Suitcases have a max 2 trip usage limit!

[StopRainingNow]

I am starting to think there is no such thing as a suitcase that is not in essence disposable. I've never had one survive more than two trips without being broken, normally the wheels. So sick of keep buying new suitcases.

Does anyone know of any where the wheels don't snap, or become unusable?

Are you buying suitcases from Temu or something? Our suitcases are from Antler, 25 years old, several trips every year and practically good as new.

We have IT, Tripp and samsonite. We do long haul to Asia once a year, a couple of trips in Europe and in UK during the year. Our cases are 15 years old. No issues at all. I don’t buy hard cases all are soft.

I have just picked one up half price with dunelm so will see what that's like. Wanted it for the kids. Our others have lasted years.

My Tripp one has done several flights without any issue but my Dunelm one did one flight and cracked so I asked for a refund which they gave me. I expect cheap stuff to break sooner but one flight was ridiculous. The other smaller Dunelm suitcase was fine so not sure if mine was flawed to begin with.

We have the IT and Tripp suitcases so not an expensive brand, they have lasted multiple trips each year for years.

The only suitcase I broke was the one I overfilled with magazines and half a Christmas cake, then dragged a couple of miles to the train station. The wheels collapsed but it was my fault.

Me too. My best used case has just two integrated wheels. Less 'spinny' than the four external wheel cases, but solid and no worries of it appearing on the luggage carousel minus a wheel.

I fairly recently retired the Antler suitcases I bought over 25 years ago, mostly because I travel with the absolute minimum in one cabin bag now. They were a bit dated and worn, but perfectly usable.

My parents bought me a set of pink suitcases for my 18th birthday which have been in constant use for the last twenty years. There are two big cases and two smaller pull along ones. My husband and I go on holiday a couple of times a year and so they get plenty of use and are still in good condition. My husband is happy to use a bright pink case as it makes them easy to spot at baggage reclaim!

That’s weird, I’ve had the same suitcase for about 20 years 🙈😂 in fact I’ve just caved to my daughter telling me she needs a new one!

I’ve ordered a couple of new ones on Amazon, they’ve got food reviews etc and look sturdy so will see if they hold up for the next 20 years.

Also M&S.

Don't think we have done quite as many flights as you, but several long haul flights with the big cases and lots of long European train journeys with the small ones. Still in perfect working order.

Yes - I got mine from Matalan, hard-bodied, called "it" and they've been on multiple flights and wheeled about by me, and I am incredibly clumsy!

What a weird thread.

We have ultra light IT ones and they are over 10 years old. One has had to go because it got mouldy and the others are on their last legs for airline travel but will cope with car trips for a fair bit longer.

The only actual suitcase one we ever had broken, was when Pan Am (remember them?) managed to run over it.

Recently, though, I bought a very pretty wheelie cabin-sized case as a present for a Gdd. It was very far from cheap, but the very first time it was used (dd had borrowed it) the handle broke, and that was only a train journey, not rough airline handling.

It just wasn’t fit for purpose, so I wrote a scathing one-star review to that effect. John Lewis did refund me the money without any argument.

It

We have the cheapest suitcases. Bought in a supermarket 20 years ago. We were expats for years and travelled every holiday and now we travel at least two or three times a year and our cases are still going strong. Not sure why you are having such bad luck. TK Maxx have a few great suitcases - have bought the kids cases from there and they are hard wearing. I would suggest you get soft cases rather than the hard shell cases

I must have had mine for a good 15+ years and they’re still going strong. Can’t remember where I got them from but they won’t have been expensive ones (wouldn’t have been able to afford it) and they’ve been on multiple trips each year in that time.

It’s telling that those who are still using older cases don’t have this problem! Mine are M&S and over 20 years old, still great. Nothing is made to the same quality now unless expensive.

Check whether you can easily pull off the castors - last year one broke on my SIL’s case during transit and we were advised in future to remove them when checking cases in and re-fix for use at our destination.

A lot of the newer ones are less sturdy because they are designed to be lighter, to fit in with ever reducing cabin and hold allowances. The more modern fabrics may be tough, but they are built on quite flimsy frames which twist easily, even on expensive brands.

I, like many PPs , have some much travelled old cases which are still going strong but they are heavier and constructed differently to those of very recent purchase.

For those recommending Eastpak do you have the soft ones (transverz, transit) or something different and is a medium one big enough for a 2 week holiday?

I’ve just got back from holiday and used my suitcase I’ve had since I was 18 (I’m 35!) I’ve never found this problem and I’ve traveled a lot!!

my cheapie from Argos is 20 years old and fine

Our antler ones are about 20 years old, I was just thinking they are looking a bit tatty as we got them off the carousel 10mins ago

My current was a cheapo from a dodgy bag stand and it’s been going about 15 years!

I bought my first suitcase at age 16 for a trip to the US. 20 years later, it's a bit battered but perfectly functional and has been around the world with me !