Best Hard-Shell Carry-On Luggage | Consumer Reports

Our review of luggage for traveling included pulling, dragging, dropping, and stretching 12 hard-shell-carry-ons. Two suitcases that cost $90 performed better than bags priced at over $500.

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[kazimierz]

Nice comparison, it would be nice to see which have replaceable wheels, as they're usually the weak link in longevity.

[MsGarner]

super helpful!! exactly what I needed to decide on my luggage

[mackellar]

I'm happy to have paid $600 for top of the line Samsonite COSMOLITE. When traveling internationally, one needs to consider every ounce, especially if packing for a long trip such as a trans-Atlantic cruise (12-14 days) and adhering to the 50# limit. WEIGHT should be a major consideration.

[Lisa-kzvw]

I love my Monos luggage it has served me well a few international trips and domestic it is expensive but I wanted luggage that would last year's and look decent not break within a year or two Samsonite is a great brand durable

[kuhlone]

Just a commercial to subscribe to Consumer Reports...

[pattyheyes]

Did you test the bags with 50# of weight inside? How they handle empty and full are two different stories.

[emmett]

Surely the purpose of a "carry-on" is that you can actually carry it on an airline. Any models that don't meet the spec should be excluded from the carry on test.
Also - testing for water is fine for checked baggage but I'm not too sure many carry on bags are going to see rain given the purpose is to take them inside the cabin with you.

[TheUsflow]

Once was forced to gate check a rolling carry-on and American Airlines did not transfer my bag and so I arrived with no car keys and had to Uber home. American did not even cover that. So I wish you tested only carry-ons that are small enough that the airline would not force a gate check. So maybe international size. Also, it isn't clear but it appears as if your top rated Samsonite was the Carry-on 23x15x10. Please confirm. Also note that they make the same-named bag in a slightly smaller 22x14x9. Why didn't you test this instead?

[bestetopangebote]

Thanks for the comparison, shows again: the most expensive is not necessarily the best, or at least not the best value.

[silasmarrs]

Thanks for summarizing it all so quickly!

[Mistic]

😤 When you go to the website to see the test results, you can NOT unless you become a member 😮

[Daniel_IFC]

Do Winners & Marhalls have Amazon Basics Carry On Luggage?

[LongIslandDad]

My dad told me a tip that works well for not having to wait forever to pick up your checked baggage:
Put $5 in a ziplock bag and tape it to each checked baggage. The luggage sorter will gladly take the tip and will usually position your bags so that are among the first to be put on the conveyor to the carousels at your destination. :)

[Deci_Bella]

This video contains no usable information.

[craigmerkey]

my travel tips... for long trips check your bag and make sure the airline has a way to track it in real time... Delta is a great airline for this! Dragging a small suitcase with not enough stuff through multiple airports and airplanes is not worth the trouble!!!

[lukas______]

Carry on? You mean my high school backpack from 8 years ago

[timberrr]

LUGGAGE TIPS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17

Anywhere you put your bag, it could be grabbed in error. Example: overhead compartment, unloaded from the bus, at the hotel lobby, at the airport turnstile...

These ribbons make your luggage different and EASY TO SPOT when the piece is surrounded by 35 other cases unloaded from the bus. Using 4 ribbons make it immediately different than other cases with 1 ribbon.

Use 1” wide ribbons 14” long and not longer. Cut the ends at 45 degrees.

Tie to the base of the handle, tie to the metal buckle. Thus, it will not slip along the handle.

Tie the ribbons as a sandwich, as if they were one ribbon. Use a man’s tie, a half Windsor knot for the best look. After it is tied on, the total length of the ribbons will be about 5 inches from the handle. This is too short to catch on anything such as rollers.

Scissor cut trim the ribbons to cascading different lengths after they are tied. Put a drop of Super Glue at the end.
If each ribbon is slightly a different length by 1/4” the color layers will all show up no matter how they drape.

You can see these ribbons from 40 feet away.
Perhaps tie TWO handles or RINGS top and side of the case.
Tie using a HALF WINDSOR KNOT to the metal buckle ring of the handle.

Learn Half Windsor knot tying:
It is the 2nd example in this video
This knot does not loosen.

Put your phone number on one ribbon using a fine point permanent Sharpie.
Example: “Owner 454-333-7878”
No personal name necessary.
No address necessary on the ribbon.

Choose one ribbon with an unusual pattern or fabric to really make it unique. The 4th ribbon could be black color.

Stand by the output port of the turnstile to reduce the chance of someone else grabbing your piece.

Tie your backpack, skiies, duffel bag, carry-on, and what ever else with matching ribbons—even your computer case bag.

If you are a Travel Agent, you could hot gold stamp one ribbon with your name and phone number. Send them a set of ribbons, red and blue and BLACK to your customer as a gift. Record this gift in your database so you don’t duplicate yourself.
Buy a gold hot embossing machine. Gold emboss your business name on the BLACK ribbon. Put the customer’s name on it if possible.

Pleasant color combinations:
Red, white and blue
Chartreuse and purple and orange
Orange and light blue
Orange and yellow
Gray and pink
Green and yellow
Red and Green
Red and Gold
Light blue and light green and white

The 4th ribbon could be white, gray, black, tan

Tip #2 PICTURE RECORD
Take a cell phone picture of the ribbon tied on. Then another picture of the full luggage piece. Take a picture of the interior. You now have a way to communicate “what it looks like” if someone is tasked with searching for it.
You can show this picture to the searcher or attach a picture to your report for lost luggage.

Take this picture outside in direct sun not under neon lights.

Tip #3 INSIDE IDENTITY
Place a strip of colored duct tape on the inside lining to your case. Put TWO pieces in DIFFERENT places such as INSIDE a pocket to the case. If you dare, put your phone number DIRECTLY ON THE FABRIC Liner of the case WITHOUT USING TAPE. Or, put your name and phone number on this tape. If all identity is stripped from your case, you have this to show. If someone steals it and rips off identity tags, you can show the police officer the inside tape...

To be sneaky about the tape, put your phone number on the STICKY side of the tape. Nothing is on the surface side of this tape.

Tip #4 HIDDEN IDENTITY
Put your phone number on a 2” x 1/2” piece of fabric or plastic sheet. Use colored Duct tape, such as black or red or neon, to tape this message to the top side of the handle. This message is under the tape hidden from view. The lettering does not touch the sticky part. Wrap it 2-3 times. Also include Tips 1, 2, 3 above. If you need to prove identity of the case, just unwrap it and show.

Tip #5 ADDING UNIQUENESS
Use 4 ribbons
Add 1 designer ribbon
colored duct taped handle

Stencil SPRAY PAINT a 2” or smaller stencil letter or number or word or your initials to the suit case exterior surface in addition to using all the other ideas here. Stencil spray the BOTTOM OF THE CASE as well.

Stencil spray paint a letter to the TOP ribbon.
Use ribbons that are wider or more narrow than 1”.
Put a travel sticker on the case.

Tip #6 WEIGH YOUR OWN
Scales accuracy varies at different airports. If you are even 1 pound over, you pay. So, regulate yourself. Found on Ebay, buy a
HAND HELD DIGITAL SCALE
It is less than $15.

Tip #7 GPS TRACKING DEVICE
Duct tape to an inside pocket a GSM GPS Tracking device. Find them on Ebay. Your iphone can tell you where your luggage is.


Worldwide Tracker ...GSM, Wifi, Bluetooth
USB rechargeable

Tip #8 OLD TAGS, YOUR ITINERARY
Remove old trip tags before you arrive at the airport. Remove confusion.
Put a copy of your trip itinerary in an outside pocket so the agent can redirect the bag.
Ask the travel agent to send you copies.
Photograph all travel documents using your cell phone.

Tip #9 FLIGHT SAFETY

Tip #10 LET LUGGAGE FOLLOW YOU
Choose non stop flights.
Choose connecting flights of at least 90 minutes so luggage has time to be transferred to the next plane.
Compare white luggage destination tag city code to your itinerary for accuracy.

Tip #11 TAKE SCREEN SHOTS OF THESE TIPS
Store screenshots in picture album
Then share them with your friends. Include the Tube Video seen here also.

Tip #12 PHOTOGRAPH THIS
Passport
Your travel plan
Vaccine Passport
Hotel confirmations handwritten by you.
Your luggage, inside and out. Include unusual words spray paint stenciled on luggage by you. Show a close up of ribbon colors.
Your destination luggage tag, bar code tag
Receipts for payment of trip.
If you lose paper versions, you have a backup.
Passcode lock your cell phone in case it is lost.

Tip #13 LUGGAGE DESTINATION TAG
Check the accuracy of the white luggage tag code against your itinerary. You may be sending your luggage to the wrong city.

BAGGAGE THEFT VIDEO


Tip # 14 AVOID these in CHECKED baggage

Tip #15 IF YOU SELL LUGGAGE
Include a set of 3-4 ribbons, 14” long, with the sale. Consider tying them on for the customer. Sell an extra set for the hand carry piece.

Tip #16 CODED NAME LUGGAGE CALL
No need to put your name on luggage.
OKOBAN System by Travel Sentry

Tip #17 Send pictures of passport to your e-mail address. If you lose everything, you have a back-up.

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[Dawho]

Lol at amazon basics, that brand is pure trash