Suitcases

[whattodo87]

Wasn't sure to post this here, or in general.

I am needing to buy a set of cases; large, medium and a carry on, and I would like them to be all matching. The range of sizes are needed as I have children which will be using them for school trips, and also for weekends away.

I'm happy to pay up-to £400 but can increase the budget as I only intend on buying them once, in the lifetime I have left :-)

Can anyone recommend any brands and whether hard or soft shell are best ?

I've started a spreadsheet with my research (sad I know) but I thought I'd ask the Q here 🙏

My samsonite hard shell I use for hold luggage has lasted me for about 16 years, but if I was looking to replace it I'd stick with the brand but look for something a little lighter in weight and maybe with a pocket on the front if that exists.
I use a Brics small case for a cabin bag, was expensive, can't remember how much I paid but it's a special run they did with Pininfarina and it gets some raised eyebrows from people when I travel with it. Wasn't why I bought it, I just liked it and seemed well made!

I hate shell cases so mine are all soft.
I find shells awkward to pack and when you open them everything falls out. I go for expandable and a zip compartment on the outside for last minute additions. Tripp are good.
My top tip would be to buy the most garish colours you can find and get packing cubes colour coded for different family members.

We have soft-sided "it" brand luggage that has withstood several years of being dragged to camps, to and from uni and across the world by my DC. It's not glamorous but is lightweight, robust and well-priced.

Also American Tourister and Cabin Max hard shell cases which are holding up well.

Check the sizes with your usual airlines. I never seem to have the correct size! The small IT and Cabin Max are Ryanair priority size as that also does for easyJet, BA carry-on, but not the US airlines.

The past 3 hard shell cases I have bought have all cracked within 18 months - They are not the same quality they used to be. Albeit they were TX Maxx generic brands not like Samsonite. Go for soft shell - it will last longer.

I don't like hard shell cases, the ones that have gone in the hold have always come out scratched and dented and for hand luggage it's handy to have a front pocket or something easier to open to grab laptop / liquids etc out at security.
My cabin bag is Eastpak and that's lasted really well with a lot of use as I use it for business travel regularly.
For larger cases make sure they have a handle at the side as well as at the top as it can be hard to get them in and out of car boots and off baggage carousels when there's only a top handle.

Thank you 🙏

Have a look at TKMaxx - I always buy cases from there now as very good value.

Whatever you decide on, make bright and eye catching so you can spot it on the carousel!

I don't like soft shells, because they are more difficult to keep clean. It's easy to wipe my hard shells down with a disinfectant wipe or two.

I travel a lot, and have tried a lot of different brands so far. I like Samsonite, but I find a lot of their suitcases to be quite heavy. But there are definitely quality bags!

I don't like American Tourister at all, mine dented after using it once. On the bright side, they tend to be very spacious and quite light. But it's definitely not Samsonite quality.

I quite like Tripp - inexpensive and pretty okay quality as well as roomy. It's not the best quality, but it's certainly not the worst either.

I currently use Printisso suitcases, which I find to be really good. They are light, good quality and roomy. Not as roomy as American Tourister, but not many suitcases are to be fair!

American Tourister is a Samsonite brand but not the same spec - as your experience has shown. Have you got an outlet place near you? I know Samsonite have some outlets.

Eastpak soft. Quality is fantastic.

Eastpak, Eastpak, Eastpak!

Hard shell for me. The one I have (Tripp I think, it's in the loft!) has one side with a zipped cover inside to hold everything in. On the other side there is a cross strap like an X. I put everything into a drawstring bin bag, flatten it out and put the straps on. Nothing falls out and it's just grab and go.

It is black, however I put jazzy kids stickers on, and it has never failed to signal to me from the baggage belt. Good old suitcase.

as for last minute things that a soft shell is good for, well that's why we have underseat bags!

About school trips - we were told only soft shell but ideally duffles or hiking backpacks (like DoE size). Often they have to be stuffed underneath a bunk bed.

If you go camping with scouts/guides then suitcases are no-go anyway.

We have a variety of Samsonites. The hard shell (30 years old) is still going strong but really heavy. I prefer the soft shell we bought later but they don't last as long.

We've just bought some more cases. Samsonite hard shell. We expect them to last through all the retirement travelling we've got planned. American Tourister are the samsonite cheaper option made in China (2 year rather than 5 year guarantee)

Cheap suitcases may be false economy - some hard shell aren't good tough polypropylene, zips may fail (our new cases have latches not zips ), quality of the wheels etc.

Tripp - hard cases. Medium only. The large will be too easy to go over weight limit. 20kg fits into medium

Eastpak soft side xs or s for hand luggage and school trips ( the xs is Ryanair overhead size)

We have had both for 10-15+ years.

We've used IT ones for years. Reasonably cheap, 10 years guarantee & bright colours. Also very light.

Hard shell weighs more so definitely soft shell for the large cases, because fill those to the max and you’re dangerously close to excess baggage charges on most airlines in economy. Carry on just check whatever you buy complies with the airlines you use frequently eg Ryan Air is smaller than the others. Our stuff is all samsonite at 5+ years old and pretty much looks new so I’d definitely recommend.

Medium only. The large will be too easy to go over weight limit. 20kg fits into medium

Yes, the 'medium' cases are pretty big, the right size for normal baggage allowance IME.

I can't do hard shell. I begrudge giving up several kilos of weight allowance for the bloody case.
We have IT ones in a few sizes. They're very light and have lasted years

I always have soft shell for hand luggage. But would always have hard shell for checked in luggage.
The amount of times I have watched my case sit on the luggage trolley off plane in torrential downpour for a good 20 mins. Soft shelf everything would be soaked. Plus the plane is filthy underneath so easier to wipe down hard case. And transport breakables as less likely of something damaged

I can't do hard shell. I begrudge giving up several kilos of weight allowance for the bloody case.

My new cabin sized hard shell is only 300 grams heavier than the same sized soft shell.
Of course to reduce weight and give a bit more space in a small case, you could consider one without wheels ... someone must still make them.

We've got the Tripp cases . Medium size is just right for a week but we use the large ones for extended trips in the winter as take more bulky clothing (still under the Jet2 22kg ). We've only had ours about 3 years so can't speak for longevity of zips.

I have an expandable medium IT case. Its hard shell but a sort of squashy hard shell so can be squeezed into smaller places. When it’s fully expanded it holds as much as our large case, but seems much smaller.

Another vote for Eastpak here. You fit so much in them and very hard wearing, and squash quite flat when not in use.