Suitcases have a max 2 trip usage limit!

We had a set of 3 soft Samsonite suitcases that we used for years. I suspect we bought them in the late 20th century. DH travels for work and the small one got tatty after about 15 years. It's been replaced with 2 Samsonite soft cabin bags, one same sort of size and one smaller. They are good but the expansion zip method is counter intuitive. The expansion zip is the inner.

The big one has been used for storage and has resided in the cottage nook area for 10 years, it's not particularly scuffed.

The medium finished service after I noticed the stitching at the bottom was going about 5 years ago. It's replacement was hastily purchased from John Lewis, it's their own brand as no Samsonite available. it's light but because not sturdily made it's unwieldy, so we only use it when absolutely necessary. When DH works away abroad for months.

Our standard travelling suitcases when traveling by train or flying are 3 55cm cabin bags (usually checked as hold luggage when flying) one is the larger of the 2 Samsonite cabin bags, one is an Aerolite off Amazon and the other is an IT Luggage from Argos. The Aerolite is huge compared with the other 2. It's survived intensive gap year use, inter-railing etc.

I've never had this problem... My oldest suitcase is probably 15 years old, and yes it's pretty dirty and worn, but still fully functional.
Is yours a hard or soft case? In my experience, soft cases seem to be a bit more resilient to the general throwing around they get in airports and the like.

I see a lot of small children sitting on suitcases - this can't do them any good, and also places like York where the streets are cobbled. You can HEAR the tourists heading for the station with the noise their case wheels make over the cobbled streets! All suitcase-abuse that's going to guarantee something shatters or breaks off before they get home.

I only use a rucksack. But that's because I take a lot of stairs and not a lot of luggage.

Really? What are you doing to them😂
ours are about 25 years old, couple of holidays most years and although a bit tatty they’re fine! I’d quite like some new ones, but seems wasteful to replace when they’re not broken. And as DH points out, less likely to be stolen if they look a bit threadbare!

Samonite.

My oldest suitcase is 25yo and is fine, I bought it in TopShop, so not high end. Most of my suitcases are older than 10. I've only had 1 suitcase fall part on me after 1 trip and it was from TK Max.
Are you squashing loads into a hardshell?

Retired a couple of hardsided no zipped Samsonite due to them having only 2 wheels but still in great shape they were about 20 years old. But I travel a lot so replaced them with s'cure spinner again no zips (3 locking system) still going strong after many many flights and trips 6 years old worth every penny.

I’ve given up on hard cases. We always take soft bags they’ve been on dozens of trips and are far easier to squeeze into a boot of a hire car

I once bought a samsonite hard case with those fancy 360 wheels and it got pretty much destroyed by Manchester airport baggage handling on the 3rd trip so yeah I get it

I've been using the same Kipling Duffle bag for 20 years. One of the handles is a bit tatty but apart from that it is still going strong It has gone with me everywhere over those 20 years.

Mr Monkey has had the same Samsonite wheely bag for nearly 30 years now. One of the wheels is a bit wobbly but apart from that it is fine.

I have very cheap suitcases that have lasted ages.
I am a bit princessy about them, wouldn't tow them over rough ground, don't overload, etc. If I'm going somewhere only with rough ground (rural Tanzania, spain) I bring a large backpack instead.

I have an ‘it’ hard shell case. It’s robust and awesome!

Never had a suitcase break in the hold or otherwise despite going away quite a lot for work and holidays. I have to ask the same questions others have: what on earth are you doing to your luggage??

Buy cases with big wheels that are built into the frame rather than ones with little wheels that are external to the case. We have Eastpak ones.

We still use my husbands grandparents cases, they've travelled to more countries than us, and out lived the grandparents! Unless you're buying them from temu, even the b&m/home bargains ones look sturdy enough to last a while. What on earth is happening to them?! We go abroad at least twice a year, and thr suitcases seem fine.

We've got Eastpak ones too, I love them. Our previous ones we did have the wheels come off, but I can't remember what make they were as they were a gift. A previous one also had the extractable handle snap, so there are definitely bad ones out there.

It has only happened to me once and that was when I had bought a cheap one because I had one go missing during a previous flight. It was the zip that had broken and it was the most embarrassing thing. I stood at the luggage belt and I saw this one flipflop coming down the belt, oh how funny I thought, I have flipflops exactly like that. Then my bikini bottoms came, then my makeup bag, then finally my completely split open suitcase came with my underwear showing at the top.

I then went I got a whole Samsonite set and they have been aboslutely reliable for over 15 years now. Nothing has broken off or split.

Buy quality, buy once. It’s a false economy buying cheap rubbish.

My little Samsonite is over 30 years old, looks a bit scruffy but still going strong. It’s years since I’ve had one break.

You must be buying very cheap suitcases! We have cases from Antler and Samsonite that we have been using for decades.

Mine are Eastpak - had them for absolute years and they get battered around the place and they’re still 100% decent condition. You’re obviously buying crap cases.

We have suitcases from the 1980's that are still going strong - what on earth are you doing to yours?!

I've got an Eastpack wheeled small suitcase which I bought in 2016. Not a scratch on it and still going strong. Before that I had a Carlton wheeled holdall style one for over 10 years. It was a bit battered at the end but still usable.

I've never had a suitcase break. I have one bought around 2000 and one bought in 2013. The latter is a little Tripp one, great suitcase. The other one is a Swiss Wenger one that I bought in Tesco with some money off vouchers. It's been used a lot over the years and only slightly battered.

Not my experience at all. I've had the same wheelie suitcase for over 15 years. It's a bit worn here and there and the zip is a bit temperamental but still functions. Got it from tk maxx if I recall, no idea of brand but it was cheap.

Like everyone else on this thread I’m baffled at what you’re doing to your suitcases @StopRainingNow . Assume you’re buying very very cheap ones and riding on them to the airport and back?