How long should luggage last

Is the plastic cracked or bubbled—or, worse yet, in pieces? Is the metal warped or rusted? If it looks sketchy, it is probably time for a new bag. You might find that your bag is too small. Or maybe you used to be a more casual, once-a-year traveler, and now you're on a six-month round-the-world trip.

Or perhaps you have gone from carrying everything but the kitchen sink with you to taking a more minimalist approach to packing? Any one of these situations can call for a new travel bag.

While function should always win out over sexiness when it comes to your travel bag, there are such things as great-looking bags that still do an excellent job carrying your stuff. If you have had the same, battered suitcase for years and are starting to feel self-conscious about bringing it on the road with you, it might be worth it to upgrade. Your turn, travelers! How long do you expect them to last? Or, is there better quality luggage that will last "forever" or at least long enough to be worth it?

Join Early-Retirment. We don't travel much either before or after retirement actually I travel less and have found no increased wear on luggage. DW has a suitcase that I think my mother purchased during the Eisenhower administration. She mostly uses it when babysitting grandnephews or grandnieces overnight. This is not what I expected. Always an issue with the pull-out handle, wheels, etc, but not the bag or zipper itself.

With the change in carry on size I do need to go out and buy another one but so annoyed with them not lasting. Brands included Swissgear, Delsey, and similar. I bought Tumi in the late 90's and they always repaired it free in the states.

Could use repair now, I will see when I move stateside in a few years. Our Briggs and Riley luggage has held up for about 11 years since retirement but is starting to show some wear. Use it quite a bit, at least every month.

I think it should last another 5 years maybe. I travelled internationally extensively for work for 10 years. My best piece of luggage was an Eddie Bauer from Target.

Swissgear and Tumi both failed. The Eddie Bauer lasted all 10 years until I broke a bottle of curry sauce in it and couldn't get the smell out. I'm now 5 years into a Samsonite hard sided rolling carry on with no problems and I check it frequently.

Originally Posted by Red Badger. I have 25 year old soft sided Samsonite luggage that is still functional despite traveling at least once a month while working. It has some wear and is heavy so I would like to replace it with something lighter but hate to get rid of perfectly good luggage.

Added: The large suitcase has solid framing, two ball bearing wheels, and a very solid retractable handle - you have to push a button to retract it. Of course these features add to the weight. The wheels are definitely the primary weak link.

What you want is ball bearing wheels like aja suggested. Second weakest is the retractable handle. Sorry I don't have a good suggestion, my old air travel days I never did find a brand that held up for a good long time.

Hard-sided is better to prevent frame bending and damage that the soft sided would experience. I think the airline luggage guys and conveyor systems could break an anvil if you tried to actually ship one. My current luggage is 17 years old. The roller skate wheels are perfectly fine. I can see the fabric is getting worn but works fine, except the carryon handle got stuck pulled out when we were leaving Amsterdam.

I was of course in a bit of a panic and had to empty out my suitcase to see if I could fix it. Nope, so finally in desperation I hit the handle down really hard and it closed. This reminds me I need to examine it more and either fix the handle or get a new carryon bag. The big bag is of course perfect. I view luggage like electronics. You don't want to spend too much as the technology and formats change frequently. Also if you're flying where the bags outside your personal control it'll get scuffed, stained and generally beat on by the airline bag handlers.

I would be upset over the damage caused if I spent a lot on my luggage. I just accept that I should replace every 5 years or so. Using a vintage hard shell Samsonite on wheels. It has carried heavy loads and has been to at least 20 countries. I use it for all major international travel. No plans to replace it at this time. I probably have 3 sets of good luggage on hand.

Our latest was ultralight Travel Pro 21" swivel wheel carryons. I have noticed that it is one brand commonly seen with world travelers that is available at Amazon and T.

Do you know how many flights of stairs you encounter? Now imagine only spending nights in one city then moving on to the next, trying to cram in as much sightseeing as possible. Soft versus Hard Shell: soft bags are great if you plan on using your luggage as a carryon, because they are easier to squeeze into overhead lockers and can be lightweight.

They are also said to absorb shock better than hard shells. Whichever you choose, look for quality—lousy soft luggage can tear and cheap hard cases can crack or break. This is the best hard-side luggage for women!

A broken handle is common when luggage is being thrown around at the airport. It will be lighter, too. Jacquie Whitt, of Adios Adventure Travel , notes that four wheels glide easier than two. The wheels should be high quality, similar to skateboard wheels. Hard plastic wheels are more likely to crack or break when dropped. Zippers leave luggage susceptible to water damage from rain. Opt for hard cases with a latch system to avoid this. If you choose a suitcase with zippers, select pulls crafted from tough metal or durable plastic.

Osprey Ozone Wheeled Global Carry-on The best way to keep your luggage safe is to have travel insurance to cover a loss. Only pack valuables in your carryon luggage if you can keep an eye on it.

Adding security features to your luggage is a good idea, too. Make your case less accessible to thieves by investing in sturdy and durable travel locks, cable ties, and shrink wrapping. Always keep them in your carryon or preferably your personal item. A trusty lock is guaranteed to at least slow down a thief or put them off all together.

A cheaper alternative to locks, these theft deterrents are easy to install and come in a variety of colors, meaning your suitcase can be easy to spot.

However, cable ties can be quite easily removed with a simple nail file. Many airports now feature a shrink wrap station. AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner Luggage. Travel luggage can be expensive. You need luggage that will last. Price generally reflects quality. Search around for the best reviews from experienced travelers and opt for a case that suits your style of travel. Many times, expensive bags will include a warranty of some kind.

For even more tips, read this smart luggage buying guide! Compass Rose Compression Packing Cubes. We recommend bringing along a lightweight luggage scale to weigh your cases before going to the airport. This will ensure you are below the weight limit and avoid extra charges. Also, use packing organizers such as packing cubes to help you simplify your packing process. Watch the packing tutorial on Youtube!

These are the only packing cubes sized to fit the exact width of a carryon suitcase and they also have a unique color-coded and numbered organization system — the only kind currently available anywhere on the market. I put together a five-part YouTube series showing you the different methods to use packing cubes. If you use this specific packing strategy, they can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carryon only! What are your tips when choosing the right travel luggage?

Share and comment below! Has anyone tried putting their carry on luggage on the floor in front of their seat? Is this allowed, what sort of luggage could I use.

I am a short person and find it very uncomfortable not being able to put my feet on the floor for hours at a time. Could I use my case under my feet. Hi Yvonne, thank you for reaching out. Many of our readers like to use their luggage which fits under the seat or a backpack to lean and rest their feet on. Hope this helps answer your question.

Happy travels! Hi Hannan, thank you for reaching out. Hope this helps. Have an amazing time! I forgot to add, watch for sales. Hi Sally, thank you for sharing your recommendation for the Delsey hard sided suitcase.

For international and domestic travel, I like the Delsey Turenne. Is there a hard sided carry-on bag that is not designed with the space divided half and half? Is there such a thing? Thank you. Hi Liz, thank you for your question! I like the hard shell but like you I hate the opening of the bag. My bag is now 8 years old and has seen some rough travels. I bought her an Osprey backpack for getaways but she needs a checked bag.