Looking for a BIFL luggage

Submitted by busa1 t3_10m2f1c in BuyItForLife

Hey guys,

I like to abuse my luggages (e.g pull it on a bike behind me while its fully loaded) and looking for one that is BIFL or at least easily repairable. Looking for a checked in luggage that can hold about 25-30kg, and hard case, and have easily repairable wheels.

Just coming from some no name (IT-Luggage) brand, and even after contacting them, they were unable to tell me what kind of wheels my luggage needs. Very special hole placement with curved plastic housing.

Based in EU.

Any suggestions?

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Holyscam t1_j60rc6s wrote

Pelican Cases. They now specialty "brands" for use cases, like travel.

https://www.peli.com/eu/en/products/cases/travel-cases

And are available in the EU.

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busa1 OP t1_j60ry3y wrote

Doesn’t look like it has many extra parts in store, like new wheels, or self repair kits. Also these are rugged cases, I’m just looking for something easily repairable hard cases, not super hard cases. Don’t have cameras or any expensive electronics just for normal clothes.

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Holyscam t1_j60u8we wrote

Lifetime warrenty means there is no need for self repair kits or new wheels. they do sell extra wheels if you wan them though. And if you want a case that will stand up to anything, Pelican's have a long well earned reputation. And yes, you can put clothes in them.

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facebook57 t1_j61dscy wrote

Will their warranty cover OP pulling it behind a bike and trashing it? Good choice if they will

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PayCharacter7530 t1_j60jn94 wrote

Briggs and reiley

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busa1 OP t1_j60ldco wrote

>Briggs and reiley

Sorry forgot to mention, EU based traveller. Briggs and Reiley only has stores in US/UK, neither of them ship to EU. Only third party sellers available in europe which will lack easily accessible parts.

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ZimofZord t1_j61h3l9 wrote

$600 can’t be worth it tbh

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pukwudgie-crossing t1_j63n2sv wrote

Depends on materials, production and durability, along with other factors like style, if that’s something you value.

Good luggage is expensive. Luggage is expensive in general and if you’re buying 3-4 sets over the course of your lifetime, $600 for a set that will work and work well your whole life and for generations really isn’t an unreasonable price 🤷🏾‍♀️

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ZimofZord t1_j63rirh wrote

Pretty sure my $100 one is fine lol

Also used luggage is a dime a dozen lol

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pukwudgie-crossing t1_j63s3o5 wrote

I’m sure it is. I was only commenting on the idea that it can’t be worth it.

If you’d said that can’t be necessary then I’d have to agree. Whether or not it’s worth it is a personal call, based on a number of factors.

I would save up for something made under stricter employment laws, for example, as that cost of being particular about the production process is important to me. It isn’t important to everyone and not everyone can afford to prioritize that. I can’t always afford to prioritize that… it’s a really terrible trade off.

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oxfozyne t1_j60m1hg wrote

I concur. Been very happy with my luggage after over a decade and 15-30 long haul flights a year. My only problem was when TSA destroyed the unlocked lock and zipper pull tab.

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grabity_ham t1_j61g5b4 wrote

I’ve been very happy with my Travel Pro. Not sure how parts and service availability is in the EU though

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187hp t1_j64edg3 wrote

+ For TravelPro (just don't go on the cheaper-end) ..and I do see flight crews using them as well from time to time as well. Check amazon and luggagepros.com for good pricing.

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SimpleVegetable5715 t1_j621i8g wrote

I know they don't back up the warranty if the damage was caused by the airlines. So that's kind of a downside.

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capresesaladz t1_j63m504 wrote

+1 for Travel Pro, specifically the Platinum Elite. It’s a little pricey, but has served me well over several hundred thousand miles. Built well, packs well, and fits in all Delta planes that I have encountered.

I do have 1 wheel that is warping. Need to contact them.

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XFactor-41 t1_j61n2bu wrote

If you can find it secondhand, the original Victorinox Tourbach (not the Tourbach 2.0).

I own several pieces and they’re incredibly durable. The only issue I’ve had is the original handles were designed with a (fake) carbon fiber insert overlaid with plastic. After about 10 years, the plastic part cracked. However, Victorinox sent me a replacement handle (which didn’t have the inlay) for free. Only issue I’ve had in 15 years.

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meractus t1_j62o83w wrote

Oh nice. The wheels on my Victorinox disintegrated after ~5 years and they charged me to replace them.

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EverybodyKnowsBaker t1_j62pebv wrote

5 years of how much usage? Most companies aren't really gonna replace that kind of wearable. Not saying wheels are consumable but they are kind of.

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meractus t1_j62rhm5 wrote

Light use. They didn't break. The plastic/rubber decomposed.

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busa1 OP t1_j6381xl wrote

I didn’t mind if they get used up, if I can buy the replacement wheels for it. And if they wheels are affordable. All suitcase wheels are held on by 4 screws and should be user replaceable within few mins.

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meractus t1_j639oi0 wrote

Yeah, I should have looked for a replacement wheel instead of bringing it back to the shop.

I wonder if you can work backwards, and find luggages that are easily fixable, and pick the most rugged of that type?

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busa1 OP t1_j6chb4t wrote

That’s exactly what I’m looking for. I don’t need 20 years of warranty for “normal use”. I need a luggage that’s self repairable and the seller offers replacements parts for a long time.

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meractus t1_j6ck4hb wrote

The luggage works website (I just learned about them from this thread) has a parts list.

But I'm curious, how do you attach your luggage behind your bike?

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busa1 OP t1_j6cz40h wrote

I pull it through its handle.

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moonmama1 t1_j61xnjv wrote

Is Samsonite available there? the hard shell ones are the way to go

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Tricky_Owl4198 t1_j62jqg9 wrote

My parents immigrated 35 years ago and my mother still uses the same Samsonite hard case suitcase. I have an American Tourister (which is a sub brand of Samsonite, irl) and I have it for 10+ years for a very reasonable price.

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Please_get_in_touch t1_j60ut1r wrote

Luggage Works AINEC

https://luggageworks.com/

They make what the pilots and flight staff use.

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ConBroMitch t1_j63m8d5 wrote

OP this is the correct answer. Take a look at crew bags on your next flight. Almost none of them are “mainstream” brands. Most are from LW.

Luggageworks isn’t pretty to look at, but damn if they won’t last decades for us regular travelers.

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rmflagg t1_j64j8ta wrote

They ain’t light either! Heavy, super durable, very repairable. Worth the money.

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busa1 OP t1_j6czdy5 wrote

North America only tho :(

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Natural-Ad6110 t1_j63rh83 wrote

I was looking into this and finally bought Level8. They provide a limited lifetime warranty. I haven't got to travel yet but the luggage looks really good and the wheel is probably the smoothest I have ever seen. It cost me 420 for a set of three.

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TXJohn83 t1_j667s3s wrote

My Delsey Helium has been checked a checked bag through over 100 flights and is still going strong...

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busa1 OP t1_j67qbsg wrote

As mentioned I’m not worried about airlines abusing the luggage but rather myself.

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Slipstriker9 t1_j67pakd wrote

You want one that uses large 100mm scooter wheels. Then you can swap out the original crap for scooter wheels with good bearings.

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meractus t1_j6cjeno wrote

Sounds like a good idea. Which bags have wheels that can be switched out for 100mm scooter wheels?

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Most_Letterhead_8580 t1_j69jiov wrote

Patagonia - MLC maximum legal carryon - had mine since ‘94; 20 + countries even served as a crag bag for a year, hideable pack straps, cordura or some sort of ballistic cloth… this thing is bomber

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wigitalk t1_j6c0lan wrote

Away all the way

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Freedom_4Ever t1_j62x48f wrote

Nautica Luggage.

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I am retired Military, and I have a 3 piece navy blue and yellow set, that made it through 20 years of military moves and two deployments to Iraq. Despite the worse abuse the airlines and military cargo could throw at them.

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