Need a new suitcase, do I buy a cheap one or invest in a nice one?

[aibucovid]

I need a suitcase for a 5 day trip to France this summer,, so was going to buy a medium suitcase. However, I'm in my 20s and I will soon have to start traveling for work, usually 1-2 nights. I haven't done much traveling so I used to just borrow my parents' suitcases, but now I'm thinking I should buy my own.

I don't know whether to just buy a cheap one (e.g. £30 from Primark), or a decent one (maybe the American Tourister which is around £80ish). I've also seen the Antler suitcases which are lovely but nearly £200, although they come with a 10 year warranty.

If I did invest in one, would a medium size be ok for overnight trips with work or would that be OTT? I don't want to buy an expensive one if I'm barely going to use it. Alternatively, I could buy an expensive small/cabin sized suitcase, but I don't think that will be big enough for 5 days in France.

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice? As you can tell I haven't done much traveling!

TKMaxx usually has a great selection of cases, I suggest a medium size one and matching cabin bag. The largest Pillage bags are great for carrying a laptop and weekend gear, fit under the seat.

I have some reasonably expensive luggage that we got as a wedding gift but these days, I buy cheaply. I tend to travel with hand luggage only and recently different airlines have had different sizes and one size doesn't fit all!

Unless you know for sure that you'll want checked baggage, i'd go cheap!

I always host go with IT luggage as it's super light and definitely has stood the test of time for us. Can be picked up pretty cheaply in Matalan

Another vote for TkMaxx

Tripp luggage is really good and often have sales/ discounts. Definitely worth it.

I’d go middle of the road £50. I used to work in an airport and after watching how some suitcases are handled I vowed to never pay money on luggage. The 4 wheels on the bottom are a must though.

I don’t think you’ll want a medium suitcase for work travel of 1-2 nights. You may be different but I tend to need the travel part of work travel to take as little time as possible so prefer not to check in luggage.

To be honest I'd look around in some charity shops,

That aside, id get one that's suited for what you need it to transport

I second the idea of getting a set of two, one medium, one small. No need to break the bank!

Buy cheap - airlines throw cases from the conveyor belt to the plane regardless of whether it’s a good case or not. We’ve found an expensive case breaks or cracks as easily as the cheap ones.

@Parker231

Buy cheap - airlines throw cases from the conveyor belt to the plane regardless of whether it’s a good case or not. We’ve found an expensive case breaks or cracks as easily as the cheap ones.

I'd agree - only spend the amount which won't make you cry if it gets damaged on a flight. As much as nice luggage is lovely to have I think it's most important that it meets your needs size wise and could be replaced if it gets bashed about or has to be forcibly opened. Also get one that rolls on all 4 wheels :)

Whatever you decide, I’d suggest a 4 wheeled case where the wheels move
360 degrees

However much you spend it needs to have 4 wheels. Argos often do sales and of course tk maxx

I have a trip medium one and it small one.

Trip was tkmaxx and IT primark.

Both four wheels. I picked black as it’s a staple. Often travel for work

Also think about your travelling , if it's by car or coach where it is stored away , buy expensive if that's what you want . But if you will be going via train where you leave at the end of the carriage , then I've always thought nicer cases would be more tempting to thieves as the possibility of nicer stuff inside as well as a decent case might make them pick up yours rather than a tatty / cheaper one . But then I'm not very trusting .

We’ve just bought a set of American Tourister online at a good discount. They’ve not arrived yet so can’t yet comment on quality, etc!

We got them from Luggage Superstore.

They’ve got a deal on for a cabin bag and medium suitcase for £117.50 (RRP £235 though I never believe anyone sells them at RRP!).

On Amazon the same suitcases would cost £55 and £80 respectively and at CostCo UK (cheapest place we could find the same range online) they’re £54 and £70, so the LS offer looks to be a good deal.

www.luggagesuperstore.co.uk/american-tourister-bon-air-2-piece-luggage-set

We got large lightweight Antler suitcases with matching cabin bags many years ago and they have really stood the test of time. A medium would be fine for work travel though. TBH like PPs have said you probably need a few different sizes/styles in your life.

We went for soft bodied ones that are expandable. Haven’t regretted it.

Just bought some cheapo bags for taking on board on easyJet though.

I have Antler luggage but bear in mind thag the 10 year guaranteee doesn't cover airport damage which is the usual culprit for luggage not lasting for a long time.
Invest in lightweight and compare the volume of the case rather than other features. You don't have to spend a fortune but cheap cases tend to have lower volume and higher weight)
4 wheels are useful but are much more likely to be damaged going through the airport processes as they are fully exposed on castors unlike 2 wheeled cases which are slightly tucked in and therefore protected. 4 wheels must also be kept on 4 wheels not tipped when in a hurry as the back wheels start to wear down unevenly over time if you do this.

Another vote for IT the cases are so light

Another vote for TK Max

I've brought some Revelation suitcases from there. Various sizes which I really liked

My most useful suitcase is an expanding cabin bag, similar to this:

www.luggagesuperstore.co.uk/rock-montana-4-wheel-expandable-cabin-suitcase-55cm

I do a lot of 1/2 night work trips, and I would say a small case or flight bag is enough. A medium size suitcase is going to get on your nerves, so I would invest in that, snd borrow your parents’ for France.

We have one 30 year old really large Samsonite one, hard cover, it feels unbreakable.

We also have two soft-cover Samsonites, two different sizes. Reason is DH's travel, it can. be anything. from 2 days to 10 days. The medium one is now 16 years old, the small one just replaced another 15 year old one because the wheels finally broke.

The small one is handluggage size and DH - as a male - manages 1 week with it, I manage 4 days.

All of those have been now all over world, from Europe to Hawaii, to Asia and Australia.

Think about. how often you go away, how long you stay and how many changes of clothes you need, I mostly need casual with the odd more business one so. I get away with a smaller case than a friend who always wears proper business dress and then needs casual for the evening.

Also, what kind of airline will you fly? BA for example allows a decent size handluggage which means I can get some stuff. into a larger bag plus a handbag while on EasyJet they are quite stingy unless you book the more expensive seats.

About ten years ago we went on a long trip with backpacks...
When I came back I spent about half an hour in the luggage section of the local department store, wheeling various cases up and down, lifting them up, opening and closing all the different compartments, checking how smooth the zips were, trying out any clips and generally giving them a full workout.

Bought a hold bag and a cabin bag.

It was definitely worth doing this as I've spent a huge amount of time hauling them about since, and when you're belting frantically across an airport or worse still, across a city heading TO the airport, or hoisting them up and down stairs and in and out of luggage racks, you don't want them catching or breaking or weighing an ounce more. I ♥️ my luggage (and each case has a nickname!) and it has served me very well.

I am tempted now to get an additional hard case that opens in the middle (so you're only ever half the case depth, max, away from your stuff) for the "living out of suitcase and frequent hotel changes" scenario, and a teeny underseat backpack that will go free on even the cheapest of wooden-bench airlines.

Not sure where I stand on packing cubes / compression bags etc. But a couple of plastic bags are always handy to keep clean and dirty clothes separate....

FWIW my cabin bag is fabric over a v light frame; hold bag is stiffened fabric (over plastic?) - both have 4 wheels, telescopic handles, plus lifting handles and both the top and the side.

I bought an Antler a few years ago for £80 in a sale (medium Sized). Absolutely love it! Well worth the investing time. In fact it was so good at the next sale I bought the matching small (cabin sized) case for £50.