Suitcases/Trolley Bags (4 wheels)

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Suitcases/Trolley Bags (4 wheels) - suggestions

nzkiwiman

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#217792 12-Jul-2017 15:02

I'm travelling over to Japan soon and need to upgrade my suitcase; my last trip to Hong Kong saw me struggle with the 2 wheeled drag behind me suitcase, and somewhere on the way home I have lost the pull out stability bar.

I've settled on wanting to get a 4 wheeled trolley bag (apparently not called suitcases anymore), but am now struggling with what to look for, features vs price and if I go for a hard shell vs the soft I have always gone for.

So, Geekzone - can anyone suggest some luggage for me to look at?

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#1821300 12-Jul-2017 15:02

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ockel

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#1821303 12-Jul-2017 15:09

Briggs & Riley

I've done my dough so many times on cheap luggage, expensive luggage, luggage with 5 year warranty, luggage with 10 year warranty.

9 times out 10 it gets trashed during airside handling - which is a battle with the airlines as the luggage manufacturer doesnt cover damage in transit.

So I stumped up for Briggs and Riley. Best. choice. ever.

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nzkiwiman

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#1822249 14-Jul-2017 09:08

Wowzers, look at those prices!

sbiddle

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#1822250 14-Jul-2017 09:13

nzkiwiman:

Wowzers, look at those prices!

If you want a bag that has a long life you need to pay $$ for it.

kobiak

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#1822252 14-Jul-2017 09:16

meh, my 10 yrs old 50 euro 3 bag combo from supermarket purchased in Andorra is still going strong, but started to develop wear & tier. But hey, I only travel 1-3 times a year top, however to the other side of the world, so 2-3 flights to and from europe 1-3 times a year.

In Nov last year also purchased hard case 4 wheels bag from Walmart for $40 USD (well we needed second bag from trip to Vegas :( don't ask), will be interesting to see if it will survive that long too.

TBH, if you don't travel frequently, I'd look at $50-100 option from Kmart. It will survive 2-3 yrs easy.

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Stu

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#1822256 14-Jul-2017 09:23

sbiddle:
nzkiwiman:

Wowzers, look at those prices!

If you want a bag that has a long life you need to pay $$ for it.

Will luggage that expensive hold up to the torture dished out by baggage handlers and poorly designed carousels/conveyors any better than say, $100-$200 luggage from Strands?

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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#1822259 14-Jul-2017 09:27

Stu:
sbiddle:

nzkiwiman:

Wowzers, look at those prices!

If you want a bag that has a long life you need to pay $$ for it.

Will luggage that expensive hold up to the torture dished out by baggage handlers and poorly designed carousels/conveyors any better than say, $100-$200 luggage from Strands?

The honest answer? Yes.

Will buying expensive bags deliver a payback if you travel infrequently? No.

Stu

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#1822262 14-Jul-2017 09:38

Was just curious. Interesting.

Cheers!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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alasta

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#1822328 14-Jul-2017 10:56

I speak from experience when I say that you really don't want luggage failing when you are away from home, especially when all the shops are shut and you have to fly out first thing the next morning!

I have a Samsonite thing that I bought from Briscoes. It was moderately priced and if I replace it every 5 years then I'm confident that I won't get caught out again.

kobiak

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#1822336 14-Jul-2017 11:01

alasta:

I speak from experience when I say that you really don't want luggage failing when you are away from home, especially when all the shops are shut and you have to fly out first thing the next morning!

I have a Samsonite thing that I bought from Briscoes. It was moderately priced and if I replace it every 5 years then I'm confident that I won't get caught out again.

this is the best thing that goes well with suitcases for these situations :)

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Satch

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#1822436 14-Jul-2017 12:55

kobiak:

this is the best thing that goes well with suitcases for these situations :)

You might want to get straps with TSA approved locks though otherwise you might find them cut next time your bag needs to be examined while you are not present.

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nzkiwiman

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#1822475 14-Jul-2017 13:53

I physically looked at bags around Dunedin CBD (though I later learnt I missed an independant store) - cheap Kmart bag was an instant no

Other bags around the $100-$250 range in a variety of types and sizes (hard and soft, 60-80cm) had me confused at what I wanted, what features I needed and how much I wanted to pay ...

kobiak

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#1822536 14-Jul-2017 15:03

Satch:

kobiak:

this is the best thing that goes well with suitcases for these situations :)

You might want to get straps with TSA approved locks though otherwise you might find them cut next time your bag needs to be examined while you are not present.

Well we have straps without lock, image was first thing from google search. Holds suitcase together very well.

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eracode

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#1822547 14-Jul-2017 15:38

IMO you may want to think twice about the four-wheel design. They work well when you're wheeling your bag on marble floors in a posh airport - but not so good on rougher surfaces. Also, the bag needs to be pretty much upright all the time due to the small wheels. Two-wheel bags usually have much larger-diameter wheels and thus ride more smoothly. It's much easier to trail a tilted two-wheel bag behind you over longer distances and/or rougher ground than pushing a small-wheel, upright 4W bag.

Finally, the four-wheeler won't stay still on sloping ground like a two-wheeler will. If you lift your four-wheeler, say, out of a taxi on sloping ground and let it go while you pay the driver or whatever, it'll run away on you.

Two wheels good - four not so much.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

frankv

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#1822559 14-Jul-2017 15:43

eracode:

IMO you may want to think twice about the four-wheel design. They work well when you're wheeling your bag on marble floors in a posh airport - but not so good on rougher surfaces. Also, the bag needs to be pretty much upright all the time due to the small wheels. Two-wheel bags usually have much larger-diameter wheels and thus ride more smoothly. It's much easier to trail a tilted two-wheel bag behind you over longer distances and/or rougher ground than pushing a small-wheel, upright 4W bag.

Finally, the four-wheeler won't stay still on sloping ground like a two-wheeler will. If you lift your four-wheeler, say, out of a taxi on sloping ground and let it go while you pay the driver or whatever, it'll run away on you.

Two wheels good - four not so much.

But get the one with wheels on the long side of the suitcase, not the short side. I have a short-side one, and it wobbles and twists all over the place. Very unstable. Sad!

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