Luggage Recs

leeawalden · May 31, 2015

Not sure where this needed to go so feel free to move it.

Looking at getting some new luggage. I have always really liked and had good experience with all of the Briggs bags I have had so I am looking at their hard sided bags.

I noticed Pelican now sells luggage. Anyone have any input?

chris snell · May 31, 2015

I love my Patagonia roll-aboard bag. I've had it for years and have taken it around the world. They don't make the exact model I have anymore but this is pretty close:

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/transport-roller-60-liter?p=49410-0

jhmover · May 31, 2015

Can't recommend a carry-on but I flew last weekend and noticed that United at least has downsized the size your carry-on and personal item can be. The carry on my wife got a few years ago is now too large to carry-on. My backpack barely makes the personal item size now, if stuffed it would be too big. Suggest if you're getting a carry on you check the airline sites for dimensions.

jymmiejamz · May 31, 2015

I would definitely not recommend Tumi. I have a set of four Tumi suitcases that are probably 7 or 8 years old. In the past year wheels have fallen off of two of them. Tumi only warranties them for 5 years IIRC. I think I'm going to replace one of them with a Haglöfs duffel, just use my Fjällräven backpack as a carry on. My girlfriend would like one of the smaller Pelican suitcases, so we might replace one of the Tumi bags with that. I actually have a Pelican 1510, that I got for free, which is carry on size, but I figure that is a guaranteed way to be searched.

kennith · May 31, 2015

I just use Pelicans when I'm not traveling overseas. If I am, I get the most nondescript items I can carry; whatever will blend into wherever I'm going.

If I decided to go out and buy a proper luggage set, I'd likely go with Halliburton. They may seem expensive, but so is everything else when you start looking around.

One of the bags I use frequently is now branded as the Eagle Creek No Matter What Duffel. It's very well made, highly durable, and folds into a little soft case perfectly, and without issue, every single time.

You'd do well to check them out. Eagle Creek may not be often considered among the big important names, but their shit is very nice.

Cheers,

Kennith

1920SF · May 31, 2015

I have samsonite hard sided luggage for work out here, it has been all over the Middle East/South Asia over the past year and handled by everyone from khat chewing Houthi's in Yemen to Sri Lankan handlers-it looks like it but it has stood up to the abuse, is fairly light, and the handles/wheels all still function well. To me that is testament enough, it isn't high end per say but it works.

Pelican stuff is heavy as hell, I would shy away from it unless you are protecting camera equipment or something.

For personal use I have an REI rolling duffel which is a very solid bag for the money. As you go smaller I also have a TNF base camp duffel (medium, which is plenty big).

Eagle Creek stuff is very good as Kennith mentions, I use a ton of it for organization within luggage.
r-
Ray

kk88rrc · Jun 1, 2015

1920SF said:
Pelican stuff is heavy as hell, I would shy away from it unless you are protecting camera equipment or something.

For personal use I have an REI rolling duffel which is a very solid bag for the money. As you go smaller I also have a TNF base camp duffel (medium, which is plenty big).

I completely agree regarding Pelicans. I don't even like them for my photo gear unless being checked.

Love the TNF base camp duffels. They've been my go to bag for the last 10+ yrs. Use a med or large depending on the trip. They make an XL which is hugh with the potential of going overweight. And except for the zipper they are waterproof. They also do a roller version but I prefer backpack style. Plus you can get them in some great annoying colors to brighten up the luggage carousel.

Ballah06 · Jun 1, 2015

Don't travel as much now, but have had a Samsonite suitcase for a number of years and that thing stood up to back and forth overseas travel as well as a few years of pretty heavy stateside travel (flying) after that. Replaced it just because it looked a bit beat up on the outside and the zippers went. Got a new Samsonite piece as replacement. IMO, whatever the brand, look at the vulnerabilities, e.g. wheels sticking out too much, corners being protected or not, zippers easily snagged? The first flight I took my Boyt suit bag on, Delta decided i did not really need the most external pocket zipper - shit got ripped out. Of course that is not something they cover, so I have had to contact the company to get this fixed. Little things like that do cause aggrevation, but possibly finding a better design out of the options out there will prolong the life of whatever luggage you choose.

Tugela · Jun 1, 2015

kennith said:
If I decided to go out and buy a proper luggage set, I'd likely go with Halliburton. They may seem expensive

No surprise there. If they'll sell a wrench to the US government for $30 I would expect their luggage to be correspondingly pricey.

I recently took a Pelican 1650 to South Africa. It was great for protecting my camera gear and electronics while bouncing around on dirt roads in a Land Rover, but the thing is 24 pounds empty and I ended up paying some overweight baggage fees within South Africa. If I were to do it again I would take a dry duffel like this one from Seal Line.

Flying domestically I use two different options for my carry-on. I take either the Patagonia MLC (Maximum Legal Carry-on), which is versatile, sturdy, and well-organized. You can carry it like a suitcase, carry it over one shoulder, or wear it like a backpack. When I'm bringing my camera gear and electronics I take a Pelican 1510.

One advantage to a soft-sided carry-on is that you can deform it to fit into overhead bin spaces. With the Pelican it either fits or it doesn't.

bri · Jun 1, 2015

I have been through tons. Unlike other posts. I have had 2 Samsonite hard cases destroyed. Samsonite fixes them, but if you still travel a lot you are stuck buying new luggage until they return it. Not worth it at all. Will never own anything hard sided other than something for equipment. Then I would use either pelican or something aluminum. The Samsonite looked like they had been purposefully damaged. One looked like a ball peen hammer went through it. The other cracked. Maybe 1/2 way across the case, contents spilling out. Never again.

I have been tempted to a high quality leather carry on, but it will get checked in Asia because of weight or you'll have to pay $100 to carry it on. Many reason's it is not worth the hassle.

I have had expensive luggage and none of it holds up any better than something decently well made. I also do not have any desire to carry expensive luggage for many reasons.

At present I have a $80 wenger that is still working fine. it is about 5years old and has more than 300k miles on it. Checked a few times internationally when I am being lazy. only damage is torn meshes on inside.

I have this for my personal item, best computer bag I have ever owned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxw6JdUeFX4
Ebags TLS Pro Slim Laptop Backpack

You cannot beat this for a computer bag. I carry 18" gaming notebook, lightweight notebook, tablet, phone, international power, harddrives, cables... medicine, h2o bottle and more... impressive.

They make the TLS Mother Lode Wheeled Duffels which is what I will get very soon.

You cannot beat this luggage. Lifetime warranty. Every review is good, know many people with them and no one has ever said anything bad.

How ever, luggage is very purpose build. Although the ebags are perfect for what I do, they may not be for you and O.P. did not say what it is for.

I have club glove for golf clubs. Good stuff and they make general luggage, but it is overpriced. I have an old High Sierra combo wheeled duffle/backpack its still going strong.

But, without a doubt anything new will be ebags.

bri · Jun 1, 2015

kennith said:
I just use Pelicans when I'm not traveling overseas. If I am, I get the most nondescript items I can carry; whatever will blend into wherever I'm going.

If I decided to go out and buy a proper luggage set, I'd likely go with Halliburton. They may seem expensive, but so is everything else when you start looking around.
<snip>
Kennith

I'd love to watch what a baggage handler does with a $1200 Halliburton suitcase when you are not looking. It will be dented to hell the first time you check it. You'll be carrying it since those crap for spinners will break off the first time they miss the conveyor and it hits the tarmac.

Complete waste of money and no, it is not all that expensive. That is unless you just want to look so good with that briefcase and matching carryon for $2000.

Fuck, I'd get a Bob Timberlake set from Bass Pro before I'd waste my money on something as stupid as a Halliburton.

I don't think I could buy something Zero Halliburton, if I had the money and wanted it.</snip>

bri · Jun 1, 2015

Tugela said:
No surprise there. If they'll sell a wrench to the US government for $30 I would expect their luggage to be correspondingly pricey.

Ah. No. That's YOUR price for the wrench. Same wrench to gov't is 130.

kennith · Jun 1, 2015

bri said:
I'd love to watch what a baggage handler does with a $1200 Halliburton suitcase when you are not looking. It will be dented to hell the first time you check it. You'll be carrying it since those crap for spinners will break off the first time they miss the conveyor and it hits the tarmac.

Yeah, but then I could sell it to a wealthy hipster for even more money!

Honestly, I prefer cloth or leather luggage. You can just tie it down tight when it's not full, where you'd still have a full size hard case even half empty. It can take a beating, as well. Eagle Creek is one of my first stops, in that regard.

I don't know anything about those computer bags you linked, but they do look like they'd be pretty convenient.

Don't need a computer bag here, though. My CF-30 has a handle.

If I was buying hard stuff, though (minus a computer bag), I'd still toss the money at Halliburton. The aluminum stuff is tough, even if it will show wear fairly quickly. They aren't $2,000, though. They've got cloth, polycarbonate, and their traditional aluminum. The top-end aluminum really big-ass conventional travel luggage tops out just over $1,000 MSRP, but the other products are also nice.

Most of it is quite a bit less, and of course you can score it for less than MSRP.

I'm not a huge fan of hard luggage "sets" used for common travel. It bangs about on your legs and various other things when moving around, and it's never the right shape. Whenever I think of it, I just picture those bangs, knocks, doorways, and loose things bouncing around in there because there was too much empty space.

All that said, for a quick, in and out air travel carry-on, it's hard to beat a Pelican 1510. Just pop the latches when they want to have a look, and everything is laid out perfectly for a quick inspection. It's certainly not as light as conventional options, but damn it's quick through security.

Beyond that, I'll always default to cloth when possible. It's just more convenient, and aside from my camera, none of my gadgets are really prone to breaking.

Cheers,

Kennith

ERover82 · Jun 1, 2015

Check these out:

http://tepuitents.com/collections/gear-bags

toadermcgee · Jun 1, 2015

This is what I use.

It has worked very well for 6 years. Still looks like new. Granted I only fly 1 to 2 times a year.

bri · Jun 2, 2015

Kennith. The Halliburton prices start at 1200 for the 28" and go down. You can get a good deal on a carry on for 695. That's about 2k in my book. And those $300 spinners will break off if loaded heavy and dropped. They do have some recessed designs that look good. For now I am complete sold on the ebags TLS line and they do everything from large checked to carryon and computer bags.

The only reason I would need something like Halliburton would be that I am checking something delicate. At that point, I would get something that is more functional and worth the change.

For delicate equipment that must be checked, I would choose something like this with foam.
http://www.phillycase.com/products/skb-case-model-3skb-1913mr-pull-handle-case-no-foam

Quite a few years ago I took a small tool bag, not unlike that carhartt and it was a TSA magnet. It starts with "do you have tools in there"?

Shipped it home and got something else temporarily.

mbrummal · Jun 2, 2015

bri said:
Quite a few years ago I took a small tool bag, not unlike that carhartt and it was a TSA magnet. It starts with "do you have tools in there"?

Shipped it home and got something else temporarily.

I remember years ago (long before 911) I had a damn drill in my carry on bag. Not a single problem from security.

brian4d · Jun 2, 2015

leeawalden said:
Not sure where this needed to go so feel free to move it.

Looking at getting some new luggage. I have always really liked and had good experience with all of the Briggs bags I have had so I am looking at their hard sided bags.

I noticed Pelican now sells luggage. Anyone have any input?

Don't let the brand fool you. I've been using an older model of this bag for 10+ years of hard travel. Using it again next week. Great bag for the money.

http://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Sign...d=1433250373&sr=8-1&keywords=kirkland+luggage

stu454 · Jun 2, 2015

I've been using a medium-sized canvas duffel bag that I picked up in '94 from J. Peterman, of all places. I've checked it and watched it being thrashed against the conveyor belt, carried it on and thrashed it myself shoving it into an overhead bin, stowed it in various nooks and crannies in the Disco, and generally beaten the Hell out of it. It hasn't even popped a stitch yet.

It's soft so I don't carry anything fragile when it will be in the hands of others.

adriatic04 · Jun 2, 2015

leeawalden said:
Not sure where this needed to go so feel free to move it.

Looking at getting some new luggage. I have always really liked and had good experience with all of the Briggs bags I have had so I am looking at their hard sided bags.

I noticed Pelican now sells luggage. Anyone have any input?

what is the luggage for? If you are doing daily/weekly traveling, that luggage req is a lot different than someone who just needs it once or twice a year and needs plenty of space.

If you are going to start doing a lot of traveling, this cannot come more highly recommended (<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

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If you are needing something for once or twice, get something with wheels. Again, patagonia is a great avenue. The reason being, they give a lifetime guarantee, if something breaks they will fix or replace.

I am speaking from experience, I fly about 175 segments a year, luggage gets beat to shit quickly but I always go back to patagonia for ease of use and style. The first one I linked has backpack straps, huge when you are late and need to take off running, or in a place like LA and do a lot of walking, wheelers get annoying quickly. I get new luggage about once a year because of the beatdown the stuff takes, especially if you ever check it. Patagonia usually just replaces me the newer model of something, I usually just take it to a shop whenever I am in a town that has one when it looks like it will give up the ghost.

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