carry on luggage recommendations please

i recently returned from a 5 day trip with the realization that i need a new suitcase...my current suitcase is about 4 years old, its a softsided 2 wheeler. this bag had thousands of positive recommendation, but it's just not working for me....
what i don't like...
~its heavy (almost 9lbs)
~its only got 2 wheels
~they called it a duffle, but its not really, but its not really a 2 sided suitcase either, i find packing in it difficult

i'm thinking of getting a hardsided shell type...
looking for any thoughts and recommendations for a new bag.

what i am looking for
~lightweight and easy to lift/carry (i live on the 2nd floor)
~easy to roll
~waterproof -in case it ends up sitting on the tarmac in the rain
~price...i'm looking to stay around $200 or under

TIA

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5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t know if they make hard-sided suitcases or not, but I absolutely love my Travelpros, have had a couple of them for years.

Janet

(website)

I have a Briggs & Riley carry-on (plus a matching tote that slides onto the handle) that's several years old and still going very strong. Not the lightest bag in the world but very sturdy.

We bought some Eagle Creek bags to take to Africa last fall (not carry-ons but they have them in carry-on sizes) and loved them. Lightweight and seem to take a beating.

I also have a Lipault nylon rolling bag (again not carry-on but I know them have them too) from several years ago that is super lightweight and holds up well. It did develop a bent frame, which prevented me from sliding the handle down all the way. I contacted Lipault and they had me ship them the bag so they could repair it free of charge even though it had been about five years since purchase. So they are pricey but the customer service is good.

Phoebe

Samsonite worked fine with me.

Anonymous

https://www.thenorthface.com/s.....-22in-nf0a

This is what I use, and it's been a game-changer for me. So easy to maneuver around , waterproof, wipeable, etc (and distinguishable among the sea of black bags in an airport) although it has 2 wheels, and not 4. Only my big pieces (not carry-ons) have 4 wheels.

Janet, did you get the Eagle Creek packing stuff too? I am mesmerized by that system at The Container Store, but don't if it would actually work for us irl.

kkards

great brand suggestions..will do some googling...

lisap, do you find the handles that extend into the TNF bag are hard to pack around? like that it has mulitple ways to pick bag up to carry it....

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

I will be watching this topic with interest. My current checked bag has broken one of its wheels and I think I’m going to have to replace the whole thing.

I have found that eBags has good prices as well as better descriptions and pictures than most other websites.
ETA, Lisa, that link errored out for me. What’s the name of the North Face bag?

Another vote for eBags.com. Good prices and they have some great stuff on sale right now. They have things in all price ranges.

anchie

I have Samsonite but love my DD Lipault better, more lightweight, easy to handle and spot clean.
https://www.lipault-usa.com

nemosmom

LOVE my Briggs & Riley. I take their large shopping tote and a smaller tote. Bonus - they have a lifetime guarantee.

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by nemosmom

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Angie

Fashion Stylist

Greg SWEARS by Tumi, and has been using his carry on for 16 years. And every week.

Sheryl

Active Member

I've been very happy with my Away luggage. I have the carry on and the medium suitcases. Light, well-made, four wheels, easy to steer - you can push it or pull it, and quite waterproof - walked several blocks in hard rain, and everything stayed dry. Lifetime guarantee, too.

It's called the Rolling Thunder, and no, packing around the roller frame is never an issue.

rachylou

I LOVE my IT World’s Lightest Luggage!

I don’t see it online right now, but I got a set that includes an under 20” case... carry-on restrictions have gotten really tight, and the under-20 has been incredibly useful.

http://www.itluggage.com/produ.....Lightest-1

Kathie

Another fan of eBags.

The rest of my advice, is “alternative viewpoint,” so feel free to disregard.

15+ years ago, I got something similar to this backpack style. It travelled beautifully in China and Europe. And, 8 years ago, when I switched careers, and actually needed to pack jackets for work travel, I thought I’d upgrade.

Bottom line, I never have. I love not having the weight of the wheels. Love that I can fit 5 days of work clothes (again, no wheels, means they don’t steal space from my clothes.) Love that I can easily get on/off escalators and public transportation. Love that it easily fits in a wide variety of overhead bins. One day, I might “grow up.” but, as long as I can lift it on my back, I’m sticking with it. I had wheeled luggage when I was in grad school- now too large for current overhead size restrictions- but gave it away, and I don’t regret the decision.

https://www.ebags.com/product/.....d=10685171

Good luck with your search!

JAileen

We bought Big Agnes wheeled duffels for a trip we’re taking this summer. They make a smaller one that is a carryon. The reviews are great on these for durability and waterproof-ness. The proportion of inner space versus outer size was better than others I was considering.

Aquamarine

I’ve heard great things about Away. We need new luggage soon and will look at that brand.

elpgal

I am in the market for one too and see that TravelPro gets high ratings.

For those who travel to Europe, have you run into issues with the standard 22” US sized carry- ons?

Aliona

Elpgal, yes I have run into problems. My 22-y.o. Briggs & Reilly refuses to die, despite half its life spent on weekly flights. Newer planes in Europe and Canada just don’t have the bin depth, especially as my bag is so old it has an external frame—I learned the hard way to include wheels and handles when measuring. When an airline says 21.5” they mean it. I second Angie’s rec for Tumi. I have a Tumi duffel that I now use in lieu of the B&R as an under-seat option to circumvent carry on fees. It holds a week’s worth of clothes and expands to accommodate any holiday purchases.

Helena

My DH also loves his Tumi carry-on gear, but I swear by my good old Samsonite hard-case carry-on. It's relatively light, the wheels swivel in all direction so no awkward turning, and you can wheel it flat or drag it. It fit everything I needed for our recent week trip, with room to spare.

Heh, I had to remove a jacket from the front pocket of my Briggs & Riley and stuff the bag into the test space when flying through Houston from Mexico because the check in attendant was so adamant that my bag wouldn’t fit in the overhead. So they are indeed getting more restrictive about carry-ons.

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