Maxx.

This is where I got my Victorinox bags from... You need to pick an area that wouldnt know designer bags if it punched them in the face, luckily I was close to Brixton.

[captain_cynic]

bhstewie said:

I need "something" that I can take on a business trip for maybe 10 days.

Any suggestions on Tardis type luggage that isn't a massive PITA to carry?

I've not been anywhere for that long for a while and it's slightly outside of "throw in a rucksack" territory.

Backpack. You'll end up carrying it anyway and a backpack is more comfortable (not to mention faster as you pass the peasantry struggling with their rolling cases). Backpacks are also lighter, my 70L weighs 1.2 KG empty, my 30L weighs 300g empty, a suitcase easily manages 4KG empty (my Lojel weighs 5KG but the last time I used that I was moving country).

Get a decent 40L backpack and you'll easily be able to fit 10 days of clothes, more if you've got a separate laptop bag and is small enough to be carried on easily.

If you want checked luggage, look at the 60-70L backpacks.

Osprey is the recommended brand if you want to spend the money but often the cheaper Amazon backpacks are good enough for occasional travel.

Edited by captain_cynic on Friday 27th July 11:22

[Crumpet]

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

Just remember whatever you buy literally gets launched / dragged / thrown around by baggage handlers etc.

That’s why you need an aluminium Rimowa; the only case that looks better the more it ages and gets bashed around!

In the normal world, where suitcases aren’t the same price as the holiday you’re taking it on, all I can say is avoid Samsonite - they’re ste! Antler provide a good balance between throw-away and pretty decent. Delsey are excellent and Carrefour often have them cheap.

[Exige77]

Crumpet said:

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

Just remember whatever you buy literally gets launched / dragged / thrown around by baggage handlers etc.

That’s why you need an aluminium Rimowa; the only case that looks better the more it ages and gets bashed around!

In the normal world, where suitcases aren’t the same price as the holiday you’re taking it on, all I can say is avoid Samsonite - they’re ste! Antler provide a good balance between throw-away and pretty decent. Delsey are excellent and Carrefour often have them cheap.

With Samsonite you get a very good guarantee. As a very frequent long haul traveller I’ve used my 10 year guarantee well. I’m on my 4 case now in 10 years. Usually packed to over 30Kg and very much abused by me, airlines and 3rd world taxis.

Never any hastle, they just give you a new one.

Best to either buy cheap and treat as a disposable or buy a good brand with a long guarantee.

My Rimiva cabin ally case still going strong after 7 years. You do get what you pay for.

[captain_cynic]

Exige77 said:

With Samsonite you get a very good guarantee. As a very frequent long haul traveller I’ve used my 10 year guarantee well. I’m on my 4 case now in 10 years.

Well that's pretty damning for quality.

In 2007 I was given a Blackwolf (Australian Brand) 70L backpack. That backpack has seen a lot of 5 continents now, the worst baggage handlers the world could offer and will probably last for years to come. The only sign of wear is that the colour has faded a little.

4 replacements in 10 years says very poor quality to me.

[Doofus]

For soft luggage (which I use 90% of the time) it's Tom Bihn

For hard luggage, Samsonite

[bitchstewie]

OK so soft v hard anything to keep in mind?

It's business and I'm st at ironing if that helps

I can see pros and cons of backpack v wheels but not having done this for a long time...

[captain_cynic]

bhstewie said:

OK so soft v hard anything to keep in mind?

It's business and I'm st at ironing if that helps

I can see pros and cons of backpack v wheels but not having done this for a long time...

Depends on who you're flying with of course... but my old trick was to shove 5 business shirts in a suit bag and ask the stewardess if they can store it in the coat cupboard.

[Exige77]

captain_cynic said:

Exige77 said:

With Samsonite you get a very good guarantee. As a very frequent long haul traveller I’ve used my 10 year guarantee well. I’m on my 4 case now in 10 years.

Well that's pretty damning for quality.

In 2007 I was given a Blackwolf (Australian Brand) 70L backpack. That backpack has seen a lot of 5 continents now, the worst baggage handlers the world could offer and will probably last for years to come. The only sign of wear is that the colour has faded a little.

4 replacements in 10 years says very poor quality to me.

Not for the way I use it. Very full and gets kicked around in 3rd world countries. Unrealistic to expect luggage not to break. 20+ flights each month. You can try gently handling a 30Kg+ case. The case is also of the very light variety to ensure I can carry all the weight I need and Hard sided.

Anyway, people are free to choose. Just sharing my experience if cases.

I have had many

[captain_cynic]

Exige77 said:

Not for the way I use it. Very full and gets kicked around in 3rd world countries. Unrealistic to expect luggage not to break. 20+ flights each month. You can try gently handling a 30Kg+ case. The case is also of the very light variety to ensure I can carry all the weight I need.

I disagree, my backpack has been kicked around many more 3rd world countries than that and hasn't suffered any damage in over 10 years.

Also, 30KG, now you're telling porkies as 23KG is the limit per bag on most airlines (baggage handlers are not permitted to lift anything heavier on their own).

People are free to choose, but something that has had to be replaced 4 times is not something you can call quality.

[Doofus]

I've had my Samsonite hard case for over 20 years, and it's still going strong. I suspect, much like most things, the quality today isn't what it used to be...

[Shakermaker]

captain_cynic said:

I disagree, my backpack has been kicked around many more 3rd world countries than that and hasn't suffered any damage in over 10 years.

Also, 30KG, now you're telling porkies as 23KG is the limit per bag on most airlines (baggage handlers are not permitted to lift anything heavier on their own).

People are free to choose, but something that has had to be replaced 4 times is not something you can call quality.

• point of order*

Whilst many airlines will only allow you 23kgs, don't forget that there are necessary exceptions to this rule for heavy/oversize luggage for which processes exist. Medical equipment, wheelchairs, sports equipment can all be taken on a flight in the hold, but gets handled differently (or, its kicked/thrown around by two people at a time, rather than one). And in some situations this will include heavy suitcases. You may have to pay an excess, and you may have a "heavy" sticker put on - usual these days over about 20kgs with most airlines, some even put them on anything over 15kgs, but its not beyond belief.

[ross-co]

captain_cynic said:

I disagree, my backpack has been kicked around many more 3rd world countries than that and hasn't suffered any damage in over 10 years.

Also, 30KG, now you're telling porkies as 23KG is the limit per bag on most airlines (baggage handlers are not permitted to lift anything heavier on their own).

People are free to choose, but something that has had to be replaced 4 times is not something you can call quality.

Many airlines allow up to 32Kg max i know this as my peli 1640 for my work kit is 31.5Kg to allow some wiggle room for different scales, and it has been all over the world as such.