best luggage

[ces152]

i know this has been covered before but which rollerbag do you guys like the best

 

[embraerdriver]

www.luggageworksonline.com

23" pilot stealth bag

 

[cargoflyr69]

I have that bag and its alright. Its mighty pricy though. I've had great luck with it and love those smooth roller-blade wheels, no squeaks er, I mean squaks here. Ive had it for about a year and the only thing I don't like is that it shows its wear and tear quickly. the metal frames starting to bend a bit. But hey, if you like that cool road-warrior look this is the bag for you!

 

[Flyingtoohigh]

Looks like the site is down. I tried both the link above and a Google search, but I couldn't connect. Are they still in business?

 

[cargoflyr69]

try www.stopoverstore.com or go there if in DTW or MSP

 

[T-Gates]

PNS Bag is awesome....would highly reccomend it.....

The Stop Over Store is closed for now in DTW... There will be one opening in the NWA Terminal in December and one in the Smith Terminal later this month.

 

[METARzan]

I bought a nice Samsonite 22" on ebay for about $40. It's not as nice as the Purdy Neat but it does the job.

 

[j41driver]

Looks like the site is down. I tried both the link above and a Google search, but I couldn't connect. Are they still in business?

They're still there. I had trouble last night but it's back up now.

www.luggageworksonline.com

 

[ces152]

do any of you guys know how much of an airline discount you get at www.luggageworksonline.com on the 23" pilot stealth bag i don't have an id yet so i can't check the discounted price

 

[70Cuda]

The Luggageworks/purtyneat bags suck!!!! I spent over $250 on mine and after 6 months it's all bent and frayed, not to mention the zippers around the edges are wasted. Also, the flimsy front and sides don't protect anything from getting totally crushed, and it's too heavy. I suspect most people buy them because they are somewhat "cool" looking. I recommend the Travelpro Crew4. For about $180 you get twice the bag.

 

[Kansan]

Travelpro Crew4 is a piece of crap! The handles are a joke. It would be a nice bag, but I'm totally disappointed with those handles. I've had it in the shop twice for them. The worst was when the extension handle broke and only half of it came out of the bag. Side handle has broken in half twice. If you replace the wheels with rollerblade wheels it gives it a much better ride. I have also heard complants about the bag hook. TP uses a folding plastic design which can break, unlike PNS's steel hook.

I borrowed an old PNS bag last time the Travelpro was in the shop and I found it to be very heavy. The extension handle is bulletproof though! Didn't now what to put in the zippered side pockets either. Has anyone used the 27"? Might be helpful in getting even more crap crammed in my bag for he commute!

But above all else the pilots I've seen using a Samsonite are by far the most disappointed. They are definitely not designed for our extreme use. Very weak zippers and seems.

A luggage shop told me that Travelpro is coming out with a Crew 5 some time soon. Maybe that will fix all the problems that I have had. Good luck!

 

[rightrudder]

The Kirkland bag from Costco is the best deal. $89 with a lifetime warranty, just bring it back no questions asked, they'll give you a new one. Bag holds up very well to the rigors. I had a wheel on mine go bad after a few years, they gave me a new bag.

 

[captjim]

Pertyneat stuff is the best I've ever had. I've had the Travelpro and that things a piece crap. The PNS bag is heavy and as mentioned it's outside pockets don't protect the contents. However after having both I'd buy the PNS bag agian, it's just bulletproof.

 

[Skyward]

I don't know what you guys do to your bags, I've had my Travel Pro for going on 5 years and it's still in good shape.

 

[TWA 2 ASA FO]

I have had my PNS bag for going on 5 years now. I HIGHLY recommend it for everyone. If you have a few zippers break (which is inevitable with any bag) you can call to have it serviced. They will ask if you need a loaner bag, all you do is pay for the shipping and they send you a bag to use while yours is being fixed at no cost for I think the first 3-5 years.

I flew for PSA a while back, and we had this great uniform allowance and a discount on TravelPro bags for like $65. I was there 3 years, and went through 4 bags. Since they were free I didn't reall care, but I would point anyone away from their inferior product.

As far as the question for the side pocket, I have found it holds a collapsable umbrella perfectly and it keeps it very easy to get at in case of a quick rainshower.

 

[Cardinal]

What to put in the side pockets? You can use them just like the purse that because of your gender you could never carry:

Cell phone
Loose change
Chewing gum
Ear plugs
Gate check tags
MP3 Player
Hotel loyalty program cards
Small paperback book, the list goes on.

 

[wms]

www.wingmanluggage.com near ATL. Use the toll-free number get another $10 off and free shipping. They're similar to PNS but a little less expensive and most of the framework is interior. The handle is a little narrower if that's where you carry your hat.

100% lifetime garantee and he refurbishes it for free every two years. I haven't had problems with mine, but if something breaks on it he'll fix it or send you the parts if you want. The only thing I would change is the two piece handle. I think one piece would be better. The rollerblade wheels are awsome.

Also, for you CRJ guys, it'll fit in the overhead.

 

[Rottweiller]

American Tourister has done me fine for 6 years and now is showing it's age but $45 back then was a good buy. Looking at the E-Bag (as seen in the ALPA rag) seems good any users out there?

Also flight bag of 18 years is dying and would love another one the same but Samsonite don't make that one any more. Like the look of the Scotts Leather ones - any input on these appriciated.

 

[Slim]

I ordered the e-bag ALPA special. It hasn't arrived yet.

I ordered it to replace two old Samsonite hard side bags that just wore out. I had the first for over 10 years and the second for seven years. Both were functional and protected the contents well. I have a hard time justifying $165 for the newer models now. The one big drawback to the Samsonite bags is no hook for your flight bag. The strap works well but going through security is slow.

I'll let you know about the e-bag, ALPA special.

 

[dondk]

I have the PNS 27" and the Travelpro5 (suiter)

Weight wise the PNS is lighter and can hold a ton of stuff but shows wear and tear easy

The Travelpro5 is heavier, shows little wear and tear and holds almost as much as the PNS.

I use the Travelpro more often than not, on a 4 day (or better) trip I go to the PNS for the room and wieght.

Travelpro fits easier in overheads but "bulks" out a bit, The PNS has to go the "long way" so on filled flights you get the looks from the FA's when trying to find an overhead.

Travelpro tips with the flight bag attached PNS does not.

Either way you cannot go wrong, but I would buy a bag for the need not the name.. If all you do is 3-4 days trips the PNS 27" is overkill... Better than 4 days the PNS is the only way to go

 

[Sniper@YourFeet]

Costco Kirkland Executive w/ a Scott

The Kirkland bag from Costco is the best deal. $89 with a lifetime warranty, just bring it back no questions asked, they'll give you a new one. Bag holds up very well to the rigors. I had a wheel on mine go bad after a few years, they gave me a new bag.

Can't believe I'm only #2 for this bag (on this thread, at least). The best out there, regardless of cost.

Scott leather, the best flight bag. Buy one, lasts a career. 'Nough said.

 

[Slim]

It took me a while to find this thread again.

The e-Bag is working well. I've used it for eight months and no complaints. The best thing is the long handle. My bag doesn't get to the van before I do, or hit my heels while walking at a normal pace.. I also like having the hook for my flight bag.

Comair now supplies the e-Bag to new hire pilots and flight attendants. The ALPA deal is a better price, though.

 

[N8Dogg]

Kirkland from Costco. No contest.

 

[JetPilot_Mike]

I don't know what you guys do to your bags, I've had my Travel Pro for going on 5 years and it's still in good shape.

Commute?

Yellow crew bags for CRJ. My bag ends up on the bottom of the pile just about every leg. Sucks.

 

[Yeah]

COSTCO KIRKLAND!!

I bought the PNS bag and so far so good but the Costco bag is by far the best way to go. I know guys that return them every year and come out with a new one.

 

[lowlycfi]

I've been dragging a Purdy Neat Things bag around for 10 years now. I've put three sets of wheels on it, and tightened the screws a few times, but other than that no maintenance required. I got it at the time because it was the cheapest bag we were offered in training, but I don't think that's the case anymore. Not sure how the new ones stack up, but this one has been a great bag.

 

[I.P. Freley]

Normally I will spend far more than necessary on things just to get good quality, but I've never made the plunge into Expensive Rollaboard Land.

I have an American Tourister that I picked up at Staples/Office Depot for $69. I've had it for 2-1/2 years now, slightly more actually. This bag has led a very hard life... It goes off and on the plane practically every leg, so the rampies have probably had their hands on it around 1500 times, not to mention the number of times it's been beaten, dropped, been at the bottom of a full cargo bin, and abused by van drivers.

The wheels are a mess (bearings? WHAT bearings?), the handle on the top of the bag is history (Too many times walking up the stairs of a jetway with that one handle bearing the brunt of the contents of the bag AND the flight case hanging off the front), and an abrasion on the outside of the bag has turned into a hole... but a small one near where the back of the case comes around to the side of the bag.

But for $69, who can complain? I've seen some of my coworkers' PNS and TravelPro bags that end up in exactly the same condition, and as often as not, need new bags sooner than I did. I dunno, I can't see spending over $300 on a bag when this one has done the trick for this amount of time. This is the same reason I don't have a nice, leather flight bag. It ends up being thrown around enough that I don't want to spend money on that, either. It doesn't help that the Saab has a diabolical bag-piercing metal clip at the end of the bag tie-down in the flight bag "well" next to the pilot seats.

If I flew an airplane where I could keep the rollaboard in the cabin/cockpit, where I didn't have rampies joyously flinging my bag around every leg (or intentionally burying it under 600lbs of other bags, which I suspect they do whenever they see "crew" tags), where it wasn't being abused and subjected to damage on such a regular basis, this bag would easily last a decade.

American Tourister's $70 bag gets my vote.

 

[I.P. Freley]

Whoops

 

[Cl_65_Driver]

I use the stealth NG by purdy neat things... 269.95 with free shipping from www.outermarker.com or call like I did 888-569-9464...It gets to your door in about 4 days....I love the bag and it fits in the RJ...it made my day!..The metal frame does scratch easy but so does everything else....

 

[HMR]

NOTHING compares to my Adidas duffle bag that I bought for wrestling practice way back when. There was always some smug pilot in the FBO that made fun of it until about day #8 on the road when I was still pulling clean socks and underwear from its cavernous center section. Not to mention the pockets that held my hiking boots, running shoes and munchies. All of this in a bag that could be squished into any overhead and cost $30.

I had to retire it this year and dropped the big coin on a PNS bag. I paid extra to have it shipped quick and it didn't show up for a month. No problem though, after many calls to customer support the UPS guy dropped off not one but TWO roller bags! Wow, now that's customer service.