Lightweight Luggage

Samsonite every time.

I agree with the Count. Samsonite is fantastic. I have both a large suitcase as well as one of those small wheelie cases with a pull-out handle (you can just about get away with it as a piece of hand luggage on most planes). Superbly made, it will last decades, protects whatever you're carrying and it has the advantage that it's quite anonymous-looking so it's less likely to get nicked and/or opened.

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K

I wouldn't get any of the cases with 4 wheels & "dog-leash" style handles. The 4 wheels are too exposed, & tend to get easily removed/damaged in transit. Samsonite or Delsey are extensively used by most airline crew & get the balance of light yet strong about right.
matt.

There is one factor which had been left out.

The more expensive the luggage, the more attrative it is to the light-fingered. It is reflection of modern life I suppose. Expensive bag -> nice content...

I use tatty old bags on purpose now. Ang they tend to be feather light to. If I were going to get a new big bag I would get one of those canvass jobs, which are very light indeed, and some even have wheels.

ATB from Fredrik

I started out with Samsonite about 10 years ago. If anyone's interested I'm got the remains of a couple of broken ones lying in the garage. One of them expired after only 6 months.
Splashed out on a Tumi wheeled case about 8 years ago. They are very robust and come with a lifetime guarantee. When it gets damaged they fix it. So far they have replaced the telescopic handles and patched where the ballistic nylon wore through (also replaced the zip tabs).

Regards,

Willy.

Chaps

I bought 3 black Samsonite cases, each with 2 wheels about ten years ago. They have been all over the world and chucked around by the usual brain dead plebs called luggage handlers (the Yanks are the worst) and the contents survived intact and everything comes crease free.

They are scratched up thanks to the Yankee handlers but that makes them look cheap. so no one is interested in them.

Well recommended.

Regards

Mick

There used to be a difference between Samsonite that was made in the US and Samsonite made elsewhere - not sure if it's still the case (ha ha!). About 15 years ago I did lots or research and got a fantastic US made Samsonite trolley case with metal handles, a metal rim with waterproof o-ring and a fantistic interal hanger system which kept my suits crisp. It was fantastic, kept my gear crumple free and survived a serious amount of transatlantic business travel.

However - it cost about £300, weighed an eff-ing ton and after ten years of abuse still got a hole punched in it by BA - my guess is that all plastic eventually goes brittle. Because it was over 10 years old BA only gave me £50 to replace it.

When I went off to the shops to replace it I was up for the new (now £400) version but decided to get a no name suitcase (actually I think it was called an Equator but I could be wrong). It cost all of £50 - rolls just as well, weighs half as much, is bigger on the inside because it hasn't got the poncy lining, and looks less nickable.

The secret I decided is to make sure it closes securely which will maintain its ridgity, make sure the wheels look reasonably robust and aren't too exposed and most importantly to make sure you can pack it properly - whick means stuffed full (again this will maintain the ridgity and ensure you're stuff stays crumple free).

HTH
Phil

I travel quite alot (typically two long haul trips a month) and as a consequence often get given luggage as birthday and Christmas gifts. This is helpful as the Samsonite I was given at Christmas has had all its zips broken already and my birthday is only a couple of weeks away.

My advice is if you want serious luggage, that can really take the strain, you need the specialist companies like Tumi and Travelpro. They give great service and have substantial warranties. Unlike Samsonite, who have weasel words galore.

For Samsonite think Akai for Tumi think Naim.

David