posted 11-09-2003 15:55            

In the past few years, as airlines have lowered their weight allowances, I find that it is almost impossible to keep my luggage under the allowance, as the suitcase alone weighs almost as much as the allowance. In addition, the last five trips I have gone on always wound up with the suitcase showing up open on the luggage belt, or with the back hinge screws almost completely unscrewed. Once the latch was broken and could not be closed.

Completely unacceptable for luggage that costs $600 a piece. I suspect that a lot of this is due to the TSA opening the luggage and not re-closing it properly, but the airline blames the TSA and the TSA blames the airline. In either event, the luggage is broken and nobody will repair it. I have now used the Samsonite warranty twice, and they have repaired it at no charge to me. But how much longer will that happen?

posted 11-09-2003 17:40            

Edited to add: Just realized you're asking about durability. Since I only borrowed them for one trip, I can't comment on that aspect. But I sure did love the shape of them!

posted 11-10-2003 06:29               

quote:

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Originally posted by somerville:
Briggs-Riley. Lifetime warranty.

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I second that but we also have some great "Pathfinder" luggage.

posted 11-10-2003 13:03               

quote:

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Originally posted by Hoc:
I have the Samsonite Hard Case luggage.
as the suitcase alone weighs almost as much as the allowance.

Completely unacceptable for luggage that costs $600 a piece.

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What the heck is it you've got there Hoc? I have yet to see a piece of Samsonite that cost $600 or weighte 50lbs? I have a complete set of Samsonite Siloute (sp?) hard sides that didn't cost me $600 for the entire set. As for weight they only go 10 or 11 lbs. I weighed them when they started lowering the weight limits.

At any rate, I'm not as impressed with Samsonite as I once was. Our larger, newer cases have taken a beating from the airlines and the corners have cracked on the larger ones. One of the newest ones has a smell that is out of this world. I still need to return it to and get it replaced. As it is, I can't use it at all. My clothes come out with the most God awful smell to them.

Like you I'll be checking out some of the others mentioned as good quality luggage. Samsonite just doesn't do it for me anymore. To expensive for what they are IMO.

posted 11-12-2003 09:53               

For a carry on I bought a "roll-a-board" type from Brookstone. All leather with lots of pockets for pens, pencils, computer disks, glasses, keys, passport etc... PLUS it has a side pocket for the laptop so I don't have to open the case itself to remove my laptop going through security.

I also use a Samsonite soft-sided suitcase for short trips which gives my plenty of space. I still check the suitcase even though it would fit in the overhead compartment as I don't like walking through the airport pulling TWO bags and don't see the need to take up somebody else's space in the overhead bin.

posted 11-16-2003 21:54            

quote:

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Originally posted by dougp26364:
What the heck is it you've got there Hoc? I have yet to see a piece of Samsonite that cost $600 or weighte 50lbs?

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posted 11-16-2003 22:31               

I did some shopping around and investigating, and decided I didn't do enough traveling to justify some of the gear favored by true road warriors, but even the better Samsonite (and Samsonite brands, such as Lark) weren't going to be worthwhile.

I ended up buying Atlantic Pro 2.0. We have been extremely happy with it. It has held up well for the traveling that we do - much better than anything we had before, and it is apparent that had we paid more we wouldn't have gotten anything that, to date, would have served us better.

posted 11-18-2003 04:05               

You might search the web to see if you can find a link to a Hartman outlet. Unless my memory is totally gone, I visited one near Nashville a few years ago. It seems that I found them on the web at the time and they would ship.

posted 11-18-2003 10:57               

Now, with the new weight restrictions, we will have to give up our beloved luggage for no matter how hard I try, I just can't get it within weight limitations.

Seriously, we tend to buy good but relatively inexpensive luggage that is light and easy to handle. It will usually get us through two to three years and at that point, if necessary, we start over again. We have many friends with high-end luggage and it seems to be in for repair of one kind of another more often than not. (I sometimes think that baggage handlers pay particular attention to the high-end pieces, just to prove the point that they can be damaged.) Good luck with your selection!

posted 11-18-2003 17:26               

Total cost of the 4 piece ensemble = under $125. If they get destroyed tomorrow, we have had a lot of care free, damage free travel for the past 4 years. My investment has paid for itself already. It is very sturdy and well made.