Charlie said:
It says Samsonite on the side.
I have beaten my 21" Samsonite carry-on all over the world for the last 7 years, and just this last trip, I finally lost a wheel (European block streets).
Looking into replacing the wheel. The rest of the case is still in top shape.
Charlie said:
It says Samsonite on the side.
Samsonite fan! 
Charlie said:
It says Samsonite on the side.
I was really starting to wonder if I was the only Samsonite fan around here. I bought a carry-on at TJ Maxx 12 years ago that is still going strong.
Charlie said:
It says Samsonite on the side.
Slippy, Sammy, Swinson, Swanson… Swanson?
Charlie said:
It says Samsonite on the side.
Slippy, Sammy, Swinson, Swanson… Swanson?
You were way off!
Charlie said:
It says Samsonite on the side.
I use Samsonite Lite Cube DLX, but the first thing that fell off was the Samsonite tag. On one of my trips, they manhandled the DLX, and one of the hinges broke, but I was able to fix it with a thick screw—now it is more stable than before.
After 4 years the lock broke, but Samsonite fixed it.
I like the suitcase, but I am afraid the telescopic handle will eventually break. The shell seems indestructible though.
Edit: I have been using it for 7 years, about 20 flights per year.
Name brands in other industries are sometimes held in skeptical regards, in my opinion, not with luggage. Most household luggage names have survived based on their reliable reputation, not because they look “cool” or have gimmick features. Samsonite, Tumi, Briggs & Riley, Rimowa are just a few.
@JAMESON
I’ve been seeing a lot about Level8 lately. Seems more affordable out of the 4 mentioned. Any thoughts on them?
Jaden said:
@JAMESON
I’ve been seeing a lot about Level8 lately. Seems more affordable out of the 4 mentioned. Any thoughts on them?
I’ve never heard of Level8, and you probably see it a lot due to targeted advertising. A quick search of their warranty reveals that although it says lifetime, it only applies to manufacturers’ defects and is pretty strict, not for damage. Briggs & Riley’s lifetime warranty covers damage to the bags and is very easy to deal with when it comes to claims. You often get what you pay for with luggage.
Jaden said:
@JAMESON
I’ve been seeing a lot about Level8 lately. Seems more affordable out of the 4 mentioned. Any thoughts on them?
I’ve never heard of them either. Seems like they started in 2008 and are trying to appeal with lower retail prices and “gimmicks” like a laptop sleeve in their suitcases. I personally would stick with brands that have been around for 25-50 years; the last thing I want to deal with on travel is a broken suitcase. I have a Samsonite spinner, easily going on 10 years now without a hitch. I’ve taken it to Europe at least 7 times, Asia 5 times, and on multiple domestic flights. The thing is built so well I can’t even get rid of it.
Your suitcase should not weigh more than the stuff inside it.
Are there any brands of wheeled luggage with replaceable wheels? Once the wheels go bad, what can you do? I suppose asphalt and sidewalks are rough on those things.
I promise this is not an ad, but I am a Samsonite loyalist. I bought mine second-hand (nearly new) 10 years ago, it’s averaged 4-5 international trips per year since and is still going strong. I bought a similar one for my wife last year, and it’s the only brand I’ll consider given my track record.
Hard shell, lightweight, and four-way wheels.
@Ash
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had similar experiences, please see my response above 
.
I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two. Don’t buy one of those lightweight hard shells because if you don’t pack it, it will get crushed and damaged, especially if you gate-check it. The next bag that gets dropped down the chute will land on top and crush it.
Don’t buy expensive luggage if you’re going to a place where you have to worry about someone going into your luggage. The brand name on the luggage is like a magnet for thieves.
Hardshell luggage tends to get more crushed. If you travel a lot, invest in a good name brand like Samsonite, American Tourister, and so forth. Nothing with Costco house brand or even Amazon basics. If you travel more frequently, get a quality brand like Briggs & Riley, Away, etc. Hardshell or softshell is really personal preference. There is a reason I like my Tumi carry-on sized suitcase. It’s a little heavier but sturdy. A good name brand offers quality.
I buy cheap ones at TJ Maxx.
I think the best bag I have bought in the past 15 years was a Bric bag. I hadn’t heard of the company at the time, but it was on a good sale and had good reviews. So far it’s lasted me 11 years with no issues at all. It was pricey but I’m planning on buying another one when it breaks.
I have had good luck with Samsonite, American Tourister, and Delsey bags as well. I have at least one of each of those brands that have lasted somewhere between 5-10 years. The worst ones I have ever bought are those bags that use a well-known brand name but the name usually isn’t associated with luggage. For example, I bought a cheap Nautica bag once, and it didn’t last a year before breaking. My wife also had a Nine West bag from Macy that the wheels buckled on it in 2 weeks.
Reviews mainly. I did a bunch of research and prioritized reviews, lightweight construction, and good spinner wheels. I wound up buying Travel Pro (carry-on in 2016 and 25" in 2019).
We travel a lot, like for 2-5 months a year, and so far, the Travel Pro bags have been through hell and still work. I’ve seen them smashed/caught by the airline belts (the same thing that tore our Delsey in two), and the frame just popped in and then popped back to normal. We’ve dragged them across cobblestones and all around Europe, Japan, SE Asia, Mexico, Australia, etc… countless flights and trains. They are starting to look a bit weathered but are still structurally great.
I like how light they are, yet I can shove 60lbs in them (we bought too much wine a few times), and they are still sturdy and easy to roll.
@West
Do you have soft or hard shell?